Breakthrough Economy: R&D to 2% of GDP
What it actually does
The Opportunity Party's Breakthrough Economy plan would lift research and development spending to at least 2% of GDP, with measures including $125m a year to restore core science funding, a $600m-a-year technology adoption tax credit, $80m to restore polytech funding and student loan interest forgiveness for returning Kiwis. It costs the package at about $1.33bn a year, funded by its Tax Reset.
Source: opportunity.org.nz · 2026-06
The Trump take
“Science money, tax credits, polytechs, a lot of spending. I like winning in technology, we're winning like never before. But $1.3 billion, who's paying? Probably the landowners. Not good.”parody
Why it scored this way
Big government
About $1.33bn a year in new government spending programmes
-1
Dislikes it
Deals & property
Tax credits and support aimed at business growth
+1
Likes it
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