Cut the criticism
National isn't offering tax cuts but a move of the tax brackets and a repealing of all the taxes Labour said they wouldn't introduce.
As a whole, the amount of tax paid by New Zealand individuals rose 5.72 per cent per year between 2017 and last year, primarily via
PAYE, while the increase in GST paid over the same period was 4.9 per cent per year. That's where the Government tends to win from not adjusting those tax brackets. People end up being taxed at higher rates without feeling any better off. National's plan of adjusting the tax brackets makes sense, as we will all be better off in the long run.
This doesn't sound like a bribe to me. It does sound like common sense.
Mark Young, Ōrewa.
Saving grace
Nicola Willis' three-point plan to save New Zealand from unwanted Government expenditure, by promising "dropping low priority projects, reducing waste and driving better results from existing spending" sounds very noble indeed.
Could she please elaborate and let us all know exactly how National is going to achieve this? I assume that low-priority projects include health, welfare, education, and the usual depletion of public services - National's traditional post-election victims.
As for reducing waste and driving better results, etc, these are ideals straight from the boardroom of a company trying to appear confident and competent in the public arena. They tend not to impress anyone.
I wonder also if the UK's scratching of the tax relief for their most wealthy will be emulated in National's pre-election manifesto, sold to us as something under consideration by their caucus anyway?
Jeremy Coleman, Hillpark.
Crossed off
As a former Red Cross volunteer, I am saddened to read Isaac Davison's article (NZ Herald, October 3). I enjoyed a close relationship with our refugees and was upset to be informed that my support was no longer required when Kāhui Tu Kaha took over the contract.
As a volunteer, I have helped refugees with bank accounts, negotiating work and income, enrolling children in schools, engaging with medical services and many other essential services.
The Red Cross had a strong Facebook network where we could access items for refugee families at no cost to them, as well as providing much-needed friendship, advocacy and social contacts.
Many of my volunteer colleagues had provided service for many years and developed strong friendships with refugees, it is a great shame that this support and relationships were curtailed so abruptly.
Deborah White, Sandringham
Reducing risk
It is fascinating to see the results of the latest science on earthquake hazard. GNS does amazing work in this field which is world-class. However, we need to remind ourselves that earthquake hazard is not the only component of earthquake risk. Earthquake risk is the combined effect of earthquake hazard (probability and severity of ground shaking) and the vulnerability of buildings (how well-conceived, well-designed and well-constructed they are). The vulnerability of buildings is a far greater contributor to earthquake risk than earthquake hazard. We need to place much more emphasis on the earthquake performance of buildings (existing and new) when allocating skills and resources to reduce earthquake risk.
David Hopkins, Remuera.
Nothing to declare
I could not agree more with your editorial (NZ Herald, October 4) regarding the travel declaration.
It was difficult enough getting to Heathrow airport last Saturday due to the UK rail strike. When we checked we were told we had to fill in a New Zealand Traveller Declaration, completely out of the blue. The Singapore Airlines check-in staff were very co-operative and sympathetic. They had no idea why it was needed but had been instructed that it was for all passengers bound for New Zealand.
It took us octogenarians, standing in front of the check- in desks, a frustrating 60 minutes to complete the two forms.
We were not the only New Zealanders who had not heard of this absurdity, as others in the check-in queue were also struggling with it.
While I expected to have to fill in data on our Covid vaccinations, there were no questions at all on our Covid status.
On arrival in New Zealand, we were not even asked for it.
It is time that the New Zealand Traveller Declaration was dumped ignominiously on the minister who authorised it.
Michael Cotter, Pāpāmoa.
