This article examines three taxes that have the potential to assist with addressing income inequality: estate taxes, gift taxes, and capital gains taxes. Reports on the historical background of these taxes to investigate why taxes that have the potential to act in a redistributive capacity have not been successful in NZ. Questions whether historical justifications for tax policy approaches are still valid in an environment where inequality is increasing across a range of measures. Aims to maintain debate on the tax structure and, in particular, on the current absence of wealth taxes in NZ.