The Indian community in New Zealand is known for its small-business success.
Although big businesses fill most of the news column-inches, it is small family-run businesses that are the lifeblood of the New Zealand economy.
Our economic future depends on your success.
When small businesses thrive, the whole economy thrives.
Labour has been listening to small business, and we have heard that you would like the tax system to be simplified.
Easy compliance
Tax compliance should not be expensive and should not keep you away from your business. If small business owners could simply and easily do their taxes, they would be able to focus on what they do best: contributing to the economy.
Part of having a simple tax system is making sure that everyone contributes their fair share. New Zealand’s small and medium-sized businesses tend to be good corporate citizens that pay their obligations, yet huge businesses like Facebook and Google get away with less.
We need a fairer system, and we need consistency.
National is a Party of big business, not small and medium business.
When they introduce new compliance rules like requiring employers to collect child support, it is easy if you have an HR department, but every small business-owner knows the true cost of that kind of regulatory creep.
Declining trend
Since 2008, on average, 2500 fewer small businesses have been established every year.
From small business, big businesses are born, and that is why it is a worry that fewer small businesses are starting up every year.
Our future depends on healthy small businesses.
Labour will keep things simple, because we want to make it easier to do well in business in New Zealand.
We are a hardworking and smart nation that deserves an efficient economy, so that our businesses can flourish and leave a legacy of prosperity for our children.
David Shearer is an elected Member of Parliament from Mt Albert and Labour Party Spokesman for Foreign Affairs and Energy
