Newshub-Reid Research poll: Overwhelming majority want tax cuts in Budget 2022

Grant Robertson, open your chequebook. 

The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll has found an overwhelming majority want a tax cut from the Finance Minister in this year's Budget 2022. 

Labour's dramatic drop in Newshub's poll has the party under pressure and it's showing. Meanwhile, the National Party is celebrating. 

"What a difference after the hammering we've had over the last couple of years," National MP Matt Doocey said as he walked up to Parliament on Wednesday.

National MPs had a spring in their step after cracking the 40 percent mark in Tuesday night's Newshub-Reid Research poll.

"We're feeling good and confident at the moment," said National MP Paul Goldsmith. 

Over in the red camp, they don't want to talk about their 6 point tumble.

"Haven't looked at it... Honestly, haven't looked at it," said Labour MP Deborah Russell. 

"I'm not really concerned about the poll," added Labour MP Camilla Belich. 

Well, perhaps they should be taking a moment to reflect, because the country is fed up with them over the cost of living crisis, and voters are looking for something special from the Government's Budget in two weeks. 

"I think everybody wants a tax cut. The cost of living is just getting out of control," a Wellington local told Newshub. 

"It would be nice," another said. 

It's bad news for them though, because the Finance Minister appears allergic to the idea. But perhaps the latest results of the Newshub-Reid Research poll will make him reconsider.

It asked: Do you think the Government should give New Zealanders a tax cut in the upcoming May Budget?

A clear majority - 68.7 percent - say yes, hand back over the cash, while only 23.7 percent said no. Even a majority of Labour voters - 54.2 percent - want a tax cut, with 35.7 percent saying no. 

But it's not going to happen. 

"We do not agree that tax cuts that favour those who earn the most are the priority right now," Robertson said in Parliament on Wednesday.

The political pressure is piling on from National.

"Kiwis are doing it incredibly tough in this cost of living crisis because of inflation and really what we want to do is be able to give more of their money back to them to spend and save it as they wish," National leader Christopher Luxon said. 

ACT is also putting pressure on the Government. 

"Inflation is cutting every household budget in New Zealand. The only budget not being cut is the Government's. Of course we should give people some more of their money back," said ACT leader David Seymour. 

There's even pressure from Te Pati Māori, though they want a different type of tax cut: the removal of GST from food. Kiwis want that too: 76.6 percent said they support the policy while just 18.5 percent said no.

"It's a fair removal of tax for everybody so it doesn't discriminate against rich or poor," said Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi. 

The political pressure is getting to Robertson. He unleashed on Luxon for saying that National's Tauranga candidate brings diversity to their team because he's educated.

Finally we know what's been missing all along," Robertson said. "According to Mr Luxon, it's just they're all a bit thick, that's all it is."

That's not very nice, Mr Robertson.