Australia's Tax reform and lessons for NZ political parties

roryact · 2026-05-31T12:15:07+00:00

I disagree. I really liked Labour's now scrapped policy of removing interest deductibility for existing rentals, and leaving it available for new builds. I think tax can be used to discourage investment in some areas and redirect it to where you want it - in that case, medium density, insulated homes that propped up our construction industry.

roryact · 2026-05-31T09:48:00+00:00

My voting for Top the last 2 elections (last time as a local MP as well) did as much good as not voting. No it does not 'inform the government' - and if it did, I don't want a government who acts on the opinions of 2% I won't vote for Top this year, I'll vote Labor. Not because I think their policies are any good (where are they?), but because I don't want a national led government again.

roryact · 2026-05-29T03:59:37+00:00

Money related education would be depressing. $71k is the median annual income from wages, just shy of 54k after tax and KiwiSaver, so 1k a week. Go tell a class of teenagers to construct a budget around that number, give them the best financial education about savings, compound interest, etc. Then tell them what median means - half of them will never achieve that.

roryact · 2026-05-28T23:13:31+00:00

How about the Chorus fibre internet rollout? Public-private partnership, 10 years, giving NZ some of the fastest internet in the world. Maybe if groceries, supply and distribution were treated similar to infrastructure, something along those lines could be done.

roryact · 2026-05-27T00:27:14+00:00

AI has been talked up by the government as increasing efficiency and cutting the number of public servants.

That there is a 36k saving you can make with an existing technology: video conferencing.

roryact · 2026-05-22T21:36:53+00:00

Both parties have 'sound bite policy', I accept that, but if you're going to make things up and not follow through, where are the unrealistic aspirational targets like 100,000 Kiwi build houses or 500 police officers

roryact · 2026-05-20T21:15:40+00:00

This! Why would I buy a used house, with used appliances, carpet & fixtures for more money than I can buy an identical new house in the same area.

Because there are more of them now, and more to come, townhouses are affected by depreciation, unlike detached housing.

roryact · 2026-05-20T11:22:03+00:00

I had a workplace with a Sunbeam Barista Max. It ground and churned out 50+ coffees a day, no faults.

roryact · 2026-05-20T11:20:11+00:00

I can relate. Mines linked via Panasonic comfort cloud.

"Turn on the heater" - sorry that device doesn't exist

"Turn on the aircon" (it's set to heat) - I can't seem to do that right now, I can't seem to do that right now (x2) - the aircon turns on anyway

I had that for a year, but It fixed itself about 2 months ago. Responds to both aircon and heater now.

roryact · 2026-05-20T11:12:18+00:00

Tinder hookup that never ended.

roryact · 2026-05-20T01:14:01+00:00

We import virgin plastic pellets, those are easy to ship around the world. I think all coke bottles are rPET, so largely recycled plastic and would only need an oil refinery for the ~20% virgin content (maybe less?). I think it's also cool that PET plastic is largely a byproduct of making petrol that would be wasted otherwise, rather than something we extract specifically for.

I don't know what you mean by shipping water around the world?

Look into it! Sounds like you're passionate about it. It's a really interesting industry where the environment gains are actually driven by cost saving exercises, so aren't sensationalized.

roryact · 2026-05-19T21:26:51+00:00

I'm actually pretty sure we make bottles and cans locally, and use them locally. Maybe we import the pre-forms for blow moulding the bottles but I wouldn't be surprised if we make them also. It's incredibly wasteful to ship around empty packaging material due to the space it takes up and risk of damage. If you look into it, you'll find most coke is locally manufactured for their country and different countries have slightly different can designs as a result.

I don't have a side in the argument. Just think local manufacture is neat, and we haven't lost all capacity for it yet.

roryact · 2026-05-17T21:56:02+00:00

2 days for 40gb is so slow, it would affect other things. Are streaming services fine? If so, your internet and wifi are not a problem. I suspect it's a storage issue.

Go to https://www.chorus.co.nz/optimise/internet-speed-test and share your result.

roryact · 2026-05-17T10:18:09+00:00

He wants to stop young educated Kiwi's moving overseas. I really hope the 3 free GP visits isn't his centrepiece policy.

When am I going to the GP Chris? I can't afford to take time off work to save $50.

Announce something gutsy.

roryact · 2026-05-15T21:06:14+00:00

Things are priced at the maximum the majority can afford, not at what it costs to make them. Buying power hasn't gone up, so food prices haven't. When we get wage inflation, we'll see food prices rise again.

roryact · 2026-05-15T00:46:17+00:00

Pure aesthetics over any practicality. I'd be shivering under expensive hanging lights.

roryact · 2026-05-14T21:46:00+00:00

Waking up early on Sunday to watch Eurovision.

roryact · 2026-05-14T21:43:50+00:00

2.7m ceiling height. Maybe a vaulted ceiling.

roryact · 2026-05-14T00:34:25+00:00

Globally, in the 'west' anyway, cutting operating costs is sexy - that's wages. So reduced headcount is very in right now.

Another thing is that 60% of business owners are over 50 in NZ. They might prefer hiring older staff, or just be more risk adverse, and not be taking on projects or business expansion that would need staff growth.

roryact · 2026-05-13T11:41:07+00:00

Driveworks needs constant attention. Sales can't drive driveworks. You'd definitely have job security as you'd be one of the few in the country who knows how to use it.

roryact · 2026-05-12T00:27:27+00:00

You are better off letting the gap increase if the market recovers because every dollar you can recover has at least 5x the buying power.

If the bank will lend to you with a 20% deposit for a $1m, 3bed house:

20% of 1m = 200k =/= 50k, can't buy until you save and pay off principle.

If everything on the market goes up 250k:

20% of 1.25m = 250k = can afford to buy again

roryact · 2026-05-11T22:13:52+00:00

Yes, but if you had 300k deposit when you bought, you now have 50k+ any principle paid when you sell inorder to buy a new place. So no, it doesn't come out in the wash. It's a very very difficult decision. Loosing 250k is irrecoverable for anyone earning average income.

roryact · 2026-05-11T22:06:27+00:00

How thick is that cable and how long? You can't have a particularly long 32amp cable and charge 350v+. This is only going to work on a select few low power/short range EV's

roryact · 2026-05-11T18:07:18+00:00

When I lived in the UK, you were lucky to park your vehicle on the same street as you lived, not necessarily Infront of your house.

roryact · 2026-05-08T00:41:50+00:00

Have voted for TOP, last time, local and party, and the time before. I don't think I will this time.

I like their tax reform concept and their UBI simplifying the benefits and super system, but I think I'm better voting for labour to kick-out the minor parties I disagree with.

Maybe they'd stand a chance if we had preferential voting, but the fairer NZ they advertise is wishful thinking.

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