Minister: Peter Dunne

Budget changes raise revenue, increase fairness

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:57:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Budget 2012

The Government is taking a number of steps to tighten the tax system by closing loopholes and updating the tax credit system, which will generate hundreds of millions of dollars of extra revenue over the next four years. “This continues the Government’s work over the previous three Budgets to protect its revenue base and ensure the tax system is fairer for all taxpayers,” Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says. The changes include: ...

More money for successful tax compliance

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 01:56:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Budget 2012

Budget 2012 will provide Inland Revenue with an extra $78.4 million over the next four years to bolster its successful tax compliance activities in dealing with the hidden economy, debt collection, and following up on unfiled returns, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says. In Budget 2010, the Government allocated an additional $119.3 million over four years for the department to strengthen its compliance and debt activities. The return on investment from that funding in the first year was encouraging, Mr Dunne says. ...

Keynote Address to the National Problem Gambling Provider Forum

Admin — Tue, 22 May 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

Good morning and thank you for the invitation to speak today at your national provider forum. I would like to begin by acknowledging and thanking the Salvation Army’s National Co-ordination Service for organising this event. I would also like to acknowledge Major Campbell Roberts personally. I understand that he is to speak later in the programme on social justice and addictions. This is one of several social policy areas in which he has worked for many years, and I am sure his presentation will be a thoughtful contribution. ...

Chartered accountants’ contribution welcomed

Beehive — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:10:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne today thanked the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants (NZICA) for its contribution to the wider discussion on simplifying tax for small and medium sized businesses in New Zealand. NZICA today released a paper on the subject. Mr Dunne said the Government was constantly committed to having a tax system that was efficient and minimised the burden on business. ...

Keynote Address to the National Kia Piki te Ora Māori Suicide Prevention Conference 2012

Admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:29:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

I am very pleased to be here today in place of Hon Tariana Turia, who sends her best wishes. She makes a very strong, passionate and positive contribution to all aspects of health care as they affect Māori, and I acknowledge her for that. Among my responsibilities as Associate Minister of Health are mental health and suicide, which is a second reason why I am pleased to be here today. This is an important hui – a hui about survival in every aspect of the word. ...

Child Support bill big step to fairer scheme

Beehive — Tue, 08 May 2012 04:42:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

The Child Support Amendment Bill now before Parliament is the culmination of “the most major review of the Child Support scheme since its inception”, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne told Parliament at the Bill’s first reading today. He said issues of fairness had come to dog the scheme, with around 40 percent of the correspondence he received as Minister relating to child support issues. “The scheme is long overdue for updating and today it has come a big step closer to becoming fairer for all concerned,” Mr Dunne said. ...

IRD website issue not a problem with system

Beehive — Mon, 07 May 2012 05:54:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said taxpayers not being able to access Inland Revenue’s website for three hours today was human error, and not an issue of the system’s capacity or robustness. He also assured taxpayers that no one unable to file their GST returns today would be disadvantaged. “It was a settings issue rather than a system capacity issue on a day when there was particularly heavy use of the website for the filing of GST returns. ...

Dunne launches new IRD app

Admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 21:15:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne today launched Inland Revenue’s new mobile web application that will allow people to manage more of their tax and social policy entitlements on the move. “The app will offer a faster and simpler service for accessing and maintaining contact details and viewing account information,” he said. “For example, if you have a student loan, you can look up your balance wherever you are to help manage your loan, or you can use it for simple things like payment reminders or changing your contact or bank account details.” ...

NZ, Canada sign new double tax agreement

Admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:25:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

New Zealand and Canada this morning signed a new double tax agreement (DTA) to replace their 1980 treaty. The updated agreement was signed at Parliament by Canada’s Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne. Mr Dunne said the agreement will help New Zealand-based businesses compete in Canada and make New Zealand a more attractive place to invest in. ...

IRD and MSD improve information sharing

Admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:37:00 +0000

Chester Borrows | Revenue

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne and Associate Minister of Social Development Chester Borrows today announced the signing of an Order in Council to expand information sharing between Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Social Development. Mr Dunne described the order as a positive and welcome step forward for improving efficiency and fairness. “This is a great example of government agencies finding new, more efficient ways to work smarter to deliver a great result for the New Zealand taxpayer,” Mr Dunne said. ...

Dunne: latest stats show suicide being reduced

Admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:27:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

Newly released suicide and self-harm hospitalisation data for 2009, the most recent year available, shows New Zealand’s suicide rate is being reduced, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne said today. In total, 506 people died by suicide in New Zealand in 2009 – or 11.2 people per 100,000, down from 11.8 in 2008. “This is 25.5 percent below the peak rate in 1998. Youth suicides have declined even further, down by 36.8 percent since 1995,” Mr Dunne said. ...

Dunne: non-resident business GST issues to be addressed

Beehive — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 03:22:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

GST is a tax on consumption and not a tax on business and therefore should be neutral for both resident and non-resident businesses, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said today in announcing his intention to introduce measures to remove GST impediments for non-resident businesses. Mr Dunne said that there are cases where GST represents a real cost to non-resident businesses when the same cost may be able to be claimed by a New Zealand business as an input tax credit. ...

Views sought on salary trade-off tax proposals

Beehive — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:58:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

A tax policy issues paper released today outlines a range of suggestions for broadening the tax rules around salary and wage packages that include both cash and non-cash benefits, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne said. The paper, Recognising salary trade-offs as income, focuses on salary or wages traded off for a non-cash benefit not taxable under the current rules. Mr Dunne welcomed the paper saying it is about improving fairness in the tax and social assistance systems. ...

Keynote Address to the Mental Health Foundation

Admin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 23:06:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here with you today at this Like Minds, Like Mine National Provider Seminar. Or perhaps I should say it is very satisfying to be with you because I think we all recognise the absolute importance of the issues and work being dealt with here by you. I believe all of us are absolutely committed to continuing to promote mental health and suicide prevention activities in better, more insightful and more successful ways. That is our work today, and it is our work every day. ...

Dunne: bill will reduce overall student loan debt

Beehive — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 01:53:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne says legislation passed by Parliament last night will make it easier for the Government to manage and reduce the overall size of student loan debt by making borrowers more accountable for repaying their loans. “This in turn will make the scheme fairer for the vast majority of borrowers who do honour their loan obligations and for taxpayers more generally,” Mr Dunne said. The changes introduced in the Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill to improve the rate of repayments by borrowers include: ...

Dunne: Youth Package big plus in fight against suicides

Admin — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:04:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne today welcomed Prime Minister John Key’s announcement of the Youth Mental Health package, saying it contained positive changes that support and enhance ongoing work in youth suicide prevention. ...

More Synthetic Cannabinoids Being Banned

Admin — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:37:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

A further three synthetic cannabis substances found in products sold in some dairies are in the process of being banned and are expected to be off the shelves by the end of next week, Associate Minister of Health Peter Dunne announced today. This will soon bring to 24 the number of substances banned under Temporary Class Drug Notices, Mr Dunne said. The provisions in the Misuse of Drugs Act to issue such notices became law in August 2011. The latest substances have been identified as the chemicals AM-1248, AM-2232 and UR-144. ...

Government committed to interest-free student loans

Beehive — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:46:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has countered concerns that a change proposed in a student loans bill before Parliament may result in some borrowers losing their interest-free status when the loan is transferred from StudyLink to Inland Revenue on 1 April 2012. “This interpretation of what is in the bill is mischievous and, quite simply, wrong,” Mr Dunne said. “I want to re-assure borrowers that the Government is committed to interest-free loans for borrowers who stay here.” ...

Speech to 15th Annual Employers and Manufacturers Association Payroll Conference

Admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 21:07:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Good morning and thank you very much for inviting me to be with you again today. I always enjoy coming to speak to you. At the heart of every economy is the crucial business of people receiving their pay correctly and on time, allowing them to plan how they spend, save or invest. And as you are the people who make this happen, Payroll, in many respects, is the engine room of the economy. Tax obligations Let me put that into perspective. ...

Use-of-money interest rates change

Admin — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:52:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Use-of-money interest rates on underpaid and overpaid tax have been changed in line with market rates on which they are based, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today. "The rate charged by Inland Revenue on underpaid tax will fall from 8.89% to 8.40%, and the rate for overpaid tax will fall from 2.18% to 1.75%, from 8 May 2012," Mr Dunne said. Use-of-money interest rates are reviewed regularly to reflect current market interest rates. The new rates were approved by Order in Council on Monday 26 March. ...

Govt closes livestock tax loophole

Beehive — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:03:00 +0000

Bill English | Finance

The Government has tightened livestock tax rules to prevent farmers who change valuation schemes receiving an unintended tax break, Finance Minister Bill English and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today. Ministers said the current rules were too loose and allowed some farmers switching between the two main livestock valuation methods to receive an unfair tax advantage over those farmers who applied the rules as they were intended. ...

Working for Families family tax credit and minimum family tax credit amounts rise

Admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Paula Bennett | Revenue

Working for Families tax credits will increase from 1 April this year, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today. “This adjustment will assist Families who are eligible for the WFF tax credits and compensate for cost of living increases over past year”, said Mr Dunne. “These increases will make a real difference to families for whom every cent counts,” said Social Development Minister Paula Bennett. ...

Address to IFA annual conference

Admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:50:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Thank you very much for inviting me to speak to you again. Much has changed since I spoke to you last year, but also a great deal still remains to be done. This time last year we were still coming to grips the devastating Christchurch earthquakes – and there have been more since, having not only just a profound effect on the people of Christchurch, but also on the country as a whole, and the very psyche of our nation. ...

Tax policy work programme 2012/13 announced

Admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:49:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

“A sound tax system is a good platform for Government to begin consolidating and strengthening the economy and getting on with rebuilding” says Revenue Minister Peter Dunne. Mr Dunne was speaking at the International Fiscal Association’s annual conference today where he released details of the Government’s tax policy work programme for the next eighteen months. ...

Extension of filing time provision extended for Canterbury

Beehive — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:12:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery

“It’s one year on since the big earthquake in Canterbury and Government recognises that people in Canterbury are still dealing with very difficult circumstances,” says Revenue Minister Peter Dunne. “The Government has therefore extended a temporary measure introduced after the February earthquakes for a further six months,” Mr Dunne announced today. ...

New website offers Payroll Giving help for employers

Admin — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:18:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Commenting on a new website, which will help employers seeking to establish payroll giving schemes in their workplaces, Revenue Minister Peter Dunne today congratulated the group behind the website for their efforts. Payroll Giving is a scheme which allows an employee to donate to their nominated charity through their employer’s payroll. Mr Dunne said that the Payroll Giving Early Adopters Group which comprises a mix of small and large employers had worked very hard to make Payroll Giving more accessible for other employers. ...

Dunne: deferral of application date would help business

Admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:59:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Revenue

Revenue Minister Peter Dunne has invited the Finance and Expenditure Committee to consider deferring the application date affecting GST payments on late payment penalties to allow affected businesses time to change their systems. “The Taxation (Annual Rates, Returns Filing, and Remedial Matters Bill) introduced in September 2011 contains a measure in Clause 137 which makes it clear that GST is payable on late payment fees,” Mr Dunne said. ...

Dunne announces Temporary Class Drug Notice

Admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Health

A common ingredient in ‘party pills’ and some weight loss and sports performance supplements is being banned and expected to be off the market in early April, Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne announced today. A Temporary Class Drug Notice has been placed on the substance commonly known as DMAA ((1,3-dimethylamylamine), bringing to 21 the total number of substances banned under the notices brought in under amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act in August last year, Mr Dunne said. ...

Game Animal Council Bill great step for outdoors

Beehive — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:46:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Conservation

Associate Conservation Minister and UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne today led legislation for a Game Animal Council to its First Reading in Parliament, delivering on a key provision of the party’s confidence and supply agreement with National. “This Bill is a key part of UnitedFuture’s confidence and supply agreement and I am delighted we have been able to deliver on it so early in the parliamentary term,” Mr Dunne said. ...

Game Animal Council Bill – First Reading Speech

Beehive — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:44:00 +0000

Peter Dunne | Conservation

Mr Speaker, I move that the Game Animal Council Bill be read for a first time. I propose to refer the Bill to the Local Government and Environment Committee. This Bill delivers on the Government’s 2008 confidence and supply agreement with UnitedFuture to “proceed with the establishment of a Big Game Hunting Council as part of a national wild game management strategy with a view to it becoming a statutory authority”. ...