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Good public meeting in Carterton last night organised by Wairarapa Voice.
Speakers were:
Ollive Hartwich; The New Zealand Initiative
David Voegelsanger: Ambassador of Switzerland to New Zealand
Malcolm Alexander; Local Government New Zealand
The main thrust was the organisation of Swiss political life and the difference between that and New Zealand and how it works.
In New Zealand 88% of taxation goes to central government and only 12% to local government which is a huge indication of centralisation.
Swiss political life is operated on an entirely different basis and directed by local people for local needs.
Switzerland is the wealthiest nation per capita in the world with a highly developed industrial base and close to markets.
To make New Zealand over would be a huge job that would take some time to create if a big bang was not agreed to and set off.
This event is not likely to happen anytime soon but maybe it is time for more independence of the municipalities.
The major example is Queenstown where the local government has to pay for all infrastructure out of the ratesbut the government takes all the taxes.
issues like this need to be raised and discussion must happen.
This is not to increase the total tax take but to redistribute the tax take more fairly.
I dont think anything is going to happen soon but the discussion must start.
Speakers were:
Ollive Hartwich; The New Zealand Initiative
David Voegelsanger: Ambassador of Switzerland to New Zealand
Malcolm Alexander; Local Government New Zealand
The main thrust was the organisation of Swiss political life and the difference between that and New Zealand and how it works.
In New Zealand 88% of taxation goes to central government and only 12% to local government which is a huge indication of centralisation.
Swiss political life is operated on an entirely different basis and directed by local people for local needs.
Switzerland is the wealthiest nation per capita in the world with a highly developed industrial base and close to markets.
To make New Zealand over would be a huge job that would take some time to create if a big bang was not agreed to and set off.
This event is not likely to happen anytime soon but maybe it is time for more independence of the municipalities.
The major example is Queenstown where the local government has to pay for all infrastructure out of the ratesbut the government takes all the taxes.
issues like this need to be raised and discussion must happen.
This is not to increase the total tax take but to redistribute the tax take more fairly.
I dont think anything is going to happen soon but the discussion must start.
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