The thread centers on New Zealand's upcoming election, primarily debating the economic management and policy differences between the center-left Labour government and center-right National/ACT opposition. Key criticisms target Labour's fiscal stewardship, citing ballooning government expenditure #7#272, housing unaffordability, and unfulfilled promises like KiwiBuild and dental care expansion #16#12. A user #7 highlighted Labour's annual 9% spending growth versus 1.5% under previous governments, arguing this fueled inflation. National's tax-cut policy faced scrutiny over funding gaps and legality, with user #215 questioning Luxon's reliance on "trust me" assurances.
Leadership competence emerged as a critical theme, particularly in later posts. Luxon drew heavy criticism after a contentious interview where he struggled to defend policy details #194#199#211, while Willis faced backlash for her economic credentials. Hipkins garnered fleeting praise for articulation but was ultimately seen as representing poor governmental outcomes #45#119. A trusted user #308 presented expert economic analysis contradicting Treasury optimism. Infrastructure issues—like Wellington's water crisis and the dental school staffing shortage—were cited as examples of systemic mismanagement #235#12. Notable policy debates included road-user charges for EVs #220, immigration impacts on rents #299, and coalition scenarios involving NZ First #182#258. Early fringe discussions on candidates' rugby allegiances gave way to substantive policy critiques, culminating in grim Treasury forecasts discussed in posts #271#304#308. User #168 also revealed concerns about Labour rushing regulatory changes to entrench policies pre-election.
Always makes me laugh when the Sallies come out saying that landlords should follow their "example" and lower rents by 25-30% to match the Sallies.
Firstly, private landlords don't receive millions of dollars each year in untaxed donations. And secondly, we pay 33% on our net rental income... they don't!!!
I think Best Start, the childcare provider forced this review.
They are a money making entity designed to build a property empire for the owners with the non profit business fitting out and setting up the building… big tax dodge where they bent the rules to get into charity status.
Revenue Minister David Parker says the report shows a "large differential between the tax rates ordinary New Zealanders pay on their full income compared with the super-wealthy".
www.rnz.co.nz
So you’d agree that these should pay more tax too?
Revenue Minister David Parker says the report shows a "large differential between the tax rates ordinary New Zealanders pay on their full income compared with the super-wealthy".
www.rnz.co.nz
So you’d agree that these should pay more tax too?
They should.... by increasing the top tax bracket and introducing an estate duty along side a gifting duty and properly taxing trusts.
What is interesting is how people are more inclined to pay taxes what they "consider fair". At the end of the Muldoon era, the highest tax bracket was 66%. The rich poured their money into things like Kiwifruit orchards (and other tax-exempt enterprises) to reduce their taxable income.
The new Labour government then reduced the top tax rate to 48% but the amount of tax collected from the top tax bracket taxpayers increased. Why? Because they didn't use the tax exemptions and so paid more tax on their actual income and not on the artificially reduced income.
Moral of the story.... don't make tax to "punitive" and the government actually receives more money.
Revenue Minister David Parker says the report shows a "large differential between the tax rates ordinary New Zealanders pay on their full income compared with the super-wealthy".
www.rnz.co.nz
So you’d agree that these should pay more tax too?
We should all pay the same tax rate under the law.
That was a blatant political review. The definition of income was incorrect. Capital gains are not income (find a definition from a dictionary that say it is).
The rich pay the same tax rate as you and me on income. Just a lot of manipulation using the greedy rich narrative the left pushed to justify a CGT.
I think you will find under the same assessment criteria over the past year with huge capital losses as house prices and business values dropped, that the rich paid a significantly higher tax rate than everyone else (huge tax paid on paper losses) when including capital losses. But you won’t see the left updating to reflect that
We should all pay the same tax rate under the law.
That was a blatant political review. The definition of income was incorrect. Capital gains are not income (find a definition from a dictionary that say it is).
The rich pay the same tax rate as you and me on income. Just a lot of manipulation using the greedy rich narrative the left pushed to justify a CGT.
I think you will find under the same assessment criteria over the past year with huge capital losses as house prices and business values dropped, that the rich paid a significantly higher tax rate than everyone else (huge tax paid on paper losses) when including capital losses. But you won’t see the left updating to reflect that
Inland Revenue research released today reveals a large differential between the tax rates ordinary New Zealanders pay on their full income compared with the super-wealthy.
www.beehive.govt.nz
IRD report seems to differ from your narrative of we all pay the same from just last year
Inland Revenue research released today reveals a large differential between the tax rates ordinary New Zealanders pay on their full income compared with the super-wealthy.
www.beehive.govt.nz
IRD report seems to differ from your narrative of we all pay the same from just last year
The tax report is flawed because it uses a made up ‘economic income’ as its basis. A report written in a way to give the desired outcome.
Simple maths: income plus untaxed capital gains in 2022 = rich pay less.
Income plus untaxed capital losses in 2024 = rich pay more.
Lots of propaganda and making facts fit what Labour wanted - CGT/ wealth tax! Look at all the greedy rich paying less than us hard working poor people
You remind me of that great Alvin Lee song, ' I'd love to change the world but I just don't know what to do'. Sorry, I can't upload it for you, great socialist number though.
Ever heard of a social contract called Tax Frank? The things that are social need come from it. Important things, like infrastructure, health care etc.
Ideally those we vote for as guardians of this pool of money should distribute for the greater good of all New Zealanders.
So yes, when is a government of the rich, by the rich, for the rich, who allow the wealthy to keep more through tax breaks for the wealthy, at the expense of the the majority, the tax take goes down and all but the wealthy lose out.
You free thinking libertarians on the right must think all this through though.
Ever heard of a social contract called Tax Frank? The things that are social need come from it. Important things, like infrastructure, health care etc.
Ideally those we vote for as guardians of this pool of money should distribute for the greater good of all New Zealanders.
So yes, when is a government of the rich, by the rich, for the rich, who allow the wealthy to keep more through tax breaks for the wealthy, at the expense of the the majority, the tax take goes down and all but the wealthy lose out.
You free thinking libertarians on the right must think all this through though.
It wasn’t just the “super rich” that were paying a lower tax on their “economic income” than a PAYE-only worker. It was anyone that owns assets that go up in value. I.e. homeowners, business owners, farm owners, family bach owners, māori landowners etc.
David Parker tried to get his capital gains tax over the line by using the super rich as a ghastly example, but anyone with appreciating assets logically are taxed less on “economic income” (a made-up term for the IRD report) than PAYE-only taxpayers
Here's a bit of education for those struggling with the idea of neoliberalism, which seems to be a fair few right leaning in this forum - https://archive.ph/KhFlT - alan gibbs, act, atlas.
All aspects of the government today.
This government. Of the rich, by the rich, for the rich.
The rest of us get fucked over, and are getting fucked over right now.
Here's a bit of education for those struggling with the idea of neoliberalism, which seems to be a fair few right leaning in this forum - https://archive.ph/KhFlT - alan gibbs, act, atlas.
All aspects of the government today.
This government. Of the rich, by the rich, for the rich.
The rest of us get fucked over, and are getting fucked over right now.
