THE ELECTION POLICY GRID

NATIONAL

Further tax cuts on top of those provided in Budget 2017 if re-elected, including adjusting the bottom two tax thresholds and lowering the marginal tax rates for low and middle income earners. 3.5/5 A $2.6 billion transport package to improve Auckland's main arterial routes including a new highway alongside the southern motorway between Drury and Manukau and improvements to the Northwestern Busway. 3.9/5 Putting $600 million into a new company to invest in infrastructure for housing developments, starting with two Auckland projects intended to support 23,300 new homes in the north and south of the city. 3.9/5 What they are saying:

“I have used that wonderful new tunnel. It saved me a lot of time getting to the city from the airport. Why on earth should I pay for that so we can afford to build another tunnel?” Agri co-operative boss

“Transport solution for Auckland has ignored rail despite the NZTA report recommending rail as top two investment options.” Agri boss “A little too late on infrastructure” Investment banker “All of them are good but is that enough? Probably not.” Law firm boss

“Would like to see the infrastructure initiatives expanded quickly once established.”

“With respect to the first question, National have been silent of any further tax cuts to date.” Mark Cairns, Port of Tauranga

“I would like to see a broader transport strategy. With different modalities being developed.” Recruitment director

“All their policies so far are very dull, more a continuation of the status quo.” Paul Glass, Devon Funds Management

GREEN PARTY

Solving poverty by “changing the system that drives people into such despair” by: increasing benefits by 20 per cent, increasing the amount people can earn before cutting benefits, reducing the bottom tax rate. 1.7/5 Protecting drinking water by putting a 10 cent/litre levy on water bottling and exports. 2.2/5 Implementing a tourism levy through a $20 increase on existing border charges (for international visitors only). 2.6/5 What they are saying: “There are better policy solutions to each of the problems these policies are trying to tackle.” Roger Partridge, The New Zealand Initiative

“I like these policies, but am not sure we can fund them. However, with a surplus, we can kick out of poverty, become more productive and then support economic growth. We have to start somewhere toward the Scandanavian model.” Beverage industry executive.

“Not convinced they have economic policies. It’s quite tactical thinking, without clear strategic economic thinking.” Recruitment director. “Tax, tax and more tax. Where’s the green growth plan? Announcement of a Royal Commission on RMA very welcome.” Stephen Selwood, Infrastructure New Zealand. “Discouraging tourism not a smart idea, increasing welfare dependency even dumber.” Kate McKenzie, Chorus.

NZ FIRST

MannedHolding bindingPike River referenda re-entry on 1.4/5 100 MPs in Parliament and on abolishing Maori seats 2.1/5 The creation of a foreign ownership of land register 2.3/5 What they are saying:

“Two of the three policies mentioned are crudely populist — indeed, so is the third, but it is high time we got rid of the Maori electorates, as the Royal Commission on the Electoral System recommended in 1986.” Don Brash, ICBC (NZ) “Hard to see anything transformational here!” Stephen Selwood, Infrastructure New Zealand “Where is the vision for a bigger and better country?” Don Braid, Mainfreight “OIO needs to go and replaced with a better regime, this is just tinkering; and the Maori seats issue is worth another look.” Kim Campbell, EMA

“Manned Pike River is difficult to answer as you have to go off the reports and recommendations of the experts. I’m sure everyone would love to retrieve the bodies but if unsafe to enter, then why risk other lives?” Property executive

ACT PARTY

Make the top rate of tax 25 per cent (for all income above $48,000), as well as lowering rates for lower income levels. 2.8/5 Remove New Zealand’s large cities from the Resource Management Act, and create separate urban development legislation, prioritising land supply and reducing red tape on developers. 3.2/5 Share a portion of GST levied on construction of new properties with Councils, to incentivise and enable increased consenting and infrastructure investment. 3.5/5 What they are saying: “Maybe I should be voting ACT?” Investment banker

“At least some innovation on infrastructure development although cutting top tax rate is a bit of warmed-over Rogernomics.” Automotive boss “All three policies make sense to me, and two of the three would lead to a rapid improvement in housing affordability.” Don Brash, ICBC (NZ)

“Taxing as many things as possible as little as possible is the way to broaden the tax base, grow tax revenue and reducing evasion/ avoidance.” Agri cooperative boss

“I think the GST concept has merit as a method to stimulate land supply.” Transport boss

LABOUR

Boosting Working for Families for those who currently receive it and extend it to more families, introduce a Best Start payment for costs in a child’s early years, introduce a Winter Energy Payment for those receiving superannuation 2.6/5 Implement royalties for bottled water, irrigation schemes and other commercial uses, using the money to clean up rivers, lakes and streams. 2.4/5 Investment into public transport, including a light rail link from Auckland’s CBD to the airport as a priority as the first step in a 10-year plan that will eventually extend to West Auckland, paid for partly from a regional fuel tax. 3.2/5 What they are saying:

“In relation to water charges, put it on all sectors of society and rebate back to the bottom 30% of income earners. Otherwise we are discriminating one sector against another.” Agri sector boss

“Transport initiative is welcomed, but I think it could be funded from existing revenue sources rather than adding new taxes.” Transport boss

“Light rail link is good visionary positioning on transport policy. However recent announcements about Auckland — Hamilton — Tauranga commuter rail service needs a bit more thinking through. We have seen a 64% increase in container transport on the east coast main trunk line over the last two years, where more than 41% of New Zealand’s exports are now routed through Port of Tauranga. The line between Tauranga and Hamilton is a narrow gauge single line. A 160km/hr commuter train can’t simply put on their indicator on to overtake a 2000 tonne freight train travelling at 75km/hr on a single track. New Zealand’s current narrow gauge track and structure are also only safely rated to a maximum speed of 80 km/hr.” Mark Cairns, Port of Tauranga

“We are not sure a regional petrol tax is the right move. A congestion tax would be more effective.” Don Braid, Mainfreight

“Water royalty is pathetic and ill thought-out. At some stage we need a proper debate about water pricing across the board. This is dog whistle politics. Light rail to the airport seems to have become some sort of holy grail for AT and Auckland Council. I am not convinced and believe a heavy rail solution is more robust.” Matthew Cockram, Cooper and Company

MAORI PARTY

Build a new “IwiRail“railway network for freight and tourism in regions such as Gisborne, via a public-private partnership with government, iwi, and local businesses. 2/5 Enact an annual power rebate for low-income whanau; installation of low-cost heating and insulating 10,000 low-income homes per year including rental properties. 2.6/5 Monitor cultural competency in all agencies to ensure the quality of services, and equity of access and outcomes. Require chief executives to report six-monthly on how they are progressing positive outcomes for whanau. 2/5 What they are saying: “Like the Greens, it’s very tactical.” Recruitment director “Playing to their audience. GIven the challenges in that community a shame there are not more initiatives aimed at improvement there.” Matthew Cockram, Cooper and Company “Where is the focus on educational advancement?” Energy sector CEO

THE OPPORTUNITIES PARTY

Introduce a tax on all productive assets (including homes for personal/ family use) and use the proceeds to fund a decrease in income tax. 1.8/5 Begin to introduce a Universal Basic Income, starting with $200 for individuals aged 18-23, all families with children aged under 3, and all people over 65 years of age, with no conditions attached to its receipt. 1.9/5 Legalise and regulate cannabis. 2.1/5 What they are saying “Most economists see merit in raising more tax on assets and less on income, but what Dr Morgan proposes is wildly unrealistic from a political point of view. And while a UBI has a lot of theoretical appeal, it is very hard to see how it could work — if it is set at a level which does not require top-ups for any current beneficiaries, it would require extremely high taxes to fund. I have long favoured the legalisation and regulation of cannabis.” Don Brash, ICBC (NZ)

“There is evidence to suggest that legalising cannabis can take criminal activity out of the picture — seems not to have done too much harm where it has occurred.” Kate McKenzie, Chorus

“Drugs are one our most serious issues and this policy might help. Robots are here and we need to start addressing their effects on the long-term viability of the economy — this policy is worth a look with some refinements.” Kim Campbell, EMA

“I’d like to see Gareth intersect legalised cannabis with the HSE legislation. Stuff being a Director or Officer of an organisation at that point! Again, nothing aspirational for the nation here.” Energy sector CEO

UNITED FUTURE

Introduce FlexiSuper, which gives people the option of choosing to receive New Zealand Superannuation at reduced rates from age 60-64 or at increasingly enhanced rates if they hold off until ages 66-70. 3/5 Introduce compulsory Kiwisaver. 3.6/5 Provide a pathway into home ownership by taking half of the houses being constructed by government and making them rentals, with a portion of the rental payment going towards a deposit on the house. 2.7/5 What they are saying “Gone burger.” Automotive boss “At least they are beginning to think of ways to increase housing ownership for those less able to do so.” Don Braid, Mainfreight

“Nothing aspirational for New Zealand here. Though I do support compulsory savings a la CPF in Singapore.” Energy sector CEO