In Budget '24, the National Government put aside $216 million to pay for a tax cut which mainly benefitted one company: global tobacco giant Philip Morris.
Instead of giving hundreds of millions to big tobacco, National could have spent the money sensibly, on New Zealand.
Around the country, our health, education and housing systems are in dire need of funding. We need more nurses, doctors, teachers, classrooms and hospitals.
Key projects like Dunedin Hospital are paused, cut or cancelled, but the Government has instead rushed to prioritise a reckless tax cut for Philip Morris instead.
This money could have gone towards giving Dunedin the hospital it needs and was promised by National.
It could have gone towards:
Hospitals in Nelson, Whangārei, Dunedin and other regions
Boosting staffing in rural communities like Buller
Helping people access GP visits
Training more people to boost our health workforce
Funded free prescriptions for those who need them
Making sure we have enough nurses in our hospitals
Keeping after-hours clinics like Kenepuru open
Cost-of-living support, like the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme and public transport subsidies
Mental health support initiatives
Healthy school lunches for students
Upgrading damp and mouldy classrooms
Or many other things that would benefit New Zealanders into the future.
Instead, many of these projects and initiatives are facing reckless cuts, which will take us backwards and make life harder for families.
Write to the Government's key ministers below and let them know how this money could have been better spent in your community, to benefit New Zealanders.
Use our template and feel free to add your local concerns and priorities into your email.
