Opportunity says New Zealanders struggling with high fuel prices deserve cost-of-living relief and honesty about how the country will fund the transport system it needs.

“People are hurting. Fuel is expensive, groceries are expensive, and household budgets are stretched,” says Opportunity Leader Qiulae Wong.

“We’ve proposed a Citizens Income funded by a Land Value Tax that would help 70% of Kiwis deal with the increasing cost-of-living. That’s our idea and we’re ready to work with other parties who have ideas to achieve the same goal.

“We need to be honest that freezing fuel tax doesn’t make the cost of transport infrastructure disappear.

“We have to stop kicking the can down the unfunded road. There are always trade-offs. Who pays and how? What won’t get built if we don’t raise the money?

“We also need to prepare for a low-carbon economy. As fossil fuel use falls, fuel tax will become a less reliable way to fund our transport needs.

“National and Labour are telling voters what they won’t do. Now they need to explain what they will do, what it will cost, and who will pay.”

“New Zealanders deserve that honest conversation, and that’s what they’ll get with Opportunity in Parliament,” says Wong.