These New Zealand tax cuts, unlike the chewing gum tax cuts of 2005, are here to stay
Last week’s Stuff news site from New Zealand reported that a new round of tax cuts were safe, unlike the “chewing gum tax cuts” that were cancelled two years ago (so called because they brought the average tax payer the equivalent of about 67¢ a week, enough to buy a pack of gum). The cuts in the past had also moved up into block of cheese territory, and at the very least, the Finance Minister assures the Kiwis these new cuts are here to stay, as the article reports:
Finance Minister Michael Cullen reiterated yesterday that tax cuts, due to take effect from today with further cuts scheduled from April 2010 and April 2011, were locked into place by law. That gave people “certainty”, he said.
His comments came after National’s finance spokesman Bill English questioned Labour’s commitment to tax cuts and revived memories of the “chewing gum” cuts, which were cancelled in 2006.