From the (New Zealand) Dominion Post, this article about a government-appointed appointed working group that will look at the country’s goods and services tax (akin to the sales tax imposed in the U.S.):
[F]inance Minister Grant Robertson said the panel would have a “wide mandate” to look at the whole tax system but it had been directed to look at specific areas such as GST.
When asked if the group would consider removing the goods and services tax (GST) from women’s products, Robertson said “it’s up to the working group”, though he would not be “taking anything on or off the table”.
“If the working group decide to go down that path, we’ll be happy to do that. What we are saying is the rate for GST is not to be included in [its discussions].”
Robertson said if the working group could deliver a concrete step forward earlier than planned, the Government would consider acting.
Last year, it was reported that some young Kiwi women were skipping classes when they had their period as they couldn’t afford sanitary products.
Labour MP Louisa Wall said some women stayed home from university or school when they didn’t have enough money to buy tampons or pads, which can cost between $5 and $15 a week.
“Female sanitary products aren’t a luxury, but for young Kiwi women on tight budgets, they’re an expense that’s hard to afford.”
The full article is here.
