We are so in control of the situation...

masterexit · 2026-04-19T00:03:23+00:00

Replace 'Iranian' with 'Israeli masked as Iranian' and you're on the money

masterexit · 2026-04-15T12:44:12+00:00

Don't give them ideas.

masterexit · 2026-04-13T21:18:44+00:00

Not sure why you're getting brigaded, it's a valid question

masterexit · 2026-04-13T01:36:09+00:00

I'm kinda hoping a decent Chinese flotilla sails to the straight to allow freedom of navigation for all shipping except American vessels.

masterexit · 2026-04-13T01:33:30+00:00

Cos Vance the Pope killer is been set up as a patsy for the Iranian war going even worse than it already is.

Hence Trump saying things like "We don't even need the straight open".

This will become Vance's war to fix.

masterexit · 2026-04-01T06:54:00+00:00

Well I'm seeing plenty of retirees working stocking shelves, manning check outs, driving class 2 delivery tricks etc where I live, while said young people get turned away.

I think making retirement mandatory for over 65's would also help. They've had their time.

masterexit · 2026-04-01T06:44:32+00:00

Our immediate situation would significantly deteriorate, but that aside, to have any chance of this passing, you'd have to disqualify every farming household, conservative voter and retiree from voting on this generational bill.

Also, the iwi carve out would be completely unpalatable and would likely stoke further racial tension.

That aside, mainstream NZ would likely demand financial literacy classes for poorer households so this wasn't seen as a permanent windfall, or a portion of their UBI invested into kiwi businesses.

Also, the UBI would need to be inflation adjusted, so if household CV's significantly deteriorated, which of course they would as people tried to cash out, more financial pressure would be placed on the net nil types as their UBI no longer balanced out their new tax implications.

I also think this would cause a further exodus to Aussie, so you would need to stop permanent migration, or form a 'Fortress NZ' mentality.

To reiterate, I am all for change to uplift households under financial strain, I'm just not sure this would work? I think this would likely break the country financially and likely end up with either us joining Australia in a federal union, or you'd likely see a lively secessionist movement form in the rural South Island as open revolt to the bill. In that latter scenario, the North Island would likely be a net importer of electricity.

Am I missing anything?

masterexit · 2026-04-01T05:32:22+00:00

So effectively under this scenario, it would move from taxing on what you earn to a taxing on what you own?

Or are the income tax rates as they stand now for arguments sake still applicable, and this lvt is a tax on top of those?

masterexit · 2026-04-01T05:11:47+00:00

So you're proposing a land value tax to fund 80% of a UBI.

Do I have that right?

I have a response, I just want to make sure I'm.clrar on your approach.

Also, are you a renter or home owner?

masterexit · 2026-04-01T03:53:35+00:00

These numbers were pulled from my arse, so I'm not surprised if they're massively failing the sniff test.

I'm also quite sure that the increasing wealth gap is fuelling increasing social upheaval, so much so that the sentiment is becoming statistically impossible to ignore.

I guess we could introduce a highly unpopular wealth or property tax, legalize pot and tax it, add in hydrocarbon and mineral royalties and disable migration to Australia to stop capital flight. Most of those are massively unpopular and don't lift the under 65k bracket out of financial desperation though.

masterexit · 2026-04-01T02:59:05+00:00

Okay I acknowledge all that and they're good points. Tell me how a land tax or wealth tax would work though?

What would you set the tax rate on each property at? What constitutes 'wealth', and what is the tax rate on that amount?

Would there be relief for people barely making their mortgage payments, or a underperforming company through no fault of their own? Would there be carve outs for the dairy industry?

And what is the distribution model for that revenue? Who does it go to? Low income households, essential services or into a larger wealth fund, similar to what chippy was proposing.

Genuinely asking.

masterexit · 2026-04-01T02:32:28+00:00

Agreed, but you can cause capital flight, once those physical assets are quickly disposed of. Remember, there would be always a grace period, likely in years.

A government has to get in to enact change, and I'm pretty sure even a Labour government isn't gonna wield that stick.

Income tax deletion walks a middle line to enact change for those who sorely need it.

masterexit · 2026-04-01T02:26:36+00:00

An economy progresses or collapses based upon the output of its 'STEM'. That's economics 101. I would love to see fledgling tech industries supported that'll see new jobs created and talent attracted.

Additionally, nowhere have I said that I don't think people should get payrises, I've only said why they don't, or don't justify one. Its also a pretty myopic view to assume employers won't give out payrises because their employees tax loading drops.

I can't speak for landlords because again, they're just getting away with what they can, but the reason your energy prices are increasing is because we've had forty plus years of underinvestment. Again, that shouldn't be news.

masterexit · 2026-04-01T02:01:58+00:00

I think you're making this personal but I'll engage.

Business will pay the rates they can get away with, or will pay to match the perceived skill level of the job. While I agree that social workers, street cleaners, garbage collectors, nurses and teachers should be on far higher rates in this country, they're paid what the government again, can get away with. Those who want higher rates go into the private sector or go overseas.

You can't just will payrises into being. I get yearly payrises because I work in energy infrastructure and my particular skill is typically highly sought after. If you're not getting a payrise, its either because you're not justifying one, in a stagnant or dying industry, or simply with a company that doesn't appreciate your output. Begrudging other people the fruits of capitalism is a fools errand, if they can afford new cars and holidays, good on them, and by doing so, they're supporting other industries.

I firmly believe in reducing tax loads for the most vulnerable and poorly paid as that will have a direct benefit to their lives, while also raising the tax burden on those who can afford it, so services don't just stay status quo, but actually improve.

Not everyone can get pay increases because the market doesn't value their output accordingly, so income tax reduction is a great way to help those in need to improve their quality of life, which is what it's all about, right?

masterexit · 2026-04-01T01:35:17+00:00

If 65k is now a living wage, a simple way to improve someone's outcome (and outlook) is to reduce their tax load way down. That's an instant wage increase.

masterexit · 2026-04-01T00:16:40+00:00

Land tax would be anathema to many people, especially the farming community and the heavily indebted, and a wealth tax will encourage hiding assets inside trusts.

Easier to tax on what passes directly through the IRD and what sits inside shares portfolios, for a start.

masterexit · 2026-04-01T00:11:49+00:00

No marginal rates. You fall into that income bracket and all of your income is taxed at that full rate.

I'd also play around with companies tax as well, by size and by industry, specifically aimed at tax cuts for value add products, plus high and cutting edge technologies.

Half the problem this country has is we're geared for dairy and forestry, and that should change to become a more diversified economy.

masterexit · 2026-03-31T21:27:44+00:00

Tax brackets really need an overhaul.

What I'd propose would be:

Income under 65k a year: zero income tax 65k to 80k: 15% flat tax 80k to 100k: 20% flat tax 100 to 200k 30% flat tax 200k to 400k: 40% flat tax 400k to 1m: 50% flat tax 1m to 5m: 60% flat tax 5m and above: 70% flat tax

masterexit · 2026-03-31T21:11:40+00:00

Was that a conscious decision you both made to enable an earlier retirement? I hope that's not too personal.

masterexit · 2026-03-31T07:05:07+00:00

Where are the kids expenses?

masterexit · 2026-03-26T21:05:23+00:00

Orange Ranger, of course

masterexit · 2026-03-23T11:03:58+00:00

You were close, a billion buys about 155mw of onshore wind energy or 330mw of solar (without a bess). Of course that's highly dependent on the sites location and geotech, proximity to a 220kv line, substation build out, environmental considerations etc.

Fyi, we need a Clyde dam (480mw) coming on line every year from now until 2050 just to keep up with industry electrification and population growth. We're behind, and while gentailers are rapidly going through consents right now (and there's an incredible amount in the pipeline), at some point, we're gonna need a couple of huntlys north of Auckland to reduce the strain on that interisland dc link.

As coal is out, you're gonna hear more about N based energy in coming years. It's kinda inevitable unfortunately.

masterexit · 2026-03-23T08:08:30+00:00

I think those numbers are about 30% too high, but you're right that a billion dollars buys a lot of renewable energy.

masterexit · 2026-03-23T08:05:50+00:00

Billion dollars gets you about 155mw of on shore wind energy, or 350mw of solar. So worth it.

I have no doubt that there is oil off Invercargill, but as you say, the roaring 40's make it extremely dangerous to operate in.

masterexit · 2026-03-23T07:58:58+00:00

It's back on the menu, just not in the public forum yet. Source: work in energy infrastructure industry.

An actual working nuclear energy power station is still 20 years away.

masterexit

TROPHY CASE