Time for more equitable tax system

Some major tax reform is needed.

We have people arguing for more helicopter landings so they can travel directly from one luxury home to another. On the other side of town we have families struggling to put a meal on the table.

This is not the New Zealand I knew and this under a Labour government who are determined to never have capital gains or wealth tax. The opposition party even argue for a reduction in tax on the highest paid.

Surely a more equitable system can be found.

Vince West, Milford

Cash-free benefits

Melissa Clark-Reynolds, of the NZ Centre for the Future, predicts that cash is on the way out. I hope she’s right, and I hope this happens soon.

The benefits of becoming a cashfree country would be enormous.

Crime relies on cash. Illicit drugs and stolen property are sold for cash. Without cash every transaction would be traceable.

The black economy runs on cash. If this cash economy ceased to exist then the government would substantially increase its tax take (without having to think of new taxes).

There would be some minor inconveniences, so if abolishing cash were deemed too harsh for buskers, beggars and the tooth fairy, then coins could be retained.

Chris Elias, Mission Bay

New charge for gangs?

With the country’s vehicular fleet on its way to becoming fully electric, will the motorcycle gangs be forced to ride e-motorbikes?

John Goodacre, Hamilton

Morons blight harbour

Heather du Plessis-Allan devoted a long article (May 9) to one idiot who slashed tires of SUVs in Auckland to highlight the harm these gasguzzlers do to the environment.

Why doesn’t she report on the many morons who throw their rubbish into Wellington harbour.

According to Ghost Divers NZ spokesman Rob Wilson they have retrieved thousands of tonnes of rubbish including e-scooters (93 in one haul), shopping trolleys and five toilets.

But no, du Plessis-Allan. prefers to concentrate on one “greenie” protest action. Unfortunately, this kind of anti-environmentalist bias is what we have come to expect from her.

Sue Rawson, Papamoa Beach

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