2009 Tax Working Group conference: A tax system for New Zealand's future

Access the programme and slides from the 2009 Tax Working Group conference.

Against the backdrop of a challenging economic and fiscal environment and tax reviews overseas, the Tax Working Group (TWG) considered the medium-term direction of the current tax system and worked through the pros and cons of a variety of policy options. The TWG public conference was the culmination of this process.

The conference was opened by Hon Bill English, Minister of Finance and closed by Hon Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue.

Venue

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Rutherford House, Lecture Theatre 2
23 Lambton Quay, Wellington

Conference convenor

Tony profile picture

Prof Tony van Zijl

Emeritus Professor

School of Accounting and Commercial Law

Programme and slides

Morning session 1

Chair: Bob Buckle

8.30–8.45 am

Introduction

  • Bob Buckle pdf62KB – Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Administration, Victoria University of Wellington; Chair, Tax Working Group

8.45–9 am

Opening speech

Hon Bill English, Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister

9–9.45 am

Frameworks to guide tax reform and current challenges, introduction to scenarios

  • Rob McLeod pdf100KB – Managing Partner, Ernst & Young New Zealand (30 minutes) Discussion (15 minutes)

9.45–10am

Morning tea

Morning session 2

Chair: Tony van Zijl

10–11.15 am

Tax and transfers

  • Norman Gemmell pdf477KB – Principal Adviser, Treasury (30 minutes)
  • Susan St John pdf389KB – Director, Retirement Policy and Research Centre, University of Auckland (discussant, 10 minutes) Discussion (35 minutes)

11:15 am–12 pm

GST

  • David White pdf202KB – Associate Director, Centre for Accounting, Governance and Taxation Research, Victoria University of Wellington (20 minutes)
  • Peter Conway pdf290KB – Secretary, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (discussant 10 minutes) Discussion (15 minutes)

12–12.45 pm

Lunch

Afternoon session 1

Chair: Tony van Zijl

12.45–2.05 pm

Base broadening – taxation of capital income

  • John Shewan pdf113KB – Chairman, PricewaterhouseCoopers (CGT, other base broadening options, 30 minutes)
  • Gareth Morgan pdf95KB – Chief Executive Officer, Gareth Morgan Investments (discussant, 10 minutes)
  • John Prebble pdf83KB – Victoria University of Wellington (discussant, 10 minutes) Discussion (30 minutes)

2.05–3 pm

Base broadening – land taxes

  • Arthur Grimes pdf226KB – Senior Fellow, Motu Economic and Public Policy Research (land taxes, 20 minutes)
  • Mike Shaw pdf165KB – Partner, Deloitte (discussant, 10 minutes) Discussion (25 minutes)

3–3.30 pm

Afternoon tea

Afternoon session 2

Chair: Bob Buckle

3.30–4.50 pm

Company tax

  • Matt Benge pdf193KB – Assistant Deputy Commissioner, IRD (30 minutes)
  • Paul Dunne pdf76KB – Partner, KPMG (discussant, 10 minutes)

Mark Weldon, Chief Executive, NZX Limited (discussant, 10 minutes) Discussion (30 minutes)

4.50–6 pm

Scenarios

  • Geof Nightingale pdf744KB – Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers New Zealand (30 minutes)

Casey Plunket, Partner, Chapman Tripp (discussant, 10 minutes) Discussion (30 minutes)

6–6.15 pm

Closing speech

Hon Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue and leader, United Future

6.15–6.30 pm

Conclusion

Bob Buckle