Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

French Polynesia president announces income tax

Posted at 23:00 on 02 May, 2012 UTC

The French Polynesian president, Oscar Temaru, has confirmed that his government will introduce an income tax.

Mr Temaru made the announcement after a May Day meeting with the leaders of all the unions.

He has told local television that there can be no discussion of social problems without referring to social justice.

The territory has a range of taxes such as value added tax, import tax, property and capital gains tax.

Mr Temaru says levying an income tax has been an issue for more than 50 years.

In 1958, the territorial assembly approved an income tax but after two months of opposition, the tax was scrapped before it was implemented.