Barry Soper: Luxon shouldn't be vilified for his wealth

The late Michael Cullen let the veil slip when he glared across Parliament's debating chamber in December 2007 and labelled the then Opposition leader John Key 'a rich prick,' adding 'scumbag,' as presumably he thought rich people were. As such, Key should never have been the Prime Minister.  

Well, that appears to be the feeling in this country - where wealth seems to be something to denigrate rather than being seen as something to aspire to and celebrate, and that's sad.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Luxon is being treated unfairly

I’m loathe to keep talking about this, but I think Chris Luxon is being treated really unfairly on the sale of his apartment. 

And because he’s being treated so unfairly, it’s hard to avoid saying something. 

The latest instalment on this is a series of articles pointing out that Chris Luxon would’ve paid up to $70 thousand in tax on the sale of his apartment if it wasn’t for his government changing the bright-line test rules. 

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 23/8/23

Legislators flounder in almost 300 pages of amendments as Three Waters bill is debated under urgency

Money saved and money spent are the effects of government decisions announced in the latest ministerial press statements.

Money saved – by being kept out of the hands of the government’s tax collectors – is the effect of Revenue Minister Barbara Edmonds’ confirmation that the “bright-line” test won’t be triggered when owners of flood and cyclone-damaged properties take up voluntary buy-out offers from local authorities.