3 Nov 2011

Mana promises $1000 Christmas bonus to low-paid workers

12:08 pm on 3 November 2011

The Mana Party is promising a $1000 Christmas bonus to those earning less than $30,000 a year.

The party says it would take back tax cuts given to New Zealand's highest earners to pay for it.

Mana Party leader Hone Harawira says giving every person aged over 15 years who earns under $30,000 the bonus would cost $1.6 billion.

Mr Harawira says that is exactly the amount given to the country's richest people in this year's Budget as tax cuts.

He says giving the money to the poor would help to stimulate the economy because they would be likely to spend it in New Zealand.