Most don't want tax cuts through borrowing, says survey

Two-thirds of New Zealanders say they don't want the Government to go ahead with the next round of personal income tax cuts if it involves further borrowing to fund them.

Of those surveyed, 47 per cent also think the first round of personal income tax cuts that began last week should not have been made if they need to be funded by borrowing, considering the economic climate.

Bill English has previously said future economic circumstances would dictate whether the 2010 and 2011 tax cuts went ahead and taxpayers will be given an indication in the May 28 Budget.

A spokesman for the Finance Minister told the Weekend Herald: "We haven't got any specific response to the survey other than repeating that he believes that lower taxes are good in the long run for the economy but any decision about the tax cuts proposed for next year and the year after will be made in the Budget."

Labour finance spokesman David Cunliffe said it was "lunacy" that the Government was still considering going ahead with the tax cuts.

"There is no case in the current circumstances for further tax cuts. This proves that New Zealanders agree. I'm very pleased Kiwis have shown a sense of decency and fair play, even in the upper income brackets even though they stand to benefit."

Households and individuals with incomes between $100,001 and $150,000 a year were the least keen about the next round of tax cuts with 70 per cent opposing.

By household type, people living alone were the least keen, followed by couples with no children and one-parent families with two children.

Sixty-one per cent of National Party voters thought the cuts should not go ahead compared with 69 per cent of Labour voters.