Party vote

Incomes and employment

The price of everything is rising fast, as inflation reaches its highest levels since the 1990s. The cost of living has become a major election issue with all major parties promising a raft of changes to ease the pressure on households. Some focus on increasing incomes through tax cuts or increases to benefits, some focus on reducing prices, while others maintain that the way forward is to reduce regulation to reduce costs on businesses.

Incomes and employment

The price of everything is rising fast, as inflation reaches its highest levels since the 1990s. The cost of living has become a major election issue with all major parties promising a raft of changes to ease the pressure on households. Some focus on increasing incomes through tax cuts or increases to benefits, some focus on reducing prices, while others maintain that the way forward is to reduce regulation to reduce costs on businesses.

Key policiesACCBenefitsJobs and employmentPricesSuperannuation and savingsTax and income supportWages and working conditions

  • Impose spending controls on parents receiving sole parent support

    Impose spending controls on recipients of unemployment benefits

    Introduce a two-rate income tax system

    Introduce tax offset for low and middle income earners

    Abolish the bright line test for tax on property sales

    Provide tax refund using emissions trading scheme revenue

    Speed up the personal grievance process

    Impose spending controls on gang members who recieve benefits

    Prevent contractors from challenging their employment status in court

    Streamline NZ's immigration system

    Halt contributions to the NZ Super Fund

    Increase the retirement age to 67 and index it to life expectancy

    Reduce the number of public servants and limit pay increases

    Index benefits to the consumer price index

    Index superannuation to the consumer price index rather than average wages

    Reduce government Kiwisaver contributions

    Restrict access to the winter energy payment

    Exempt investors from OECD states from foreign investment rules except for residential land investments

    Abolish all tariffs

    Abolish fair pay agreements

    Remove a public holiday

    Extend 90-day trials to businesses with 20 or more staff

    Restrict employees' remedies in the personal grievance process

    Restrict access to permanent sickness benefits

    Bar contractors from challenging their employment status in the Employment Court

    Require all Employment Relations Authority determinations to be made within one month

    Require annual leave to be calculated on a pro-rata basis

  • Oppose a wealth or capital gains tax

    Remove GST from fruit and vegetables

    Provide two weeks of paid partner's leave

    Increase the in-work tax credit

    Increase support and expand eligibility for Working for Families payments

    Continue to support Jobs for Nature projects

    Remove tax depreciation for commercial buildings

    Increase the top trust tax rate

    Provide funding for apprenticeships in digital sector

    Continue incentive schemes for movie and video game developers

    Reform the research, science, and innovation system

    Support fair pay agreements for more sectors

    Require public reporting on the gender pay gap

    Clarify the legal definition of employees and contractors

    Continue transformation plan for construction industry

    Continue to support regional skills groups

    Make apprenticeship support payments for businesses permanent

    Train 300 additional Police officers

    Provide tax rebates for improving energy efficiency in existing houses

    Increase overseas recruitment of senior medical workers

    Increase the minimum wage every year in its next term

    Extend the living wage to contracted and directly employed workers in the education sector and Te Whatu Ora

    Abolish starting out and training wages

    Ratify international convention on workplace organising

    Continue the free school lunches programme

    Increase abatement thresholds in line with the minimum wage

    Keep benefits indexed to average wages

    Keep the superannuation age at 65 and continue to index Superannuation to wage growth

    Review the impact of relationship status on benefit entitlements

    Establish a centre to train renewable energy workers

    Expand eligibility for the Child Disability Allowance and Disability Allowance and increase rates

  • Make the first $15,000 of income tax free

    Provide a universal basic income by 2030

    Introduce a tax on urban residential land

    Introduce a card and app for citizens and residents up to the age of 30

    Introduce and incentivise a national civic service programme

    Increase income support for disabled people

    Extend the in-work tax credit to all children

    Cancel all debt owed to MSD

    Remove some benefit sanctions

    Provide healthcare workers with liveable wages and safer hours

    Increase financial incentives for medical workers who move to hard to staff areas or specialities

    Review the Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Increase tax on income over $180,000

    Reduce tax on income up to $80,000

    Remove the requirement for the Reserve Bank to focus on maximising employment

    Allow small businesses to accelerate depreciation for tax purposes

    Require children to be signed up for Kiwisaver at birth

    Review Kiwisaver contributions for self-employed people

    Review the effect of Kiwisaver contributions on price stability

    Provide cash payments to parents for early childcare and education

    Review teachers' pay

    Increase funding for teaching assistants and specialist support

  • Remove GST from all food

    Make the first $30,000 of income tax free

    Introduce a wealth tax

    Increase taxes on companies

    Introduce tax on foreign companies

    Tax undeveloped land

    Introduce tax on vacant houses

    Increase funding for investigation of tax evasion and financial crimes

    Raise the minimum wage to $25 per hour

    Double baseline benefit levels

    Reduce barriers to accessing benefits

    Introduce a universal student allowance

    Cancel all debt owed to MSD

    Increase tax on income over $300,000

    Support the creation of Māori supermarket chains

    Establish a Māori accident compensation authority

    Exempt those on low incomes from receiving attachment orders

    Increase financial support for people leaving prison

    Abolish the minimum wage exemption

    Abolish benefit abatement rates for disabled people and their carers

  • Introduce a childcare tax rebate for families earning less than $180,000 per year

    Adjust income tax brackets for inflation

    Abolish the Auckland regional fuel tax

    Revert the bright-line test for tax on property sales to two years

    Allow interest deductibility on loans for rental properties

    Use targeted rates to fund infrastructure for when developing on greenfield land

    Increase funding for victim support services

    Reform cost recovery rules for electricity transmission infrastructure

    Abolish fair pay agreements

    Remove the requirement for the Reserve Bank to focus on maximising employment

    Require teachers to provide evidence of professional development to re-certify

    Allow parents to take paid leave at the same time

    Fund community providers to support young people who are receiving the Jobseeker Support payment

    Increase sanctions on young people on the benefit for more than three months

    Incentivise young people to get off and stay off Jobseeker Support

    Increase the cap on seasonal workers

    Explore increasing the number of countries eligible for the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Relax rules for agricultural workers on the Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Prioritise funding social services that have the biggest long term impact

    Expand eligibility for the independent earner tax credit

    Increase support and expand eligibility for Working for Families payments

    Maintain the Winter Energy Payment

    Increase superannuation payments annually

    Ensure that businesses making less than $60,000 are exempt from GST

    Fund tax cut using emissions trading scheme revenue

    Remove tax depreciation for commercial buildings

    Stop funding certain workforce development and regional employment initiatives

    End the planned extension of 20 hours free ECE to two-year-olds

    Enable members of Kiwisaver to split savings across multiple providers

    Repeal the Conduct of Financial Institutions Act

    Reverse changes to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act

    Expand the types of building and construction workers who can self-certify

    Raise upper age limit for working holiday visas to 35

    Allow additional working holiday visas for people in sectors with worker shortages

    Abolish median wage requirements for work visas

    Require emergency housing grant recipients to spend grants in the area they currently live in

    Extend 90-day trials to businesses with 20 or more staff

    Relax rules for employers in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Allow migrant workers to pay domestic rates for industry training

    Create visa for recent graduates from top universities

    Create a visa for workers from major tech companies

    Consider changing tax rules for startups

    Stop work on an income insurance scheme

    Allow international students to work more hours while studying

    Increase the length of time international postgrad students can work after finishing study

    Enable partners of international students doing degree level qualifications to work in NZ

    Ensure courses which allow international students the right to work post-study reflect skills shortages

    Provide taxpayers with annual report on government spending

    Freeze petrol taxes for three years

    Amend tax and foreign investment laws to encourage build-to-rent housing

    Increase the retirement age to 67 from 2044

    Increase sanctions on beneficiaries who do not comply with job seeker requirements

    Suspend benefits to people evading arrest

    Require those on the unemployment benefit to re-apply more regularly

    Index benefits to the consumer price index rather than to wages

    Require beneficiaries to provide more evidence that they are looking for work

  • Introduce a weekly income guarantee

    Make the first $10,000 of income tax free

    Reduce tax on income under $120,00

    Introduce an income guarantee for families

    Introduce an income guarantee for all students

    Introduce an income guarantee for the unemployed

    Introduce an income guarantee for people unable to work due to health conditions or disabilities

    Introduce a wealth tax

    Increase taxes on companies

    Raise tax on income over $180,000

    Continue funding Jobs for Nature

    Improve working conditions and staff-to-student ratios

    Reform the electricity market to encourage renewable energy

    Extend paid parental leave to 15 months

    Support pay equity settlements

    Double the Best Start payment for families with a newborn

    Offer free training and re-entry programmes for parents with school-aged children

    Improve working conditions for healthcare workers

    Work with unions, employers and Māori to transition to a low emissions economy

    Prioritise the Māori economy in developing low-emissions jobs

    Transform Rau Paenga into the Ministry of Green Works

    Provide training for careers in clean energy

    Train more mental health professionals

    Reinstate the 10-year residency requirement for superannuation eligibility

    Standardise career progression, pay and training across the public sector

    Increase superannuation payments

    Strengthen competition laws

    Increase minimum wage with inflation

    Set a minimum entitlement to redundancy compensation

    Introduce default union membership

    Legalise solidarity and political strikes

    Strengthen rights for contract workers

    Increase funding for workplace safety authorities

    Strengthen laws against bullying and harassment in the workplace

    Provide five weeks of annual leave

    Implement comprehensive pay gap reporting

    Maintain the current retirement age

    Implement the recommendations of the Holidays Act Taskforce

    Adjust bereavement leave entitlements

  • Compensate people who lost jobs due to Covid-19 vaccination requirements

    Adjust income tax brackets for inflation

    Hold a select committee inquiry into removing GST from fresh food

    Oppose the use of vaccine mandates

    Continue to support Jobs for Nature programme

    Freeze MP salaries until frontline public workers receive pay rises

    Make the first $14,000 of income tax free

    Introduce a two year limit to the Jobseeker Support benefit

    Train 500 more Police officers

    Review Police pay and conditions

    Provide a rates rebate to people over 65

  • Keep the retirement age at 65

    Oppose the use of vaccine mandates

    Oppose all new taxes

    Abolish the Auckland regional fuel tax

    Make the first $20,000 of income tax free

    Allow families with children to divide their income between both parents for tax purposes

    Replace Working for Families with child tax credits

    Adjust income tax brackets for inflation

    Pay compensation to people who lost jobs due to Covid-19 vaccination requirements

    Reduce taxes over time

Key policiesACCBenefitsJobs and employmentPricesSuperannuation and savingsTax and income supportWages and working conditions

  • Impose spending controls on parents receiving sole parent support

    Impose spending controls on recipients of unemployment benefits

    Introduce a two-rate income tax system

    Introduce tax offset for low and middle income earners

    Abolish the bright line test for tax on property sales

    Provide tax refund using emissions trading scheme revenue

    Speed up the personal grievance process

    Impose spending controls on gang members who recieve benefits

    Prevent contractors from challenging their employment status in court

    Streamline NZ's immigration system

    Halt contributions to the NZ Super Fund

    Increase the retirement age to 67 and index it to life expectancy

    Reduce the number of public servants and limit pay increases

    Index benefits to the consumer price index

    Index superannuation to the consumer price index rather than average wages

    Reduce government Kiwisaver contributions

    Restrict access to the winter energy payment

    Exempt investors from OECD states from foreign investment rules except for residential land investments

    Abolish all tariffs

    Abolish fair pay agreements

    Remove a public holiday

    Extend 90-day trials to businesses with 20 or more staff

    Restrict employees' remedies in the personal grievance process

    Restrict access to permanent sickness benefits

    Bar contractors from challenging their employment status in the Employment Court

    Require all Employment Relations Authority determinations to be made within one month

    Require annual leave to be calculated on a pro-rata basis

  • Oppose a wealth or capital gains tax

    Remove GST from fruit and vegetables

    Provide two weeks of paid partner's leave

    Increase the in-work tax credit

    Increase support and expand eligibility for Working for Families payments

    Continue to support Jobs for Nature projects

    Remove tax depreciation for commercial buildings

    Increase the top trust tax rate

    Provide funding for apprenticeships in digital sector

    Continue incentive schemes for movie and video game developers

    Reform the research, science, and innovation system

    Support fair pay agreements for more sectors

    Require public reporting on the gender pay gap

    Clarify the legal definition of employees and contractors

    Continue transformation plan for construction industry

    Continue to support regional skills groups

    Make apprenticeship support payments for businesses permanent

    Train 300 additional Police officers

    Provide tax rebates for improving energy efficiency in existing houses

    Increase overseas recruitment of senior medical workers

    Increase the minimum wage every year in its next term

    Extend the living wage to contracted and directly employed workers in the education sector and Te Whatu Ora

    Abolish starting out and training wages

    Ratify international convention on workplace organising

    Continue the free school lunches programme

    Increase abatement thresholds in line with the minimum wage

    Keep benefits indexed to average wages

    Keep the superannuation age at 65 and continue to index Superannuation to wage growth

    Review the impact of relationship status on benefit entitlements

    Establish a centre to train renewable energy workers

    Expand eligibility for the Child Disability Allowance and Disability Allowance and increase rates

  • Make the first $15,000 of income tax free

    Provide a universal basic income by 2030

    Introduce a tax on urban residential land

    Introduce a card and app for citizens and residents up to the age of 30

    Introduce and incentivise a national civic service programme

    Increase income support for disabled people

    Extend the in-work tax credit to all children

    Cancel all debt owed to MSD

    Remove some benefit sanctions

    Provide healthcare workers with liveable wages and safer hours

    Increase financial incentives for medical workers who move to hard to staff areas or specialities

    Review the Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Increase tax on income over $180,000

    Reduce tax on income up to $80,000

    Remove the requirement for the Reserve Bank to focus on maximising employment

    Allow small businesses to accelerate depreciation for tax purposes

    Require children to be signed up for Kiwisaver at birth

    Review Kiwisaver contributions for self-employed people

    Review the effect of Kiwisaver contributions on price stability

    Provide cash payments to parents for early childcare and education

    Review teachers' pay

    Increase funding for teaching assistants and specialist support

  • Remove GST from all food

    Make the first $30,000 of income tax free

    Introduce a wealth tax

    Increase taxes on companies

    Introduce tax on foreign companies

    Tax undeveloped land

    Introduce tax on vacant houses

    Increase funding for investigation of tax evasion and financial crimes

    Raise the minimum wage to $25 per hour

    Double baseline benefit levels

    Reduce barriers to accessing benefits

    Introduce a universal student allowance

    Cancel all debt owed to MSD

    Increase tax on income over $300,000

    Support the creation of Māori supermarket chains

    Establish a Māori accident compensation authority

    Exempt those on low incomes from receiving attachment orders

    Increase financial support for people leaving prison

    Abolish the minimum wage exemption

    Abolish benefit abatement rates for disabled people and their carers

  • Introduce a childcare tax rebate for families earning less than $180,000 per year

    Adjust income tax brackets for inflation

    Abolish the Auckland regional fuel tax

    Revert the bright-line test for tax on property sales to two years

    Allow interest deductibility on loans for rental properties

    Use targeted rates to fund infrastructure for when developing on greenfield land

    Increase funding for victim support services

    Reform cost recovery rules for electricity transmission infrastructure

    Abolish fair pay agreements

    Remove the requirement for the Reserve Bank to focus on maximising employment

    Require teachers to provide evidence of professional development to re-certify

    Allow parents to take paid leave at the same time

    Fund community providers to support young people who are receiving the Jobseeker Support payment

    Increase sanctions on young people on the benefit for more than three months

    Incentivise young people to get off and stay off Jobseeker Support

    Increase the cap on seasonal workers

    Explore increasing the number of countries eligible for the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Relax rules for agricultural workers on the Accredited Employer Work Visa

    Prioritise funding social services that have the biggest long term impact

    Expand eligibility for the independent earner tax credit

    Increase support and expand eligibility for Working for Families payments

    Maintain the Winter Energy Payment

    Increase superannuation payments annually

    Ensure that businesses making less than $60,000 are exempt from GST

    Fund tax cut using emissions trading scheme revenue

    Remove tax depreciation for commercial buildings

    Stop funding certain workforce development and regional employment initiatives

    End the planned extension of 20 hours free ECE to two-year-olds

    Enable members of Kiwisaver to split savings across multiple providers

    Repeal the Conduct of Financial Institutions Act

    Reverse changes to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act

    Expand the types of building and construction workers who can self-certify

    Raise upper age limit for working holiday visas to 35

    Allow additional working holiday visas for people in sectors with worker shortages

    Abolish median wage requirements for work visas

    Require emergency housing grant recipients to spend grants in the area they currently live in

    Extend 90-day trials to businesses with 20 or more staff

    Relax rules for employers in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme

    Allow migrant workers to pay domestic rates for industry training

    Create visa for recent graduates from top universities

    Create a visa for workers from major tech companies

    Consider changing tax rules for startups

    Stop work on an income insurance scheme

    Allow international students to work more hours while studying

    Increase the length of time international postgrad students can work after finishing study

    Enable partners of international students doing degree level qualifications to work in NZ

    Ensure courses which allow international students the right to work post-study reflect skills shortages

    Provide taxpayers with annual report on government spending

    Freeze petrol taxes for three years

    Amend tax and foreign investment laws to encourage build-to-rent housing

    Increase the retirement age to 67 from 2044

    Increase sanctions on beneficiaries who do not comply with job seeker requirements

    Suspend benefits to people evading arrest

    Require those on the unemployment benefit to re-apply more regularly

    Index benefits to the consumer price index rather than to wages

    Require beneficiaries to provide more evidence that they are looking for work

  • Introduce a weekly income guarantee

    Make the first $10,000 of income tax free

    Reduce tax on income under $120,00

    Introduce an income guarantee for families

    Introduce an income guarantee for all students

    Introduce an income guarantee for the unemployed

    Introduce an income guarantee for people unable to work due to health conditions or disabilities

    Introduce a wealth tax

    Increase taxes on companies

    Raise tax on income over $180,000

    Continue funding Jobs for Nature

    Improve working conditions and staff-to-student ratios

    Reform the electricity market to encourage renewable energy

    Extend paid parental leave to 15 months

    Support pay equity settlements

    Double the Best Start payment for families with a newborn

    Offer free training and re-entry programmes for parents with school-aged children

    Improve working conditions for healthcare workers

    Work with unions, employers and Māori to transition to a low emissions economy

    Prioritise the Māori economy in developing low-emissions jobs

    Transform Rau Paenga into the Ministry of Green Works

    Provide training for careers in clean energy

    Train more mental health professionals

    Reinstate the 10-year residency requirement for superannuation eligibility

    Standardise career progression, pay and training across the public sector

    Increase superannuation payments

    Strengthen competition laws

    Increase minimum wage with inflation

    Set a minimum entitlement to redundancy compensation

    Introduce default union membership

    Legalise solidarity and political strikes

    Strengthen rights for contract workers

    Increase funding for workplace safety authorities

    Strengthen laws against bullying and harassment in the workplace

    Provide five weeks of annual leave

    Implement comprehensive pay gap reporting

    Maintain the current retirement age

    Implement the recommendations of the Holidays Act Taskforce

    Adjust bereavement leave entitlements

  • Compensate people who lost jobs due to Covid-19 vaccination requirements

    Adjust income tax brackets for inflation

    Hold a select committee inquiry into removing GST from fresh food

    Oppose the use of vaccine mandates

    Continue to support Jobs for Nature programme

    Freeze MP salaries until frontline public workers receive pay rises

    Make the first $14,000 of income tax free

    Introduce a two year limit to the Jobseeker Support benefit

    Train 500 more Police officers

    Review Police pay and conditions

    Provide a rates rebate to people over 65

  • Keep the retirement age at 65

    Oppose the use of vaccine mandates

    Oppose all new taxes

    Abolish the Auckland regional fuel tax

    Make the first $20,000 of income tax free

    Allow families with children to divide their income between both parents for tax purposes

    Replace Working for Families with child tax credits

    Adjust income tax brackets for inflation

    Pay compensation to people who lost jobs due to Covid-19 vaccination requirements

    Reduce taxes over time

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