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A think tank says New Zealanders can see and feel rising inequality.<\/p>\n
Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa released polling suggesting most people agree billionaires should pay more tax.<\/a><\/p>\n Carried out by Talbot Mills, 68 percent of respondents agreed with the ultra wealthy being taxed more to support public goods like healthcare, housing and climate action.<\/p>\n Thirteen percent disagreed in the poll from 11-26 February of 1033 people.<\/p>\n Half of people surveyed – 50 percent – agreed there should be no billionaires while people struggle affording the basics like housing, food and healthcare.<\/p>\n Think tank director Gareth Hughes told Midday Report there is deep unease about how the economy is handling challenges like housing and the cost of living.<\/p>\n “Kiwis know that our tax system isn’t fair, it’s putting too much of the responsibility on workers, on things like GST, which are incredibly regressive,” he said.<\/p>\n “Yes, they would like those ultra-wealthy to be contributing more for our health and education system.<\/p>\n “That’s two-thirds agree that billionaires should be paying more to fund these public services.”<\/p>\n The numbers were closer together in another question in the poll – whether there should be a “billion-dollar wealth cap” or maximum amount of wealth a person can have.<\/p>\n Among the respondents, 37 percent agreed, while 34 percent disagreed.<\/p>\n “Oh, personally, I would be comfortable with that,” Hughes said.<\/p>\n “I think once you had a billion dollars you could get a certificate saying you’ve won capitalism and you could contribute to society.”<\/p>\n Hughes said he was part of a global network working to try to redesign the economic system “to deliver wellbeing for people and nature”.<\/p>\n He said it was a topic being raised overseas, and Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa wanted to test the idea in New Zealand.<\/p>\n “I acknowledge it’s a pretty new idea for New Zealanders, the idea of wealth caps,” he said.<\/p>\n “But remember, once upon a time we had very high marginal tax rates for the super wealthy in this country to contribute towards society.”<\/p>\n