KEY POINTS:
New Zealanders overwhelmingly want a tax cut - but not if it puts up the mortgage.
An overwhelming 85 per cent of New Zealanders believe the Government should lower personal income taxes this year.
However, 71 per cent do not want a tax cut if it puts up prices and interest rates.
That's the result of a survey released today.
The big majority for tax cuts also reverses substantially if the cuts mean less spending in social areas, like benefits, health and education. If social spending is cut 61 per cent say they will oppose a tax cut (22 per cent of them strongly).
New Zealanders' preference for a personal tax cut has risen 9 per cent from 76 per cent to 85 per cent since October, according to ShapeNZ research.
The latest national survey of 2882 respondents, conducted between March 27 and April 8, shows 81 per cent believe the Government can afford to cut personal income taxes this year (that's 9 per cent up since October).
The survey, weighted by age, gender, personal income, employment status, ethnicity and party vote 2005, to provide a nationally representative population sample, has a maximum margin of error of + or - 1.8 per cent.
Asked how tax cuts will influence their vote at this year's general election, the number of people for whom a tax cut will be the main influence is up 5 per cent to 18 per cent.
However, 40 per cent (down from 49 per cent) say they will be influenced most by the party which maintains a balance between tax cuts and social spending.
For 28 per cent (down from 32 per cent in October) issues other than tax cuts will mainly influence their vote. Only 5 per cent say they don't know.
How much of a tax cut do most want?
49 per cent will settle for $20 a week or less (22 per cent for $20, 20 per cent for $10 and 9 per cent for $5 a week). Each $10 cut applied across the board costs about $1000 million.
Asked which of six options were most important to them this year:
* 30 per cent cited a personal tax cut
* 28 per cent increased spending on social services like education, health and benefits
* 23 per cent lower mortgage interest rates
* 8 per cent maintaining social spending, and
* 2 per cent a company tax cut
* Only 3 per cent did not know.
- NZHERALD STAFF
