The New Zealand economy is struggling; the new government will struggle to implement its economic promises.
Read MoreThe State of the Economy: January 2024
tax cuts
Cleaning house, English-style: Water was just the start
Last week National made some promises about water, and copped plenty of flak on the way. That move signalled the soft launch of National's election campaign, as it starts to tidy up the policies that put victory in September at risk
Read MoreThe Budget: A Longer Term Prognosis.
A major preoccupation of the budget was preparing for the next major financial crisis. To do so it is reducing government spending relative to GDP. Where do tax cuts fit in?
Read MoreWhen the numbers don't add up
Do the sums and read between the lines, and it looks like something has to give in this year's budget. And I think I know what it may be...
Read MoreTax cuts tangles
Tax has caused problems for both major parties at the sharp end of the election campaign, but the difference is that one party is using it to dominate the conversation with less than two weeks to go
Read MorePlenty of ironies in latest polls
The latest polls show that Colin Craig, Winston Peters and perhaps even the Maori Party have something in common... the need for Labour to do better
Read MoreCuriouser and curiouser: Government u-turns on austerity measures and tax cuts
The government’s austerity measures are exactly what they ruled out in 2009. And so is their defence of cutting taxes in a fiscal hole. This tells us more about backroom dealings in the Beehive than about a good plan to get New Zealand back on track.
Read MorePhil Goff's New Zealand and the fear of 'second-term National'
MMP politics is like a jigsaw puzzle, and Phil Goff revealed a few more pieces today, which he hopes will create a picture with Labour back on a Treasury benches. State of the nation? Nah, state of the coalition more like...
Read MoreThe ugly reality of US tax cuts
To the rich the spoils. A Republican refusal to continue unemployment benefits for millions of unemployed Americans unless millionaires and billionaires got to keep tax cuts has seen Obama compromise, and arguably outsmarted
Read MoreWorld News Brief Thursday, September 9
BP releases report on US oil spill--points finger at Transocean and Halliburton; Japan to lower value of yen; tensions thaw between US and China; two US soldiers killed in Iraq; Obama unwilling to extend Bush-era tax cuts; and more
Read MoreG20: the return to austerity and its effect on NZ
The rest of the world is about to start reining in all those stimulus packages that took the edges off the recession. That could be really good for New Zealand, or really, really bad
Read MoreHow Labour might rouse the beast
A well-managed Budget could still cause political problems for National if the Opposition is able to re-connect with New Zealanders who don't usually vote... let alone go to the symphony orchestra
Read MoreBill English's smoke and mirrors: when good is bad
The Finance Minister will paint a grim tomorrow of high debt and cumbersome taxes to justify his agenda. The truth is something other, but hey, this year's Budget is taking us right down the rabbit hole
Read MoreStarter's gun fired in UK election
The British election race will be tighter than expected. And New Zealand may yet have a footnote in the outcome
Read MoreThe DJ Bill English tax re-mix
While the media was focused on other stories, Bill English quietly killed off National's tax cut policy this weekend. But that doesn't mean we can take our eyes off our tax system
Read MoreBudget '09: First impressions
Bill English's budget kept it tight, predictable and conservative. Given the times, that was a rather risky thing to do
Read MoreNational and the art of managing expectations
Pundit's latest poll of polls shows National cruising on a flat sea of likeability, overseas issues and carefully crafted PR. Even the 'dissent' is perfectly scripted
Read MoreNational's big test: A 'brave budget' with no tax cuts
Unless the G20 saves the world or the recession suddenly does the u-turn, National has only got a month before it must bite the bullet and cancel next year's tax cuts
Read MoreThe PM and the eternal dilemma that will reveal him
John Key wants to cut taxes, maintain spending and not saddle future generations with debt. But no country can cut its revenue and increase expenditure at the same time, so conflicted Key faces a hard choice
Read MoreNational News Brief Thursday, March 19
PM: Donate your tax cut to charity; more sensitive documents left with gang members; stem cell trial in New Zealand; cancer treatment times (or health boards) to be slashed; 1080 drop in Wellington water catchment; woman gives birth on plane then leaves baby on board
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