Voting age: What da ya think?

[BarBender]

The average income in New Zealand is now over $40,000 pa. For someone to be paying more than double this in tax they would need to be a salary or wage worker earning more than $250,000 pa and have no offsetting loss ventures like rental property.

I don't have any exact figures, but as all companies have to declare in their annual reports, the number of people earning more than $100,000, I do know that the number is very small.

The wealthiest people in New Zealand currently pay either no tax at all, or just a peppercorn amount. This is because they take their earnings as drawings, or they offset their earnings against depreciation in rental properties or other assests that don't attract capital gains tax.

Similar approach although the median income in NZ is about 24K

So on that basis Id expect anyone paying 50K in tax earning in the 125-135k bracket. I’m not 100% sure on how many people earn 100K+ in New Zealand currently but I suspect that number has grown….especially in the metros and with the growth in industry, number employed and shortage of talent. Its not uncommon to have a scenario where Jack and Jill live together and earn that amount of coin (possibly more and in the case of professionals earn that amount each!), live in a metro such as Auckland, own a 500K+ home , have a couple of cars and are able to shop at Countdown as opposed to Pak n Save. They may even have a rental or patch of land by the sea, a trust and some coin sitting in the bank left over from their O.E in the UK.
They may not be the countrys wealthiest, but anyone earning 30-40K in Whangamomona will consider them high net worth individuals! I know the TSB would!

My example of the 'old men' was perhaps a little misleading. But it served a purpose.
I’m suggesting that voting based on how much tax we pay does nothing but maintain the status quo and ensure the ever widening gap within the middle class continue to disagree and bumble around in the dark while the rich sit on their super yacht observing and smugly going…’Mhahahahaha’

[Paul in NZ]

bring back the burning of witches!!!!!!!!

You would need resource consent for that and need to consider the treaty implications so cosultation with local Iwi is essential.... and theres a fire ban... bugger...

[mbazza]

Stats indicate that 18 - 20 yr olds don't register or vote.

Why would 16 yr olds be any different?

More important things out there - see Donor's Heros in Rant & Rave.

Cheers.