New Zealand First has called on Labour to explain how many of the Alliance’s tax increases it is prepared to accept.

The Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters, said today that Labour and the Alliance, campaigning as a loose coalition, are misleading voters with their “separate” yet “together” policies.

“Jim Anderton jumped back into bed with Labour a long time ago, yet they are releasing separate policies with no firm indication of which ones they are adopting.

“So far the Alliance is increasing personal income tax, pushing up tariffs, introducing property taxes, imposing financial transaction taxes and slapping a surcharge on successful businesses.

“Would Michael Cullen or someone please stand up tell voters where Labour stands on these taxes,” said Mr Peters.

He said that New Zealand First’s tax policy will be released soon and it will be based on compliance and fairness – not increases and extortion.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>