However, the only chance the Greens have of influencing the next government is if Labour makes a good fist of the campaign. If Labour’s vote collapses, then it would be little consolation for the Greens to get a good party vote. Also, my sense is that Labour-leaning voters will be more inclined to “go Green” if Labour has a clear lead over National. If the race is really close, such voters will decide to stay with Labour for fear of National getting a plurality of the party votes and being framed by the media as the winner of the election.

Also, I’m not sure that Labour is getting lots of votes from the Greens (though, clearly the student loan policy will appeal to many young Kiwis who might otherwise vote Green) - our average in the polls (the Herald one was an anomoly and I suspect that even they know that their methodology needs fixing) is around 6%, which is a great springing board for the campaign, and about where it has been for the last few months.

Tax cuts don’t make sense if the country is in debt. If Labour wants to make points with me however, it needs to yank hard on the leashes of its big spenders “awww, a little waste doesn’t matter” people, choke them down hard and pay off some of the debt with the money instead of throwing parties. Discipline in the ranks. Labour is not very good at that. (Greens are even worse )

I’d also note that the redistribution hits home in the incomes where labour’s taxes hit the hardest. It is pretty clever in its way, but it has a devil of an implementation issue attached.

respectfully
BJ

Tax cuts for EVERYONE was always going to be spread too thinly, or risk life threatening surgery to core state services.

Now Labour still needs to address the oft mentioned tax glitch for that particular income range, such as BJ and others have outlined. Joy.