A number of Government MPs are accusing Green MP Tamatha Paul of making false statements about the properties they own during her recent criticism of the coalition’s tax changes.
During a debate in Parliament on August 19, Paul took aim at MPs she claimed had bought new properties since the interest deductibility scheme - which allows landlords to subtract mortgage interest from their rental income - was reinstated in 2024.
“Since the Government changed the rental laws, the number of Government MPs that have bought investment properties over that side of the House has grown,” she said.
Paul named National MPs Katie Nimon, Erica Stanford, Simon Watts, Tom Rutherford, Joseph Mooney, Shane Reti, David MacLeod, Grant McCallum, along with ACT’s Parmjeet Parmar, as having bought new homes under the more favourable rules.
“All bought another home to rent out since they changed the rental laws and changed rental tax,” she added, before targeting McCallum again after he spoke up to deny renting out his second property.
McCallum had “bought a house in Wellington, so they [the group of MPs] can pay themselves the accommodation allowance while taxpayers pay their mortgage off,” Paul said, referring to the system that allows MPs who live outside Wellington to claim costs on accommodation.
In response, McCallum, National’s Northland MP, raised a point of order during the debate, saying Paul’s comments were “misinformation”. He said he did not rent out his second property, and made a...
A number of Government MPs are accusing Green MP Tamatha Paul of making false statements about the properties they own during her recent criticism of the coalition’s tax changes. During a debate in...