Hipkins pledges no new taxes beyond CGT

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has stated that his party will not introduce new taxes beyond the capital gains tax, citing a lack of public support for more radical reforms. Officials said this decision is based on the need to balance the budget and avoid additional financial burdens on the public.

Hipkins emphasized that the Greens' proposal for a wealth tax has not been successful in any country and is being removed by those nations that previously implemented it. He argued that there is no public appetite for such a significant change in tax policy.

The Labour leader also rejected the idea of introducing new taxes, stating that the party will not support measures without a clear public mandate. He said the focus will remain on maintaining fiscal responsibility and ensuring that the economy remains stable for all citizens.

Hipkins defended the previous Labour government's economic policies, stating that inflationary pressures were the result of a global wave rather than domestic mismanagement. He pointed to New Zealand's peak inflation rate of 7.4 percent, which was lower than that of the United Kingdom during the same period.

In addition to economic policies, Hipkins outlined plans to improve the healthcare system by making primary care free, which he said would reduce the burden on public hospitals and keep patients out of emergency care. He also mentioned the need for more investment in community-based care for the elderly.

On education, Hipkins said the literacy standards introduced by the current government will remain unchanged, as they were based on previous Labour work. He called for slowing down changes to the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) system, arguing that it is currently over-assessing students and lacks consistency.