$$$ Gas = Roads ???

[gsxr750]

the price of gas is about to go up 5c. The goverment already takes up to 50% of gas and charges extreme amounts for roaduser charges for desiel vehicles. the tax now goes into the goverment coffers and not on roads.

My complaint with this is: Are the taxes now to severe?
Why are they not spent where thay are made?

Am starting to think the goverment is using the roads (and the bad state there in) to boost already full cofters thats being spent on people having babies.

would welcome any thoughts you have on this matter.
Nick

[Biff]

Am starting to think the goverment is using the roads (and the bad state there in) to boost already full cofters thats being spent on people having babies.

would welcome any thoughts you have on this matter.
Nick

Wasn't it in the news recently that the birth rate in New Zealand is falling? Therefore the number of potential future tax payers will also fall, therefore more money will need to be found elsewhere in order to pay for benefits, pensions, public services etc.

As for fuel prices, well I'm from the UK, so fuel prices here still appear very low in comparison. But then again salaries here are much lower etc etc.

[ManDownUnder]

Yeah well - your expectations are all based on the premise of politicians making sense and keeping their word.

do they do that - no and no (generalisation I know... but hey... I think it's reasonably accurate).

[ManDownUnder]

Wasn't it in the news recently that the birth rate in New Zealand is falling? Therefore the number of potential future tax payers will also fall, therefore more money will need to be found elsewhere in order to pay for benefits, pensions, public services etc.

As for fuel prices, well I'm from the UK, so fuel prices here still appear very low in comparison. But then again salaries here are much lower etc etc.

Are you suggesting we need more able and willing ladies in here to help keep the birth rate up?

[T.I.E]

so if the taxes go up interest rates go up etc, do wages go up too?

[Biff]

Are you suggesting we need more able and willing ladies in here to help keep the birth rate up?

I brought one with me. Saves looking for a new one here

[Jonty]

the price of gas is about to go up 5c. The goverment already takes up to 50% of gas and charges extreme amounts for roaduser charges for desiel vehicles. the tax now goes into the goverment coffers and not on roads.

My complaint with this is: Are the taxes now to severe?
Why are they not spent where thay are made?

Am starting to think the goverment is using the roads (and the bad state there in) to boost already full cofters thats being spent on people having babies.

would welcome any thoughts you have on this matter.
Nick

My two cents worth - I am a firm believer in user pays. If Auckland needs its road fixed, Auckland should pay for it. I agree that a general tax on fuel should be used for road maintenance in general, however I would imagine that this new round of hikes is not to deal with roading issues in ivercargill!

As for spending it on welfare etc, if the government want to increase its spending on its social policies it should do it by taxing income and not just the people who can afford cars/bikes (it needs to be fair)

[gsxr750]

so if the taxes go up interest rates go up etc, do wages go up too?

thats inflation. my boss pays more for desiel (truck driver) your grocierys cost more (refrigerated) he can't pay me = depretion

Could the goverment be heading the country back to the old days ?

Nick

[Biff]

My two cents worth - I am a firm believer in user pays. If Auckland needs its road fixed, Auckland should pay for it.

In principle that may sound logical, but what about rural areas that may not be as densely populated? They need roads as well, and there's no way that the government could raise enough taxes locally in order to pay for road safety/improvements/maintenance. These are also the same areas that produce livestock and other goods that are used domestically and exported to the rest of the world, therefore bolstering the nations economy.

Without good roads you wouldn't get the goods out of these areas efficently or be able to maintain the land.

[Lias]

If Auckland needs its road fixed, Auckland should pay for it

I think alot of waikato residents are pretty anti auckland atm with the wholepower pylon thing.

I reckon auckland should have to pay for undergrounding the cables if they want the power.. or else they should just setup a nuclear plant in the auckland CBD.. no great loss if it melts down :-P

[vifferman]

There is no need for a hike in petrol taxes - successive gummints have been collecting far more in "road tax" than has been actually spent on road repairs and road-related things. Furthermore, there is currently more than enough in the gummint purse to fun all roading improvements, without imposing a new tax.
It's also iniquitous that GST is applied after other taxes have been added, so we're being taxed for the service of being taxed! This amounts to around 6 cents of tax on tax for every dollar of petrol we buy. Ridiculous!

[gsxr750]

My two cents worth - I am a firm believer in user pays. If Auckland needs its road fixed, Auckland should pay for it. I agree that a general tax on fuel should be used for road maintenance in general, however I would imagine that this new round of hikes is not to deal with roading issues in ivercargill!

As for spending it on welfare etc, if the government want to increase its spending on its social policies it should do it by taxing income and not just the people who can afford cars/bikes (it needs to be fair)

the polititions are in wellington and thats where i see all the work. this intercity BS dosen't help with the detieoration of what are piss poor roads.
mind you must say that the mainland roads are in much better state the this island.
Nick

[Wolf]

The paper said the money was not going on Waikato Roads and the morning TV was full of rich Auckland businesses saying how Auckalnd deserves it all.

Apologies to our resident JAFAs but I'm tired of the rest of us footing the bill for Orcland streets.

Fark's Sake! I've seen the rates up there - more than enough to pay for the upkeep on Auckland's roading if the slimebag mayors and scumbag councillors stopped lining their pockets for once and spent the rates on improving the city - it's not like they're paupers - they all own businesses and or rental properties which pay them well in addition to what they pull down in Junior Govt salary.

The tax from petrol should be disbursed into funding for roads in the areas whence it was gathered. If Auckland's big businesses want better roading, they can damned well charge more for petrol up in Auckland and increase the wages of the employees to cover the increased cost of living (I.e - the sodding big businesses can pay for it)

[ManDownUnder]

In principle that may sound logical, but what about rural areas that may not be as densely populated? They need roads as well, and there's no way that the government could raise enough taxes locally in order to pay for road safety/improvements/maintenance. These are also the same areas that produce livestock and other goods that are used domestically and exported to the rest of the world, therefore bolstering the nations economy.

Without good roads you wouldn't get the goods out of these areas efficently or be able to maintain the land.

Yup - and the prrof is in the power industry - just ask anyone out in the sticks what it costs to get a new powerline put it if they build a house.

User pays is ok... till you're the one not being subsidised.

I wonder how much of the GDP is generated (in whole or in part) by Auckland? Take that out of the general economy and see what happens.

Also - for the record - I am a 'naki boy... no biases here... just workin' where the money is!
MDU

[Jonty]

In principle that may sound logical, but what about rural areas that may not be as densely populated? They need roads as well, and there's no way that the government could raise enough taxes locally in order to pay for road safety/improvements/maintenance. These are also the same areas that produce livestock and other goods that are used domestically and exported to the rest of the world, therefore bolstering the nations economy.

Without good roads you wouldn't get the goods out of these areas efficently or be able to maintain the land.

I fully agree - but I am from the "rural area" and in my experience the government have done nothing about the upkeep of our roads. We once waited 5 years for a grader to turn up to remove potholes that you could hide a tractor in!! I agree that a major rural road overhaul could not be funded by rural residence, but we don't require one we use our 4 wheel drives on the farm not the road.

Basic maintenance is all that we need and we still can't get that!