I view taxation is a way for the gov't to provide 'stability' or 'security' for the country. The private sector can not provide for everything and key issues like military and defense is a good example where no private individual and property provide security for the whole country they're living in. This must be done at a governing level. The "Free Market" Laissez-faire model does not work as it's too individualistic. We can see this with the problems why NZ lacks the high # of housing builds as infrastructure builds are funded entirely by the individual developer (whereas in Canada, both municipal/provincial/& federal fund infrastructures). So when we pay taxes, we ensure our gov't leads our country in a corrupt free, stable, and safe manner.

The problem in NZ is our tax system is not fair. The high income earners comprise most of their wealth in owning tax free capital gain real estate. While the next generation that are not born into wealth, have a more difficult chance in buying their first home. All the incentives in NZ is pushed into owning real estate which is a far less productive asset than owning shares of companies or starting new businesses venture or resource extraction.