David Farrar: NZ’s problem is too much spending, not a lack of tax

Labour and Greens in 2017 campaigned on capping core crown expenditure at no more than 30% of GDP. This was their election pledge. At one Budget I asked Grant Robertson about the policy and he (admirably) replied it was a limit, not a target.

The latest forecast had expenditure at 33.4% of GDP. That 3.4% difference is massive. It is $14.3 billion.