"NZ spends noticeably less per person on health than many of the other countries that we like to compare ourselves with, such as Germany, Austria, and Sweden, and as a consequence their health services are more comprehensive and impose less charges on patients.  One of the reasons for this gap is that we also collect less tax than those countries. With Labour unwilling to grow tax revenue and the National Party and ACT committed to tax cuts, how will the parties ensure that we can fund the public health services we know we need in the future?”

"NZ spends noticeably less per person on education than many of the other countries that we like to compare ourselves with. Education funding per student in New Zealand is 27.8% lower than Canada, 22.4% lower than Australia, 26.4% lower than the UK and 24.9% lower than the OECD average. It is hard to see how we can address this spending gap without increasing taxes. With Labour unwilling to grow tax revenue and the National Party and ACT committed to tax cuts, how will the parties ensure that we can fund the public health services we know we need in the future?"

"I’m interested in greater equality in New Zealand. How would your party use tax policies to promote greater equality?"

"Many people in Aotearoa/NZ are poor. This is most critical for children. Do you intend to change our tax change to reduce poverty levels?"

"Do you think that those who have more wealth should contribute more - as a proportion of their wealth - to help those who are struggling?"

"Do you think it is good/acceptable that the richest people in this country pay on average a lower rate of tax that the people who earn the least – when you take into account all sources of income?"

"New Zealand’s revenue from tax represents a much smaller proportion of GDP than countries we like to compare ourselves too such as Germany and Finland. Do you think that New Zealand is a highly taxed country? If so, why?"

"According Treasury’s Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update tax revenue is forecast to be $3 billion lower than expected this year (2023), thanks mostly to falling corporate profits and tax payments, and $6.4 billion lower across the next four years. Since tax revenue is already down, is cutting it still further really sensible?"

"I believe that the tax system should help fulfil our obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi. Do you? In what ways would your party change the tax system to meet treaty obligations under Article 2 and Article 3?"

New Zealand needs to plan for the next Cyclone Gabrielle, and all the ones after that. These will cost billions of dollars.

"Do you think we should plan now for compensating those affected by such major weather events? How will your government fund this?"

"Do you propose “polluter-pays” strategies to stop industrial activities that harm the environment and contribute to climate change?"

"New Zealand must contribute to global attempts to stop climate change. How do your proposals include funding for prevention of climate change?"

"New Zealand has an aging population. Even with inward- migration, disaster looms in next few decades. We just won’t have enough taxpayers to fund government services that we all need! What are your tax proposals on how we will address this?"