Foreign buyer figures: National must denounce land tax

Press release: ACT New Zealand
May 10, 2016. 4:05pm

ACT Leader David Seymour is calling on National to denounce its proposed land tax in the wake of figures showing low numbers of foreign house buyers.

“Confirmation that 97% of property sold in the last three months went to New Zealand tax residents shows the fuss over foreign buyers has been pure political scapegoating.

“It was bad enough when it was the opposition blaming house prices on foreigners. National should never have sunk to that level with its proposed land tax on foreigners.

“Fortunately, today's figures give National the chance to reclaim the moral high ground. It’s time to put hysteria over foreigners to rest, and return to the basic mission of freeing up land and increasing housing supply.

“Blaming foreigners for our housing woes is easy. Tackling a bloated RMA and decades of entrenched red tape will take more spine.”

ENDS

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