United Future

I have friends in the Fire Service and they are backing the Income Splitting Policy- its fair and its a good advantage for struggling housholds trying to cope with cost of living.

And I am talking about those in the middle class group! They are hurting a lot.

Yes, 'middle' income earners, the silent majority that does so much to keep this country ticking. It is long overdue that it be recognised that middle income families are struggling. They are eligible for no help (save those qualifying for WFF), yet struggle to afford basic essentials, like a trip to the doctor. They are left in a vacuum, living week-to-week. My family is one of them.

We support Income Splitting, and I could name other families I know who are positive about its implications of a little financial relief for them.

I saw results from a recent survey in NZ, which said the unhappiest people in our country are those in their 30-40s with children. What a sad statistic, having children should be the happiest time of a parents life. No doubt financial pressures are a major factor - it is expensive raising children. Parenting is such a vital role in society, the children are our future. I would love to see Income Splitting become a reality, and put a smile on those 30-40 year old parents' faces. Its long overdue.

kelleigh,
One of my closet friends who is 38, married with three children is a wise invester and saver of his hard earned income. I have known him for 23 years and during the recent downturn of the economy, with petrol prices exploding (pun not intended), food prices soaring, he said he was going to have to sell his car (they are a two car family) and trim the household budget of things not deemed neccessary.

In all the years I have known him, I have never heard him talk like that. So, it shows you that you are right -it is the 30 40 age group that is suffering. I told my friend about the Income Splitting and he was excited enough to say he will back the policy with a party vote to UF.

I'm glad to see that the NZ public are embracing the idea of Income Splitting and so they should ! People should be given the power to make their own decisions on how their children should be cared for.

Together with UnitedFuture's bold tax proposals, Income Splitting is going to make life easier for families across the country. And who can argue against that ?

I am puzzled by one thing why are there only 205 thinking Kiwis out there who are considering this- what about the other 2.5 million adults - don't they care about what happens to their hard earned money ?
What we are seeing is a transfer of responsibility from people to politicians and this must be reversed by getting a greater trust in politics
Having UF push this policy, as part of its agreement under support and confidence this term, was a great move- now we need to ensure they have the mandate at the polls in a few weeks time to implement this policy.

Tax splitting for couples with dependants makes truck loads more sense than jigging GST on food or certain commodities

United Future should be making the enactment of Income Splitting a bottom line for its support in any future Coalition or Confidence & Supply Agreement. It's a policy that resonates with most two parent families.

Robin, I was a bit puzzled about that myself. From talking to people though I have had nothing but support come back about the idea - enthusiastic support - which needs to be reflected on the day.

Quentin, we have already done that trimming which your friend is now facing, and have little left to trim! So it is good to hear that Income Splitting resonates well with him, as I am sure it does with so many others. Now, the big push is to make it happen.