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Growing concerns NZ's population won't be able to sustain govt spending

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 28 Apr 2026, 10:48am
Photo / File
Photo / File

Growing concerns NZ's population won't be able to sustain govt spending

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 28 Apr 2026, 10:48am

New Zealand may not have a large enough working population in the future to support government spending. 

A new Koi TÅ« report shows the fertility rate is at a record low and the population is ageing very quickly. 

It found immigration is increasingly becoming the major source of talent and population growth.  

PwC Partner and tax issue specialist Sandy Lau told Ryan Bridge that artificial intelligence can't help us either. 

She says New Zealand's tax base is unique in that in relies on taxes on labour and on consumption, which is tax paid by people. 

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