Is Sam Morgan a tax evader?  Of course not!  He is not obligated in law.  His earnings from the sale of his asset, however large the income, carry no tax requirement.  Sam is not a cheat. Finance Minister Bill English has suggested Sam might like to write a cheque to IRD.  Perhaps he will, but he doesn’t have to.  There will be other ways IRD will benefit  from Sam’s huge bank balance.

He has already established a charitable trust and tells us he intends to give most of his money away during his lifetime.  If the Trust is well managed then the good that it will do has the potential to save the taxpayer a lot of money.

IRD will receive tax from the income generated when the grants are used.  In addition, social services, Income and Support, health care and other emergency agencies may find their budgets under less pressure because of the care provided by the gifts channelled through the Trust.

Sam Morgan’s wealth will benefit the community not cripple it.  He comes across as a thoughtful, caring individual with a strong social conscience.  His comments over not having to pay tax can be easily misquoted and misinterpreted.  He has left himself open to those who enjoy making mischief.

I pray for Sam, that his idealism be not squashed or blunted by jealousy or by the manipulation of the greedy; and that his generosity be not only applauded but copied by all of us.  It doesn’t take a fortune in cash to be generous; real treasure is found within a person.  Sam Morgan may have both.  But each of us has more than enough within ourselves to give away.  And it’s all tax free.

O Giver of life.  You have blessed me with so much.  Help me to be generous with the time you have given me, the smile you have given me and my fondness for laughter.  Through the sight and the voice you have given me may I help to set right what I see to be wrong.  May I praise you with my life and use your gifts to love and to serve.  Amen.

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