Phil Goff promises fairer, cleaner and liveable Auckland Venkat Raman Auckland, March 3, 2019 Auckland Mayor Phil Goff launched his re-election campaign this afternoon, promising to make Auckland an ‘Exceptional City’ with cleaner beaches, better transport network and higher quality of life for its growing population. Speaking at a Special Meeting organised at Mt Albert War Memorial Hall in Mt…
Read MoreSimon Chapple In the aftermath of the controversy surrounding former National MP Jami-Lee Ross and Opposition National Party Leader Simon Bridges, discussions have focused on possible reforms of political donations in New Zealand. My colleagues Bryce Edwards and Michael Macaulay have raised the issue of taxpayer funding of political parties. So too has Minister of Justice Andrew Little. Lowering threshold…
Read MoreTWG responds to KiwiSaver claims Tax Working Group Chairman Sir Michael Cullen has refuted a claim by National Party that the Group’s tax recommendations will impair the benefits of KiwiSaver Scheme. In a response through the Media, Sir Michael said that the National Party analysis “failed to take into account the important TWG recommendations which would actually reduce tax on…
Read MoreReclassification of cough medicines made effective Karen Brown Wellington, March 3, 2019 Some pharmacists are scrambling to take cough medicines off pharmacy shelves following a tough decision of the Health Ministry. On Monday, February 25, 2019, the Health Ministry gazetted a reclassification of some commonly used cough mixtures and medicines. The Medicines Cough suppressant Dextromethorphan, or DXM, is now a…
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Thomas Coughlan Wellington, February 27, 2019 In spite of its apparent hefty rates, many eligible property owners would pay less Capital Gains Tax per year than pack-a-day smokers. All the huffing and puffing over the excesses of the Tax Working Group’s proposed Capital Gains Tax could make one believe the nation’s property investors are about to be turned into a…
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Peter Dunne The Report of the Tax Working Group heralds potentially one of the most significant shake-ups of our tax system in the last thirty years, whatever one may think of its individual recommendations. Yet, it was surprising and disappointing that with the Report’s likely conclusions having been canvassed openly in the media for some time before their release, and…
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Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi You don’t have to be rich to live on a lifestyle block. There will be a lot of worried New Zealanders as a result of the Government’s efforts to re-engineer our tax system. We are not talking about the wealthy. There are 403,883 properties in New Zealand that are larger than 4500 square metres and perhaps 50,000…
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Deepa Dias Bank Manager Takanini Deepa immigrated to Auckland in 1999 with her young family, starting at Westpac 15 years ago. She has Business Studies qualifications from Massey University and is currently studying towards a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies (Financial Planning) as part of her ongoing professional development. Her strength lies in her communication and ability to connect with…
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Antonia Watson Managing Director, Retail and Business Banking As jobs go, Antonia Watson’s is a big one. The decisions she and her team make have a direct impact on the lives of almost 1 in 2 New Zealanders who have a relationship with ANZ. “It’s a huge responsibility, but also incredibly rewarding,” says Antonia. Bankers are in a unique position…
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Peter Dunne Greens Co-leader James Shaw’s comment when Parliament resumed last month that the current government does not deserve to be re-elected if it fails to introduce a Capital Gains Tax would have been regarded as yet another reason why the Greens kept themselves from being invited into government for almost 20 years. Significant Perspective But now they are inside…
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