March 21, 2024
Tax free kai bill falls at first hurdle
Rawiri Waititi’s bill to remove goods and services tax from food has come up short, with only Te Pāti Māori supporting it at first reading.
Greens’ co-leader Marama Davidson said there are better ways to combat poverty, and Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the $4 billion cost wasn’t value for money.
Mr Waititi said the tax system was broken and was fuelling extreme wealth inequity.
“The removal of GST from food would recognise cost of living pressures and the reality that food products are a basic neccessity of life that people should be able to access without taxation. Kai is a human right,” he says.
The final vote was 117 against and 6 in favour.