Think of it as a tithe, not a tax

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 10, 2026

Retired psychologist Sarah Beck criticized New Zealand’s major political parties for dismissing new tax measures beyond a potential capital gains tax ahead of the November election, calling for a broader tax reform to address wealth inequality and fund public services. She warns that without new contributions, especially for healthcare, further cuts to vital services may occur, potentially shifting the system toward user-pays and impacting access for vulnerable populations.

A retired psychologist has publicly expressed disappointment that New Zealand’s major political parties, National and Labour, have ruled out introducing new taxes ahead of the upcoming November election, aside from a potential capital gains tax. Sarah Beck, from Devonport, argues that a comprehensive reform of the country’s tax system is needed to address what she describes as an uneven distribution of collective wealth.

Beck suggests reframing the concept of taxation by using alternative terms such as a “tithe,” “community charge,” “wellbeing rate,” or simply a “contribution” to improve public acceptance. Historically, a tithe referred to one-tenth of a person’s income or produce paid to support the local parish or clergy. She proposes applying that concept instead to the country’s strained public hospital system, implying that such a contribution could significantly enhance funding.

In her commentary, Beck also highlights New Zealand’s accident compensation levy, currently about 1.75%, suggesting it could be increased to cover additional healthcare costs. She draws comparisons with Australia’s Medicare levy, which is set at 2% of taxable income and scaled according to income level, with lower or no payment required by low-income earners and higher payments by those without private health insurance.

Beck warns that the rejection of new taxes, levies, or contributions risks further cuts to public services, particularly in the health sector, where reductions are already being felt. She speculates that the present government may favor a user-pays health system, a shift that could affect access to services. Citing a 2026 report by the New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services, she notes that one in six New Zealanders remains below the poverty line, with a significant portion of working and non-working households living close to that threshold.

In closing, Beck emphasizes the importance of transparency and realism in public discourse about taxation and public services, invoking a well-known quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln: “You can fool some people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.