Giving a fig about Labour's tax policy options

Giving a fig about Labour's tax policy options
Grant Robertson loyally explains how Chris Hipkins ditched his wealth tax plan. (Image: BusinessDesk)
Pattrick Smellie
Christopher Luxon must be feeling lucky today.If Chris Hipkins hadn’t bottled on Labour's wealth tax plan, the election would have been fought against a backdrop of every taxpayer getting a $20 a week tax cut from Sept 1 – six weeks out from the election – and a wealth tax affecting barely 1% of the population.That’s what the budget advice, released on Wednesday by finance minister Grant Robertson, shows the Labour cabinet was working on until some time in mid-March when Hipkins took fright.In the job for barely six...

More Policy

'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'
Policy

'There are some firms in NZ I won’t touch'

Adam Feeley on the reluctance to call out poor performers in NZ infrastructure sector.

Oliver Lewis 30 Jun 2025
Govt mandates high-rise zoning around key CRL stations
Policy

Govt mandates high-rise zoning around key CRL stations

Auckland Council will need to provide for building heights of at least 10-15 storeys.

Oliver Lewis 25 Jun 2025
Infrastructure Plan floats higher health, electricity spend
Policy

Infrastructure Plan floats higher health, electricity spend

Draft plan identifies priority projects and recommends transport system reform.

Oliver Lewis 25 Jun 2025
Infrastructure plan: 17 projects made it, 31 missed out
Policy

Infrastructure plan: 17 projects made it, 31 missed out

Rail, prison and ferry terminal projects excluded from infrastructure priority list.

Oliver Lewis 25 Jun 2025