Geof Nightingale: Tax expert says National's tax relief seems a fair way off

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Oct 12, 2026 · 3m · transcript

A tax expert suggests National's trademark tax relief seems a fair way off, with little wiggle room in its fiscal plan.

The Party says it can't offer tax cuts until it gets on top of debt.

It says all its commitments are costed, matching Labour's $2.4 billion Budget operating allowance.

Tax expert Geof Nightingale told Andrew Dickens the $7.5 billion left over arrives in 2029, so it's a long way out.

He says 2029 is an election year, so there will be spending promises then too, which will make it difficult to promise a tax cut.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.