National corrects tax ad after Ipsos rejects ‘no new taxes’ claim

Summarised by Centrist

National has changed a campaign graphic after Ipsos challenged its claim that polling showed voters wanted “no new taxes”. The party had relabelled responses about people’s own tax bills as opposition to new taxes generally.

The survey found 44% believed they should pay less tax, 45% thought they paid about the right amount and 4% believed they should pay more. National presented the middle group as favouring “no new taxes”.

Ipsos NZ country manager Carin Hercock asked National to correct or remove the posts.

“We do not consider the statement ‘No new taxes’ to be equivalent to the survey question wording,” she wrote.

National defended its interpretation, saying: “If voters believe that they pay the right amount in tax, it is fair to say they want no new taxes.”

Nevertheless, the party updated the graphic and asked MPs who had shared the original to take it down. Campaign chair Simeon Brown’s Facebook image was also corrected.

The same survey showed differing views on particular tax proposals. A tested wealth tax of 2.5% on net assets above $10 million, with family homes exempt, attracted 64% support and 26% opposition. Capital gains tax attracted 45% support and 40% opposition.

Other proposals were less popular: 50% opposed the tested land-value tax and 62% opposed the commuter charge.

Read more at The Spinoff

Image: Doug Mountain

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