The latest polls suggest that the next government, and therefore the social and economic direction of the country, will be totally decided by a party that around 97 per cent of New Zealanders didn’t vote for. Since then, I’ve had a couple of occasions to say, “I told you so”. A strong and fair stock market is vital for capital raising.Īround three decades ago, I campaigned against the introduction of MMP. There is no shortage of losses in the New Zealand market. For instance, capital losses can be offset against capital gains, and dividends are less highly taxed for Australian citizens. If when I try to shut it down in frustration it asks “Will I dream?”Ī wider understanding of how Capital Gains Tax in Australia is actually applied is needed before an informed debate can take place. If, when I key an instruction on my laptop it answers, “I’m sorry Jeremy. I will, however, change my mind, thinking it’s gone too far if two things happen. Photo / FileĪrtificial intelligence (AI) technology is upon us and, for the most part, it seems it could be quite beneficial for many aspects of life on Earth. In terms of the volume of dissent, I think it was more a case of ungenerous minds, loud voices.Īn artist's impression of the now-cancelled Erebus memorial. However, in the case of the Erebus Memorial, the number of submitters to Auckland Council who were against its location in Dove-Myer Robinson Park represented around 1 per cent of people in the Waitematā ward. Your editorial ( Weekend Herald, April 29) stated that the will of the people cannot be ignored. Believe me, many things are much better now. So any oldies who rave on about “the good old days” are talking through very selective memory. Our ignorance was shocking and we’re paying the price now. There was no such concept as protecting planet Earth or considering the environment. Nearly everyone smoked tobacco everywhere, so even if you didn’t smoke you inhaled clouds of toxic smoke. Domestic violence was swept under the carpet. Equal rights for women were non-existent. Indeed much of our society was governed by degrees of alcoholism. Our 6 o’clock pub swill was a testimony to crude macho stupidity. Drivers drove drunk with seeming impunity, leading to a much higher road toll with many fewer vehicles than today. I recall kids being reduced to absolute fear by some psychotic teachers who took delight in inflicting pain. Violent strapping and caning children were widespread in schools for the smallest infraction. Attitudes were very demeaning towards anything Māori or ethnic. In schools, it was expected that half would drop out in high school. Growing up in Auckland in the 50s and 60s I can attest they weren’t in so many aspects. While those divergent opinions manage to morph into criticism of the Government, at least in O’Sullivan’s case, she recognises that an equitable tax system is not envy, it is fairness.Įmma Mackintosh is right ( Weekend Herald, April 29) to question whether things were really better in the past. While Bruce Cotterill joins other recent wealthy critics in suggesting that their wealth should be left alone otherwise we are guilty of envy. Fran O’Sullivan castigates the current Government for not having the (well, she says cojones) for actually following the Australians and introducing a Capital Gains Tax to fix the very apparent inequities in our tax system. Interesting that there are two divergent opinion pieces only a couple of pages apart ( Weekend Herald, April 29) about a Capital Gains Tax. Letter of the week: Neil Anderson, Algies Bay Photo / Erik McGregor, LightRocket via Getty Images, File Protesters spell out #TaxTheRich in Times Square.
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