'AI slop' - Greens criticise National attack ad

The Green Party is criticising a National Party attack advert as "AI slop", saying it misrepresents the party's tax policy and the country's tax settings.

The Greens' election tax plan introduces new tax bands, including a tax-free threshold of $10,000. The party would also adjust the top tax rate.

Income of $180,001 and over is currently taxed at 39 percent. The Greens would adjust this so income of $160,000 was taxed at 45 percent.

Following the Greens' announcement, National ran a social media post attacking the plan.

"You'd probably think they're only talking about taxing billionaires, people with yachts, multi-millionaires. You'd be wrong," the voiceover said.

"Because if you ever want to earn $160,000, you would need to pay 45 percent of it to the Greens and Labour. It's right there in their document."

But the video failed to take into account New Zealand's progressive tax system.

For example, someone earning $75,000 a year is not taxed at a flat rate of 30 percent.

Their first $15,600 is taxed at 10.5 percent, their income between $15,601 and $53,500 is taxed at 17.5 percent, and then only the income between $53,501 and $75,000 is taxed at 30 percent.

Under the Greens' plan, people earning over $160,000 would pay 45 percent on that income above $160,000 - not 45 percent of their total income.

"The National Party is trying to hide behind AI slop and take New Zealanders for idiots," said Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.

She said she had asked the prime minister to "come out from hiding behind that ad" and debate the Greens about the policy properly.

On Tuesday afternoon, National's finance spokesperson Nicola Willis said she had not seen the video, but said she understood marginal tax rates.

"I will go and look at that, and if there's someone on the social media team that needs to be educated, I'll be happy to give them a bit of a lesson in marginal tax rates."

Swarbrick said if Willis was uncomfortable with something "which is actively misrepresenting a progressive tax system", then she could ask to get it taken down.

She also expressed her disappointment National was using AI in its video content.

"I think, especially for a party that is having record donations pouring in at a time where things are incredibly tough for regular New Zealanders, they could perhaps afford to be paying some local creatives to create some content that maybe, I don't know, tells a positive vision for our country."