Hipkins rules out streaming and ute taxes after National offensive

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has confirmed Labour will not introduce a streaming tax or bring back the ute tax, after initially refusing to rule either out and facing sustained attacks from National. New Zealand Herald

The clarification came on a Monday, following days of pressure from National over Labour's tax intentions. Earlier the same day, Hipkins had been asked whether he could rule out a new tax on streaming companies such as Netflix or bringing back the ute tax, and answered "No" to both. RNZ

National finance spokesperson Nicola Willis had called on Hipkins to clarify his position on both measures. Willis said Labour broadcasting and media spokesperson Reuben Davidson was proposing to introduce a levy on streaming services that would raise prices for Netflix and other streaming platforms. She also pointed to an NZ Herald report that former Cabinet minister Michael Wood had been talking up the Clean Car Discount scheme, labelled by National as a "ute tax", as a policy win he achieved. The article did not indicate Wood planned to bring back the scheme, which granted rebates for imports of low- or zero-emission vehicles funded by fees on high-emitting ones. RNZ

National campaign chair Simeon Brown said Hipkins had been "silent" on ruling out a streaming tax and a ute tax. Brown claimed Labour and its allies were planning nine new taxes to fund an $18 billion hidden bill, and that a streaming tax and ute tax would bring the total to 11. RNZ

Hipkins dismissed the attacks as "hysterical desperation" and said Christopher Luxon is incompetent. He said National's statements over tax policy were "just desperation" and that Simeon Brown was "getting more and more hysterical by the day". RNZ

Hipkins made the comments to media after the prime minister and transport minister announced a detailed business case for a second Auckland harbour crossing. RNZ

The ruling out of both taxes narrows the areas of ambiguity in Labour's tax position, but it does not close off every front National has been pressing on. Willis said Hipkins promised there would be no capital gains tax under Labour but has now changed his tune. Facebook

However, Hipkins ruled out a wealth tax and a capital gains tax if Labour is re-elected, a position he has maintained since August 2024. Newshub

Hipkins also said Labour will not support the wealth taxes, land taxes and other taxes put forward by other parties such as Opportunity. 1News

On July 28, 2026, Hipkins said there is "no way" Labour will support Opportunity's tax policy and that Labour will make a call on who he would be willing to work with regarding Opportunity. 1News

Hipkins said Labour's Willie Jackson "could have been clearer" when asked about a land tax, noting Jackson later said he was not open to a land tax. RNZ

Hipkins ruled out picking up other parties' tax policies, despite National being relentless in suggesting Labour would do so. New Zealand Herald

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said a Labour capital gains tax would be a tax on families and claimed Hipkins admitted he would never sell his beach house under it. Instagram

National MP Paul Goldsmith said Hipkins and Labour need to tell New Zealanders whether Labour will fill a budget gap with higher taxes or more borrowing. Facebook

On August 10, Hipkins said Labour would make changes designed to help small businesses if it becomes the government. Facebook

The exchange marks an intensification of the tax framing battle that has run throughout 2026. Brown's Instagram post on February 11, 2026, that Hipkins is happy to talk about all of Labour's new taxes but refuses to clarify or rule them out, set the template National has followed for six months. Instagram

What shifted on August 17 is that Hipkins closed off two specific lines of attack, the streaming levy and the ute tax, while maintaining his broader position of ruling out wealth and capital gains taxes and refusing to adopt coalition partners' tax policies. National's challenge now is finding remaining areas of ambiguity to exploit, while Labour's is ensuring its MPs stay disciplined on message, as the Jackson episode demonstrated.