NZ is a low waged, expensive economy! It's to be expected isn't it?

For the reason of expense, we keep our vehicle use to a minimum, only using it if really necessary, such as travelling to places we are unable to reach by bus. Instead we move about either by public transport, bicycle or foot, even for basic shopping.

I'd say this is becoming normal with many people these days, given the expenses incurred of trying to keep going on a minimum income!

@T WRT Alcohol and Cig taxes - they are addictive "drugs", especially prevalent in low socioeconomic areas. A shift in thought is needed through public education or policy - e.g if your going to be a smoker you need private health insurance (interestingly my health insurance policy is only $17 more a month for a smoker vs non)..The tax on cigarettes is poorly justified as a means to alleviate the extra burden smokers have on the health system, if that's the case alleviate taxes and make them enroll into private healthcare ($1000 py for a "gold" package). People have a constitutional right to smoke if they want, we shouldn't be trying to twist their hand with over taxation.....just not the "right" way of going about things.

Alcohol is a much larger burden on this country.... But is treated much differently to cigarettes. The govt makes a lot of $$$ from alcohol sales, we have a binge drinking culture that's very unattractive, but its been enabled by govt policy...e.g 21 > 18yo, supermarket sales, importation/production of cheap line alcohol, govt policy has made alcohol consumption more economically accessible and socially acceptable. Again though, people have the right to drink but we should be holding them more accountable for their behavior through tougher alcohol related legislation.

WRT Environment - it may very be well that you as an individual care about the environment, but for all intensive purposes on average Aucklander's don't give a toss - this is backed up by hard numbers such as distance traveled, motor vehicle purchases, etc.. It is further supported by the fact that there wasn't really much interest in public transport when fuel was 80c per liter. The cost of fuel is what's driving us to the bus sta

penny #47 - you are completely right. What we need to fix is Kiwi driver's attitudes.

@Jai: "Environment - Lets be honest, no one cares about the environment when it comes to using our cars, vehicle purchase data is a testament to this." Disagree completely on this. Many people, including myself use bicycles or walk to work, depending on proximity of course. I live 30kms and I still commute by bike, and I bet more people would too, if there was an incentive from the government/businesses.

Also, many people, again including myself, would consider buying hybrid/electric vehicles, but at the moment they're too expensive, so again a good place for the government to spend money to subsidize these purchases. Both this and biking/walking to work also save money besides helping the environment. And yes I realise that older people and people with kids will still need their cars, but even minimizing the single people that insist on drive-commuting to work would be a huge improvement.

Wrt to alcohol/cigarette tax, well I don't know of any other way to approach that problem. If some people choose to get those items for themselves in lieue of food for their families, well that's their (very stupid) choice. If you have better ideas here, I'd be more than happy to consider them.

frank WIELEMAKER   #58   via mobile 10:51 am Dec 29 2011

Mayor Dove Meyer Robinson was always right with his underground subeay system. PEOPLE just laughed at the 100 million dollar expence. Where are the naysayers NOW. Proba ly did nothing. Pity Banksie is not at the helm.

@T

Trickle down economics doesn't work - but the poor economic policy (& Theory) decisions of the govt and RBNZ should not reflect poorly on the rich.

It is the same economic school of thought that unnecessarily gives income inequality such a significant negative connotation and enlists the help of progressive taxation to alleviate this.News flash- its not working, that sums up Keynesian economics.

Taxes on Cigarettes and Alcohol DO NOT WORK, empirical evidence suggests, all your doing is taking food off the table.

Coming back to the transportation issue:

Aucklander's have learnt to live with traffic congestion, there's a reason why houses in Parnell command a premium, proximity to city. It cracks me up when people buy the same house over the shore for $1-2m less but then complain about transport times, what did you expect?

Environment - Lets be honest, no one cares about the environment when it comes to using our cars, vehicle purchase data is a testament to this.

Cost and Competitive Structure - Currently theres not enough difference between the cost of public transport vs variable costs of private transport for most people to care. This is because there simply is not enough competition in the market. Veola Transport is a gov granted monopoly with fixed term contracts with no incentive to do right by the commuter.

Same goes with Stagecoach and H&E.

Very poor urban planning over numerous tenures.

No cohesive development objectives between local councils and appropriate Ministries.

Joey: well said mate, couldn't have said it better myself. There's a lot of other posters who say don't tax the rich any more, but while the inequality gap has grown recently by leaps and bounds so has unemployment, so the bit abou these execs being "job creators" is utter bollocks. The fact is they'd rather drive to work in their german cars, buy expensive yachts, and generally not care about others less well off than themselves, rather than taking public transport, consuming less, and being friendlier to the environment. Sure there are those on the other end of the scale that spend a lot of their money on booze and cigarettes, but that's easy to fix, just make sure the tax on those items is high enough to be prohibitive.

But getting back to the subject of the article, many people don't care about the common good, in this case the environment, so they continue to drive big cars. If enough people were to switch you'd see public transport improving.

@jai

yes your right. life isnt fair. But this works both ways.

The only thing the system needs to deliver to us is sustainability. That is to say long term outlook and system stability.

Everyone has a job to do in this world, we simply need all the jobs filled. our world would stop if say truck drivers disappeared. so if we need all these jobs filled, why should there be massive differences in terms of incomes? how much would i have to pay you to shovel shit?

The system is bullshit before the money is even taxed is the point im trying to make.

but i digress. Without going into much detail the system is like it is because that is what keeps our economy ticking, keeping everyone from killing each-other. life isn't fair.

@joey

Whilst I pay less in % terms, I still pay more in $ terms than 99% of the population and dont even use a number of these tax payer funded services due to e.g private schools, health insurance, etc. So its not as if i'm not paying, what I disagree to is that the shear limitless tax the rich is expected to pay on their income in NZ, that's why the rich set up dodgy structures in the hopes of decreasing their tax. I also pay more than average on GST (32k in the last 2 months) , so I do give back to society.

Its the TAX ON SUCCESS which drives skilled professionals to set up dodgy structures and pay stuff all, if the tax system was fair people would have no incentive to find ways around the system.

..And your definition of "stealing" and "profiting" are incorrect.

The tax system in NZ needs a real reform, but sadly that would mean less work for accountants and these prof accounting firms have the inside line with law makers as they are the ones advising the law makers...Same with Investment Law...

Do you know how much tax AMI saved by being a national mutual but really being a company?.... + no need to comply with co's act = less compliance costs etc...

Your pretty stupid if you don't take advantage of the situation when things are unfair.. I found a long time ago there's no point in complaining(it wont change anything), just make sure your on the right side of things and in charlie sheens words "WINNING"

1. Peak oil is upon forewarned by the very geologists employed to find the stuff.

2. Publis transport is the way of the future.

3. Progressive tax is not communism

3. Wealthy people do not nessacarily work harder, or employ lots of people. Case in point; the right wing pin up boy John Key... DO you really claim he was working hard in the derivative trading room? Harder than any manual labor worker? How many people did he employ during that time?