The Opportunity Party is promoting what it describes as the largest tax cut in New Zealand history for low-income working people, unveiling a sweeping economic overhaul aimed at reshaping welfare, taxation, and housing affordability across Aotearoa.
The proposed “Tax Reset” policy centres around three major changes — a Citizen’s Income, a flat income tax system, and a land value tax designed to shift the tax burden away from workers and onto property ownership.
Under the proposal, most adults would receive a guaranteed weekly payment of around $370, replacing much of the existing welfare system while retaining additional support for retirees, disabled people, and some whānau with specific needs.
The party says the policy would immediately lift thousands of families out of poverty, simplify the benefit system, and remove barriers that discourage people from taking on part-time or additional work. It argues the current welfare structure traps many low-income New Zealanders in cycles of hardship through high effective tax rates and bureaucratic complexity.
The proposed land value tax would apply to land ownership rather than buildings, with supporters claiming it would discourage property speculation and help lower housing costs over time. The policy has already sparked debate among economists, homeowners, and political commentators over its potential impact on farmers, retirees, landlords, and investment markets.
The announcement comes as cost-of-living pressures continue to dominate political discussion ahead of the next general election, with growing scrutiny around tax fairness, housing affordability, wage growth, and inequality.
The Opportunity Party has struggled historically to gain parliamentary representation, but the party hopes its renewed focus on economic reform and targeted support for working families will attract voters frustrated by both Labour and National.
Political analysts say the proposal is likely to generate strong reactions, particularly around the idea of a universal income and new forms of property taxation, both of which remain politically sensitive issues in New Zealand.
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