If you look at this exercise, it's clear now that a complete overhaul of the tax system needs to occur, with lower, flatter taxes, which drives growth and attracts overseas investments, and makes a tangible difference in the lives of Kiwis. This is a Government that wants to develop a higher wage economy but then disincentivises earnings and make it as hard as possible to get ahead. This Government is seeking to reintroduce the same unimaginative, punitive, divisive tax policy that Labour ushered in under then finance Minister Michael Cullen 21 years ago. New Zealand already has the highest tax to GDP ratio in the Asia-Pacific region and the fifth-highest corporate tax rate in the OECD.