Experts are questioning whether politicians should be introducing tax cut policies in the lead up to next year's election.

The government has dangled the possibility of conditions being right, and Bill English has confirmed they're still on the table even following the recent earthquakes.

Massey University taxation specialist Deborah Russell told Mike Hosking tax could have already been cut too far.

"Part of the problem is that the health spending has not really gone up to keep up with the increased population, so the health system is being squeezed tight, and we're seeing some kind of mingy things going on, like pensioners losing their cleaning and things like that," she said.

"I guess if Mr English and our presumed new finance minister, Mr Joyce, want to they could put at least some money into the health system and the education system, instead of putting it all in our own back pockets."

Russell said $3 billion worth of tax cuts would equate to about $20 more in the pocket each week.

"That may not make enough of a difference to people to change the vote, it's hard to tell.

"I think it's going to be a really good conversation that we're going to have this coming year about how we balance our spending and what we spend our money on."

LISTEN TO DR DEBORAH RUSSELL SPEAK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE