The National Party has announced its $14.6 billion plan in cut income tax aimed at assisting “the squeezed middle”.

It will be founded by four new taxes and cuts to public spending. It could see some households between $20 and $250 better off each fortnight.

We wanted to know how this policy was doing down with everyday Kiwi, so our reporters across the motu hit the streets to find out.

Here is what you said.

Leah-Renei Taurua, solo mum and store manager from Kaiwaka

“I live with my grandmother and my son. If I could earn $120,000 [for the household] I would be jumping up and down.”

Taurua said she would like to see more support for those earning less than average.

“I don’t even think it’s the bottom, it’s the middle range people who are busting arse just to stay in the middle.

“I’m lucky if I’m left with $100 a week [after paying bills and food] and I work full-time,” she said.

Felicity Green, 21, works two jobs, Auckland

Felicity Green, who works two minimum wage jobs, said an extra $20 a fortnight won’t have much of an impact.

“I feel like it’s nice that they’re trying, but I don’t think that it will actually be helpful. For the families that are getting $250 a fortnight, it might help.

“I’m on minimum wage and $10 a week will not do anything. It’ll pay for parking for one day. It wouldn’t really help me because the price of everything is going up. I’ll take it, but it’s not enough.”

Paul Jamieson, 46, IT worker, Auckland

Paul Jamieson supports funding the plan through cuts on government spending.

“It seems like a lot of wasted spend on things over the last few years,” he said.

He’s just bought a new apartment and is feeling the pinch.

“We sold our last place for a lot less than we expected, so we’ve had to take out more money on the mortgage for everyday spending, buying new furniture.

“Anything that helps with the cost of living would be appreciated,” he said.

Kahu Huia, 23, health insurance worker, Christchurch

“Free money is free money. It might help chip in for some meat for the day, but it sounds good.”

Garry and Margaret Jenson, pensioners from Ruakākā

The couple thought $26 extra a fortnight would be a help.

“Anything makes a difference … It’s always a benefit,” Garry Jenson said.

However, he was concerned about too much money being given out in tax cuts, as it could lead to inflation: “You can’t go throwing money wildly around,” he said.

“The next generation can’t recover the money that’s been thrown around [by government] the last six years.”

Kevin Chan, 25, software engineer, Auckland

Kevin Chan recently immigrated to New Zealand, and he didn’t expect the tax to be so high.

“From the get go, tax cuts sound perfect. I just moved to New Zealand, and I was kind of surprised with how high the tax was.

“It kind of hurt. So, from a shallow point of view that sounds really good. But at this point I know how it will affect things.”

Rebekah Teiwaki, 40, banker, Christchurch

“It’s appealing especially because it’s targeting the middle group. It wouldn’t be a game changer though or sway of vote.”

Kat Tafu, 40, banker, Christchurch

“It’s good to target the middle group of people, although I don’t know if it would do much.”

Tom Wihongi, pensioner and volunteer hospital chaplain from Whangārei

He thought $26 extra a fortnight would disappear with inflation, and he was concerned other beneficiaries would get nothing.

“$26 a fortnight? That won’t make a difference, not really, because everything you pay – your rent and that – will double to catch up, then you’re back at square one.”

Wihongi did not think National’s plan would help the “squeezed middle”, saying there was virtually no middle-class.

“In the older times there was the rich, the middle and the poor. Now the middleman’s gone, you’re either up there or down here and the gap’s getting bigger.”