Chris Hipkins: Time for 'honest' chats about debt, tax for NZ's needs | Q+A 2024

[@PhilEvansNZ]

Labour and National NEED to sit down together and work out long term strategies for all the essentials. Water, roads, health, housing, tax etc, so we can stop the total cancellation of previous governments policies overnight, which costs tax and rate payers huge amounts of money. The current system is NOT democratic, it is 2 forms of dictatorship that change every few years. If some form of collaboration doesn't happen, this country is well and truly fucked.

[@cornflakes918]

This is the only comment that makes any sense. The cycle of planning projects, scrapping projects, planning projects, scrapping projects is absolute bullshit. We need to look forward 10, 20, and 30 years. We need to ALL want the entirety of the country to improve and be brought up together, we need to stop kicking the ladder out from underneath us and instead help others improve their skills and climb the ladder.

[@chrismoore8279]

Absolutely agree with this comment. 😊

[@LanceCleary]

labour are complete idiots

[@Freedom4UFreedom4every1]

I will have to disagree with that comment because at least one side (National & Act) are not full on Socialists, Marxists & Communists. The real issue is that National perserves the Economy, gets things going in the right direction and then Labour comes along and stuffs it up because that's all communists know how to do.

[@marnoster]

Some projects need to be taken away from political campaigning altogether

[@kingbill40]

I honestly think nz is entering a period where strife will rein, where costs will increase year on year, infrastructure, economy and society in general will receed and in general the people of nz will look elsewhere for a better life. Our chickens have come home to roost. GP and health crisis, infrastructure deficit, terrible wages, businesses closing..the list goes on I dont think it will matter which party is voted in. Next few years/decades its going to get harder because nz hasnt kept up and continues to fail to do so

[@gary3074]

That happened 7 years ago….

[@kingbill40]

@@gary3074 I guess that's why everyone is leaving

[@tonysmith191]

@@gary3074 Been happening since the neo liberal revolution in 84.

[@TarikSammour]

Very easy to hop over to Australia...immediate 2x increase in quality of life.

[@vincetay3162]

14:22

[@Bruiser223]

its pretty clear that its going to cost more to run the country with an ageing population, you'd think that it makes sense that the baby boomers who profited more than any other generation from our economy should have to fund the extra costs, not the working population who are already struggling to get ahead. baby boomers are much less likely to leave the country too, whereas the more tax young people have to pay the more likely they are to leave

[@chriskiwi2601]

Labour had 6 years to get it right. Your full of hot air Hipkins. I will never vote Labour again along with many others.

[@AnthonyFlack]

What did they get wrong? I can tell you twenty things this current lot have got wrong in the last year.

[@chriskiwi2601]

​@AnthonyFlack I was a Labour voter most of my life. To see the country being taken down the socialist way was a huge mistake. Running up a huge debt, a run down health system, education, roading, housing. We were heading the same way as Venezuela, Cuba where the government control the way we live. A bureaucrat system costing the Taxpayers a fortune to operate. Not for me sport.

[@AnthonyFlack]

​@@chriskiwi2601 - The current lot are running up a huge debt for useless tax cuts while running down social services left and right. Labour invested in housing, National cut it. Labour invested in public transport,. National cut it. Look at the cuts National are making to health right now. Look at all the hospital projects being cut back. Look at the facts and stop listening to propaganda. Anyone who tells you NZ was turning into Venezuela or Cuba under the previous government was lying to you and playing you for a fool.

[@marcusnz232]

Again?! You mean you actually did?

[@danielphillips4399]

​@@AnthonyFlackthat because you had your blinkers on over the past six years and now you chose to fill your head with leftist propaganda rubbish blaming the current state of the economy on the new government when it is clear that they have inherited this economy from the previous six years of economic mismanagement

[@peterselling7879]

What a dreamer, why is Jack being so soft on him. He is part of the reason we are so deep in it !

[@MurrayLeckie]

Jack is a Lefty like over 80% of the media !!

[@freeman9709]

exactly

[@jean-pierrecarolissen2591]

Was he funding gain of function research at the wuhan Institute of virology was he?😂

[@johnvanbhg4889]

He is hooping for more money next round not

[@SeeBird686]

TVNZ is run by the Left, that`s why. They still haven`t realized MOST people voted these clowns out,,,

[@JohnSmith-lc1ml]

Less focus on Maori and more focus on New Zealand.

[@saregama-r8td]

That's what the current government is there for. Maori are voters too.

[@JohnSmith-lc1ml]

@@saregama-r8td Maori also benefit from a government focusing on the improvement of the country. Its not one or the other.

[@martiruda]

well said, Maori businesses rotate the cash in Aotearoa, whereas foreign investors and property developers bugger the hell off with the money somewhere else.

[@AnthonyFlack]

The current lot want to distract us with racial division so we don't focus on how they're screwing us economically and doing things that put oil, tobacco and gun company interests ahead of the welfare of the NZ public.

[@marcusnz232]

@@martirudaThey’d rotate more if they actually paid tax…

[@Virtruvian]

Labour should never be let loose to control front benches ever again. Incompetent, delusional clowns.

[@Kelvinpaul4]

Look at the history, National's total average GDP growth from 1950 to present day is 2.7% , Labour's average growth is 3.2%. Clearly the National party have been in Government when life was good in NZ, the 50s and 60s , then the slow decline to the 80s, almost broke. The National party, governed the country into economic stagnation, deficits and austerity, much the same as today's National government. Even the public response is the same as the 70s, mass numbers leaving NZ, 133,000 in 12 month is a National record. Unemployment up to 5.2%, Huge increase in business failures, liquidation and bankruptcies. And all National has, is more of the same.

[@louiethered479]

Rubbish and that describes the current Luxon, Seymour, Peters coalition.

[@AnthonyFlack]

@@Kelvinpaul4 - they don't like hearing the facts.

[@Kelvinpaul4]

@@AnthonyFlack I agree, often facts have nothing to do with their tribal beliefs. Extreme example would be the Trump cult.

[@jasonbartle7950]

Geez chippo is given an easy ride here

[@johnvanbhg4889]

After 6 years of bullshit more bullshit

[@businessantony2404]

They want to take more of your money and spend more money they don't have. What a joke

[@AnthonyFlack]

​@@businessantony2404 - it's frustrating because none of that is what he said, and none of what he did say seems to have registered, so communicating with words obviously doesn't reach everybody.

[@overover..]

Sooo... the problem wasn't what Labour did, it's just that they didn't tell their story well enough...? What do you mean? You had TVNZ telling the best possible version of your story every day, and the worst possible version of your opponent's...

[@louiethered479]

tvnz did nothing of the sort.

[@AnthonyFlack]

The problem wasn't what Labour did.

[@redpink9773]

This comment is so on Point. Stuff, Q+A, One, Project are all pro left and always have been. Its the actions

[@louiethered479]

@@redpink9773 Not so.

[@redpink9773]

@@louiethered479 ​ Stand up for what is right and important - fairness in journalism. Not those ready to confirm your bias. Do better

[@ruthholmes7304]

Its amazing to me that wage and salary earners who pay the bulk of taxes are so happy to continue doing so. This is an interesting discussion about the future and the need for change. How is that frightening for taxpayers?

[@AnthonyFlack]

It seems a lot of people don't want to hear it. It's like they've been conditioned to switch off.

[@lazydaisee3997]

And yet hundreds of thousands of the more educated kiwi have simply left the country for a better life in Aussie

[@danielphillips4399]

@@AnthonyFlack more likely they don't want to hear the sound of Chris Hipkins voice. He represents the pandemic era and the people have moved well past it and do not want to revisit it again. Good riddens to Mr Hipkins.

[@raywheeler3135]

Daniel you need to take a good hard look in the mirror as you talking nonsense as usual. You really need to stop having tantrums online. You make yourself look very foolish.

[@jkkchow74]

What a liar. All the things you say nz is missing now is a result of your pathetic work. You have no right to discuss economy. Your party crashed it.

[@RMT192]

He is sincere and a good man. The hospitals are in the state they are in because of a deliberate lack of funding and taxation from John Key's government.

[@stravosio]

Just watched Guy Espiner '30 Minutes' interview with Luxon and then this interview of Tame with Hipkins ... totally different. One was up front in answering the questions in a candid and well-informed way; the other was consistently diverting away from the questions asked and instead presenting PR prattle. You can work it out for yourself. It's so refreshing, in the sense of a vision for our country's future, and hope for our children and grandchildren, when a Member of Parliament gives straight answers and offers a clear direction for our economy.

[@HighHarbinger]

Normally very on board with Jack asking hard questions but kind of rediculous to imply that a politician who resigns from a portfolio over having strong opinions is no longer entitled to an opinion at all. Cordoning off what policy any elected representative is allowed to talk about is anti-democratic. You can say someone's unqualified and their opinion isn't worth much, but to imply that they should have no opinion at all is rather silly

[@lazydaisee3997]

When you look past the basic charisma and chattiness...Jack is another NZ media intellectual lightweight put on screen for a generally lightweight NZ public

[@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj]

Thats always left wing thinking.

[@HighHarbinger]

@@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj they say, failing to realise that I am, in fact, a leftist myself

[@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj]

@@lazydaisee3997 Of course, together with a huge salary funded by the NZ taxpayer.

[@raywheeler3135]

Talking nonsense as usual Shirley. Jack's salary is funded by advertising money mostly from privately owned businesses.

[@julianhussenet7633]

Singapore has a centre right government. They’ve never had a centre left government run the country. One of the big things the Singaporean government vouches is personal responsibility, low taxes, strong penalties towards criminals including death to drug traffickers and low dependence on the welfare state. Since when does labour ever vouch for any of those. Singapore wants people to be successful regardless of race. Labour goes after landlords and successful businesses and pities criminals over victims. The current coalition are the ones that are trying to make nz like Singapore and the woke lefties are complaining about it.

[@Thebuilder-v7q]

A vote for labour is a step backwards, the last 6 years showed that

[@gary3074]

Labour - lowering social standards and making excuses for poor behaviour are their values…

[@Yakub943]

The current coalition are nothing like Singapore. The vast majority of Singaporeans live in public housing for example, which is why they tax so low in the first place.

[@Yakub943]

Labour is pushing for an economy that is centred around actual productivity rather than housing as Chris said. Nationals reforms on housing won’t go far enough.

[@julianhussenet7633]

@@Yakub943 public housing that is sold at market value. Most hdb flats cost what the average Aucklander would pay for a house in the region. Current coalition is a centre right wing government just like the people’s action party in Singapore.

[@grantmckinnon2300]

I wonder if Jack would have been as quiet and respectful if he was interviewing Nicola Willis?

[@Cambamnz4real]

Nicola Willis is a current minister making CURRENT DECISIONS he should be harder on her. Go back and look at the media ignored national refusing to share any of pre election spend funding, nada, no spreadsheets nothing. Opposition is never questioned in a same vein because it isn't even an election year, they arent anywhere near making legislative decions yet. Now we have a government borrowing even MORE FOR TAX CUTS when they were told they couldn't afford their plans without borrowing. Disgraceful.

[@MalcolmWolf]

Respect goes both ways. If she does not answer the question, just parrots talking points, or is down right deceitful then it is his job to call her out on that.

[@saregama-r8td]

Well, if you start off lying.......probably get what she deserves.

[@kiwikiwi223]

Nah because she doesn't answer questions just talks bs 😂

[@dawnmate]

What a joke...both of you

[@michaelan9688]

Very insightful comment from a sensible member of our community

[@marcusclouth9958]

Labour is Te Pati Maori under hipkins. Forgot the rest of N.Z

[@pltking]

Everyone agrees that we all want NZ to do better but it is just how we get there. Labour borrowed to much money and now we have to pay for it. Also let crime go rampant and wouldn’t even acknowledge it had increased.

[@AnthonyFlack]

These guys are borrowing even more money and for what? Tax cuts for the already rich. Borrowing billions to give to those who don't need it, scrapping vital infrastructure to fund it, and then promising $33 billion in roads they can't pay for.

[@pltking]

@@AnthonyFlack not sure where you get government borrowing more money to give to rich?? I wasn’t aware Nats were going out to borrow more?

[@AnthonyFlack]

@@pltking - they're borrowing more than Labour did for 5 out of 6 years, and that was in the middle of the pandemic. They also haven't figured out how the extra things they've promised will be paid for. They've already dipped into next year's budget. Meanwhile the majority of the tax cuts they are borrowing this extra money to pay for are going to the richest half of the country, who don't need tax cuts.

[@pltking]

@@AnthonyFlack don’t agree, Labour took NZ from 30 billion debt to 100 billion. Not sure how you see current government out borrowing previous government?

[@carlohernandez3941]

So much to do after spending 6 years in power, pathetic.

[@jean-pierrecarolissen2591]

4 out of those 6 were pandemic years 😂

[@jimpaterson1253]

​@@jean-pierrecarolissen2591and 6 months we're in isolation, & leg spreading. 😂😂

[@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj]

Exactly

[@AnthonyFlack]

@@jean-pierrecarolissen2591 - and half were in coalition with Winston, who doesn't take any responsibility.

[@ivangillatt4584]

We will still be paying off the debt from their last term in many years to come

[@AnthonyFlack]

How about all the money we're borrowing for tax cuts? The last time we had no debt was when Labour paid it all off. Economic performance has been consistently better under Labour than National.

[@danielphillips4399]

​@@AnthonyFlack😂😅🤣🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱

[@growtocycle6992]

​@@AnthonyFlack Helen Clarke was leagues different than Jacinda, though... She actually stood for her principles and was willing to pay through unpopular policies that were good for the country... Jacinda was just a populist, unwilling to do anything except print money

[@raywheeler3135]

@@danielphillips4399 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@StoganNZ]

Debt? I think paying for hospitals for the future is more important than having a small amount of debt when we actually need the infrastructure?

[@agentlevanto2964]

LOl - they had 6 years to sort their wealth/Capital Gains Tax, yet couldn’t… now they’re going to talk about it some more till the next election. Inanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Hipkins could have taken this to the electorate in the last election but chose not to - all talk talk talk no action.

[@saregama-r8td]

Absolutely. Why so gutless from the Labour party?

[@Sams_world_nz]

Yep and 3 years they were in govt on their own. Absolute flop

[@chewie_nz]

did they? I'm pretty sure it was all hands on deck for covid response. man people have short memories

[@louiethered479]

Labour increased the Bright line test to 10 years which Luxon has reversed. If you recall Labour ran a CGT over 3 election cycles but voters back then didn't want it. Looks like now is the right time to have that discussion.

[@louiethered479]

@@Sams_world_nz Saving lives during a global pandemic took up most of those 3 years.

[@DAVIDCOTTERELL-s7s]

What a tippy toe interview. Free Labour promo. Next up Simeon Brown gets an over excited interviewer trying to too hard..

[@anne-mareeosborne8718]

She was brilliant

[@growtocycle6992]

Simeon Brown has it coming... The guy is burning money, the environment and inordinate amounts of petrol for his pet car fetish... He is shocking!

[@marnoster]

Didn’t the IMF strongly advise against borrowing?

[@markswanson2716]

They didn't just borrow, they printed money that wasn't earned and put it into the economy. THAT is the literal definition of inflation. Politicians don't like to say it but that is the primary source of inflation. Prices going up is the consequence of inflation.

[@louiethered479]

@@markswanson2716 High inflation was global, caused by the worldwide pandemic and the Ukraine war that caused supply chain issues. Aotearoa New Zealand had one of the lowest debts in the OECD despite the global pandemic.

[@louiethered479]

Yes. IMF warned the Luxon, Seymour, Peters coalition Government against borrowing to fund tax cuts, fearing this could exacerbate inflation.

[@louiethered479]

@@markswanson2716 IMF didn't warn Labour, they warned the current coalition against borrowing to fund tax cuts, fearing this could exacerbate inflation

[@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj]

@@markswanson2716 Isn't that a question that you should pose to Adrian Orr from the NZ Reserve Bank.He had his hand in it too,together with Grant Robertson.

[@Ericbryanmr]

Chris clearly hasn't learnt his lesson. New Zealanders didn't want what he was selling, but he argues he just didn't sell it well enough.

[@raywheeler3135]

You are clearly wrong There was a poll taken in Sept 2023. "A smaller majority also supported some sort of capital gains tax. Asked if income from shares and property investments should be taxed like income, 62% said yes."

[@jean-pierrecarolissen2591]

​chippy committed to no capital gains tax😂

[@PhilEvansNZ]

Actually kiwis did want Labour. They got 50% of the vote in their winning election and governed without the need for partners. In the last election Nat got 36%, ACT got 8% and NZF scratched a few votes. Labour had the mandate, this idiot government didn't, they scratched a coalition together. The reality is there is a 50/50 split, so the things you want, half the country don't. It is arrogant to say everyone whants what you want, because they don't.

[@saregama-r8td]

Actually, he really didn't sell it hard enough. Why be afraid of the billionaires. Tax them and tax them good. Labour should stand up for itself.

[@jizzlipps]

@@raywheeler3135 Bull shit. you obviously have no investments and are just repeating nonsense. Why keep this taxing mindset. Lets grow the economy and be productive! Have you ever talked to an entrepreneur?

[@bobbyhorowitz9089]

God help NZ if Labour get back in

[@goldy-f1n]

Jack, labour spokesperson.

[@MalcolmWolf]

Typical lazy responce when good points where made that you cannot honestly counter.

[@marinclay2405]

Jack needs to go offshore like most his age, and stay there.

[@PhilEvansNZ]

every person has a political side to champion. Remember that in this country about 2.5 million people do not agree with you, and could also say that you are a bitter and twisted about Labour, and are a mouthpiece for National. Get over it.

[@saregama-r8td]

@@marinclay2405 who will we replace our talented young people with?

[@BelaUghy]

​@@MalcolmWolfall talk, talk is easy

[@jacquessmith9707]

I (civil engineer) am heading over to Aus in the next month with my wife (nurse) and my two kids, we had a business doing fencing and general maintenance for KOA but since the govt changed I pretty much became unemployed with my workers over night, we are not the only business this has happend too. Nz has so much potential but I feel like the thing that is missing is hope. I am 31 and I have no hope at buying a house here for me and my kids. I have no hope that things are getting better here, crime is up, houses prices are unreachable and honestly not worth the prices they are going for. National has just compounded the problems sure inflation has gone down awesome but I can't feed my kids because a freaking block of cheese is $20. I hope it will get better but for now I'm out

[@clyde19SIXO]

It’s $20 for a block of cheese in Australia

[@jacquessmith9707]

@clyde19SIXO yea, but I'd be earning 30k more there a year than here

[@kiwikiwi223]

​@clyde19SIXO you make way more money there though 😂

[@ccbatty2296]

Brought 1kg cheese for 10 bucks this week at pak n save.

[@nostoneunturned7181]

@@ccbatty2296 check again mate, its 500g

[@haidershakib]

After 6 years in government, debt increased 25 times from $4 billion to $97 billion, crime is worse, education is worse, crime got worse, it's amazing Q&A milestone have run out of people to interview.

[@chauhansotia8574]

Yes, we know how good were economy and education under Labour. Do you think everyone is stupid?

[@saregama-r8td]

There are a lot of stupid people.

[@ruthholmes7304]

Actually the nz economy did better than most during Covid. It's a fact.

[@louiethered479]

Economy and education did far better under Labour than the current coalition.

[@danielphillips4399]

​​@@ruthholmes7304 the fact is New Zealand now has the slowest growing economy in the world. The reason it looked like our economy was doing well was because the government had propped it up with so much borrowed money. Hipkins government borrowed and spent more money per capita than almost ever other country in the world which only fueled inflation driving our economy into the ground.

[@dangerrayy]

@@danielphillips4399 Analysis by a financial journalist has found the government's Covid-19 policies have made the wealthy hundreds of billions of dollars richer, while the poor sank $400 million further into debt to the government itself. (RNZ) This trend needs to be reversed by taxing the very wealthy. Unless there is better solution?

[@feesullivan3439]

Labour. “We need to tax workers more to have more money to spend” lol 😜 what a crazy joke. Labour is gone

[@raywheeler3135]

Landlords don't do any work and don't pay taxes either.

[@jessicaparsons7396]

National fires workers to give them more to spend!

[@AnthonyFlack]

That's pretty much the opposite of what he said! He said if we have an ageing population, we're going to have to broaden our tax base OR ELSE workers will end up paying for it. And that it makes sense to borrow money for infrastructure that has long-term benefits.

[@growtocycle6992]

🤦. Feesullivan, if you have no clue what's going on, don't bother to comment.

[@feesullivan3439]

@@growtocycle6992 and who are you - utube god? 😜

[@marcusclouth9958]

Lame jack. Fuzzy little interview. Doomed with hipkins that's proven. Lame jack your next.

[@marinclay2405]

This tyrant must go. Remember the 90 billion debt this government created. He’ll tax more and misspend like the last 6 years. More tax covers applauding mismanagement. Also who was in the money bucket, hmmm, Unfettered access there unchecked. A detailed audit is needed to stop this guy doing it again.

[@saregama-r8td]

He's literally not in government. You can't just wish someone gone from the opposing party. There is a process.

[@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj]

No thanks Chippy NZ had six years of Labour.What a bloody mess they left NZ in, along with Grant Robertson.Labour Government soft on crime as well.Hopeless.

[@raywheeler3135]

Good point. Luxon the tyrant must go

[@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj]

@@saregama-r8td Well,look at Chippys and Labours record.Because of their economic policies and record NZ will be in the economic toilet for a long time.Someone had to turn off the free money machine.No country will last with that economic record.Suggest you take a basic course in economics.NZ must earn money to acheive what it wants,there is no other way.If you tax people heavily they take their money and leave the country.What future is there in that.? NONE.

[@AtCheruti]

So Hipkins is the sort that reaches out to the envious and the malcontents and telling the working people he's going to tax them more.

[@raywheeler3135]

Luxon is the sort that reaches out to lazy tax dodging landlords telling them they don't have to work or pay taxes, and then taxpayers will continue giving them $2 billion each year in rent subsidies

[@vanc4297]

Jack... why the softballs... and soft questions??? For example, Hipkins talks about not wanting to see people move to Aus... but the current migration trend comes at the end of 6 years of labour government. Surely, this is the obvious follow-up question.

[@waka89446]

Yet national didnt like the pay rises given to nurses etc which to a degree slowed down the migration. National finance minister said she would not have given it to them. I work in Health and there wouldve been a mass exodus if those pay rises didnt come.

[@vanc4297]

@@waka89446 good point. And a great question for National. But my point still remains. Sometimes I like Jack... but here he seems way too soft on CH.

[@waka89446]

Yea did think that myself​@@vanc4297

[@TheAldawg77]

Jack is a cheer leader for more tax, but he doesn't say much about unnecessary and wasteful spending on crap the majority of people don't want nor need. He's clearly a labor fanboy.

[@waka89446]

@@TheAldawg77 yea like ferries

[@abelayala1958]

Labor party just had 2 terms , how many terms does it take to see what he's talking about?. The problem is ones they win election they realize they over promise and all they can do is borrow more money

[@louiethered479]

Like Luxon, Seymour and Peters?

[@abelayala1958]

@louiethered479 yes , no difference to al the previous ones

[@louiethered479]

@@abelayala1958 Incorrect, there is a massive difference. The Seymour led coalition fronted by a weak and ineffective figurehead Chris Luxon would be one of the worst governments Aotearoa has had. Worse than Key's National government and that's saying something. Even Key is worried, that is how bad it is.

[@abelayala1958]

@louiethered479 I guess we're all entitled to our own opinions

[@louiethered479]

@@abelayala1958 Sure, if you want to believe in lies that's your choice.

[@paywize]

Jack why did you not ask the question of co governance and of Treaty partnership. This is what will be and should be the next big issue come election time.

[@saregama-r8td]

I hope not.

[@StephenEllis-fq3nh]

​@arohanui922 then we can all live in mud huts.how shallow can you get

[@RJH755]

Most kiwis have bigger issues to worry about than if the bloody mairuz are getting too much

[@overover..]

We all know where NZ media sit on this one

[@desireepickering5579]

​@@StephenEllis-fq3nh hahaha fk you're funny. Do you really think sharing shyt is gonna make the world fall apart? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

[@marcusclouth9958]

You can't help him Jack. Help yourself😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@laughingkiwi-b5h]

hilarious. the only thing that has changed with labour since 2023 is back then the line was "we're actually doing a great job, the public just isn't smart enough to understand how we are doing it" and now the line is "we were always doing a great job, we just weren't telling anyone what a great job we were doing" hopefully chippy stays on as leader, we wont have to worry about them forming a government if he does.

[@PhilEvansNZ]

MMP was supposed to allow proportional representation in government. It didn't. It just became the usual first past the post dictatorship made up of more than one party. There should be collaboration with ALL parties so our laws are designed for everyone, and won't be butchered when the other dictatorship gets in.

[@adsdft585]

National should have looked to form a minority government.

[@markswanson2716]

I think you have not understood MMP properly. As it stands the current govt is the epitome of MMP. They have to make 3 separate parties compromise and work together to make a functional govt. It represents the majority of NZers as they have a combined voter backing of well past 50% of the voter turnout. The biggest upside of a 3 way partnership is a larger ministerial talent pool and that is something we were sorely lacking previously. To suggest a "minority government" would put more power in the hands of fewer people which would be closer to the definition of dictatorship but still not even close really as the leader or potential dictator can be dumped by their own party at any time and they would also need the military in their pocket so we are not even remotely close to the dictatorship scenario and even using the word in our political discourse is really very silly.

[@PhilEvansNZ]

@@markswanson2716 I think you are the one who doesn't understand MMP. It is supposed to be a proportional representation of ALL kiwis, and both sides of the political spectrum should be working togather to make sound policies and laws that represent everyone, not just 50.1% of voters. Thats just fucks over 49.9% of voters, with the 'leader' changing every few years. Thats is 100% a dictatorship in the sense of the government. The leader can be rolled, but the government stays in power. We just get a different dictatorship every few years and they just trash everything the previous govt's laws. Thats just fucked. Anyone thinking that is good governance is a deluded moron. All major portfolios should require cross party support and compromise so they endure when govt's change. What the current dictatorship is doing should be classed as treason, trashing everything the previous government did, just because they can. That is fucked up. Everyone should be telling these assholes that we cannot continue to be dictated to like that. If the current system is to stay, then an incoming government must not be allowed to cancel what it doesn't like, or to do so should require 80% of the parliament vote. But I guess you still want the current fuckwits because you agree with them. Remember that 49.1% of the country thinks they are all fuckwits.

[@louiethered479]

@@adsdft585 National didn't have the numbers to do that.

[@DavidMuir-u4c]

I am seriously not investing in NZ and keeping my wealth liquid. If labour gets in with the left wing loonies i and many others will be running at lightening speed to escape these lunatics.

[@growtocycle6992]

Good riddance. Make nationals numbers look worse, and don't exploit our economy to earn a tax free 401K... 🤮 Invest somewhere else!! Let us own our own homes

[@vicipiz]

Should have sorted the hospitals and built some new ones instead of paying everyone to stay home

[@louiethered479]

Labour saved thousands of lives, saved the economy, kept businesses afloat, workers in jobs, and kept the health system from collapsing during a deadly global pandemic. Aotearoa had one of the best responses to the pandemic in the world. Labour was sorting out the hospitals and building a new hospital but the coalition has broken its promise and is scaling it back like everything else.

[@petermichael2504]

Have you figured out what a woman is Hipkins?

[@vungf5297]

hot tip mate no one gives a shit there's a lot more important things going on than you being scared of trans people

[@MalcolmWolf]

Some people are not obsessed with what people have between their legs and believe there are more important things out there than being a narrow-minded simplistic bigot.

[@raywheeler3135]

Have you figured out what an adult is Peter?

[@JamesClark-cg1qk]

@@raywheeler3135 it's a serious question, and Hipkins couldn't answer it.

[@markswanson2716]

​@@raywheeler3135the fact that the health minister for the govt and "the only source of truth" couldn't, and didn't have an answer to the hot potato question that had been going around the western political world speaks volumes. He is now a muppet and shall remain so until he can prove otherwise.

[@Tc-zb8ht]

Never did answer the what is a Women question.....Will sausage rolls be targeted as well?

[@marinclay2405]

He’s just awful to watch.

[@raywheeler3135]

Go on then what is a woman? And don't Google it just answer.

[@Tc-zb8ht]

@@raywheeler3135 Suggest you Google it seems you might not know either.?....Have a cup of tea & sausage roll it may help.

[@bunning63]

Hunting for policies that create popularity. Already speaks of borrowing... And then theres thst other memory, 'We will hunt down the unvaccinated'.

[@clarekitt7373]

Nice to hear a politician being open and not repeating talking points. Good to know they care about people as well as the economy. Tax reform is essential. Important to hear capital gains tax etc is a Labour policy.

[@MaryAda-wj3dy]

BS. Labour greens and TPM got us in the b mess we are now in economically because they were a pack of dmumpty ignorant Muppets who didn't have a clue what they are doing.

[@JimChap]

Why is increasing taxation, capital gains taxation essential? Increasing government spending through increased taxation has never proven to be the way to improve the economy of a country when compared to leaving the money in the more productive, public sector. Besides the idea that increasing taxation leads to an increased tax revenue is false. Ireland is a similar country in population to NZ, yet it's GDP per capita is nearly double ours. Our corporate tax rate is 28%, theirs is 12%, yet their corporate tax revenue is nearly double ours...They are able to attract all kinds of industries into their country as a result of this. Our high tax rates prevents this, and makes us unattractive for investment in this way....People left leaning always believe that increased taxes lead to an increased tax revenue, this certainly wasn't the case for the UK and the US, when they dropped their tax rates significantly in the 80s and it is not the case now. This is leftist ideology not supported by history.

[@raywheeler3135]

@@JimChap Factually incorrect. The US economy boomed when the richest paid over 90% tax.

[@saregama-r8td]

@@JimChap Labour is not left enough. Tax those billionaire corporations more, and then some more.

[@W_Bin]

@@JimChap Leaving the money in the public sector to amass wealth in hedge funds and screw everyone? how is that productive?

[@paulchristensen2573]

We need to spend and invest in our infrastructure, university, schools, not charter schools that's wasting time and money, all roads,but our futures is in renewable, look at south Australia absolutely transitioning to renewable s. Investing creates employment , train our trades on subsidies, pay good wages and keep them in nz.

[@racheltaylor4759]

Why is taxing the public the only solution politicians are willing to offer? Increase corporate taxes and introduce a windfall tax.

[@dangerrayy]

Is that not exactly what he was implying?

[@RickTai]

Increasing tax is theft. Govt needs to grow the economy, cut spending, reduce the size of public service. Hipkins is a taxing mongrel.

[@marcusnz232]

And where do you think corporate bodies get their money from? It’s from us. We pay them. We are the customer. It’s our money. The tax is on us.

[@SeanOBrien-u3r]

Instead of taxing more and more, what if they spent the total tax pool more wisely?

[@marcusnz232]

@@SeanOBrien-u3r Approximately speaking, my wife (who works on large public sector projects) estimates that in the last decade she’s personally witnessed in excess of $150 million of wasted money on projects killed off prior to completion due to budget or political alterations. And that’s just what she’s seen herself. Extrapolate that across government and the wastage rate is mind blowing.

[@ruthfowler390]

There's been a lot of damage done since the 1980s, but this lot takes the cake !!! 😢😢😢

[@JG-us9lu]

Yeah, labour have wrecked the country.

[@marcusclouth9958]

Wow. Hipkins and Jack talk kaka

[@stephencurry1766]

Here we go again….pay more with no consideration for the productivity area. He’ll break the country again 🎉

[@markswanson2716]

Yes, at no point did his policies do anything to grow the economy and more tax just takes more from the same bucket.

[@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj]

Its Chippy and the Labour Party, what you expect ? Tax Tax Tax. They will be looking at a capital gains tax.For what they want and will do,where else will they find the money ?

[@ruthholmes7304]

Just wait till you see how many new taxes National will impose to pay for their vanity projects. You will pay,pay pay. ​@@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj

[@louiethered479]

@@markswanson2716 what policies are you referring to? Hipkins didn't announce policies in that interview. GDP grew under Labour despite the global pandemic.

[@louiethered479]

@@ShirleyZhang-bt4dj Like Luxon increasing other forms of taxes and user charges? The coalition doesn't have the money to pay for its 33b roads, so where do you think they are going to get it from?

[@russellriley7820]

Great, more debt… thanks Chris. Here’s a reality check for those who are commerce innumerate. The difference between million and billion. Kiwis need to understand how huge the gap is even though they sound similar. To earn $1 million at $1/second would take 11 days. To earn $1 billion at $1/second would take 32 years… CHRIS, how much did your government borrow over 6 years? How much debt have you placed on tax payers for generations? As you can tell, I am right of centre and I am sure many from the left will throw something back about Nationals tax cuts etc… I don’t believe in those either. It annoys me that Luxon campaigned about fiscal responsibility and carried on with cuts when we knew the country can’t afford it. He sprinted to the woke centre as soon as the partnership was announced. What a Richard.

[@Leithyl]

It would be nice to finally TAX the big (foreign) tech giants their full amount, just like every other NZ'er has to pay. Imagine how much funding we would have for roading, hospitals and everything else! A huge amount of TAX stress would be removed from the actual people who live in NZ! Last time I checked I was unable to negotiate a lower TAX rate so I could make more money. By not forcing foreign corps to pay their full amount, you force that short fall TAX burden to be picked up by the NZ TAX payer in some way, shape or form!

[@marcusnz232]

You can’t do anything unless you can work out one thing: How will NZ Inc make more money? It’s that simple. Without an answer to that, our future is managed decline until we end up like Fiji with worse beaches and colder weather.

[@mikestray76]

We have to start making our tax system fair. The tax burden needs to be moved away from work and towards wealth. for a start ALL income should be subject to income tax rather than the law stating many times that 'this income is not income for income tax purposes' or something similar. Income is income and should be subject to income tax

[@LWJCarroll]

Cool to hear thanks. Laurie. 😊

[@maeveobyrne9590]

Civil servants, social workers, nurses, doctors, teachers, the disabled, the mentally ill, the homeless, Maori, Pasifica, and on and on, need to understand the power of their vote and not throw in the towel with the relentless bullying and demeaning behaviour of this current government. Part of their strategy is to create chaos and a sense of helplessness in the population. Vote Kiwis, vote!!!!

[@paton57]

You're full of it

[@maeveobyrne9590]

@@paton57 TY - just goes to prove my point

[@tommcg7564]

and then privatise

[@grantmckinnon2300]

The bulk of the groups you just mentioned have been voting left for years - who do you think in that group isn't voting left enough already?

[@maeveobyrne9590]

@@grantmckinnon2300 A rather galloping assumption - facts?

[@AtihanaJohns]

I'm told by some media that the economy is low income, increased unemployment, high cost of living etc.

[@grandmundi7107]

The fact that this interview happened at all is quite fascinating.

[@howzit5406]

'I don't think New Zealanders think this is as good as it gets'?? Of course we don't think that, we are very well aware that Labour's socialist policies destroyed what good was there when they took power.

[@marcusclouth9958]

Hipkins and Jack. The muppet show

[@ramirob5002]

i've heard many politicians, but this one is very sincere, speaks with very good reasons, you like it or not. We need to grow up, in the rest of the world people pay taxes for roads, health, education, safety. National promised a tax cut in the campaign, and ending up borrowing more money to show they are delivering... but for how much ?? $20 per week back? I would have preferred those 20 invested on health or the rest of the pilars what makes a mature society and in a country you want to live. They cut and cut and cut, not seeing at all the consequences, it is a kind of sport. The other partner, ACT, crying for interest rates cut, go and look at the economic books about liberals, where is the invisible hand that fixes all David?

[@lindamckenzie6500]

Chris Hipkins.....what can l say....promises you everything gives you nothing and before you get it he takes it away.... Ideology!

[@marcusclouth9958]

You joined te pati. Hipkins and Jack forgot about the rest of N.Z

[@tonymunro5693]

I think alot of people want a political party that works for "the people " and not be puppets for the "rich". what he's saying is the same as always but still everything stays the same.To get more taxes wages must rise in tandem with the cost of living

[@Kiwistoicist]

Tax us more and Borrow more money to waste on silly ideas which will never have returns? Or give billions to consultants to write slogans? We need a leaner and meaner government and focus on core services and efficiency

[@hanhquyenpham7971]

😂 based

[@marcusclouth9958]

Hipkins name in history. As lost all hope for labour

[@se7390]

Truly remarkable how few people in these comments have any understanding about how NZ's Debt to GDP ratio compares to other developed countries, or how that "wasted" money kept huge amounts of people employed during a global pandemic.

[@lazydaisee3997]

GDP is a second rate metric used to distract an economically illiterate media and public... 1) Too much NZ debt is to overseas 2) At high interest rates 3) We have low disposable incomes 4) We have a high rate of foreign ownership and much of the 'profit' in the NZ economy belongs to foreign countries The fact is that NZ is in trouble...decades of living on unsustainable practices including depreciating infrastructure, selling assets and businesses and the future income they generate.

[@petercreagh8797]

If there had been no job subsides I am sure many companies would not have stopped work. My friend said he would have kept working had there been no subsidy and he was not frightened to be taken to court should he have had to end up working illegally.

[@marcusclouth9958]

Jack and Hipkins all Kaka

[@marcusclouth9958]

2 muppets in room. This will be kaka

[@marcusclouth9958]

The old labour has gone. Join te pati Hipkins

[@marcusclouth9958]

Wow. Jack Lame. And hipkins who sunk labour. Bummer chris. My Grandad voted for labour. Not while Hipkins in.

[@markswanson2716]

This is a rubbish interview. Hipkins is so disingenuous, Labour have NOT learned their lesson when he has avoided all the reasons we dumped them last year. Co-governance, printed money and inflated the economy and they used the socialist playbook to a tee and we're actively centralising power more and more in Wellington. He mentioned our demographics which are currently tracking negatively. Australia recognized this and proactively grew their population the best way possible, they asked the people to make more babies. Their prime minister said on national tv, one for mum, one for dad and one for the country. Stop importing adults from various cultures and grow your own population from inside your own culture, it is and always has been the best way, with the least cultural ripples to increase population.

[@louiethered479]

Not true.

[@growtocycle6992]

We have a fascist in the chat. 🤦

[@louiethered479]

@@growtocycle6992 you?

[@growtocycle6992]

@@louiethered479 markswanson. Claiming it's all the immigrants fault, and we need to "stop importing adults from various cultures"...

[@vincetay3162]

It seems that both parties and political commentators are avoid one fundamental issue- the caliber, composition and low productivity of NZ workforce

[@eltongregory492]

The only way I'd take interest in Labour is if they were brave enough to address the generation wealth and power imbalance. I'd like to see no superannuation for people over 65 who have decided to keep working. An increase in superannuation for people over 65 who have decided to stop work altogether ie actually retire. Means-tested superannuation, if you have over 2 million in assets you don't apply! Why should the NZ taxpayer keep funding boomers who REFUSE to retire? Why should the NZ taxpayer keep funding boomers who are independently wealthy, why are we adding to their colossal wealth? People over the age of 65 need to step aside, actually retire and enjoy life. There are some that won't that's fine, it's a free world, but we WON'T be paying you on top of that, their money can go to increasing super to those people who have actually retired. Come on Labour reinvent yourself as a party for the youth!

[@Knitter-e7f]

OK, so you want to penalise people who work hard, save carefully, and manage their finances responsibly. You want to take the value that they have created (and continue to create if they're still working), and pay it to people who aren't working. Sounds a bit backward to me.

[@eltongregory492]

They can keep working if they want, they're just not going to get paid a pension on top of it! The money that doesn't go to them can go to increase the pensions of people who have actually retired! NZ isn't even means testing it, you can earn whatever and still get the pension, no other country does this.

[@marcusclouth9958]

Labour joins te pati. Labour is goooooooooone

[@Atmosnofear]

A very gentle and polite interview by Jack Tame. But he, like many other Leftist interviewers, continue to ignore asking Hipkins this burning question since his 6 months term as Prime Minister. "What is a woman"?

[@redpink9773]

Remember "um yes Jessica then Tova". Tova is now the chief editor of Stuff. Jack Tame knows how NZ media works and he wants a bright future

[@calamitycanyon9173]

What an unimportant question

[@raywheeler3135]

Go on then what is a woman? And don't Google it.

[@calamitycanyon9173]

​@@raywheeler3135 ​ A broad definition I'd give based on what I know about the word is 'someone who demonstrates feminine qualities', but there's a lot to it. I say that it's an unimportant question because I generally think that arguments over definitions are pointless, because ultimately language evolves and words have more meaning than any one or even several prescriptive definitions can give them. As satisfying as an answer that 'adult human female' (i didn't need to google it because conservatives so consistently cycle back to this topic) may be, so is 'object built to be sat on', and yet what is and is not a chair could be argued to be a lot more than that. What is a 'white person?' Naturally, people tend to disagree, and that's OK. Ultimately, words light up certain concepts and associations in our heads, ones that can't always be tied down, but rather 'felt out'. I think we get too caught up on if something is or is not something else rather than if we think it's good or bad. The left does this too. They treat being able to say that something is 'fascist' as an automatic win condition, rather than argue why they actually think it's bad. It could be argued that it's useful to have scientific definitions be prescribed, but woman is not considered a scientific term. The scientific term is 'adult human female.' If you think this answer is just too 'complex', 'academic', and 'woke', then I'll just summarize it to this: Language is complex and when someone says 'woman', you might know what they mean but not be able to put it in words. This isn't even to mention that Chris Hipkins has in fact responded to that question, and that when there are massive economic, environmental, social, and political issues going on right now, 'what is a woman' just isn't an important question to ask. If you're thinking 'I ain't readin all that', then fair enough, but that may be pretty telling. ​

[@redpink9773]

@@calamitycanyon9173 It should be an unimportant question. But today its a very important question because of woke people. Try and be on the right side of history.

[@Peter-kk6rg]

Capital Gains tax is a winner for Labour.

[@kezzkezzkezz]

Yes let's tax people on already taxed money. You're a clown

[@chrisallum9044]

It's a loser for New Zealand. Besides, capital gains are already taxed. Sell some shares, you pay tax.

[@Peter-kk6rg]

@@chrisallum9044 A capital gains tax with no loopholes. I think a good deal for property investors would be 20% capital gains tax, which is normal anywhere in the world. And if you build a new investment property will no capital gains tax.

[@radioguy534]

Labour would never be able to get it right.

[@Peter-kk6rg]

@@radioguy534 It will be a political winner for Labour. And the more you think about the benefits it brings to New Zealand it brings joy to me.

[@warwickwaho5078]

Blah blah blah same old crap talk

[@DeeOldChook]

I would say to u... its nice to see someone answering tje questions and moving passed the used car sales man speak.

[@marcusclouth9958]

Hipkins and Jack. Lose all labour support. 😂😂😂😂😂.

[@nileshprasad4306]

I want to see accountability from labour for every cent of tax payer money they spend. They wasted too much money when they were in power and I don’t trust them!

[@paulrayner1274]

lol! Chris has his chance to sort the country out the past six years. A bit rich suddenly having all these ideas now?

[@ThePetercummins]

Imagine the questions Jack would have asked if he was interviewing Winston Peters. No media bias here!.

[@mikestray76]

I'm amazed that the Labour party has yet to understand that Labour can't win the next election with Hipkins as leader. Labour needs to focus very hard on regaining the trust and votes of those it is supposed to represent, the working class.

[@Yaackov1]

Ask him where’s the money coming from to subsides the new society.

[@MoFoHardstyle]

You wanna raise taxes in an inflationary environment? Bruv, you're on course to have labour booted out of parliament.

[@growtocycle6992]

Tax cuts are inflationary, whereas tax cuts are deflationary... 😂😂 Also, tax cuts when there is a massive deficit... 🤦

[@guillermoquiros2402]

Really more debt, we should learn from what is happening in the States and Europe, with their out-of-control public spending. The only solution is more productivity, fewer politicians, and a smaller public sector.

[@stu1336]

Labour wouldn't know how to move quickly. They have no clue how to deliver. Hipkins ... blah blah blah

[@barrygeary9362]

To late Chris u have lost the trust of Nzers

[@warrenfloyd-i9q]

so the number of people on super is growing and will keep doing so, this must constitute a growing sector of voters moving on who could increasingly over time hold a tipping balance on election outcomes. Might pay to keep on looking after them with huge annual increases like the last one.

[@AlanFitness-t3n]

Create productivity, invite mining & fossil fuel companies instead of trying to tax a low income country into prosperity. Less government is better government as well.

[@StoganNZ]

Introduce cgt, get rid of the fif! Having most of our countries private assets being non-financial only limits our potential tax pool.

[@marcusclouth9958]

Jack Lame

[@curtisdavies7424]

Honest is that even possible!

[@LydiaMoMydia]

labour needs to run more on policies, most of their 2023 campaign was fearmongering about national (not a bad idea but doesn't work on it's own) but their only widely known policy was the gst cuts whereas luxon could be summed up as: crack down on gangs, cut taxes on the middle class & stimulate businesses, whether you agree with them or not it appealed to a LOT of people chris hipkins needs to craft up more than one policy in 2026 & they need to be more consequential than "we will remove less than a dollar for supermarket prices"

[@AmeyaKeny]

5 years of jacinda and i am scarred for life. i dont think i can stay in nz long term after that purely out of the fear that labour green may come back into power again. those were some dark times under that 1 despicable ex prime minister.

[@RMT192]

He is sincere and a good man. The hospitals are in the state they are in because of a deliberate lack of funding and taxation from John Key's government.

[@Knitter-e7f]

Sincere but naive unfortunately. Labour had their chance to improve hospitals and didn't, but somehow still managed to spend and borrow millions of taxpayer dollars

[@SeanOBrien-u3r]

Pretty obvious Tame is a Labour voter.

[@Stomparr]

Chippy will definitely go into a coalition with Te Pāti Māori come the next election if it sits him back in the drivers seat. The question is what demands will these Te Pāti Māori radicals hold labour to and how will it affect the rest of New Zealanders.