The Prime Minister is standing firm in his position to rule out a wealth tax despite many voters saying it was the wrong call in our latest poll.
It comes as a senior minister has got himself in a tax tangle for saying we could do with some more.
The Prime Minister was in Taranaki on Thursday, learning about the struggle of our oil and gas capital's transition to a cleaner future.
Chris Hipkins is himself juggling the transition from Prime Minister to Labour leader.
"Once you get onto the campaign trail you do get a bit more freedom to spell out a vision and to spell out the Labour Party position on issues which is a bit more difficult when you're running the country and have the constraints of Government that sometimes, well, constrain you," he said.
He was unconstrained at his mum's old school in Waitara where he was asked why he wanted to keep the top job.
"One of the best things about being Prime Minister is no day is ever boring, every day is different," he said.
There are other attractions too.
"To be rich," said one student.
Not the only one keen to get a bit more.
The Government needs more cash too, according to a senior minister.
"We probably don't have enough tax in this country," Damien O'Connor said earlier this week.
Asked whether he saw those comments as a misstep or an act of rebellion, Hipkins said: "No, I think is comments were taken out of context".
O'Connor's tax take was in reference to paying for roads and rebuilds. But he also said the Greens - whose major policy pitch is a wealth tax - have some good ideas.
"The Greens are like the canary in the coal mine. Most of the issues they raise are really, really important and real - it's just that we don't want them running the coal mine."
National leader Christopher Luxon said it "underscores again I think the division that sits within that Cabinet around taxation policy".
"We know within the Labour Party there is huge desire for a wealth tax," Luxon said.
But Hipkins said he has been clear that "we won't be implementing a wealth tax".
It's a captain's call from the Labour leader.
In our latest Newshub-Reid research poll we asked, should Chris Hipkins have ruled out a wealth tax?
There were more who said no - 47 percent - than those who thought Hipkins had made the right call - just 39 percent.
"I don't govern based on opinion polls," said Hipkins.
Amelia Wade Analysis
After ruling out a wealth and capital gains tax, Chris Hipkins has said more about what he won't do than what he will do.
With Labour continuing to slide in the polls, it desperately needs to get back on the front foot and fast - to reset the narrative.
Watch out this weekend for Hipkins - as Labour Leader - to finally give Kiwis a sense of his tax vision.
