Why a Capital Gains tax is necessary

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:09 am, April 27th, 2023 - 186 comments
Categories: chris hipkins, Christopher Luxon, david parker, Economy, labour, national, same old national, tax - Tags:

David Parker is one of the most important members of this Government and one of the most influential.

The current Government has said that it will not implement a full Capital Gains tax although it did implement an extension to the bright line tax for land sales which for all purposes was effectively a capital gains tax for land.

And Parker has continued with his work on showing that the wealthiest amongst us are doing rather well from the tax system.

From the Beehive website:

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, Revenue Minister David Parker says.

“This internationally ground-breaking research provides hard data showing that the wealthiest New Zealanders pay tax at much less than half the rate of other Kiwis,” David Parker said.

“The data, based on full income information from 311 of our wealthiest citizens, shows that the average person in this group pays an effective tax rate of just 8.9% tax on their economic income – that is, income from all sources, including capital gains on investments.

“In contrast, most New Zealanders pay tax at more than twice that rate. For example, someone earning a salary of $80,000, with no other income, pays 22% tax on that income, excluding GST.

“The difference is mainly because the very wealthy earn only a small portion of their income from wages and salaries, unlike most New Zealanders.

“The differential is even larger when GST is included: for the wealthiest, their effective tax rate rises to 9.5%, but for the person on an $80,000 salary, it goes up to around 28 or 29%. That is because wealthy New Zealanders spend a much smaller portion of their income each year, compared with other earners.”

The High Wealth Individuals Research Project is internationally significant because it uses real data, unlike other overseas studies which draw on surveys or scenarios, David Parker says.

“In 2020, the Government changed the law to enable IRD to require high-wealth individuals to provide their earnings data, in order to do this work,” David Parker says.

“To be clear, this work is not about chasing tax avoiders, nor is it about attacking the rich. Wealthy New Zealanders are usually hard-working and creative people who comply with current rules. They have assisted IRD with this inquiry, and I am grateful for that.

“The excellent work in this survey will enable future discussions on tax policy to be based on solid evidence. Later this year, we intend to introduce a Tax Principles Bill to ensure that information like this continues to be transparently collected and reported on.”

Today’s IRD report release is accompanied by a new Treasury report setting out effective average tax rates across the population. It uses scenarios to show that effective tax rates paid by middle New Zealanders (including GST) are between 6.8 and 10.8 percentage points higher than for the wealthiest people.

The question is what the Government will do with the report. Jacinda Ardern had ruled out a Capital Gains Tax while she was Prime Minister. To the best of my knowledge Chris Hipkins has not announced his position although given his Blairite approach to politics I do not anticipate anything radical. He is giving a speech today on economic matters so we should find out soon.

And meanwhile National has chosen to respond to the release of the report by advocating for, you will never guess, tax cuts for the very wealthy the report highlights. Be under no illusion if National gain power the only thing the uber wealthy will receive is some sort of tax relief.

Since the 1960s working group after working group have recommended a capital gains tax. Maybe what David Parker is doing is carefully and gradually opening the debate so that the current limited capital gains tax that we have can broadened and expanded.

186 comments on “Why a Capital Gains tax is necessary ”

Comments are now closed

tsmithfield 1

27 April 2023 at 8:21 am

The thing about that report is it implies that, in principle, unrealised gains should be taxed.

So, anyone who purchased a home prior to recent house inflation, in principle, should be taxed.

That point should not be lost. Because, publishing research that considers the uber-wealthy may be politically astute. But, in of itself, hitting that group with extra taxes will not make that much difference. So, the government will need to go significantly lower on the income band I expect.

But, once this door is opened, in principle, this tax could be applied to anyone who owns assets. And, it may well be, in future years. Who knows? It could be a gradual sinking lid effect, similar to boiling a frog.
- AB 1.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 8:43 am
  
  As Parker pointed out, once you are seriously wealthy with income-producing assets, you don't actually need to sell them to generate cash to live off. Instead, you can leverage your assets to get favourable interest rates for borrowing and acquiring more assets. It ends as a spiral of runaway asset accumulation with not that much realisation (sale) of assets occurring, apart from some swapping as people move to asset classes with better returns.
  
  In other words, if you are talking about the seriously wealthy, unrealised gains have to be taxed to stop that runaway spiral of accumulation. And if you don't stop that spiral, the economic and political power that accrues to the very wealthy risks your society being controlled by some of the worst people in it. The very wealthy are quite different from ordinary middle class people who might have acquired some assets which they liquidate in retirement to live more comfortably than is possible with superannuation alone.
  - Incognito 1.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 9:10 am
    
    You would think it is all about hard & dry numbers, but it isn’t; perceptions matter and subjectivity, which often is a euphemism for bias. It happens everywhere, in healthcare, in education, and in the whole FIRE economy. The system favours the well-offs, the so-called ‘successful’ and ‘winners’.
    
    Just look at Māori business creation, for instance. The Reserve Bank finds they’ve been held back by the “persistently higher” interest rates they pay on their liabilities, as shown in the chart below.
    
    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/ensuring-financial-inclusion-when-nz-cant-bank-on-the-big-banks [see graph in article]
  - That_guy 1.1.2
    
    27 April 2023 at 9:24 am
    
    I agree. The excuse that the rich aren't really rich because they can't derive income from their assets is false, and is also by far the most common cop-out given by people who don't want a CGT.
    - mikesh 1.1.2.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 11:39 am
      
      The excuse that the rich aren't really rich because they can't derive income from their assets is false
      
      Since when has rent not been taxable? Why has nobody informed me of this?
      - That_guy 1.1.2.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 12:26 pm
        
        I said
        
        1) that the rich can derive income from their assets, and
        
        2) that the claim that the rich can't derive income from their assets is a common and incorrect claim.
        
        I never said anything about whether that income is taxed. So this is a straw-man argument.
        
        mikesh 1.1.2.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 7:40 pm
        
        I never said anything about whether that income is taxed. So this is a straw-man argument.
        
        If I got i wrong I apologise but since we were discussing tax that seemed to be implied.
  - tsmithfield 1.1.3
    
    27 April 2023 at 11:03 am
    
    Define seriously wealthy. We have students staying with us from the Phillipines. They were saying they were earning $10 per day over there, and living on that.
    
    So, they would likely think that most of us are seriously wealthy here.
    - AB 1.1.3.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 11:19 am
      
      I think I did in the first paragraph. However, when it comes to making actual policy decisions it is always very difficult knowing where to draw boundaries – I agree with you on that point. There is certainly a lot of scaremongering value in saying to ordinary people that if they go after the very rich, they'll soon be going after you too. That scaremongering is the essential political difficulty that stops us actually doing anything.
      - tsmithfield 1.1.3.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 11:48 am
        
        The point is, that once that door is opened, there is nothing to stop future governments going after you.
        
        So, the fear is real and justified.
        
        AB 1.1.3.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:50 pm
        
        Slippery slope arguments are easy to make – and at some level, fundamentally dishonest. The important thing to remember with slippery slope arguments, is that they run in both directions. To use your language – if opening the door constitutes a slippery slope, then so must closing it. More explicitly – if National close the door on taxing the super wealthy, what else will they close the door on? Will they close the door on progressive income tax and just go for a flat tax of (say) 15% and gut public services commensurately? Dishonest games like this are easy to play.
  - mikesh 1.1.4
    
    27 April 2023 at 11:35 am
    
    Interest, of course, should not be tax deductible. Rectifying that particular anomaly would probably not do much to mitigate the problem in question, but it would certainly help.
- Tricledrown 1.2
  
  27 April 2023 at 8:49 am
  
  tsmithfield most developed countries have a capital gains tax or land tax.Businesses pay a form of capital gains tax that's why companies have to do a stock take every year.The wealthy are using assets to avoid paying any tax . So if the wealthy are paying 11% less than the low wage earner capital gains should be set at 11% so it makes it easier to get compliance.The wealthy are money hoarders if this was any other type of hoarding it would be called a mental illness.
  - tsmithfield 1.2.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 10:18 am
    
    In principle, I don't have a problem with a CGT. So long as it applies across all assets, including the family home.
    
    In practice, I can imagine this becoming a dogs breakfast and God's gift to valuers and accountants.
    - mikesh 1.2.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 11:52 am
      
      The trouble with CGT is that only those who sell get bitten. The rest get off scot free. What is needed is a tax that can be levied on a regular basis: yearly, half-yearly, or quarterly say, independently of selling. Perhaps a land tax, or a property tax similar to rates.
      - That_guy 1.2.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:23 pm
        
        Literally TOP policy. I know I sound like a TOP fanboy, but it is literally their policy. With a carve out for pensioners to make sure they don't get kicked out of their house.
        
        https://www.top.org.nz/fair-tax-system
    - SPC 1.2.1.2
      
      27 April 2023 at 3:06 pm
      
      It was DPF who stated the only CGT he would support is one including the family home. He is now in the Taxpayers Union. His purpose, then and now, to make a CGT politically impossible.
    - Hunter Thompson II 1.2.1.3
      
      27 April 2023 at 5:31 pm
      
      CGT on the family home – that sacred cow – might be a hard sell for the pollies.
      
      There is another side to the coin – the tax equation must include capital losses (house prices are currently falling).
      
      The final report of the Tax Working Group is worth studying. It favoured a CGT: https://taxworkinggroup.govt.nz/resources/future-tax-final-report.html
    - Tricledrown 1.2.1.4
      
      28 April 2023 at 9:24 pm
      
      CGT would be an easy sell if income tax from wage and salaries was reduced by good amount making capital taxed at the same rate as income tax as it is income.
- Incognito 1.3
  
  27 April 2023 at 9:19 am
  
  When Ugh sold his cave for three dinosaur bones, he made a healthy profit. His estate should pay tax on this now, here in NZ.
  - Thinker 1.3.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 11:55 am
    
    NB: When Ugh was alive, dinosaurs had been extinct for millions of years (watch Jurassic Park…). With limited tools, it's doubtful that Ugh and his fellow citizens would have been able to extract enough dinosaur bones for them to become common currency.
    
    While on the subject of flippant comments (sorry, Incognito), the news today cites Luxon who says that the top 2% pay 26% of the tax and that's fair. The real question would have to be whether the top 2% bring in more than 26% of the income/wealth share. Like saying Bill Gates pays 10 times the average taxpayer's tax, so that must be fair. tax https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/04/26/luxon-refuses-to-say-if-tax-system-unfair-wealthy-arent-the-problem/
    
    I'm ok with a capital gains tax, but it must be taxable at the time of the gain. It can't be a wealth tax that forces people who are asset-rich and cash-poor to, say, have to sell their homes.
    - bwaghorn 1.3.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 12:19 pm
      
      The top 2% pay 26%of the income tax, which is his way(luxon) of covering up the fact they pay less tax than low income earners if you put in the top 2% s total income.
      
      Sounds bite fluff
      - Nic the NZer 1.3.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 1:13 pm
        
        At least he didn't try to put it in net tax terms or something. He seems to treat voters as more intelligent than our previous National government PM did.
      - Tricledrown 1.3.1.1.2
        
        28 April 2023 at 9:41 pm
        
        The Top 2% probably own nearly half the resources monopolizing the assets on speculative tax free income like land banking while we have a housing crisis ,Food banks are stretched beyond there capacity 4,000 families are homeless creating more inter generational poverty
    - SPC 1.3.1.2
      
      27 April 2023 at 1:40 pm
      
      Those who cannot pay their rates can defer the payment against the estate.
      
      The alternative to a wealth tax – is of course an estate tax (and possibly gift duties).
    - Incognito 1.3.1.3
      
      27 April 2023 at 9:22 pm
      
      Sigh
      
      Dinosaur bones are highly sought after and go for a lot of money.
      
      Anyway, flippancy is to stimulate the non-reptilian dormant brain (can’t remember what it is called).
      
      I could say something serious about the ‘idea’ to implement a retrospective CGT (essentially a pseudo-Wealth Tax) but I can’t be arsed.
- Bearded Git 1.4
  
  27 April 2023 at 12:18 pm
  
  The "unrealised gains" argument is as silly as the "my shares are only worth that on paper" argument.
  
  The fact is that an asset is worth what it is worth in the market at any point in time. It follows that any capital gain at that point in time should be taxable.
  - Nic the NZer 1.4.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 12:55 pm
    
    I think the Greens added plenty of provision for un-realized gains into their wealth tax, rather than simply declaring it irrelevant. Un-realized gains can't be paid in money to the IRD is an actual problem and needs to be addressed in any proposal.
    
    While implementing a tax base is fundamental to our monetary system and should be imposed fairly, the IRD doesn't need to collect any amount of tax to facilitate government spending. This is obvious just considering the way payments work inside the RBNZ set of accounts (where government tax and spending actually clears through).
    
    The ideas being discussed here are more or less about switching the balance of taxation from income to asset price level changes. I don't think its necessarily clear what the impacts of these changes would be on either asset price levels or associated income flows however. One potential impact of a tax on changes in asset values as income could be a shift towards short term ownership of these assets over longer term ownership (because you need income to support your asset portfolio expansion). It's at least plausible that the increase in turn over of ownership would lead to more rapid asset price appreciation and that would be consistent with changes in turn over rates in the housing market across the last 20 years.
    - SPC 1.4.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 1:42 pm
      
      We have unpaid tertiary debt – collected based on income level and otherwise left against the estate.
      - Shanreagh 1.4.1.1.1
        
        30 April 2023 at 10:58 am
        
        Usually on death the balance of a student loan is written off.
        
        'In fact, the policy settings at the moment incentivise this: strictly speaking, the fact that the debt is written off at death is one reason in support of paying a student loan slowly: most other debts will need to be paid by your estate. A 0 per cent interest rate if you live in New Zealand helps too, there's an argument in favour of letting inflation pay the loan off."
        
        Financial adviser Martin Hawes also did not think it was necessarily a concern that people were carrying lifelong student debt. "I think a debt is a debt and remains until it's repaid, or you die. I do not think they should have any sort of time limit."
        
        https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/119397157/new-zealanders-carrying-student-loans-until-they-die
  - mikesh 1.4.2
    
    27 April 2023 at 3:00 pm
    
    If it is true that an asset is worth its market value at any point in time then there is no profit to be had by selling it. In other words if a property is worth 500 million and that's what the seller gets for it, then where is the profit?
    
    A rental property's value, I think, is determined by the rent obtainable from it ad infinitum. Such a value is real and this is the value that a seller is passing to the buyer when he sells.
    - Bearded Git 1.4.2.1
      
      28 April 2023 at 10:51 am
      
      It's accountancy 101…I can't be bothered explaining.
      - mikesh 1.4.2.1.1
        
        29 April 2023 at 10:30 am
        
        Most accountants, I think, would define income as what one can take from a business entity without reducing its capital.
        
        That's probably "Accounting 101".
        
        Incognito 1.4.2.1.1.1
        
        29 April 2023 at 11:25 am
        
        Over time, capital assets go down in value. It is called depreciation.
        
        Over time, money (currency) loses value too, or buying power. It is called inflation.
        
        Ask ChaptGPT to explain these terms & concepts to you before you comment again on this with your typical reckons.
        
        mikesh …
        
        30 April 2023 at 9:25 am
        
        Over time, capital assets go down in value. It is called depreciation.
        
        Depreciation being a non cash expense item does not reduce capital, providing it's catered for out of earnings.
        
        Over time, money (currency) loses value too, or buying power. It is called inflation.
        
        Inflation does not reduce capital. Capital of one million dollars continues to be worth that much. Although the value of the "unit of account" may be reduced
        
        Ask ChaptGPT to explain these terms & concepts to you before you comment again on this with your typical reckons.
        
        I don't need to. However I think you need to go back to school and refresh your knowledge of accounting 101.
        
        Incognito …
        
        30 April 2023 at 10:27 am
        
        Please go back to school and learn to read.
        
        Anyway, to correct the nonsense spread by you:
        
        Assets lose value over time as they get older. This loss of value is called depreciation.
        
        https://www.ird.govt.nz/depreciation
        
        Shanreagh …
        
        30 April 2023 at 11:02 am
        
        Depreciation is an accounting construct. Some businesses do not use this or use it on some asset classes only.
- SPC 1.5
  
  27 April 2023 at 1:32 pm
  
  Why are you connecting CGT to home ownership – there is no CGT in the world that includes home ownership?
  
  Does the existing brightline tax include the family home? No.
  - alwyn 1.5.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 2:06 pm
    
    " there is no CGT in the world that includes home ownership?".
    
    There are actually. A prime example is the USA. If you are genuinely in favour of a CGT, or a wealth tax for that matter, you should be in favour of including a family home.
    - SPC 1.5.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 2:25 pm
      
      Wealth taxes can include the family home, as might estate taxes.
      
      Care to explain in what way the US CGT (federal or state) includes the family home?
      
      I suspect your answer will demonstrate that most family homes are not included.
      
      Most totally exclude them from CGT and have a separate wealth or estate tax regime that covers only some/few.
      - alwyn 1.5.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:49 pm
        
        It's all explained here. Although they say avoid it is mostly delaying.
        
        https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/06/capitalgainhomesale.asp#toc-how-to-avoid-capital-gains-tax-on-home-sales
        
        The property has to be pretty cheap though. You can only, as an individual, exclude $250,000 on a family home. That would be roughly a single year increase on an Auckland home I suppose and it is the increase over the entire time you have owned the place you are looking at. You may be able to defer, not avoid, payment if you quickly buy another property of a similar type, and price.
        
        You still can't easily get out of paying though.
        
        SPC 1.5.1.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:59 pm
        
        Do you have to pay capital gains tax on a home sale? That depends. You could owe capital gains tax if you sell a home that has appreciated in value because it is a capital asset. However, thanks to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, most homeowners are exempt from needing to pay it.
        
        If you are single, you will pay no capital gains tax on the first $250,000 of profit (excess over cost basis). Married couples enjoy a $500,000 exemption.
        
        It's only on the CG over $250,000 or $500,000 and that can be deferred by buying a new home (until death tax liability)
        
        The average total value (both median and average) of a home property in the USA was c380,000 in 2022 (little chance of that much of a capital gain then).
        
        So even at death the chance of any CGT being paid on a home ownership is very unlikely for the great majority.
        
        alwyn …
        
        27 April 2023 at 3:34 pm
        
        It depends. If you're going to San Francisco because you are a Scott Mckenzie fan you might be a bit cautious.
        
        https://www.redfin.com/city/17151/CA/San-Francisco/housing-market
        
        That is all types of housing of course. Condos and Co-ops keep the price way down. If you wanted a stand alone home prices get a lot higher.
That_guy 2

27 April 2023 at 9:12 am

So, for the election, what are the options? Genuine question.

Seems to me the options are:

Labour = pasty weak form of CGT that they refuse to call CGT for political reasons

TOP = land value tax, which is a CGT that also has the added benefit of encouraging densification and discouraging land-banking

Greens = CGT, a real CGT, but then there are off-topic values and rights-based reasons not to vote Green in the current round.

Just my 2c but I'm leaning towards TOP, since a land value tax is probably better, plus you don't have to support a subgroup within the party which has lost the plot.
- Res Publica 2.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 9:34 am
  
  land value tax, which is a CGT that also has the added benefit of encouraging densification and discouraging land-banking
  
  We already pay a land value tax though: rates.
  - That_guy 2.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 9:52 am
    
    To a limited degree, sure but I don't see this as a slam-dunk argument against a central government land value tax as an alternative to a CGT.
    
    If you're in favour of a CGT (and I am) then you should at least look at a LVT, which is basically a CGT with extra benefits (encouraging densification and discouraging land-banking).
    
    If you're not in favour of a CGT, vote Labour or National.
    - Res Publica 2.1.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 10:25 am
      
      To a limited degree, sure but I don't see this as a slam-dunk argument against a central government land value tax as an alternative to a CGT.
      
      Neither do I – I'm definitely in favour of a CGT for exactly the reasons you outlined. But I'm also opposed to the idea being taxed twice for the same thing.
      
      So any reform of capital gains tax should either exclude the family home, or find an alternative basis for funding local government.
      - That_guy 2.1.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 10:45 am
        
        I just can't see any way of having an effective LVT of CGT without getting over the whole "family home" thing. It's a loophole so big it makes the whole thing pointless.
        
        As for things being "taxed twice", it depends on the size of the tax. I mean, if I cut two hairs on my head I've been "cut twice" and if someone removes my kidney I've been "cut once" but the size of the cut is rather more important here.
        
        As things stand, a large chunk of an entire generation would love to get to the point where I they have to worry about a small tax on their family home.
        
        I agree that funding of local government is an issue.
        
        That_guy 2.1.1.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 10:56 am
        
        that should read "LVT or CGT"
        
        Molly 2.1.1.1.1.2
        
        27 April 2023 at 12:07 pm
        
        Our situation may not be average, but I'm sure it's duplicated in some form many times throughout NZ. We have the title to one property, which we reside in.
        
        Until we pay off the mortgage, we currently pay around an extra $500wk in mortgage repayments than it would cost to rent our home. Our rates are low because we are rural, so our annual cost is approx $2,500. (In the 18 years we have been here, our sewage and water expenses have been around $30,000 and they have included a replacement septic tank and field, and replacement of three pumps.)
        
        This extra expenditure throughout the lifetime of the mortgage limits the choices that are able to be made in terms of excursions, holidays etc.
        
        Ignoring the maintenance costs, and not quantifying in any way the lost lifestyle choices, sticking to the top-up of $500/wk and the rates of $2,500/yr gives a conservative premium paid for home ownership of $28,000/yr. In order to pay that amount – my partner has to earn $42,000.
        
        (Note: Our housing costs are higher than this.)
        
        Extrapolating this over twenty year mortgage, the extra costs (only in terms of mortgage payments and rates) are $560,000 which required an income earning of $840,000 over that period to service.
        
        The value of the house in the eighteen years we have owned it, has risen (according to Council valuations) by around $800,000. But remember this does not take into account any monies spent on maintenance and improvements. It also doesn't take into account any lost value of that money, in terms of generating compound interest if it was invested in a bank account which would be a very conservative return.
        
        So, there is a very important query on how they would propose to calculate CGT on family homes, (as opposed to investment properties, or development properties) when there is an added cost to ownership (sometimes) that needs to be accounted for but has probably not been worked out by many home owners?
        
        As I'm someone who believes that house prices should be falling, this outcome would create another dilemma. If the government is going to tax capital gains on the family home, will it also reimburse or allow tax losses when housing prices (hopefully fall)? Note: That for property developers this loss already reduces tax calculation, because the business is already taxed on profit.
        
        Are we essentially creating another incentive for government to maintain excessive house prices, if they do indeed choose to tax unrealised capital gains on family homes?
        
        Housing prices have not only been allowed to rise, they have been actively encouraged by government policies of both National and Labour. These gains – for many – are paper only. The houses are the same quality, in the same location, and requiring ongoing maintenance to avoid deterioration. Material benefits only are achieved, if someone sells and downgrades, because people still need shelter. The sale of a person's residence – requires them to find another residence.
        
        It'll be interesting to see what the full policy is.
        
        Also, the press release is low on details on calculations, and it does strike me that the demonisation of landlords, is perhaps making it's way to the critique of anyone who owns property. I guess we'll see.
        
        SPC …
        
        27 April 2023 at 1:24 pm
        
        Are you completely unaware that CGT around the world exclude the family home?
        
        alwyn …
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:10 pm
        
        As I pointed out on this comment by you earlier this statement is false.
        
        SPC …
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:34 pm
        
        No not really, I expect any evidence you supply will note that most family homes are not included – only those seen to be storing investing wealth in high vale real estate.
        
        Molly …
        
        27 April 2023 at 4:19 pm
        
        No. Because I read the linked press release, which is why I said:
        
        "It'll be interesting to see what the full policy is."
        
        Craig H …
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:25 pm
        
        All of that is one big reason why CGT is often less than income tax rates to attempt to recognise, for example, that some capital gain is inflation rather than real gains.
        
        SPC …
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:31 pm
        
        The two types are CGT at the income tax rate after inflation adjustment or a lower flat rate.
        
        mikesh …
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:42 pm
        
        Comparing mortgage payments, including interest, with rents is like “comparing apples with oranges”. When all the mortgage payments have been made you will own a freehold property worth perhaps one million dollars. After the same period of time the renter will own nothing.
        
        Molly …
        
        27 April 2023 at 4:17 pm
        
        You missed the part where I said what was paid OVER the rental value.
        
        Someone renting our home could put that excess into a compounding interest account:
        
        https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator
        
        Start $500 Add $2000/mnth @ 4%
        
        After 20 years: $734,660.54 in the bank.
        
        mikesh …
        
        27 April 2023 at 8:03 pm
        
        I re-iterate. You will own a freehold property. The renter will own nothing. You will gain the benefit of having somewhere to live while you pay off the mortgage. That presumably is worth as much as the renter pays in rent. In other words you get to own a freehold property in addition to living rent free for twenty years.
        
        Belladonna …
        
        27 April 2023 at 8:59 pm
        
        And, based on Molly's figures, the renter will have $734K in the bank.
        
        Molly …
        
        28 April 2023 at 3:26 pm
        
        Read again. Investing the cost of the mortgage OVER the probable rental value.
        
        https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator
        
        Just for the hell of it, add the following:
        
        The above calculation did not include rates, or maintenance over 20years which would quite conservatively add $5,000/yr:
        
        Start $400 Add $400/mnth @ 4% monthly interest
        
        At 4% that's an additional: $147,598.88
        
        Home insurance (not paid by renters) $200/mnth:
        
        Start $200 Add $200/mnth @ 4% monthly interest
        
        At 4% that's an additional: $73,799.44
        
        So the renter – in this particular scenario – might actually be better off than us as homeowners.
        
        Renting – benefits
        
        They have accessible capital throughout the twenty-year period, and are more able to meet any unforeseeable expenses, or large expenditure items without going into debt. In terms of times of financial stress, these savings can be stopped for a period without requiring permission from lenders or the threat of losing your place of residence.
        
        As a tenant, any maintenance or repairs are the responsibility of the owner which should require no investment of time or capital.
        
        Homeowners – benefits
        
        As homeowners, we have the benefit (that we utilised) of being able to offer accommodation to others without having to get owner's permission, and the possibility of reducing our housing cost considerably when the mortgage is eventually paid off. (Which in our case is not going to be in twenty years, but 30 as high item costs, like the septic tank etc was a addition to the loan and the term)
        
        The point is, we need to challenge the assumption that property owners are always and significantly better off than the renters who never purchased.
        
        They have often just made different choices – which have costs that are sometimes also financial.
        
        That said – I think housing costs are far too high, and if prices fall then it will benefit both home-owners and tenants.
        
        Any CGT should be strictly applied to profits made on houses that are flipped, or developed for the purpose of profit.
        
        The discussion around rentals being sold with capital gains, has to be reviewed if they look at CGT for that, given that interest (in every other industry is looked on as a business expense) and that has been removed.
        
        CGT for commercial property or landbanking would be easier to identify.
        
        Particularly if the increase has come from council zoning changes – increased equity value was briefly on the table during the Unitary Plan for Auckland but was dropped quickly and left very little trace. Those zoning changes, increased the value of thousands of properties without any input from property owners.
        
        mikesh …
        
        28 April 2023 at 6:10 pm
        
        Renters pay for the landlord's outgoings indirectly, since the landlord will usually pass them on as part of the rent. And what a tenant does with his spare cash is not really relevant since it is accommodation costs rather than investment philosophies that we are discussing. Mortgages are ownership costs, i.e. a cost of investing in a property. You get a property, a tenant may get a better return by investing in fixed interest securities, or in the stock market. Maybe he does better or maybe you do. Who knows. There is nothing interesting about that the fact the different areas of investment may provide different returns.
        
        You seem to be failing to distinguish between accommodation costs and ownership costs.
        
        Molly …
        
        29 April 2023 at 9:15 am
        
        @mikesh
        
        "You seem to be failing to distinguish between accommodation costs and ownership costs."
        
        You are failing to distinguish between financial choices.
        
        Those that purchase a house end up with a house.
        
        Those that don't, don't.
        
        This is not an unexpected outcome.
        
        mikesh …
        
        29 April 2023 at 10:37 am
        
        [You are failing to distinguish between financial choices.
        
        Those that purchase a house end up with a house.
        
        Those that don't, don't.]
        
        That's the point I was trying to make. The two situations are as different as apples are from oranges.
        
        Molly …
        
        29 April 2023 at 11:18 am
        
        @mikesh
        
        "That's the point I was trying to make. "
        
        Your point however seems to be a combination of the following
        
        Those that rent should also end up with a house;
        
        Those that purchase a house who end up with a house, are somehow impoverishing those that don't;
        
        All those that rent are compelled to do so by landlords,
        
        All those that buy have done so without sacrifice,
        
        All landlords don't invest further after purchase.
        
        It's only by ignoring other factors – which are likely to be common in the demographic between unable to afford to purchase a house, and able to comfortably afford a house – that you can make such poorly thought out generalisations.
        
        RedLogix …
        
        27 April 2023 at 9:22 pm
        
        A very perceptive analysis Molly.
        
        Most people who hate their landlord have not recently tried to apply for a mortgage. In essence what tenants are doing is using their landlords capital and creditworthiness to indirectly access the finance for the house they are living in.
        
        mikesh …
        
        28 April 2023 at 6:36 pm
        
        Most people who hate their landlord have not recently tried to apply for a mortgage. In essence what tenants are doing is using their landlords capital and creditworthiness to indirectly access the finance for the house they are living in.
        
        Rubbish. They are simply renting a property. They may not know about the landlord's creditworthiness, or how he came by the property, and they may not be particularly interested anyway, even if they did know. Indirect access to finance is not a service that a landlord is providing. The landlord is probably not providing a service since the capability for providing accommodation comes with the the property. The landlord is simply passing it on without adding anything of his own. The return that he gets for that is rentier (i.e. unearned) income.
        
        mikesh 2.1.1.1.1.3
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:31 pm
        
        @that_guy 10.45 a.m.
        If two hairs on your head are cut neither hair is being cut twice. With certain financial arrangements, e.g. dividend income prior to the introduction of imputation credits, it is possible that the same income is being taxed a second time.
        
        That_guy …
        
        27 April 2023 at 3:59 pm
        
        I am sure you are technically correct, but most people are not policy wonks. The main question most voters will ask are "how much am I being taxed, overall, compared to other people". And when they perceive unfairness, well..
        
        https://youtu.be/meiU6TxysCg?t=77
        
        mikesh …
        
        27 April 2023 at 7:46 pm
        
        Tax law needs to be fair even if people perceive it not to be so.
    - SPC 2.1.1.2
      
      27 April 2023 at 1:22 pm
      
      Even those in Oz can work out that a vacant land tax discourages land banking.
  - mikesh 2.1.2
    
    27 April 2023 at 11:57 am
    
    Rates are not a tax paid to central government. It is high people got this into their thick sculls. What we are discussing here is the question of the funding of government.
    - Nic the NZer 2.1.2.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 12:19 pm
      
      If the government in local government is silent then its not a tax any more?
      - Descendant Of Smith 2.1.2.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 1:13 pm
        
        If the extra I pay over the cost of production is called profit is it not a tax any more?
        
        Nic the NZer 2.1.2.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 1:25 pm
        
        I'd say calling that a tax is more of a rhetorical device than the actual meaning of the word tax.
        
        Descendant Of Smith …
        
        27 April 2023 at 4:30 pm
        
        It is the private sector taxing me though. The excess profits by the supermarkets is a good example that easily meets this definition.
        
        to require a lot from (something or someone) : to put demands on (something or someone)
        
        https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/tax
        
        or high interest rates, or the Mongrel mob taking a cut, or high power costs due to power companies borrowing to pay dividends to well off share holders over and above profit levels.
        
        Not only governments tax. Profit, especially excess profit is a tax.
        
        Nic the NZer …
        
        27 April 2023 at 4:56 pm
        
        You're giving me definition two from the dictionary because definition one was clear, applicable and that didn't work out for you? Maybe we should also refer to forced labor as fiscal policy? It's certainly very taxing.
        
        Descendant Of Smith …
        
        27 April 2023 at 5:53 pm
        
        No I'm giving definition two because I do see profit as private taxation. Have posted on this previously. It isn't like it is a new concept – even at primary school I was aware of the concept of taxing as being more than government.
    - Res Publica 2.1.2.2
      
      28 April 2023 at 2:01 pm
      
      They're not paid to central government, no. But they're still a tax on property ownership.
- Bearded Git 2.2
  
  27 April 2023 at 11:51 am
  
  The Green's Wealth Tax from the 2020 election is the option I still prefer.
  
  https://www.greens.org.nz/progressive_tax_reform
  
  Notice that in 2020 only 6% of people would have had to pay the WT-94% would pay nothing.
  
  (This may have shifted to 7-8% now…hard to tell with the recent significant falls in house prices)
- SPC 2.3
  
  27 April 2023 at 1:20 pm
  
  Land banking is discouraged by a vacant land tax, it does not require a tax on all land.
- SPC 2.4
  
  27 April 2023 at 1:36 pm
  
  A LVT is not a CGT as it applies whether land values go up or down.
  
  And a vote for TOP is a wasted or protest vote – promoted to remove Labour and install NACT.
  - That_guy 2.4.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 4:44 pm
    
    I won't vote for the economic illiterates in ACT
    
    I won't vote for National
    
    I won't vote for Diet National
    
    I won't vote for Winston First
    
    I won't vote for a misogynist, homophobic cult that's wrapped itself in a rainbow and green flag
    
    I don't want to not vote
    
    Who's left? It is looking like TOP at this stage.. Maybe it'll end up being a protest vote, maybe not.
    - gsays 2.4.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 7:27 pm
      
      "Just my 2c but I'm leaning towards TOP, since a land value tax is probably better, plus you don't have to support a subgroup within the party which has lost the plot."
      
      There is the possibility that a subgroup in TOP would get support.
      
      https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-detail/story/2018830005/we-need-to-talk-about-feral-cats
      
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/129751587/giant-feral-cats-are-absolute-muscle-from-dining-out-on-the-best-native-wildlife
      
      I see that as a bonus.
      
      I also don’t buy this wasted vote palaver.
      - That_guy 2.4.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 7:47 pm
        
        I, for one, welcome our new feral muscular feline overlords.
        
        gsays 2.4.1.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 8:52 pm
        
        I think I may have found TOP's 'splinter issue'.
        
        After all, cat people are renowned for their dispassionate views.
Tricledrown 3

27 April 2023 at 9:14 am

tsmithfield so while 70% of New Zealanders are doing it tough since the pandemic the wealthiest 300 families have increased their wealth by $14.6 billion .If that Capital gain was taxed at the same rate as ordinary hard working wage earners the govt would not have a $3 billion deficit.Working people are subsidizing Mega Wealthy Money Hoarders.
- tsmithfield 3.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 11:07 am
  
  Look, argue for a capital gains tax for sure. But don't just assume that it will target the uber-wealthy. I think that sooner or later it will target the family home once that door has been opened.
  
  So, I think your argument needs to allow for that possibility.
  - Molly 3.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 12:10 pm
    
    I agree.
  - SPC 3.1.2
    
    27 April 2023 at 1:01 pm
    
    Can you name one CGT in the world that includes the family home – it's near exclusive not to incolude the family homes in any CGT.
    
    In fact, the most prominent proponent of the inclusion of the family home in any CGT is DPF, now of the Taxpayers Union – but as a means to reduce popular support for any CGT.
    - tsmithfield 3.1.2.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 2:25 pm
      
      Germany does.
      
      Though, it can be avoided if you have been living in the house long enough. From the article:
      
      There are a few ways you can reduce the tax you have to pay when selling your property. For example:
      
      Live in the home yourself in the year of the sale and two years prior, at minimum. This means if you move into a house or apartment today, you could resell it tax-free in three years. Just be aware that having the right of residence alone is not enough—you actually have to use the residence yourself.
      - SPC 3.1.2.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:37 pm
        
        So it excludes the home people are living in. Doh.
        
        tsmithfield 3.1.2.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:40 pm
        
        Only if you have been living in it longer than three years.
        
        So, it is still a CGT on the family home in some circumstances.
        
        Plus, inherited homes can be taxed as well.
        
        SPC …
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:46 pm
        
        Presumably it’s designed to capture those who buy to do up (with their untaxed labour) and on-sell for CG
        
        Inherited homes is part of estate tax, part of wealth taxation.
        
        tsmithfield …
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:55 pm
        
        But still the "family home".
        
        Many people buy and sell their homes in a short time in NZ here for a variety of reasons. So, if this tax was in NZ, plenty would be caught by it.
        
        You asked for an example, and I found one in a few seconds of google searching.
        
        SPC …
        
        27 April 2023 at 3:11 pm
        
        And elsewhere you indicate your support for including homes in any CGT.
        
        Yet no one does this.
        
        Germany applies it only within 3 years (little likelihood of CG unless there is doer upper work) and the USA effectively restricts it to those who buy high value property.
        
        tsmithfield …
        
        27 April 2023 at 3:29 pm
        
        And elsewhere you indicate your support for including homes in any CGT.
        
        I support simplicity in tax systems. And, the same argument why other assets should be taxed applies in principle to the family home.
        
        The more complications in a tax system, the more loopholes and opportunites for avoidance.
Ad 4

27 April 2023 at 9:31 am

Would a CGT make NZ more equal, or more prosperous?

I haven't seen this government show how it would improve us.
- That_guy 4.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 9:55 am
  
  To examine the effects of a CGT you first have to have one.
  - Nic the NZer 4.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 10:36 am
    
    The implications discussed for a CGT seem to mostly be around property. If we can't judge this from the bright line test then clearly a CGT doesn't work as intended, because that is largely covered by the bright-line test (and the bright line test would be fully replaced by a CGT).
    
    I think the implications of this report are largely not about tax on property and a lot of the income being reported here was not earned on property.
    
    (Property meaning housing here).
    - Nic the NZer 4.1.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 10:58 am
      
      Should say the report is measuring changes in wealth, not specifically income.
    - mikesh 4.1.1.2
      
      27 April 2023 at 12:05 pm
      
      Income from dividends is mostly taxed at either 33 or 39 percent, albeit that 28 percentage points worth of that tax is paid by the companies in question on the shareholders' behalf.
      - Nic the NZer 4.1.1.2.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 12:13 pm
        
        You're saying the tax rate is miss-stated by the report because a lot of dividend income is notionally paid by companies on shareholders behalf?
        
        I don't understand what point your trying to make with this comment.
        
        mikesh 4.1.1.2.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 3:26 pm
        
        You're saying the tax rate is miss-stated by the report because a lot of dividend income is notionally paid by companies on shareholders behalf?
        
        I don't understand what point your trying to make with this comment.
        
        The shareholder pays the tax on his dividend income, less the tax already paid by the company on it. I have no idea whether this has any effect on the report. However, since the company is paying some of his tax it may give the the impression that the shareholder is is paying less tax on his income than he is. I don't know whether his imputation credit is included with his income.
        
        Nic the NZer …
        
        27 April 2023 at 3:58 pm
        
        and this description (that shareholders pay tax on dividends) had a point? I'm sure the IRD is aware of this fact.
        
        mikesh …
        
        27 April 2023 at 7:58 pm
        
        There seemed to be an idea being bandied about that only wage and salary earners paid tax, or alternatively that other sources of income were less heavily taxed. That of course is untrue.
      - Molly 4.1.1.2.2
        
        27 April 2023 at 12:16 pm
        
        There is an extra problem here that if they focus on capital gains in share investment, it will have a knock on effect on the returns people have from compulsory Kiwisaver schemes.
        
        This is going to be an interesting policy rollout to watch.
        
        So far the options to tax banks and supermarkets that make "excess" profits are flawed in intent. They don't relieve the customers of either from the extra costs, they just redirect a larger share of that extra cost to the government.
        
        Spending reductions may help, and the first tax changes should be relief for those on low incomes, by eliminating tax in the lower threshold and reducing it in the next.
        
        Christopher Randal 4.1.1.2.2.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 6:01 pm
        
        Any "excess profits" tax will result in the consumer paying more as supermarket owners move to recoup the cost of the tax
        
        That's until another law is passed stopping them from doing so – oh wait, the current "tough" stance against supermarkets has really worked well!
- Sanctuary 4.2
  
  27 April 2023 at 9:55 am
  
  I agree, you won't ever get a CGT over the line politically if you try and sell it for dry technocratic reasons like removing "distortions" in the tax system.
  
  It has to be part of a package couched in terms of Kiwi values- fairness, egalitarianism, rewarding Kiwi battlers.
  
  So a CGT on all properties purchased after, say, 1 April 2024. Phase in over five years from that date a tax free income threshold of 10k, starting with the first 2k then adding 2k per annum until 2029. And I'd really like to see an FTT, with the whole system being financially neutral to negate the charges of a tax grab…
  - mikesh 4.2.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 12:09 pm
    
    It has to be part of a package couched in terms of Kiwi values- fairness, egalitarianism, rewarding Kiwi battlers.
    
    And also by obfuscation apparently.
- SPC 4.3
  
  27 April 2023 at 1:10 pm
  
  So the greater productivity of Oz to us, since the 1980's, has nothing to do with the incentive here to speculate for untaxed CG?
  
  Thus those in Oz can more easily afford property ownership (and rentals) off their incomes.
  
  The lack of a CGT allows wealth accumulation – and we have no estate tax or gift duty to mitigate it. Thus inequality and class division – will those with parents who do not own property ever own here or will they have to go to Oz to do so?
  - Nic the NZer 4.3.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 1:52 pm
    
    Productivity is largely a measure of how much income a business can get of its employees time. The most relevant differences between NZ and OZ being population density and general income levels, both of these leading to Australian businesses finding it much easier to turn activity into higher income.
    
    Some of the primary policy differences impacting this would be that Aus often avoids recessions and has had a long standing policy of minimum industry rates leading to slightly higher Aus wage rates over time.
    
    This is much more by policy design rather than about levels of speculative vs productive investment. In fact if you measure it then NZ workers are much more highly skilled and versatile than their overseas counterparts, though at lower wage rates.
    
    If (somehow) the demand was there for NZ businesses then investment in productive returns would likely follow automatically. But on the other hand putting more into expanding a business capacity isn't so obviously lead to the customers showing up in greater numbers.
    - SPC 4.3.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 2:45 pm
      
      If people were investing their savings in things other than property, then they and banks would have a greater focus on other investment. There would be more focus on venture capital, firms would have access to such (share issue) finance. Our whole finance and investment culture would be more advanced.
      
      More companies would grow here, and more would found a business with more capital than that provided by a mortgage on their home.
    - Descendant Of Smith 4.3.1.2
      
      27 April 2023 at 4:56 pm
      
      That is a long winded way of saying NZ business owners are pretty shit at investing in quality businesses that can generate a high rate of return and instead depend on low wage / low productivity businesses such as cafes, tourism, pretend language schools, horticulture…..
      
      Apart from booze – you can make lots of money from booze even if you don't underpay your workers.
      
      The higher income point for workers is important though – just like NZ has had money churn through the economy the last 20 years from baby boomers with two incomes and no kids and no student debt to repay, Australia has had that and better wages and will continue to be helped via those higher wages as the baby boomers reduce their spending as they age.
      
      Money has to churn through the economy to create wealth at the bottom – capital savings does not do this. Fundamentally it is part of what Picketty is saying – violent revolution comes when capital growth to the few dominates over common spending by the many.
lprent 5

27 April 2023 at 10:15 am

Maybe what David Parker is doing is carefully and gradually opening the debate so that the current limited capital gains tax that we have can broadened and expanded.

That is smart just collecting the data to make these types of decisions with. The reaction from Act, the party almost entirely funded by the capital rentiers, was the most interesting. They attacked the whole idea about researching at all.

One thing that I looked at had Act muttering about privacy issues of doing a similar exercise for people on benefits. Just shows how divorced from the real world the nutbars in Act are – because this is the types of information that people on benefits give to MSD, WINZ, and IRD all of the time now and for at least the last 40 years.

I can't see any reason why wealthy who avoid or evade taxation shouldn't provide the same income and asset information as someone who is disabled and on a sickness benefit?

One of the more interesting political analysis came from Richard Harmon at Politik "The big money up against Parker" which may be paywalled.

He points out the level of agreement and the explanation of differences between this study and one carried out by treasury in 2018. My italics.

Treasury found that the high net worth families paid 9.4 per cent of their economic income in tax, but those whose net worth placed them in the middle of the whole population paid 20.2 per cent of their economic income in tax.

Treasury’s analysis was limited to 2018, whereas IRD’s analysis ran from 2015 – 2021.

The Treasury figure would seem to give the lie to the argument from Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon that the inequity evidenced in the IRD study was simply the product of Labour’s profligate spending, which had led to the asset price inflation that had benefited the high net worth households.

“It’s really grossly unfair that we’ve got a government that has mismanaged the economy so badly that they’ve actually created the asset inflation that we’ve seen that has created the inequality that we see today,” he said.

But the Treasury study shows that inequality existed in 2018, well before Labour and the Reserve Bank began the Covid spend-up.

Continue reading at https://www.politik.co.nz/the-big-money-up-against-parker/ | Politik

But of course he would say that. National is also largely funded by the highly wealthy

The most intriguing question left after yesterday’s unveiling of the Inland Revenue study of the tax paid by the ultra-wealthy is who refused to respond to the survey,

Nearly 12 per cent (41) of the 352 families with an estimated net worth of at least $20 million did not agree to respond even though the Tax Administration Act makes such surveys compulsory.

The survey started in November 2021, and the questioning was over by May last year.

As early as November 2021, there were reports that high-net-worth individuals were seeking legal advice to avoid having to participate.

At about the same time, substantial donations from some of the country’s wealthiest individuals began to flow to the National Party.

The party got over $1 million in donations last year, mostly from wealthy individuals like rich listers Trevor Farmer and Craig Heatley who donated $100,000 each, and in April last year, New Zealand’s wealthiest individual, Graeme Hart, donated $250,000.

There is speculation that Hart is one of those who did not respond to the survey, but Revenue Minister David Parker told journalists he did not know who had and who hadn’t.

Nevertheless, the huge flow of money going to the National from the ultra-wealthy points to the politics of the IRD report.

Inevitably it pitches the ordinary taxpayer against the very wealthy and National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday defended the ultra-wealthy. “It’s not the wealthy that are the problem here,” he said.

Continue reading at https://www.politik.co.nz/the-big-money-up-against-parker/ | Politik

Act will have the same political conundrum.

But with National, as Harmon points out, they will have a real political problem trying to push a election message of effectively giving really large tax cuts in dollar terms to the highest income groups. That is their current political party funding model.

In a way, Parker has trapped National.

Luxon yesterday was left defending the high net worth individuals.

“This government has pumped up asset values, and the wealthy have done well.”

But then he may have played right into Labour’s hands by arguing for tax reductions.

“What’s clear is that what this report says very clearly is that working New Zealanders need a tax break,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been talking about for the last year and a half.”

However, Labour now has the opportunity to go into the election delivering tax reductions to middle and lower-income earners, which it pays for by nobbling high-net-worth individuals.

But it will face a very well-financed National Party and its supporters in total opposition.

Continue reading at https://www.politik.co.nz/the-big-money-up-against-parker/ | Politik

A very useful well researched article. It alone just paid for my subscription to it.
- adam 5.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 4:09 pm
  
  Big thanks Lp these excerpts are good.
  
  I got a feeling the greedy only have so many cons left in the bag.
  
  If you don't want to pay tax, I'm sure Belarus will have you, or maybe a dozen other banana republics. Otherwise if you want to live in a civilised society, and not be a greedy wanker – pay your bloody taxes.
- Patricia Bremner 5.2
  
  28 April 2023 at 2:17 am
  
  Excellent comments LP You expressed what I bumbled through.
Sabine 6

27 April 2023 at 10:48 am

yeah, sadly since 2017 not a single person in the Labour Party saw the need for it, i guess it must be election time.
- Nic the NZer 6.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 10:55 am
  
  Sabine your too smart for politics.
  - Sabine 6.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 11:33 am
    
    not sure if you are snarky of not, i don't have a sense of humor that i am aware of, but we had this captial gains taxation discussion for many years, under John Key, under Jacinda Ardern and now under Chippy.
    
    We have had the discussion of a tax free threshold as it is in OZ under all these PMs. We have had the discussion for a tax on high income for a while now.
    
    And here we are again, discussing the same thing, hoping the people that did nothing for the last 5 years will change it.
    
    So i can only assume that we are in an election year, the Green Party is about to implode in their own juices, and Labour needs to rally the faithful, and chances are it will be enough, but do I expect changes coming? No.
    
    In the meantime CHCH closes its only birthing unit, hospitals are overflowing, children leave school barely able to count and read, roads are held together by potholes and so on and so forth.
    - SPC 6.1.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 1:04 pm
      
      Christchurch is getting a new birthing unit twice the size of the one closing later this year.
      - Sabine 6.1.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 1:31 pm
        
        oh great….that was not clear by the article that i read. Hopefully it does happen.
        
        SPC 6.1.1.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 1:45 pm
        
        The problem is the current unit is staffed by midwives – a nationwide shortage (so they have staffing problems). The new unit (at the hospital) – probably by doctors and nurses.
        
        Sabine …
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:52 pm
        
        The problem is that once closed there is no birthing unit at all, staffed by midwives or others until the other one is opened. And unless the country starts hiring nurses and doctors by the hundreds you still have that nation wide shortages for nurses, doctors and midwives that we currently have.
        
        In the meantime the birthing bodies can just home birth alone, or with the aid of a midwife if they find one, and if it goes wrong they can call an ambulance – but they are short staffed too, and i guess that needs to happen before anything changes. But then i guess the birthing bodies are made for birthing and really its just a birthing body, no one of consequences should this go wrong.
Tiger Mountain 7

27 April 2023 at 11:52 am

I still remember during the first media rush of “Jacinda–mania” when in a puff piece style magazine interview Ms Ardern talked about her media and personal interests. A recent Thomas Piketty book was on her shelf, and she candidly admitted to having not finished it.

And that is 99% of the Labour Caucus problem–lack of a class left analysis and ideology. They are captured by monetarist orthodoxy & an embedded neo liberal Parliamentary consensus, hugging the centre line and the middle class and the employing class.

A circuit breaker is needed, and at the moment that looks like Te Pāti Māori in a tight election. For 2026 there will hopefully be a new gen led mass community movement that will finally boot Rogernomics and Ruthanasia–for the love of all that is good or could be…
- Stephen 7.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 12:34 pm
  
  Is there a socialist left in the Cabinet? Or indeed the caucus?
  - Thinker 7.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 12:41 pm
    
    Ruthanasia seems to be redefining herself as the poster child for the downtrodden:
    
    How have we got to the point where our lowest-waged workers are now paying tax rates that were set up to sock it to those on higher incomes?
    
    If you’re a minimum wage earner who works more than 40 hours a week, you’re now in the middle $48,000 tax bracket, paying 30% on any additional earnings.
    
    Inflation has dragged you into a higher tax bracket.
    
    To make things worse, the higher bracket at such a modest income level is a tax on ambition that risks killing the incentive to upskill, gun for promotion or take on a side gig.
    
    The idea that drives progressive taxation is that as people become better off, they should pay higher taxes. We need to rethink this logic. The trouble is that our so-called progressive rates have become regressive, hitting minimum-wage workers.
    
    https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2023/04/ruth-richardson-taxation-problem-i.html
    - SPC 7.1.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 2:02 pm
      
      Only if you fall for it.
      
      The people most disadvantaged by lower tax revenues are those who use state schools, public health care and are either reliant on state housing or the AS (rentals) and WFF tax credits to afford rent.
      
      Without the bracket creep or some specific provision, we cannot afford the rising cost of health – aging population (nor Super). Note she has no regret about not making any provision for these costs in her responsible budget regime. Talk about even now, not getting it. Labour at least did the Cullen Fund.
      
      A wealth tax could cover an increase in the low income tax earner rebate (currently only $10 a week between $24-48,000, easy to broaden this to $14,000 to 60,000 – median wage).
      
      A CGT could cover any threshold changes.
    - mikesh 7.1.1.2
      
      27 April 2023 at 3:33 pm
      
      Since altering tax bracket thresholds would put more money in peoples' pockets it would seem counterproductive during times of inflation. And when inflation does not exist it's unnecessary. In that situation a progressive tax system works just as it is supposed to.
    - Tricledrown 7.1.1.3
      
      28 April 2023 at 12:19 pm
      
      Thinker you are forgetting that working for families and rent subsidy community services card etc. Single people or those who don't have families don't have the liability of dependents .So very few people pay top levels of tax.If those people making tax free profits paid their fair share those on taxable wages would pay less and tax bands could be moved to higher levels
  - Tiger Mountain 7.1.2
    
    27 April 2023 at 1:54 pm
    
    Not in classic terms. Michael Wood, MP Mt Roskill is about as close as they come. He has good achievements for working class people and the country–Coastal Shipping commitment, Bus Driver pay increases etc.
tsmithfield 8

27 April 2023 at 12:17 pm

First they came for the Uber-Rich, and I said nothing.

Then they came for the wealthy and comfortable, and I said nothing.

Then they came for the professional people and I said nothing…

Then they came for…
- bwaghorn 8.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 12:30 pm
  
  They came for me years ago , it's time the tax evaders and loop hole leapers got cornered as well
- Thinker 8.2
  
  27 April 2023 at 12:33 pm
  
  Assuming you earn your income from wages and not capital gains, "they" came for you and me a long time ago.
  - Descendant Of Smith 8.2.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 2:02 pm
    
    And my disabled non-working spouse who somehow I'm supposed to save for retirement for despite paying an extra $6,000 per annum in tax over a couple earning the same amount.
    
    My parents luckily were born at a time where you could claim a tax rebate for a non-working partner.
    - SPC 8.2.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 2:06 pm
      
      Campaign for the right of the non working partner to get independent support (unable to work, caring for someone, looking after children or looking for work).
      
      Those on disability payments have this problem when they partner. Couples who marry do too when one loses their job – yet unmarried flatmates get their own access to support. This is long overdue for reform.
      - Sabine 8.2.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 2:55 pm
        
        That was already 'campaigned' on by various groups for many years, and Labour did nothing. 5+ years of fuck all. 3+ years of a full majority squandered.
        
        What is the poor part in this is that if these spouses worked and paid taxes they have earned these benefits, yet are not granted access to them.
        
        ditto with secondary tax, for people that work several jobs to have enough to pay rent/ food/ electricity.
        
        Descendant Of Smith 8.2.1.1.1.1
        
        27 April 2023 at 4:02 pm
        
        Yep to that. She spent part of her life working and part raising kids with lots of hospitalisation and extra costs and disability. We are forever grateful that our taxes paid for the specialist and hospital costs when they were young. All kids now work and are productive – though one has now at 30 moved to Australia for better employers and wages. Daughter simply wouldn't be here with our good public hospitals.
        
        Secondary tax is a bit of a misnomer – the PAYE tables for employers to use are designed to treat your income from them as the only source of income. This means all multiple sources gt taxed at the lowest rate which is fine if you have only one source. If you have more than one source you will not get PAYED enough to pay sufficient tax eg if you had three jobs earning $20,000 each each job would be taxed as if it was in the $0 to $20,000 bracket and you would get a bill at end of year.
        
        One needs to pay PAYE in this scenario at $0-$20,000, $20,000 to $40,000 and $40,000 to $60,000. (For the pedants I haven't worried about the $ rounding here).
        
        Secondary tax is simply a PAYE method to mitigate this effect. You should in fact ask IRD to give you a special tax rate based on earning $60,000 per year and give this to your employers to deduct PAYE at that rate.
        
        It doesn't matter whether you income is from one or three jobs – you'll pay the same amount of tax. Working out the right amount of PAYE to pay is the tricky part.
        
        And lets not forget Labour removed the ability to include underage partners in NZS thereby meaning many of us will have to work beyond 65 now as well. I suspect I’ll die before my wife gets super as per all the other genetically related men in my family. I notice in forums etc some couples are just discovering the impact of this change.
      - Descendant Of Smith 8.2.1.1.2
        
        27 April 2023 at 4:21 pm
        
        The irony being that the argument against poor people getting this as a tax rebate is that the rich might get it as well.
        
        We have very rich friends who gloat about having a community services card. Anything based on taxable income for entitlement can be rorted.
        
        Universal assistance is always better and easier to administer. We should return to universal family benefit as well and simply tax high incomes more highly to recoup the cost.
        
        If we go capital gains exempt the family home being lived in but impose stamp duty on it if sold.
        
        Sabine 8.2.1.1.2.1
        
        28 April 2023 at 7:54 am
        
        i am just simply for a. worked? – entitled to unemployment benefits, irrespective of marital status. need assistance – entitled to it as per the law.
        
        One reason imho we have these high rates of domestic issues in NZ is the fact that people don't have enough money, one of the reason being that being in a relationship will take away benefits cause 'the other' is your meal ticket. We have known that for a long time.
        
        as for secondary tax, those that have more then one job are also often on the poor end of the income, again, all i would like to see is an easy solution for people that have three jobs but don't work more then the average full week, should be paid an average full week and taxed per se. Not needing to ask IRD for a special income tax group, not being taxed higher by the end week and thus not earning the money that is needed, and thus benefits are needed.
        
        Ideally we get a government one day that will make it so that working is actually better then being on the benefit.
        
        But i am not holding my breath.
        
        I hope that your family is doing well in all of this.
- Patricia Bremner 8.3
  
  27 April 2023 at 2:12 pm
  
  That barrow you are pushing has a squeaky wheel, and your goods are shoddy.
  
  The fallacy of a tax for the uber-rich hitting the poor, if we introduce a mechanism to help the uber-wealthy pay that 11% they are currently "managing" to avoid. "Tui"
  
  It is ludicrous to infer the Government is so greedy they will come after all sectors…that is a deflection from the missing 11% not paid by the uber-rich.
  
  The poor or the middle do not have the ability to hire help to structure their affairs to minimise tax.
  
  The Government has to do that for them through adjusting the progressive system.
  
  Things we want as a community through Government need to be paid for fairly, and this work by Parker may lead to changes in tax brackets and upper level taxes to even the playing field.
  
  It is not the Government being greedy!! It is the "Uber-Rich" who are not participating fairly, currently they are getting an 11% "dividend" on their wealth.
  
  The Government wants only what they should be paying. Some of this 11% Dividend" will be tax evasion or at best avoidance which they and their accountants work. Many have been pulled up through the IRD's new systems, but other dodges need to be fixed.
  
  So they are coming for that group at last, having set up systems that IRD use well, and by getting the majority of this group to self report, Parker's research gives a lie to Luxon and the National Party saying this group need a tax cut as they are overpaying. What a lie that is.
- That_guy 8.4
  
  27 April 2023 at 2:13 pm
  
  But they didn't come for the Uber-Rich first, or at all, and if they did, I would say "OH YEAH!", not nothing. Because the Uber-Rich are Uber-Rich because they own Uber-assets.
  
  Who did "they" come for first? Workers, not asset-owners. Workers.
- AB 8.5
  
  27 April 2023 at 6:28 pm
  
  first they came for…
  
  Excellent – comparing a debate about tax policy in a modern social democratic state to a murderous totalitarian dictatorship. And equating being taxed to being killed. Seems fair and balanced.
  
  I described above how slippery slope arguments run in both directions and the implication is that they will result in a contradiction. Essentially: if I can't do something because it might lead to me doing something else, then I can't do anything. And if I can't do nothing about one issue, because it might lead me to doing nothing about another issue, then I can't do nothing either. I can't do nothing and I can't do anything.
- mikesh 8.6
  
  29 April 2023 at 10:48 am
  
  Well, as the bishop said to the actress, "I came for her".
Thinker 9

27 April 2023 at 12:36 pm

Was thinking about the other elephant in the room – speculative tax.

I seem to remember a debate some years ago about if 0.0025% (that's one quarter of one percent) tax was put on every external currency speculation from offshore, it would translate into billions of extra income for New Zealand.

Does anyone remember that?

Surely, that would be the place to start, without taxing New Zealanders more than they already are and, sorry I'm not an economist, I think it would help our dollar to be more stable and help exporters, too.
tsmithfield 10

27 April 2023 at 12:37 pm

It could be a moot discussion, because it looks like Hipkins is not planning to introduce a CGT, not in the coming budget, anyway.
- Craig H 10.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 2:33 pm
  
  Parker himself said policy changes were for cabinet or parties during election campaigns. Given how close to the Budget we are, I can't see cabinet doing anything this year about it.
Ad 11

27 April 2023 at 12:58 pm

Great to see Prime Minister Hipkins kill all speculation this morning, ruling out both a Capital Gains Tax and a cyclone levy.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/watch-live-chris-hipkins-torpedoes-tax-speculation/PPPYNGLUFRBORLILDEJC22LWQA/

Hipkins may not be an ideological giant but at least he's not out of touch with the political suicide of proposing higher taxes in the middle of a massive cost of living blowout.
- SPC 11.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 1:17 pm
  
  If Hipkins does not propose to tax the wealthy to afford public spending and or income tax relief Labour will lose.
  - Tiger Mountain 11.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 1:48 pm
    
    There is a venerable Labour movement saying…“If we fight we might lose, but if we don’t fight, we will definitely lose.”
    
    Labour needs to take the plunge. They have an absolute Parliamentary majority until October, they could take action right now.
    
    The population demographics are shifting towards the new gens many of whom are doing it hard, locked out of home ownership, renting overpriced dumps, paying off student loans, precarious employment, and only knowing a digital world. By 2026 they will rule, the worry is if the Natzos and ACT gain office this year it will be hard to undo the damage.
    - Anne 11.1.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 6:55 pm
      
      Absolutely TM.
      
      Who doesn't know young people who are fighting a losing battle to have what is their absolute right – a home they can call their own? Nobody.
      
      All they want is the certainty and security that their forebears took for granted. Nothing more.
      
      And most of all I endorse:
      
      There is a venerable Labour movement saying…“If we fight we might lose, but if we don’t fight, we will definitely lose.”
  - Ad 11.1.2
    
    27 April 2023 at 2:18 pm
    
    The Green voter can make that choice if they want.
    
    I can't see another prospective voter who wants a More Tax policy for this election.
    - SPC 11.1.2.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 7:11 pm
      
      Most people would pay less tax, if there was a CGT and or wealth tax to balance out collection.
      
      If Labour says only those to the left of them would lower tax on those below the median wage, by increasing the tax on CG and wealth – where exactly do they stand?
      
      That is the policy of the Liberal Party in Oz and many other right of centre parties. Being to the left of National on tax is not left of centre.
  - Incognito 11.1.3
    
    27 April 2023 at 9:31 pm
    
    Government can decide that it won’t introduce new taxes and Labour can campaign on new taxes 😉
    - SPC 11.1.3.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 10:22 pm
      
      Only if the PM wants to win the election.
      - Incognito 11.1.3.1.1
        
        28 April 2023 at 9:03 am
        
        I think both you and I know the answer to that rhetorical question.
        
        Hipkins has been showing a drive & energy and yesterday’s speech included enough positive signs for me to have hope and some confidence in some of our politicians. Hipkins is getting closer to a plan with a vision. Luxon and National, OTOH, have no plan whatsoever, unless it is BAU and/or going back to the past that never was, and want to win because they believe it is their turn.
- That_guy 11.2
  
  27 April 2023 at 1:44 pm
  
  National: We Will Do Nothing but will blather about struggling kiwi battlers and the politics of envy
  
  Labour: We Will Do Nothing but will blather about kindness and equality
  
  Some choice. Most people aren't policy wonks, they vote for values that inspire them. Nobody is going to be inspired to vote in this election, and low voter turnout favours the right.
  - Ad 11.2.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 2:22 pm
    
    Labour will continue to support people who need support with the largest taxpayer cash subsidies year on year since the 1970s. And do it better than anyone else.
    - That_guy 11.2.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 2:25 pm
      
      I am sure you're correct. I'm also sure that the average voter is far less informed than you and will vote on feels, not reals. This feels totally uninspiring.
ianmac 12

27 April 2023 at 1:30 pm

Wouldn't it be loverly to do this in NZ. Mr Luxon might blush.This might help:

In Sweden and Finland, people can find out about anyone else's tax returns just by making a phone call, but Norway is the only country where you can just look up that information on a government website.

https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=APwXEddRDq8-kA3oPvlGiZQ93Tjtu-L28w%3A1682558702311&lei=7s5JZPrVEojz4-EPx8mbsA8&q=sweden%20tax%20returns%20public&ved=2ahUKEwj6hI_O88j-AhWI-TgGHcfkBvYQsKwBKAN6BAhUEAQ&biw=1462&bih=844&dpr=1
- Descendant Of Smith 12.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 2:27 pm
  
  Yep always supported this and the open publication of salaries.
  
  Part of the "you can see my tax return" includes that those requesting to see it are notified to the person whose tax return it is as well.
  
  I also support a public register of trust beneficiaries and disbursements. I've seen some shocking cases where only a privileged few get the disbursements and others don't even know they are a beneficiary.
Descendant Of Smith 13

27 April 2023 at 2:21 pm

The other thing about this report is that it doesn't even include an assessment of those private good things that the well-off enjoy that slide under the radar – personal use of business goods, personal use of business vehicles, disbursement of money from the increasing capital value of trusts, overseas trips for business that just happen to always co-incide with All Black tests, etc but can be put down as a business expense, the home office, the paying of wages to a non-working partner to reduce tax liability – occasionally coming unstuck when there is a work related accident to the actual earner, the home office, phone, newspapers etc as a business expense.

These are things that go on every day that wage and salary earners simply cannot do.

I'm still of the view that a turnover tax is much more useful that the current system. Leave expenses out of the taxation factor and let shareholders etc take responsibility for managing that.
- alwyn 13.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 3:18 pm
  
  "Hipkins said he was always happy to pay the tax governments had asked him to pay."
  
  "When the previous National Government cut my taxes I didn't agree with that – I was happy to continue to contribute more."
  
  https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/04/chris-hipkins-admits-he-s-wealthy-as-inland-revenue-probes-how-much-tax-rich-people-are-paying.html
  
  Perhaps our PM could take a look at this list of things you object to and scrap his use of some of them. Why, for example, do we provide all the Cabinet Ministers with unlimited use of Limos' for their official duties and also supply them, every 3 years, with a brand new car for their, and their families private use? Couldn't they pay for their own luxuries?
  - Patricia Bremner 13.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 9:24 pm
    
    Yes Alwyn. I can think of an occasion when walking would have been better.
- Sabine 13.2
  
  27 April 2023 at 3:58 pm
  
  The other thing about this report is that it doesn't even include an assessment of those private good things that the well-off enjoy that slide under the radar – personal use of business goods, personal use of business vehicles, disbursement of money from the increasing capital value of trusts, overseas trips for business that just happen to always co-incide with All Black tests, etc but can be put down as a business expense, the home office, the paying of wages to a non-working partner to reduce tax liability – occasionally coming unstuck when there is a work related accident to the actual earner, the home office, phone, newspapers etc as a business expense.
  
  Again, who most benefits from all these tax loopholes. Generally the ones at the higher end of income. Again, i re-iterate, i do not think any party in parliament would freely increase the tax burden on themselves first or ever.
  
  we could have a creative look at taxes, import the income system from OZ, no tax at the low income end, higher tax at the high income tax, we could close these loopholes you speak about, we could tax car ownership and promote a tax refund for public transport use. Germany created a 'solidarity tax' after unification, why not have a one of timed i.e. 1 year only such a tax to rebuild after the cyclones, and heck what happened to the millions donated to the relieve fund?
  - Patricia Bremner 13.2.1
    
    28 April 2023 at 2:24 am
    
    Red Cross said they would pay out the relief fund by June.
    - Sabine 13.2.1.1
      
      28 April 2023 at 7:56 am
      
      i hope they pay out the interest that they received on the 18 million too, cause the people that lost everything at the moment and for the last few weeks sure could have done with Red Cross showing up with more then just good words and a few buckets.
alwyn 14

27 April 2023 at 3:07 pm

If you want to read an informed, and relatively neutral, appraisal of Parker's hobby horse I would recommend this post by Michael Reddell. He was a RBNZ senior official back in the days when it had some significant firepower and before Ord replaced the Economists with PR flunkies.

He knows what he is talking about and it is well worth your time to read the whole thing while you find out the bits that Parker hasn't told you.

https://croakingcassandra.com/2023/04/27/parker-taxation-and-that-ird-report/
adam 15

27 April 2023 at 4:14 pm

Duce Luxton, can't even lye.

His spin doctors are having a hard time cleaning up the shit he is spinning.

What a truly juvenile response from a so called leader/duce.
- Lebleaux 15.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 5:37 pm
  
  Yep, nearly as juvenile as referring to Luxon as Duce
  - adam 15.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 8:08 pm
    
    Meow…
Ad 16

27 April 2023 at 5:20 pm

“Somehow, New Zealand’s policy advising community decided it would restrict most of its attention to the ways income tax could be perfected rather than question whether income taxes (which are particularly distortionary when applied to capital incomes) should be replaced by other taxes. It is almost as if we have the Stockholm Tax Syndrome – fallen in love with a system that abuses us.”

A broad-based capital gains tax would just reinforce that problem.

I would have preferred Labour to generate a discussion about the policies that are going to make local companies bigger, with greater dividends, far more attractive than owning houses, and worth holding shares in businesses for the long term.

The best way to avoid any tax on your capital is to hold onto it and grow it.

If Labour or National had decent policy on that, I would wake up to economic development and I suspect so would Hipkins.

After all is Minister Wood can get cross-Parliamentary support on a congestion tax (as he did yesterday), then Hipkins can get cross-Parliamentary support on a business wealth generation pack.
- Ad 16.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 6:12 pm
  
  LInk to the quote.
  
  https://croakingcassandra.com/2023/04/27/parker-taxation-and-that-ird-report/
- RedLogix 16.2
  
  27 April 2023 at 6:33 pm
  
  Yes. While one cannot fault the broader left for instinctively wanting to sock it to the rich, the question of whether a CGT would change anything for the better is harder to answer.
  
  Many other countries – notably Australia – have CGT's and are notably not taxation nirvanas either. (Accountants, lawyers and tax experts do love the chargeable hours complex CGT’s generate however.)
- alwyn 16.3
  
  27 April 2023 at 8:20 pm
  
  I fear that if he tried to get support for a genuine policy that would provide business wealth generation he would discover the truth of the comment that is attributed to Churchill
  
  "The opposition occupies the benches in front of you, but the enemy sits behind you"
  
  I think if he tried to do such a thing he would be devoured by his own caucus. Support from the Opposition might be possible. From his own Party I suspect it would be merely a wishful dream.
pat 17

27 April 2023 at 7:49 pm

To establish whether any 'tax' is 'desirable' it may be wise to first establish the purpose of taxation
- Descendant Of Smith 17.1
  
  27 April 2023 at 8:32 pm
  
  It is pretty clear, and has been for many years, that the cost of the baby boomers superannuation must be met as well as their increased health needs. Those two things are going to happen.
  
  Increasing the age of NZS will simply mean that many poor people and blue collar workers and Maori will never see a cent of NZS ie increasing the age favours the well off.
  - RedLogix 17.1.1
    
    27 April 2023 at 8:40 pm
    
    The "health needs' thing is I suspect a tad over-rated. Most people are not much of an extra burden to the health system until the last few years of their life – regardless of age. Whether they pass on at 65 as our grandparents did, or at 95 as many do now, there is not much difference.
    
    What matters is 'years of healthy life' – and for much of their ‘retirement’ older adults do continue to contribute to the economy in various ways.
    
    The big problem is that in most of the developed world the Boomer generation was the largest cohort – almost all being smaller in size. So as the Boomers retire – and fully half of us turned 65 last year – the generations to replace us in the workforce are typcially smaller. This demographic inversion is a wholly novel situation in all of human history – way more novel than a relatively mild virus.
    - Descendant Of Smith 17.1.1.1
      
      27 April 2023 at 9:40 pm
      
      When I was young and playing rugby a visit to A&E meant a wait with other sports people, car accident victims, sick toddlers and drunks – whereas a visit these days is overwhelmingly old people even at 2:00 am in the morning.
      
      This before the big wave of dementia and diabetes hits.
      
      It has definitely changed.
  - Patricia Bremner 17.1.2
    
    28 April 2023 at 2:26 am
    
    That is already the case.
    - Descendant Of Smith 17.1.2.1
      
      28 April 2023 at 7:43 am
      
      Aye but has yet to peak.
UncookedSelachimorpha 18

27 April 2023 at 9:19 pm

Brilliant work by Labour and Parker here I think. I'm not sure the best way to correct the massive injustice in our tax and financial system, but solid information is a good start.

Links to the actual report and associated materials are here:

https://www.ird.govt.nz/hwi-research-project
- Patricia Bremner 18.1
  
  28 April 2023 at 2:28 am
  
  Thanks. That sure puts egg on Luxon's pate.!!
  - UncookedSelachimorpha 18.1.1
    
    28 April 2023 at 7:11 am
    
    It is almost amazing how hard and fast Luxon and Seymour have gone into bat for the rich on this one!
georgecom 19

29 April 2023 at 5:39 pm

a phrase I have heard used in Aussie, a dollar earned is a dollar earned and should be taxed. Simply comes down really to whether kiwis think it is fair that some types of income are taxed and others are not. If it's not fair, a CGT goes some way to readdressing that issue.

Luxon was totally disingenuous the day the report came out. he bleated on about labour spending and raising tax thresholds but failed to answer the question, is it fair some types of income are taxed and others not. It's not about spending Luxon, it's about what income streams are and are not taxed. Come out and state clearly where you stand on that matter.
mikesh 20

30 April 2023 at 9:43 am

Simply comes down really to whether kiwis think it is fair that some types of income are taxed and others are not.

The assumption with regard to capital gain is that the seller has done nothing to add value to a property since he bought it. So the part of the selling price that covers capital gain is a simple transfer of income from the buyer to the seller with no new income being created. However that income has already been taxed in the hands of the buyer. Therefor it's not true that "income" from capital gain is untaxed. It has been taxed in the hands of the seller.

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5 hours ago
Nick’s Awards – 2024

Leave your office, run past your funeralLeave your home, car, leave your pulpitJoin us in the streets where weJoin us in the streets where weDon't belong, don't belongHere under the starsThrowing light…Song: Jeffery BuckleyToday, I’ll discuss the standout politicians of the last 12 months. Each party will receive three awards, ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

9 hours ago
Webworm’s 2024 Year In Review

Hi,A lot’s happened this year in the world of Webworm, and as 2024 comes to an end I thought I’d look back at a few of the things that popped. Maybe you missed them, or you might want to revisit some of these essay and podcast episodes over your break ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

9 hours ago
Those Metal Motherfuckers: Cinema in the Year of AI

Hi,I wanted to share this piece by film editor Dan Kircher about what cinema has been up to in 2024.Dan edited my documentary Mister Organ, as well as this year’s excellent crowd-pleasing Bookworm.Dan adores movies. He gets the language of cinema, he knows what he loves, and writes accordingly. And ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

9 hours ago
Xmas then and now.

Without delving into personal details but in order to give readers a sense of the year that was, I thought I would offer the study in contrasts that are Xmas 2023 and Xmas 2024: Xmas 2023 in Starship Children’s Hospital (after third of four surgeries). Even opening presents was an ...

KiwipoliticoBy Pablo

1 day ago
a/b/o and worldbuilding

Heavy disclaimer: Alpha/beta/omega dynamics is a popular trope that’s used in a wide range of stories and my thoughts on it do not apply to all cases. I’m most familiar with it through the lens of male-focused fanfic, typically m/m but sometimes also featuring m/f and that’s the situation I’m ...

The little pakehaBy chrismiller

1 day ago
YouTube’s Biggest Star “Mr Beast” Has Made a Massive Turd

Hi,Webworm has been pretty heavy this year — mainly because the world is pretty heavy. But as we sprint (or limp, you choose) through the final days of 2024, I wanted to keep Webworm a little lighter.So today I wanted to look at one of the biggest and weirdest elements ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

1 day ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #52

A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 22, 2024 thru Sat, December 28, 2024. This week's roundup is the second one published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, ...

Skeptical Science

2 days ago
The End of the Horrifying Chris Luxon Painting Saga

Hi,Webworm has been following occasional artist (and Webworm writer) Josh Drummond’s unnerving portrait of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon since he first listed it on TradeMe.Back on October 1, Webworm broke the news that the painting had been removed from online auction site TradeMe for reasons that included not ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

2 days ago
Climate Change Christmas

We’ll have a climate change ChristmasFrom now until foreverWarming our hearts and mindsAnd planet all togetherSpirits high and oceans higherChestnuts roast on wildfiresIf coal is on your wishlistMerry Climate Change ChristmasSong by Ian McConnellReindeer emissions are not something I’d thought about in terms of climate change. I guess some significant ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

2 days ago
KP 2024 year end review.

KP continues to putt-putt along as a tiny niche blog that offers a NZ perspective on international affairs with a few observations about NZ domestic politics thrown in. In 2024 there was also some personal posts given that my son was in the last four months of a nine month ...

KiwipoliticoBy Pablo

3 days ago
Madman Across the Water

I can see very wellThere's a boat on the reef with a broken backAnd I can see it very wellThere's a joke and I know it very wellIt's one of those that I told you long agoTake my word I'm a madman, don't you knowSongwriters: Bernie Taupin / Elton JohnIt ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

3 days ago
Nikki Noboats adrift – have the wheels finally fallen off this inept government?

.Acknowledgement: Tim PrebbleThanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..With each passing day of bad headlines, squandering tax revenue to enrich the rich, deep cuts to our social services and a government struggling to keep the lipstick on its neo-liberal pig ...

Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy

4 days ago
A turn to the Big Stick.

This is from the 36th Parallel social media account (as brief food for thought). We know that Trump is ahistorical at best but he seems to think that he is Teddy Roosevelt and can use the threat of invoking the Monroe Doctrine and “Big Stick” gunboat diplomacy against Panama and ...

KiwipoliticoBy Pablo

4 days ago
Time is an illusion

Don't you cry tonightI still love you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightDon't you cry tonightThere's a heaven above you, babyAnd don't you cry tonightSong: Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin“Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so”, said possibly the greatest philosopher ever to walk this earth, Douglas Adams.We have entered the ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

4 days ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #52 2024

Open access notables Trends in Oceanic Precipitation Characteristics Inferred From Shipboard Present-Weather Reports, 1950–2019, Tran & Petty, Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres: Although ship reports are susceptible to subjective interpretation, the inferred distributions of these phenomena are consistent with observations from other platforms such as satellites and coastal surface stations. ...

Skeptical Science

5 days ago
Todd Stephenson and Stephen Rainbow: David Farrar’s Ideological Plant In The Human Rights Commissi...

In 2018, David Farrar wrote a series of suggestions on Kiwiblog as to how the far right might best promote freedom of speech as a method of limiting other civil rights (in this particular case, academic freedom, a campaign that has just paid off this this month as David Seymour ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

5 days ago
A Magical Time of Year

Because you're magicYou're magic people to meSong: Dave Para/Molly Para.Morena all, I hope you had a good day yesterday, however you spent it. Today, a few words about our celebration and a look at the various messages from our politicians.A Rockel XmasChristmas morning was spent with the five of us ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

5 days ago
Climate Adam: 2024 Through the Eyes of a Climate Scientist

This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). 2024 has been a series of bad news for climate change. From scorching global temperatures leading to devastating ...

Skeptical Science

6 days ago
Merry Christmas To All Bowalley Road Readers.

Ríu Ríu ChíuRíu Ríu Chíu is a Spanish Christmas song from the 16th Century. The traditional carol would likely have passed unnoticed by the English-speaking world had the made-for-television American band The Monkees not performed the song as part of their special Christmas show back in 1967. The show's ...

Bowalley Road

6 days ago
Merry Christmas: 2024

Dunedin’s summer thus far has been warm and humid… and it looks like we’re in for a grey Christmas. But it is now officially Christmas Day in this time zone, so never mind. This year, I’ve stumbled across an Old English version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen: It has a population of just under 3.5 million inhabitants, produces nearly 550,000 tons of beef per year, and boasts a glorious soccer reputation with two World ...

Skeptical Science

1 week ago
Meri Kirihimete 2024

Morena all,In my paywalled newsletter yesterday, I signed off for Christmas and wished readers well, but I thought I’d send everyone a quick note this morning.This hasn’t been a good year for our small country. The divisions caused by the Treaty Principles Bill, the cuts to our public sector, increased ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
Bernard’s Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tues, Dec 24

This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30 am include:Kāinga Ora is quietly planning to sell over $1 billion worth of state-owned land under 300 state homes in Auckland’s wealthiest suburbs, including around Bastion Point, to give the Government more fiscal room to pay for tax cuts and reduce borrowing.A ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago
A Birthday Wish!

Hi,It’s my birthday on Christmas Day, and I have a favour to ask.A birthday wish.I would love you to share one Webworm story you’ve liked this year.The simple fact is: apart from paying for a Webworm membership (thank you!), sharing and telling others about this place is the most important ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

1 week ago
Love, happiness, blur

The last few days have been a bit too much of a whirl for me to manage a fresh edition each day. It's been that kind of year. Hope you don't mind.I’ve been coming around to thinking that it doesn't really matter if you don't have something to say every ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

1 week ago
All I Want For Christmas

The worms will live in every hostIt's hard to pick which one they eat the mostThe horrible people, the horrible peopleIt's as anatomic as the size of your steepleCapitalism has made it this wayOld-fashioned fascism will take it awaySongwriter: Twiggy Ramirez Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
The 1 Good Thing Left In Journalism

Hi,It’s almost Christmas Day which means it is almost my birthday, where you will find me whimpering in the corner clutching a warm bottle of Baileys.If you’re out of ideas for presents (and truly desperate) then it is possible to gift a full Webworm subscription to a friend (or enemy) ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

1 week ago
Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Monday, December 23

This morning’s six standouts for me at 6.30am include:Rachel Helyer Donaldson’s scoop via RNZ last night of cuts to maternity jobs in the health system;Maddy Croad’s scoop via The Press-$ this morning on funding cuts for Christchurch’s biggest food rescue charity;Benedict Collins’ scoop last night via 1News on a last-minute ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51

A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024. Based on feedback we received, this week's roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in ...

Skeptical Science

1 week ago
Dance Magic

Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 week ago
Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities&#821...

ACT would like to dictate what universities can and can’t say. We knew it was coming. It was outlined in the coalition agreement and has become part of Seymour’s strategy of “emphasising public funding” to prevent people from opposing him and his views—something he also uses to try and de-platform ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

1 week ago
Fact brief – Are we heading into an ‘ice age’?

Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Are we heading ...

Skeptical Science

1 week ago
As Our Power Lessens: Published

So the Solstice has arrived – Summer in this part of the world, Winter for the Northern Hemisphere. And with it, the publication my new Norse dark-fantasy piece, As Our Power Lessens at Eternal Haunted Summer: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/issues/winter-solstice-2024/as-our-power-lessens/ As previously noted, this one is very ‘wyrd’, and Northern Theory of Courage. ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

1 week ago
By Any Other Name.

The Natural Choice: As a starter for ten percent of the Party Vote, “saving the planet” is a very respectable objective. Young voters, in particular, raised on the dire (if unheeded) warnings of climate scientists, and the irrefutable evidence of devastating weather events linked to global warming, vote Green. After ...

Bowalley Road

1 week ago
Bernard’s last Saturday Soliloquy for 2024

The Government cancelled 60% of Kāinga Ora’s new builds next year, even though the land for them was already bought, the consents were consented and there are builders unemployed all over the place. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago
Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Saturday, December 21

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashEvery morning I get up at 3am to go around the traps of news sites in Aotearoa and globally. I pick out the top ones from my point of view and have been putting them into my Dawn Chorus email, which goes out with a podcast. ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 week ago
2024 OIA stats

Over on Kikorangi Newsroom's Marc Daalder has published his annual OIA stats. So I thought I'd do mine: 82 OIA requests sent in 2024 7 posts based on those requests 20 average working days to receive a response Ministry of Justice was my most-requested entity, ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 weeks ago
Climate Change: A perverse incentive

The government published its first Biennial Transparency Report under the Paris Agreement yesterday, and the media has correctly noted that it is missing any plan to actually meet our target. While it hypes domestic emissions reductions so far - which have been good, but will likely get worse thanks to ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 weeks ago
Economic Bulletin December 2024

Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury and the Budget Policy Statement from the Minister of Finance tell us about the fiscal position and what to ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

2 weeks ago
NZCTU make submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collective rights of Tangata Whenua. “This Bill seeks to legislate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles that are ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

2 weeks ago
ZB’s Power Couple

I don't knowHow to say what's got to be saidI don't know if it's black or whiteThere's others see it redI don't get the answers rightI'll leave that to youIs this love out of fashionOr is it the time of yearAre these words distraction?To the words you want to hearSongwriters: ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

2 weeks ago
Austerity thumps GDP most since 1991

Our economy has experienced its worst recession since 1991. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 20 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 weeks ago
Weekly Roundup 20-December-2024

Twas the Friday before Christmas and all through the week we’ve been collecting stories for our final roundup of the year. As we start to wind down for the year we hope you all have a safe and happy Christmas and new year. If you’re travelling please be safe on ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

2 weeks ago
The Hoon around the year to December 20, 2024

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the year’s news with: on climate. Her book of the year was Tim Winton’s cli-fi novel Juice and she also mentioned Mike Joy’s memoir The Fight for Fresh Water. ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 weeks ago
The baby-boomers’ last gasp

The Government can head off to the holidays, entitled to assure itself that it has done more or less what it said it would do. The campaign last year promised to “get New Zealand back on track.” When you look at the basic promises—to trim back Government expenditure, toughen up ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

2 weeks ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #51 2024

Open access notables An intensification of surface Earth’s energy imbalance since the late 20th century, Li et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Tracking the energy balance of the Earth system is a key method for studying the contribution of human activities to climate change. However, accurately estimating the surface energy balance ...

Skeptical Science

2 weeks ago
Join us at 5pm for 2024’s last Hoon

Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guests and , ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 weeks ago
Christmas Gifts: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.

“Like you said, I’m an unreconstructed socialist. Everybody deserves to get something for Christmas.”“ONE OF THOSE had better be for me!” Hannah grinned, fascinated, as Laurie made his way, gingerly, to the bar, his arms full of gift-wrapped packages.“Of course!”, beamed Laurie. Depositing his armful on the bar-top and selecting ...

Bowalley Road

2 weeks ago
GDP Figures No Christmas Present for New Zealand

Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed a significant slowdown in the economy over the past six months, with GDP falling by 1% in September, and 1.1% in June said CTU Economist Craig Renney. “The data shows that the size of the economy in GDP terms is now smaller ...

NZCTUBy Stella Whitfield

2 weeks ago
Cheeseburgers and Stunt Monkeys

One last thing before I quitI never wanted any moreThan I could fit into my headI still remember every single word you saidAnd all the shit that somehow came along with itStill, there's one thing that comforts meSince I was always caged and now I'm freeSongwriters: David Grohl / Georg ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

2 weeks ago
MSD rejecting 220 pleas for food grants each day

Sparse offerings outside a Te Kauwhata church. Meanwhile, the Government is cutting spending in ways that make thousands of hungry children even hungrier, while also cutting funding for the charities that help them. It’s also doing that while winding back new building of affordable housing that would allow parents to ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 weeks ago
The Wing Parties’ Economic Policies.

It is difficult to make sense of the Luxon Coalition Government’s economic management.This end-of-year review about the state of economic management – the state of the economy was last week – is not going to cover the National Party contribution. Frankly, like every other careful observer, I cannot make up ...

PunditBy Brian Easton

2 weeks ago
Back on Track

This morning I awoke to the lovely news that we are firmly back on track, that is if the scale was reversed.NZ ranks low in global economic comparisonsNew Zealand's economy has been ranked 33rd out of 37 in an international comparison of which have done best in 2024.Economies were ranked ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

2 weeks ago
Book Review: How Big Things Get Done

This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner Want to know how to do something big? Ask someone who has done it before! Professor Bent Flyvbjerg has spent his career studying megaprojects. In 2023, ...

Greater AucklandBy Guest Post

2 weeks ago
Gordon Campbell On Why We Can’t Survive Two More Years Of This

Remember those silent movies where the heroine is tied to the railway tracks or going over the waterfall in a barrel? Finance Minister Nicola Willis seems intent on portraying herself as that damsel in distress. According to Willis, this country’s current economic problems have all been caused by the spending ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

2 weeks ago
Dragging our way towards the finish line, the end of this year can’t come soon enough for many…

Similar to the cuts and the austerity drive imposed by Ruth Richardson in the 1990’s, an era which to all intents and purposes we’ve largely fiddled around the edges with fixing in the time since – over, to be fair, several administrations – whilst trying our best it seems to ...

exhALANtBy exhalantblog

2 weeks ago
Handling Democracy.

String-Pulling in the Dark: For the democratic process to be meaningful it must also be public. WITH TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in New Zealand’s politicians and journalists steadily declining, restoring those virtues poses a daunting challenge. Just how daunting is made clear by comparing the way politicians and journalists treated New Zealanders ...

Bowalley Road

2 weeks ago
Open letter to the Minister of Dwindling Finances

Dear Nicola Willis, thank you for letting us know in so many words that the swingeing austerity hasn't worked.By in so many words I mean the bit where you said, Here is a sea of red ink in which we are drowning after twelve months of savage cost cutting and ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

2 weeks ago
Open Government: The joke ends

The Open Government Partnership is a multilateral organisation committed to advancing open government. Countries which join are supposed to co-create regular action plans with civil society, committing to making verifiable improvements in transparency, accountability, participation, or technology and innovation for the above. And they're held to account through an Independent ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 weeks ago
An unusual sort of press conference

Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Sapphi

2 weeks ago
This substack has talked about this government’s seeming corruption & pro-corporate issues...

This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEO Our news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

2 weeks ago
NZCTU: Minister needs to listen to the evidence on engineered stone ban

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...

NZCTUBy Stella Whitfield

2 weeks ago
Wednesday 18 December

The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

2 weeks ago
Can the government change its mind on the ferries?

The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 weeks ago
Notes from Afar: Will Luxon Attend Waitangi Day? And Opposition Calls Out Nicola Willis for “C...

Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

2 weeks ago
Member’s morning

Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 weeks ago
Going Backwards

We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

2 weeks ago
Blaming Treasury & Labour, Willis looks for even more Austerity

Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 weeks ago
December-24 AT Board Meeting

Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...

Greater AucklandBy Matt L

2 weeks ago
The Making of a Mental Health Rockstar

Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

2 weeks ago
It could have been worse

Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...

PolitikBy Richard Harman

2 weeks ago

National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4

National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step

Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: National buries 1019 planned homes

It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab

The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom

The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession

The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis

Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
ECE no place to cut corners

The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders

A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects

Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects

The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity

The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less

The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis

With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’

Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...

Māori Party

2 weeks ago
Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again

For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards

The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes

All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again

The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers

The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex

The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty

The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...

Greens

3 weeks ago
Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat

The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...

Labour Blog

3 weeks ago
Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction

New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...

Greens

3 weeks ago
Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day

The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...

Greens

3 weeks ago
Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families

Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...

Greens

3 weeks ago
Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas

Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...

Greens

3 weeks ago
Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation

Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...

Labour Blog

3 weeks ago
Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker

The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...

Labour Blog

3 weeks ago

Māori excel in New Year Honours 2025

Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora e mua - Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead. Māori recipients in the New Year 2025 Honours list show comprehensive dedication to improving communities across the motu that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

9 hours ago
Stay fire safe this summer in 2025

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden is wishing all New Zealanders a great holiday season as Kiwis prepare for gatherings with friends and families to see in the New Year. It is a great time of year to remind everyone to stay fire safe over the summer. “I know ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 day ago
Final-year Fees Free kicks off 1 January 2025

From 1 January 2025, first-time tertiary learners will have access to a new Fees Free entitlement of up to $12,000 for their final year of provider-based study or final two years of work-based learning, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Targeting funding to the final year of study ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

3 days ago
Act on family violence and sexual violence over the summer season

“As we head into one of the busiest times of the year for Police, and family violence and sexual violence response services, it’s a good time to remind everyone what to do if they experience violence or are worried about others,” Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

4 days ago
Be wise around water this summer

Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “New Zealand’s beaches, lakes and rivers are some of the most beautiful in the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
Drive safely this summer

The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“This time of year can be stressful and result in poor decision-making on our roads. Whether you are travelling to see ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce

Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
New intelligence oversight appointments

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
New housing developments able to progress more quickly

Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Actions to speed up air travel delivering results

The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua

The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions

The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants

The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas

People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Appointments to the ENZ board

Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ

The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
More gangs added to Gangs Act list

Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Judicial appointment announced

Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
GDP data highlights importance of growth

The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Strengthening Free Speech in Universities

Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service

Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge

State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge

The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Government boosts support for avian influenza response

The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Levelling the playing field for media advertising

Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Inspector-General of Defence appointed

Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses

The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace

Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land

The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient

Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Diverse skills in community trust appointments

A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit

The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
A busy year in the House

It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Consultation opens on working with engineered stone

“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments

Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
New appointments to the Charities Registration Board

Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Building consent processing times improve

More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago
Faster access to support through Innovation Fund

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago

Pacific leaders remember Jimmy Carter’s ‘pivotal role’ for CNMI

By Mark Rabago, RNZ Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas correspondent The Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas has paid tribute to former US President Jimmy Carter who died yesterday. “Carter played a pivotal role in the historic establishment of the CNMI as a Commonwealth in political union ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

1 hour ago
Vaping kits to be made free for smokers to help them quit

The government will be supplying vaping starter kits to stop-smoking services around the country next week to help adults quit. ...

Radio NZ – political

6 hours ago
The discovery of a rare new fossil sheds light on NZ’s extinct dolphin-like reptiles

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Scofield, Adjunct Professor in Palaeontology, University of Canterbury An artist’s impression of a Platypterigius ichthyosaur. Dmitry Bogdanov, CC BY-SA Ichthyosaurs were reptiles that swam in the seas during the time of the dinosaurs. They evolved separately around 250 million years ago, ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

8 hours ago
Humans will soon be able to mine on the Moon. But should we? 4 questions to consider

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Evie Kendal, Senior Lecturer of Health Promotion, Swinburne University of Technology Project Apollo Archive/Flickr By the end of this decade, nations and private companies may well be mining the surface of the Moon. But as space becomes accessible to more nations ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

8 hours ago
NZ report card 2024: how the country fared in 25 key global and domestic rankings

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images If it’s good enough for school and university students, it’s good enough for entire countries, too. This report card provides a snapshot of how New Zealand fared across a wide ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

8 hours ago
The majority of drowning victims in Australia are men. There are strategies to keep everyone safe

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tom Hartley, Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania Whether it’s sun-soaked beaches, winding rivers, or backyard pools, the aquatic environment is central to the Australian lifestyle. For many, water is a source of leisure, sport, and relaxation, but ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

8 hours ago
How to stay safe in a New Year’s Eve crowd

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Senior Lecturer of Urban Risk & Resilience, UNSW Sydney Elias Bitar/Shutterstock December 31 brings masses of people together to usher in the new year. But when massive crowds gather to party, certain risks – such as overcrowding or alcohol-related ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

8 hours ago
In 2025, let’s make it game on – not game over – for our precious natural world

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darcy Watchorn, Threatened Species Biologist, Wildlife Conservation & Science Department, Zoos Victoria, and Visiting Scholar, School of Life & Environmental Science, Deakin University Jakub Maculewicz/Shutterstock It’s just past midnight in the cool, ancient forests of Tasmania. We’ve spent a long day ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

9 hours ago
Star Wars can teach us about the economy or as Yoda might say, ‘about economics, it can teach’

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra Economists may sometimes sound like they are speaking a language out of this world. But perhaps there are lessons about economics from a galaxy far, far away. The ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

9 hours ago
What was damnatio memoriae? How to get cancelled in Ancient Rome

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Hanaghan, Senior Research Fellow in Latin Christianity in Late Antiquity, Australian Catholic University Munzir Rosdi/Shutterstock People throughout history have deliberately tried to forget corrupt or criminal leaders who offend the public’s sense of morality or justice. The term damnatio memoriae ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

9 hours ago
What has The Warehouse done to my favourite song?

Summer reissue: Alex Casey watches on in horror as the red shed makes a mockery of a beloved 1999 classic. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a ...

The SpinoffBy Alex Casey

10 hours ago
2025 New Year Honours: Six people named Knights and Dames

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has named six people Knights or Dames as part of the 2025 New Year Honours. ...

Radio NZ – political

10 hours ago
How the Gen Z broccoli haircut became big business for a teen barber

Summer reissue: Three teenage barbers in Mt Albert have capitalised on a viral haircut to build businesses on Instagram. Duncan Greive gets a haircut and a lesson in modern business. Photography by Jin Fellet. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these ...

The SpinoffBy Duncan Greive

10 hours ago
The cultural Cabinet’s top picks

Laura Walters, political editorBookThe Men Who Killed the News: The inside story of how media moguls abused their power, manipulated the truth, and distorted democracy by Eric BeecherPerhaps 2024 was the best and worst year to read this book by Aussie media executive Eric Beecher. At a time when news ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Staff

12 hours ago
‘My grandmother lived to 112; despite cancer I’m good for a few more years’

Comment: About a year ago, a very close friend of mine told me that she had stage four cancer. I knew what it felt like to make that phone call telling friends and whānau of one’s plight because I had the same experience and, at the time, was in the ...

NewsroomBy Te Ururoa Flavell

12 hours ago
Hastening 2024’s demise with unstructured days of reading

Opinion: Many of us will be pleased to see the back of 2024 with its global unrest, recession and uncertainty. Longer, sunnier days signal that the dumpster fire that was this year is fast coming to an end.To hasten 2024’s demise I’ve started dreaming about my summer holidays: unstructured days of ...

NewsroomBy Jo Cribb

12 hours ago
The true story behind New Zealand’s emporium empire

Summer reissue: Before $2 shops and Temu, there were Arthur’s, Geoff’s and Pete’s Emporiums – and that was only the beginning. As these local institutions mark their biggest day of the year, Gabi Lardies delves into their shared history. Editor’s note: This story was first published on October 31, 2024. ...

The SpinoffBy Gabi Lardies

12 hours ago
The first Wellingtonian

Summer reissue: Hundreds of years ago, a man named Tara founded the first permanent human settlement in Wellington. The city still bears his name: Te Whanganui a Tara. But what do we actually know about him? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue ...

The SpinoffBy Joel MacManus

12 hours ago
Can Sandringham’s South Asian flavour survive gentrification?

Summer reissue: Thirty years ago, Sandringham wasn’t known for Indian food at all. What will it look like in another three decades? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up ...

The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias

13 hours ago
Daily crossword, Tuesday 31 December

The post Daily crossword, Tuesday 31 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles

13 hours ago
Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 31 December

Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 31 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...

NewsroomBy Newsroom Puzzles

13 hours ago
Palestine protest group condemns NZ’s ‘normalisation of apartheid’ over Israeli tennis player

Asia Pacific Report A Palestine solidarity group has protested over the participation of Israeli tennis player Lina Glushko in New Zealand’s ASB Tennis Classic in Auckland this week, saying such competition raises serious concerns about the normalisation of systemic oppression and apartheid. The Palestine Forum of New Zealand said in ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

1 day ago
Opposing The Normalization Of Apartheid Through Sport

Welcoming Israeli athletes to Aotearoa is not a neutral act. It normalizes the systemic injustices perpetrated by the Israeli state against Palestinians. ...

Scoop politics

1 day ago
Protest Against Israeli Tennis Player At The ASB Tennis Classic Today

Glushko has served in the Israeli military and is an Israeli army reservist. She is representing the rogue, apartheid state of Israel at the tournament. ...

Scoop politics

1 day ago
Jimmy Carter’s idealism and humility left a lasting imprint on American life

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jared Mondschein, Director of Research, US Studies Centre, University of Sydney US President Jimmy Carter waving from Air Force One in 1977. National Archives and Records Administration Former US president Jimmy Carter, a man defined by his humility and idealism, has died ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
A complete list of things I only know about because of The Office

Summer reissue: A spider is an arachnid, not an insect… and 50 other fun and obscure facts, names, places and phrases. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be ...

The SpinoffBy Calum Henderson

1 day ago
Dream job or idle fantasy? What it’s like running horse treks in the Far North

Summer reissue: Selena Anderson from Ahipara Horse Treks seems to have a perfect job. But what’s it like behind the scenes? The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be ...

The SpinoffBy Madeleine Holden

1 day ago
The longer the race, the closer it gets: women are closing in on men when it comes to ultra-enduranc...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Fox-Harding, Lecturer/Researcher, Edith Cowan University dotshock/Shutterstock Men are dominant at most athletic events but ultra-endurance sports (exercising for six hours or more) represent a unique domain where the performance gap between men and women is narrowing significantly. In ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
Why do disinfectants only kill 99.9% of germs? Here’s the science

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Davor Geber/Shutterstock Have you ever wondered why most disinfectants indicate they kill 99.9% or 99.99% of germs, but never promise to wipe out all of them? Perhaps the thought has crossed your mind mid-way ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
Don’t go chasing waterfalls: slippery rocks, currents and daredevil jumpers make Australia’s wat...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Franklin, Professor of Public Health, James Cook University Dangar Falls in northern New South Wales Timothy M. Roberts/Flickr, CC BY-SA Every summer, Australians look for ways to cool down. Millions of us head to the beach. Those inland head for rivers, ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
Holiday playdates are great for kids – but ditch the stress and don’t compare milestones

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley Beasley, Lecturer and Academic Chair in Early Childhood, Murdoch University Photo by cottonbro studio/Pexels During school holidays, playdates can provide a brilliant opportunity for social interactions for both children and their parents. They can help children get to know kids ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
Move over mānuka – here are 5 other delicious native NZ honeys to try this summer

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Grainger, Senior Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry, University of Waikato Getty Images As I write, the summer landscape is bright with pōhutukawa flowers. Sitting in the shade of the “New Zealand Christmas tree”, I can hear bees humming as they move ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
Skyrocketing prices are an age-old problem. Here’s how Roman emperors battled runaway inflation

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Edwell, Associate Professor in Ancient History, Macquarie University Tsvetelina Dyankova/Shutterstock Therefore, who would not know that effrontery hijacks the public interest? […] It ratchets up the prices of things for sale, not fourfold or eightfold but so much that ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
What cost-of-living crisis? Luxury travel is booming – and set to grow further

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anita Manfreda, Senior Lecturer in Tourism, Torrens University Australia surachet khamsuk/Shutterstock About ten years ago, while working at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in the Swiss town of St Moritz, I was shocked to learn a guest once requested an elephant be brought ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
Elon Musk, Gauguin and are we Australia fair? The 10 best podcasts of 2024

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan McHugh, Honorary Associate Professor, Journalism, Consulting Producer, The Greatest Menace, Walkley-winning podcast, University of Wollongong This year saw podcasts attract widespread attention for their influence on the political agenda (a hack that goes back to 2015, when Obama caused outrage with ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

1 day ago
Academics ‘indoctrinating’ students? What the Dickens!

Opinion: I retired from academic life three years ago, having taught mainly 19th-century British literature at Auckland University since 1987. One thing I am pleased to have avoided once retiring is being regularly caught up in the very histrionic representation of universities and their staff in current public rhetoric. But ...

NewsroomBy Joanne Wilkes

1 day ago
Peters on NZ First: ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’

Winston Peters doesn’t trust the polls.They’re unreliable – he knows it, you know it, and we all know it, as the man himself might say.Yet when Peters sits down with Newsroom to discuss New Zealand First’s plans for 2025, polling is the first thing he brings up.“Our internal polls all ...

NewsroomBy Sam Sachdeva

1 day ago
Sez Says: A final 24 thoughts on 2024

1. Lydia Ko clocked golf in 2024. Winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris to complete her set (bronze in Tokyo, silver in Rio), Ko then had the necessary requirements to be inducted into the LGPA Hall of Fame at just 27 years old. Two weeks after the victory in ...

NewsroomBy Sarah Cowley Ross

1 day ago
Is cooking with dog food instead of meat actually fine? I gave it a go

Summer reissue: Results ranged from surprisingly yum to soul-destroying. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign up to be a member today. I love cooking. The kitchen is a hearth of ...

The SpinoffBy Asia Martusia King

2 days ago
When and where does a ‘bach’ become a ‘crib’?

Summer reissue: Alex Casey goes on a linguistic journey to find the true difference between who’s using ‘bach’ and ‘crib’ across our fair nation. The Spinoff needs to double the number of paying members we have to continue telling these kinds of stories. Please read our open letter and sign ...

The SpinoffBy Alex Casey

2 days ago

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