Politicians fall back in love with user pays

Politicians fall back in love with user pays
Both Labour and National seem to be promoting user pays of some sort. (Image: Getty)
Dileepa Fonseka
Politicians are falling back in love with user pays as they discover it's preferable to their pet projects not seeing the light of day. It seems political parties can’t stop talking about all manner of charges now except for the ones they can already levy. There are, after all, a lot of charges and levies they can already use, but they are all apparently more difficult than the new tools: we are told putting petrol taxes up will hurt working families, higher road user charges for heavy vehicles will add to price pressures, m...

More Infrastructure

Property for Industry says valuation cycle turning
Infrastructure

Property for Industry says valuation cycle turning

It cites strong occupancy, lease terms behind and sees strong 2026.

Staff reporters 21 Oct 2025
Labour's Future Fund: a shaky policy debut
Opinion

Pattrick Smellie: Labour's Future Fund: a shaky policy debut

Labour's NZ Future Fund is more sizzle than sausage.

Pattrick Smellie 21 Oct 2025
What Infratil likes about Contact Energy
Infrastructure

What Infratil likes about Contact Energy

Infratil is keeping its options open, while TECT diversifies.

Asset recycling: privatisation or better housekeeping
Policy

Asset recycling: privatisation or better housekeeping

On asset recycling, Silvana Schenone cites Marie Kondo rather than Milton Friedman.

Dileepa Fonseka 20 Oct 2025