Hi Friend,

Look, I know we've been giving Finance Minister Nicola Willis a hard time in recent months for the various tax u-turns and backdowns, but, actually, right now I think we need to swing in behind her.

Here at the Taxpayers' Union, we'll stick up for taxpayers no matter who is in charge, but reading the media over the last few weeks, it's like Wellington lives in a parallel universe.

The media and so-called 'pundits' are falling over themselves to call on Ms Willis to cancel her long-signalled tax relief.

In fact, the only exception I've seen to the chorus of howls to cancel tax relief was none other than my colleague Callum! He had a cracker op-ed in Stuff's The Post last week.

In politics, the squeaky wheel gets the oil – and  unless we make a song and dance too, there is a real risk Nicola Willis takes the 'easy road' and kicks tax relief into the long grass. 

That would mean the Government wouldn't need to go as hard or fast in tackling wasteful spending – that's exactly why Wellington's self-interested bureaucracy are trying to sink Ms Willis' plan.

That's why I'm emailing to ask you to join us in telling Nicola Willis to hold firm and deliver tax relief as part of May's budget.

Tax thresholds haven't changed despite 14 years of inflation pushing Kiwis into higher tax brackets ⬆️

Friend, you don't need me to tell you that Grant Robertson's money-printing inflation has hit Kiwi families hard. That hasn't just meant our dollar buys less, but it has also pushed workers into higher tax brackets.

Friend, these tax hikes by stealth over the last 14 years now see someone on minimum wage working 40 hours/week in the third income tax bracket.

That's a 30% marginal rate for someone on the minimum wage. No wonder New Zealand is in recession!

Cutting taxes by adjusting thresholds doesn't just make economic sense, it is the morally right thing to do. 

As covered in the recent Taxpayer Update, the Budget Policy Statement showed that public spending has risen by 84% since 2017. But what did New Zealanders get from all this extra spending? Better public services or infrastructure? If only.

But the media have gone into overdrive with a narrative that tax relief would now be "irresponsible" now that we are back in recession. Others argue that letting households keep more of their own money would be "inflationary".

Don't fall for it – inflation has been driven by Wellington's over-spending, not yours! Why should you miss out because bureaucrats are protecting their cushy jobs?

That's the message we need Nicola Willis to both hear and repeat.

Wasteful government spending should be slashed so that the tax burden on those who are struggling to make ends meet can be reduced too.

It should be Wellington cutting back, not all put on you.

Public spending up by 84% since 2017

Labour's proxies argue that reducing spending is “austerity” whenever cost-cutting is raised! You only need to take a look at the numbers to see that is nonsense on stilts. There are ample opportunities for cost savings that don’t affect frontline services.

Nicola Willis needs to know that you're on her side, 

Nicola Willis is taking a hammering in the media and it just isn’t a fair reflection of voters' priorities. New Zealand voted for the Coalition Government with tax relief at the forefront of National’s promises. Nicola Willis is simply delivering on that promise.

Ms Willis and Christopher Luxon need to hear that New Zealanders meant what they said when they voted for change at the election.

I’ve spoken to the Finance Minister and reassured her that the Taxpayers’ Union is well and truly behind her tax relief policy. But hearing it directly from , would mean a lot more.

>> Tell Ms Willis to stand firm and deliver tax relief <<

Thank you for your support.

Jordan Williams Executive Director New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union