Independent views By Brendan Horan

Though still undergoing registration, the NZ Independent Coalition is now a living identity, looking forward to capturing the nation's interest with a new political perspective – a way forward that includes and involves the electorate.

It will be made up of MPs who actually communicate with and involve the electorate in making decisions, rather than tow the party line.

As leader of the NZ Independent Coalition, during the next few weeks I will roll out our views.

This week I focus on urgent and immediate action required, to ‘Save our Seniors'.

Although everyone wants to believe all New Zealanders are guaranteed security in retirement and the needs of seniors are well catered for, the reality couldn't be more different.

Our seniors are expected to live on as little as $282 per week, the Government's own research shows for a married couple to have reasonable living, $56,000 per annum is needed. Currently, a married couple are expected to live on less than $33,000 per annum.

What this National Government is doing to our seniors is inhumane. Words cannot convey the deep sense of tragedy when 85-year-olds are driven to commit suicide.

Revenue can be found in a currently untaxed area of the New Zealand economy's financial transactions. The NZ Independent Coalition will look to implement a 0.1 per cent Financial Transaction Tax, following the example of 11 European Union nations led by France and Germany.

The volume of transactions through the banking and foreign exchange systems is enormous and currently untaxed.

According to the Reserve Bank, New Zealand's foreign exchange market handles an average of US$12.4 billion per day.

On top of that more than $25 billion a day of transactions are processed through the banking system.

To put these eye-watering sums into perspective, that's more than $8000 per New Zealander, churned every day.

The NZ Independent Coalition is also looking to use FTT revenue to remove GST on food; remove GST on medical costs; and support vet costs for seniors pets, recognising our seniors' quality of life is enhanced by their pets.

An FTT at the modest rate of 0.1 per cent will result in revenue of about $9.5 billion for the people of New Zealand every year.

After all, if the financial institutions make their money by clipping the ticket on every transaction, then so too should the Government.

If you'd like to discuss this or any other issues please contact me.

Facebook.com/Brendan.horan.336
twitter.com/brendanhoran or Phone Brendan on 07 574 0253.