Faces of the Day

The National Party is promising no new taxes if re-elected this November, but has not ruled out increasing existing taxes.

The party had already ruled out a bank tax and on Sunday scrapped the idea of an accommodation levy on short-term rentals such as bed and breakfasts.

It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke publicly a fortnight ago about the possibility of three new taxes under National – a bed tax, a bank tax, and a fuel excise increase.

The announcement on Sunday ruled out the first two but was silent on the third, fuel excise. [...]

Asked if National meant no increases existing taxes, levies or fees, Willis did not rule it out.

“We’re saying no new taxes,” she said

Luxon said the petrol tax had been a “feature of New Zealand’s system for decades” and his government had decided not to increase it in their first term.

“We also need to acknowledge that is the way that we actually fund and invest in our roads as well. But this is about no new taxes [...]

RNZ