Dear John,

Recently it seems the media want National to rule on who they will or won’t coalesce with after the Election. I think this is putting the cart before the horse.

So, I am standing by our National Leader Chris Luxon who has said clearly, that he is focused on the Election at this time. He says he will deal with all scenarios once the actual results of the Election are known. Ruling parties in or out as possible coalition partners before the Election, as the Labour leader has done, is not a workable strategy.

National's Tax Package

I am proud of National's tax package that is based on allowing New Zealanders who work hard to get ahead because we, National, think people will spend the money they earn more wisely for their families than the Labour Government has done.

National’s tax package is comprehensive in what it will do for low and middle income earners and it is funded by more than one source of revenue.

Everyone needs to read the whole policy not just the bits that opposition parties focus on.

National's tax policy will:

1. Allow average income families with children to be up to $250 better off a fortnight; and
2. Give an average income family without children up to $100 more a fortnight; and
3. Give Superannuitant couples up to $26 more per fortnight; and
4. Give tax relief of up to $20 a fortnight for minimum wage income earners.
5. Increase Working for Families tax credits;
6. Remove planned and current taxes like Ute tax and regional fuel tax;
7. Reduce the Bright line test back to two years over the next four years;
8. Reintroduce interest deductibility and this will reduce pressure on rents;
9. Remove new taxes on digital services like food delivery.

National's Tax Policy will be funded by:

1. Reducing spending on back-office administration in Government Departments but not on core and frontline services and agencies;
2. Reducing Government spending on consultants;
3. Using Climate Dividends from the Emissions Trading Scheme to fund tax breaks for families;
4. Introducing a 15 per cent foreign buyer tax for properties worth over$2million. Only properties over $2million will be allowed to be sold to overseas buyers;
5. Ending the commercial building depreciation tax break;
6. Ensuring overseas online gambling providers pay tax in New Zealand;
7. Moving to user-pays immigration levies but tourist visas will be excluded.

As you can see National’s tax package is comprehensive in addressing the needs of the squeezed middle income and below earners. It is funded by more than No. 4 above – the 15 per cent tax that foreign buyers will pay on the purchase of homes over $2 million.

It is sad that Labour is only focused on this one point, but it is in fact only one of seven funding sources that a government under National will tap into.

As well as tax relief, National will protect and increase spending, annually, on Health and Education and ensure it is used on frontline services. Additionally, National will protect spending on NZ Police, Corrections, Oranga Tamariki, Housing, Transport and Infrastructure.

Very new this week is National’s commitment to build 1000 state houses per year for Auckland, which was made by Nicola Willis our Finance Spokesperson, at an event in Mangere on Wednesday. This will create jobs for builders and contractors and create demand for building products, as well as providing homes for the currently thousands of homeless.

National can be trusted with the economy - National will rebuild it and reduce the cost of living so that people can get ahead.

Check out our tax calculator now!

Just answer a few simple questions about your household circumstances and income and then you'll know how much tax relief you will receive in your bank account under a National Government.

General Election 2023 - Early Voting begins from 2 October and Election Day is 14 October 2023.

Remember: Two Ticks National. One for me as your MP and one for National as the party that will get New Zealand back on track.

Best wishes,
Judith