The many ways "our" National Government has already changed our lives financially:

[Conquiztador]

NOTE: Please do not add meaningless posts to this thread. Try to keep it factual please!!

I know that we have been living beond our means. That there was some cost cutting needed to get things to balance. After all, Labour made us all beneficiaries (think Family Tax Credit, 20h free childcare and more).

I was trying to look for somewhere where I could easily find all the changes National had already done. But I failed. So I thought, that as KB is such a diverse community, where better to get all the facts?

So I will here start off with what I already know has been done:
( I also have some inside info re other changes that currenty are "at discussion stage", but I will not here add anything that is not in place already)

1. The easy one: GST will increase from 12.5% to 15% in October.

2. The Earners' Account Levy (paid by all employees and self employed to cover their non-work, non-motor vehicle injuries) increased from $1.70 to $2.00 (including GST) per $100 of liable earnings from 1 April 2010.

3. The average composite employer and self-employed levy increased from $1.31 to $1.47 per $100 of payroll from 1 April 2010. This levy excludes GST and is an average rate. Individual rates for industry groups may be higher or lower.

4. ACC petrol levy was increased from 9.34 cents per litre to 9.90 cents per litre from 1 July 2009.

5. Licensing fee increases for motorvehicles from 1 July 2010 (full year fee)

<TABLE class=tbl-content><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=5>Passenger car
.................................................. ............................................Old fee ..New fee

</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Petrol driven - private</TD><TD></TD><TD>$?.???</TD><TD>$281.61</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Petrol driven - taxi</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$338.11</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Petrol driven - rental</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$338.11</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Non-petrol driven - private</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$408.65</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Non-petrol driven - taxi</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$465.14</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Non-petrol driven - rental</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$465.14</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=5>Trailer</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Less than 3500kg </TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$35.12</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=5>Motorcycle
<TABLE class=tbl-content><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>Moped .................................................. ................................ </TD><TD></TD><TD>$130.00</TD><TD>$170.00</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Petrol driven - less than 61cc</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$394.38</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Petrol driven - 61-600cc</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$405.63</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Petrol driven - 601cc and over</TD><TD></TD><TD>$321.24</TD><TD>$517.25</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=5>Goods truck/van/utility</TD></TR><TR><TD rowSpan=4>Private passenger</TD><TD>Petrol driven - 1-3500kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$326.26</TD></TR><TR><TD>Petrol driven - 3501-6000kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$327.76</TD></TR><TR><TD>Non-petrol driven - 1-3500kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$583.81</TD></TR><TR><TD>Non-petrol driven - 3501-6000kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$585.30</TD></TR><TR><TD rowSpan=2>Transport licensed goods </TD><TD>Petrol driven - 6000-12000kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$382.76</TD></TR><TR><TD>Non-petrol driven - 6000-12000kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$640.31</TD></TR><TR><TD rowSpan=4>Other (standard) goods </TD><TD>Petrol driven - 1-3500kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$326.26</TD></TR><TR><TD>Petrol driven - 3501-6000kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$327.76</TD></TR><TR><TD>Non-petrol driven - 1-3500kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD></TD><TD>$583.81</TD></TR><TR><TD>Non-petrol driven - 3501-6000kg GVM</TD><TD></TD><TD>$?.?? </TD><TD>$585.30</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
NOTE: If someone has the old licensing fees, please PM me and I will insert here (a nightmare, but will sort it...)

5. Childcare subsidies to centres. From 1 February 2011 there will me major changes in the way Childcares are funded by Ministery of Education. I won't get too deep in to this as it is a complicated thingy. But here the main ones:
- Childcares are currently funded based on how many qualified teachers they have on the floor. There is a formula that means 100% of available funding. To achieve this you need a full quota of qualified staff. (Does not mean all staff are qualified)
- From 1 Feb 2011 there will be no additional funding above 80% of that quota being qualified. This means that all childcare centres that have worked hard to achieve that 100% mark will have qualified staff that cost more but will give no additional funding, meaning losses.
- From 1 February 2011 the current 80% threshold funding will be reduced. National is yet to tell us what the new 80% funding will be. But the indication is that there will be no incentive to have a higher quota of qualified than 50% as the financial benefit will be zero.

All this means lower quality of childcare as qualified ECE teachers will not be employed. A little like saying that your kids will be cared for at schools by unqualified teachers...

6. Tax cuts.
Here's what the personal tax cuts from October are:
- Income up to $14,000 will be taxed at 10.5%, down from the current 12.5%
- Tax on income from $14,001 to $48,000 will be 17.5%, down from 21%
- Income from $48,001 to $70,000 will be taxed at 30%, down from the current 33%
- The top tax rate, on income over $70,000 will be cut to 33% from 38%

7. ETS. From 1 July 2010
It estimates households will pay about $3 more a week or $165 a year, based on increases of 3.5 cents a litre for petrol and about 1.5c per kilowatt hour for electricity
- Petrol went up 3 - 4c/litre depending on stations.
- Contact said the ETS would result in an average residential price rise for its customers of 3.2 percent. For an average residential customer this works out at around $62.37 for electricity and $21.87 for gas per annum.
I did read that power would go up approx 5%. For me that means around $150/year.

8. Company Tax rate
From 1 April 2011 the company tax rate will be lowered from current 30% to 28%.

9. Resident Witholding Tax (Tax on interest on your savings)
From 1 April 2010 the RWT is aligned with your Income tax. This means that instead of a static 19.5% RWT you will now pay the same amount on your interest earned as on your income.

10. Preventing those with rental losses (from rental properties) from using the losses to access family assistance (Working for Families tax credits) and other benefits. From 1 April 2011, such losses will no longer be offsetable when calculating entitlements to benefits.




Please add what you know about and I have not here already posted.

[Mully]

I presumed that "changed" in this case means negatively, as you've entirely ignored the tax cuts.

[Bald Eagle]

I presumed that "changed" in this case means negatively, as you've entirely ignored the tax cuts.

the so called tax cuts are spurious as when you factor the related increases gst etc then in real terms all wage and salary earners are net worse off.

[oldrider]

I presumed that "changed" in this case means negatively, as you've entirely ignored the tax cuts.

True! Plus one on comment!

[MSTRS]

3 words in one - ETS

[Mully]

the so called tax cuts are spurious as when you factor the related increases gst etc then in real terms all wage and salary earners are net worse off.

Sorry to drag this slightly off topic, I wont do it again

If I actually thought for a second that any politician, of any party and at any level, gave a rat's arse about making the country a better place, I'd happily pay more tax than I do now.

Unfortunately, they're all the fucking same. They're there for themselves, their whanau and their mates. Fuck the population (except every three years when they'll make all the promises in the world).

Therefore, I go on what makes me better off. The GST increase (which lets be honest, adds $5 to a $200 trolley of groceries) isn't a major to me. We are using the additional cash to pay off our debt (which if everybody did, would make the country much better off).
Likewise, once the 12 months rego on the bike expires, I'll chuck the rego on hold over winter - currently I pay for it and don't often get to ride, but I'll make the sacrifice.

Plus I'm on the top tax rate, so I'll get a reasonable tax cut when the top rate is dropped (hooray) - again, I have to do what's best for me (and Mrs Mully, and baby Mullys if we had any) - I make no apologies for that, cos I'm fucked if I believe politicians will help me.

EDIT: Actually, can a Mod delete this please. I dragged it too far off topic. I'm either preaching to the choir, or people don't want to know.

[Conquiztador]

Thanks for comments.

I never stated that I had listed all financial changes. As my old brain hits in to gear more will pop up I am sure. But that is what is good with a community (like our blessed KB) what I forget someone else will remember.

Now, if you would like to add the actual figures to the posts this could be of some use.

Re the tax cuts: No this is not about negative stuff only. So please, add the atual figures for the tax cuts. As far as I know it is the only "positive" one. For the high income earners in particular.

[imdying]

the so called tax cuts are spurious as when you factor the related increases gst etc then in real terms all wage and salary earners are net worse off.That's the point... factor them in then. Otherwise it makes this thread just that little bit more pointless :rolleyes:

[Oscar]

the so called tax cuts are spurious as when you factor the related increases gst etc then in real terms all wage and salary earners are net worse off.

Sez who?
Do you have any facts to back this up?

[scott411]

yes National has raised the price of living to pay for the massive debt we have, i would much rather they would have saved money in other ways, 1st up for me would have been to put interest back on student loans, and got rid of working for families which puts people on 60-80k a year on the benefit.

tax cut will be good tho when it comes, i think aligining the top tax rates is a good thing, alot of poeple hide money thorugh companies or trusts so it will make it more fair imo

[mashman]

Inflation and interest rates... wish i knew what they were, but i don't...

[imdying]

1st up for me would have been to put interest back on student loansI know they get a lot of abuse, but maybe it's better to prevent the abuse with a big stick than take away the carrot? My family for one is generating considerably more tax revenue than we ever did before we earnt degrees care of the government's student loan scheme.

[Conquiztador]

#6 Tax Cuts and #7 ETS has now been added to initial post. Also #8 Company tax rate

[Swoop]

Let's not forget the business tax rate being lowered.

[Banditbandit]

i would much rather they would have saved money in other ways, 1st up for me would have been to put interest back on student loans,

What's the point? The money's not being paid back as fast as the student loans are being taken out ... so the overal debt is increasing ... a paper exercise at best ... no real collection of money ...

[scott411]

I know they get a lot of abuse, but maybe it's better to prevent the abuse with a big stick than take away the carrot? My family for one is generating considerably more tax revenue than we ever did before we earnt degrees care of the government's student loan scheme.

i see your point, and i agree somewhat, but i know people that have stopped making extra payments due to the fact there is no motivation to do so, an apprentice machenic does not get interest free loans on his tools, but they need to have them to keep his job and upskill.

it is like the benefit arguemnet, most use it the way intended, but some abuse it,

[scott411]

#6 Tax Cuts and #7 ETS has now been added to initial post

the ETS was a labour policy as well, and it is less money now than it would have been under labour,

[imdying]

i see your point, and i agree somewhat, but i know people that have stopped making extra payments due to the fact there is no motivation to do so, an apprentice machenic does not get interest free loans on his tools, but they need to have them to keep his job and upskill.

it is like the benefit arguemnet, most use it the way intended, but some abuse it,We have never made any extra payments, but our two loans will be paid fully in October and December of this year, so it's taken 4 years a piece, during which time we've paid the tax on our salaries. We also have literally ten times the disposable income that we had before we started, so we're madly paying tax on all sorts of things now... a lot more than we would have had otherwise... hell otherwise we would probably qualify for some sort of benefit or other which we would quite rightfully have collected.

Taking away the motivation to study isn't the answer, whack the abusers with a big stick would be my preference.

[dieseldave]

Resident Withholding Tax RWT Tax on interest earned etc. gone from 19.xx% -> 21.xx%. Went up prior to ACC levies increasing.

Pissed off mostly about ACC on bikes - and diesel 1 tonne utes, among others, which slams the small business battler again!
ACC once had a surplus that they 'invested' o'seas. ( millions) Obviously they cocked up rather badly.. so we 'help' them.. Cynical..

[Conquiztador]

Resident Withholding Tax RWT Tax on interest earned etc. gone from 19.xx% -> 21.xx%. Went up prior to ACC levies increasing.



That is incorrect. The change is that the Resident Witholding Tax is from 1 April 2010 aligned with your Income Tax. This means that your income tax is what also is used for taxing any interest you have earned on your savings.

"What this means is that if you earned the median income from all sources of $538 per week in 2009 ($27,976 per annum) and say have $5,000 saved and earn a few dollars of interest income then from 1 April you will notice that you will have RWT deducted at a rate of 21% per annum rather than 19.5% per annum – unless you tell the bank otherwise. This is because your actual tax rate is 21% per annum and by having it deducted at 19.5% you were creating an income tax liability for the end of the year. Most people don’t realise that if you earn over $200 a year in interest you are required to fill in an income tax return and by doing so they were discovering a surprise at the end of the year that they were not paying the correct amount of tax. With the tax changes you would no longer have an end of year bill to worry about."

[Milts]

Don't forget #X: cuts to tertiary and adult education funding

My colleague is studying postgrad at Massey University. Due to funding cuts by national, the choice of papers to study has been severely limited to the point where she is taking papers covering nearly the exact same topic as previous courses she has done. Four of the six postgrad students have quit studying due to lack of courses after these budget cuts and her and the remaining student will not be coming back next year. They are international students paying through the nose and receiving sub-standard education. As a result, they are both heading back home to find alternative places to study.

I wonder how much business will be missed out on and how much less money will come in from overseas as a result of this...
Not to mention people wanting to upskill by taking adult education courses may now be unable to. Despite all the rhetoric about 'work smart not hard', people wanting to do so are finding it more and more difficult.

[shrub]

and I'm not at all surprised that two years into the "business-friendly" government's term we're all paying more and earning less; and business confidence is rock bottom.

I do some business development and marketing consultancy work and I am finding that my clients (small and medium businesses) are struggling like never before and it's becoming increasingly difficult for me to find ways for them to build their businesses. I suspect that we're about to head into another recession because when the faeces hit the rotator our beloved Masters showed almost no imagination or courage, a pattern of behaviour that has continued for the last 2 years and will continue until they get voted out and the cycle continues with Labour screwing up as a nice change from National screwing up.

[oldrider]

the cycle continues with Labour screwing up as a change from National screwing up.

True! :yes: I deleted the word "nice" in the quote for obvious reasons! :mellow:

[oldrider]

Don't forget #X: cuts to tertiary and adult education funding

My colleague is studying postgrad at Massey University. Due to funding cuts by national, the choice of papers to study has been severely limited to the point where she is taking papers covering nearly the exact same topic as previous courses she has done. Four of the six postgrad students have quit studying due to lack of courses after these budget cuts and her and the remaining student will not be coming back next year. They are international students paying through the nose and receiving sub-standard education. As a result, they are both heading back home to find alternative places to study.

I wonder how much business will be missed out on and how much less money will come in from overseas as a result of this...
Not to mention people wanting to upskill by taking adult education courses may now be unable to. Despite all the rhetoric about 'work smart not hard', people wanting to do so are finding it more and more difficult.

Very true!

Hence the reason for the addition to my signature! (well, "my" humble interpretation of events anyway)

[Brian d marge]

I keep saying till Im blue in the face
its not national . labor or Tony Blair on the off chance he will get elected

It s the Bond market and the IMF the international bank

if Ive got this straight , the cost of raising money is about 6 % this is the risk others are willing to pay and how organizations raise money

http://www.interest.co.nz/saving/moneymarket/

So with the AAA rating given us by standard and poors means the cost of borrowing money is not to bad

Japan is 1.15 % i think ( no risk )

The IMF has told NZ to tighten its belt, How it does this. is up to the Government at the time ( speeding tax , student loans, ACC Remember America has the voting in the Imf and they Dont have ACC or the concept of )

I think according to Chris Trotter , Nz hasnt been "noticed " by the Bond market as we have been shielded by Australia
but if we are noticed and I think our Debt/Gdp is a touch high , then the Bond market will be severe and the cost of raising money will be much higher
http://www.interest.co.nz/charts/economy/overseas-debt

We need to open up differing markets , produce more ( smarter not harder ) and look out for the basic needs , house , food and utilities , ALL of which are WAY to high ( Raped by overseas )

Sorry have to rush so cant do this properly , sorry !

Stephen

[paturoa]

There were also some tax cuts / threshold changes in 2009 and 2010

Liarboar tax rates and thresholds at the election (remember the chief thief's (Cullen) election bribe tax xuts!)
Income to $14,000 12.5%
$14,001-$40,000 21%
$40,001-$70,000 33%
$70,001 and over 39%

From 1 April 2009:
Income to $14,000 12.5%
$14,001-$48,000 21%
$48,001-$70,000 33%
$70,001 and over 38%

From 1 April 2010
Income to $14,000 12.5%
$14,001-$50,000 21%
$50,001-$70,000 33%
$70,001 and over 37%

[Conquiztador]

I don't really give a shit who is in charge and does what they do. Currently it is National, and what I have stated in post #1 are the facts. Then you can argue that it is because porridge has become too cold or there are homos in the basement.

This thread is re what we in NZ currently are confronted with. Not the reasons, not the solutions, not who is screwing who where and at what pace.

At no stage in this thread have I stated that someone else would have done it differently, better or had rooted us more.

Facts, ladies and gentlemen. Facts. Then you make what you want out of it.

[sinned]

#10. The government is borrowing $250M a week to pay for government programmes, education, health, public servant salaries etc rather than have the basket case collapse in a heap.

[Conquiztador]

#10. The government is borrowing $250M a week to pay for government programmes, education, health, public servant salaries etc rather than have the basket case collapse in a heap.

Proof please. I put this in the same basket as "ACC is broke"

[sinned]

Proof please. I put this in the same basket as "ACC is broke"
What proof do you want and where is your proof for all the others? Are you questioning if the govt is borrowing the $250M a week - if so I will find the ref. If you are questioning if they need it - well what sort of moron would borrow money they don't need to fund the cash flow. FFS

[sinned]

You can also add to the list that the government has capped the budget of many government departments. However, I don't think you are seeking positive examples.

[Conquiztador]

You can also add to the list that the government has capped the budget of many government departments. However, I don't think you are seeking positive examples.

Lets get this straight: I am not bagging the government. I am stating facts. All the ones I have added to post #1 are facts. The figures are available. Each one of them is a fact. That means they are real. True.

The "ACC is broke" is not true. Or at least is is only a opinion of some.
Your statement that the government is borrowing $250 mill/week is same. They tell us they are borrowing. From where? This is at best an estimate, at worst a poor guess.

Re the capping. This does not directly affect the individual. Yes, indirectly it probably does. But to cap spending for lets say Immigration will not have a direct effect on me.

Again: I am NOT bagging the government here. I am only trying to get factual financial changes that will effect the individual in one place.

EDIT: And as a result of this you could argue that my #5 re Childcare funding is not affecting us directly. But I will leave it there as the information there are facts. They are now in place.

[sinned]

....... This does not directly affect the individual. Yes, indirectly it probably does. But to cap spending for lets say Immigration will not have a direct effect on me.

Again: I am NOT bagging the government here. I am only trying to get factual financial changes that will effect the individual in one place.

Herein lies the issue of only considering the immediate impact on yourself - everything will in time affect you.

[Conquiztador]

Herein lies the issue of only considering the immediate impact on yourself - everything will in time affect you.

But that is guessing. We have no idea how it will affect us. Take GST. We know we will pay 15% on everything instead of 12.5%.

Or EST. We know we will pay more for everything.

Capping of government department spending might be good for us. Or bad. I have no idea. You might have an opinion. But opinions are not facts. 2.5% additional cost on everything is a fact. Nothing will change that.

You are veering in to politics. At this stage that is not what interest me (in this thread anyhow). I am trying to figure out what has changed for the individual and/or what will change that has already been decided on.

[rustic101]

I don't really give a shit who is in charge and does what they do. Currently it is National, and what I have stated in post #1 are the facts.

This thread is re what we in NZ currently are confronted with. Not the reasons, not the solutions, not who is screwing who where and at what pace.

You are not able to move forward without looking back or repairing the damage that has already been done. Its like building a house really, if the foundations have been eroded its pointless trying to add another story as its going to tumble and is dangerous.

Also; it does matter who the sitting Govt are. Their Policies and Values are partially what drive what we get/ give and at what cost both Socially and Fiscally.

Personally I'm very happy with my lot as well as the current situation and Govt.

[Robert Taylor]

How about approaching it from a different angle of ''percentage cuts''?

Start from ground zero;

What services do we actually need? How many MP's and bureaucrats do we actually need to run those services? Lets totally get rid of historical grievance claims as interbreeding has diluted the ''neccessity''. Etc etc

I would suggest that comparing the two sets of figures would be very interesting

[shrub]

Personally I'm very happy with my lot as well as the current situation and Govt.

I'm also very happy with my situation, but I think the current government are as bad as the last lot, and quite probably worse. Like Labour they lack imagination and don't have the courage to engage in any real changes to the way we do things, so like Labour we are missing opportunities and are too vulnerable to external influences. Labour were probably slightly more intelligent and had more heart, but Clark was too willing to compromise to stay in government and allowed idiots like Peter Dunne and Winston Peters to have a disproportionate degree of influence on the legislative process.

The current lot have a leader with a lovely smile, but they are a pack of softcocks and too busy pissing around with silly ideas like party central and the cycle way and redundant ideology like privatising essential services to take any solid leadership, so we will end up back in recession (it's a miracle we rebounded as much as we did).

[Squiggles]

Lets totally get rid of historical grievance claims as interbreeding has diluted the ''neccessity''. Etc etc

Deserving of a new thread imo :yes:

[Katman]

NOTE: Please do not add meaningless posts to this thread. Try to keep it factual please!!



That magenta's a lovely colour.

[Brian d marge]

Proof please. I put this in the same basket as "ACC is broke"
See my post with the links to the Charts

theres your proof

and if u want a link to the IMP statement about NZ , more than happy to provide

it is NOT what National , the Current government has done it IS what the Current government has been advised to do

What happens as a result of that advice is what I assume u are trying to quantify

but thats a bit like a man with no money trying to Justify his financial position

Successive NZ government by and large have been quite astute ,,, just the topping on the cake that changes

Stephen

Ps those charts in the links provide a wealth of Facts

China is where I would be looking

[Conquiztador]

Suddenly we are in this thread trying to fix NZ. That was never my intention. I only wanted to have all the changes that has been made that affects the individuals finances as a result of more costs/more $$'s in the pocket in one place.

Please do not get me wrong: I would love to have the key to fixing NZ and all our issues. But I only wanted to know what decisions had been made to change everyones personal financial situation.

[shrub]

Suddenly we are in this thread trying to fix NZ. That was never my intention. I only wanted to have all the changes that has been made that affects the individuals finances as a result of more costs/more $$'s in the pocket in one place.

Please do not get me wrong: I would love to have the key to fixing NZ and all our issues. But I only wanted to know what decisions had been made to change everyones personal financial situation.

With respect, I think it was naive to expect this government to improve the financial circumstances of the average New Zealander. If anything they were always going to impact negatively on the majority of citizens, yet we all held such high hopes. I remember the almost cargo-cult like excitement leading up to and immediately after the election: finally we had a businessman running the country, and a party made up of successful business people instead of career politicians and failed academics. We had a leader who grew up in a state house with a single mother, a leader with the common touch who knew and understood the struggles we were all experiencing. Finally we would be rid of the nanny state PC social engineering of the Labour government.

Oh happy days!

Now 2 years later reality is cruelly grinding its heel in our faces. The astute and successful businessman we voted in was a successful money market trader - the kind of animal that the 80s yuppies would have idolised, and who lives in a mansion in Parnell. He has as little in common with the guy running a small factory in South Auckland, the plumber with a couple of vans in Otaki or the supermarket owner in Christchurch as he has with the Dali Lama. His government consists of career politicians (Bill English, Jerry Brownlee) and failed academics (Nick Smith), a few opportunists and a few genuinely talented people. Just like the last government.

The economy is stagnating and the brief shoots of recovery that excited us all are dying as employment stagnates, business confidence drops and the dollar stays high. In the wake of the global economic crisis we had a new government with at least 3 years to introduce radical reforms and lift us up; a new government that gave us a cycle way and a super city.

We were given tax cuts to make us happy and stimulate the economy, but for the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders those tax cuts will be largely, if not entirely taken back in the form of the rise in GST, the ETS, rising inflation and increases to ACC.

In 4 or 7 years time Labour will sweep into power and we'll all be excited about the brave new world they offer, and we will all be disappointed.

I have studied politics for many years and my observation is that Labour promise the world, get voted into power and then start doing what they always intended, only they tell everyone that what they're doing is for our best interests. National promise the world, get voted into power and then start doing what they always intended, only they give tax cuts (which they immediately take back) to distract us then tell us that what they're doing is for our best interests.

[Banditbandit]

Why do you all give a shit ? It's in the nature of Governments to screw us over ... doens't matter which one ... they will still screw us over ...

Get over it, get out there are ride ... and stop wasting energy on a pointless exercise ..

[sinned]

Get over it, get out there are ride ... and stop wasting energy on a pointless exercise ..

That is a good idea - I am off for a ride and while doing that I am not earning so that means I am not paying tax. Except for the GST on the petrol I am burning - but GST hasn't gone up yet so I am saving 2.5% by riding my bike today rather than in a few months time.

Ride more now and save money, don't work and save tax - works for me.

[Taz]

Can't afford to ride very often now.

[shrub]

Can't afford to ride very often now.

Do you have any idea how much a psychiatrist charges these days? mate, none of us can afford NOT to ride.

[Banditbandit]

Do you have any idea how much a psychiatrist charges these days? mate, none of us can afford NOT to ride.

Fell about laughing .. and yeah, I'll bet those you say trhey can't afford to ride drive a car .. just choose the bike instead !

[Dave Lobster]

That magenta's a lovely colour.

A tad bright. Do you think it would look better in bold?

[Taz]

Fell about laughing .. and yeah, I'll bet those you say trhey can't afford to ride drive a car .. just choose the bike instead !

Can't get all the kids on the bike. :(

Actually can't really afford the kids anymore either.

[Winston001]

We need to open up differing markets , produce more ( smarter not harder ) and look out for the basic needs , house , food and utilities , ALL of which are WAY to high ( Raped by overseas )


You make good points and I'll just comment on the above.

As an agricultural exporting nation our food is very much influenced by world markets. Can't do much about that unless you want to pay more tax and subsidise milk, bread, meat etc.

Housing - tough one. Partly its our own fault for agreeing to pay high prices. The average house price is still way above the long term average -viz a house should cost 3.5 times household income, not the current 6x.

But building regulations as a result of leaky homes and shoddy builders means new housing is expensive. Plus we have plenty of rain and earthquakes. Really our methods need to simplify.

Utilities - can't see any easy way to reduce power, phone, sewage, water etc. NZ is running out of electricity so why would the price fall? Telecom is a wreck for the size of the business.

We are a small series of mountainous islands - much like Japan. The difference is we didn't have the Marshall Plan rebuild our nation after 1945, nor do we have the work commitment of the large Japanese population.

[Winston001]

...But opinions are not facts. 2.5% additional cost on everything is a fact. Nothing will change that.



No. Not a fact.

The rise in GST will not affect rents. Nor will it apply to mortgages. Or interest. Or to financial services such as bank fees etc. Or life insurance. No GST charged at all by small hobbyist traders such as you find at farmers markets and fairs.

Rent or mortgages consume 1/3 of many household incomes in NZ so you have to agree that's a big expense completely outside the GST basket.

[Brian d marge]

You make good points and I'll just comment on the above.

As an agricultural exporting nation our food is very much influenced by world markets. Can't do much about that unless you want to pay more tax and subsidise milk, bread, meat etc.

Housing - tough one. Partly its our own fault for agreeing to pay high prices. The average house price is still way above the long term average -viz a house should cost 3.5 times household income, not the current 6x.

But building regulations as a result of leaky homes and shoddy builders means new housing is expensive. Plus we have plenty of rain and earthquakes. Really our methods need to simplify.

Utilities - can't see any easy way to reduce power, phone, sewage, water etc. NZ is running out of electricity so why would the price fall? Telecom is a wreck for the size of the business.

We are a small series of mountainous islands - much like Japan. The difference is we didn't have the Marshall Plan rebuild our nation after 1945, nor do we have the work commitment of the large Japanese population.

You and I could quite easily kill and afternoon with a beer and you on one side of the fence , me smoking the greener grass on the other
Btw , I have that post u gave me about the accounts regarding NZ , haven't worked my way through it yet , so my point about housing is slightly anecdotal

Agriculture , Yep needs to change , was good but , not the future I think , ( Fish farming at sea ?? ) Britain moved into finance , not sure about that move but still ...

Housing,... overseas buyers , theres ya problem ( call it investment property ) no not mom and pop with one or maybe two for the retirement , but groups individuals with portfolios ,,,,and there was a lot of investment dollars floating about ,,,
agree on the 30% of income for a morgage ( Mine is 25% over 40 years , Ill be 85 !! when I finish !!)
Also supply and demand , and cost of building , My house was built by a lazer some where in Tokyo and assembled by builders took 3 months to do and cost I think 160 000 including Land ( small but usable ) but cheap due to mass production
So yes on that one habitat housing for the masses , homes are not an investment they are a home for a family IMHO

Utilities

Get those useless dole bludging layabouts to dig me some broadband . 49% overseas ownership at a fixed return of 7 to 8 % guaranteed by government ( 2 points above the bond market )

Sand shoes and shovels 3 times a week sod the greenies , where me Dam ( shoot the fantail , noisy bleeder)

Ahh the Marshal plan , Screwed Britain , Did wonders for the Germans , and haliburton

Nz does work hard, popular myth about some NZ being lazy ...as it is about the Japs being industrious
These buggers have laziness to a T
yes they work until 12 at night but the output ain't much
remember trying to copy Japan without understanding the people is a recipe for disaster , see Gm on that one

Nz could be ( and was ) a great place if it told the banks where to go ,,,has been done before argintina , but the banks have long memories ,,,but I still believe its could offer a nice self sustaining ( organic would be nice) lifesyle for ALL of society , not just the familys who prospered during the boom times

Stephen