Taxpayer Talk: The Colourful Life of Cartoonist Garrick Tremain
In November 2025, Garrick Tremain joined Peter Williams to discuss his colourful life as one of New Zealand’s finest and most influential political cartoonists of the contemporary era
In November 2025, Garrick Tremain joined Peter Williams to discuss his colourful life as one of New Zealand’s finest and most influential political cartoonists of the contemporary era
New Zealand First rise to their highest ever result in a Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll (polling since January 2021). The Coalition also strengthen their lead.The poll shows Labour gain 2.8 points to 34.4 percent, while National gains 1.5 points to 31.5 percent.New Zealand First gain 3.8 points to 11.9 percent, while...
Chris Hipkins’ election year has already gone off the rails, with the former Prime Minister falsely claiming New Zealand’s structural deficit was created by the current Government rather than being inherited from Labour.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“Treasury’s own estimates show New Zealand has been in structural deficit on average...
Responding to reports that officials are floating an interim regulator for council development levies, despite the regime not coming into force until mid-2028, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said the Government should stick with the Commerce Commission from day one.“There’s no logic in inventing a temporary regulator when there are...
Newsroom has reported that Christchurch City Council is now charging builders for re-inspections even where no remedial work is required. This follows an admission by Local Government Minister Simon Watts that his proposed rates cap model is intended to shift revenue from rates to higher user charges. Responding to this,...
The Taxpayers' Union can reveal that Radio NZ managers now make up nearly 30% of RNZ’s workforce, compared to just 60% for journalists. Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said: “63 managers for 220 journalists is a worrying imbalance which explains RNZs sinking viewership at the start of the year.” ...
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The Taxpayers’ Union is encouraging political and government insiders to ‘dob in’ examples of government waste and extravagance. Experience of taxpayer groups overseas suggests that many of the best tips come from within government, particularly bureaucrats frustrated with waste and inefficiency.
Cap rates. Cut waste. Respect ratepayers. Rates are out of control. The average rates bill has increased more than 43 percent since 2022 The UK and Australia have ALREADY INTRODUCED capped rates. It’s time for New Zealand to do the same
The Government have proposed to take billions of dollars' worth of drinking water, waste water, and storm water assets off the hands of local councils and put them under the control of four new unelected, co-governed entities. These reforms must be scrapped.
In 2025, we are releasing a series of briefing papers outlining what the Government needs to do so they can "Go for Growth". We'll be sharing a series of tax policy ideas and savings that will boost our economy. Economic growth isn't the silver bullet to all New Zealand's problems, but it comes close! Only with growth can we afford world class public services, to...
We are New Zealanders who have formed a union to stand up for hardworking New Zealand taxpayers. We represent the common interests of all taxpayers and aim to become New Zealand's largest union.
We are not a political party, and we don't represent big business or special interests. Joining the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union only takes a few minutes and costs $25. Membership entitles you to attend our annual conference, AGM and other events, and to get regular communications from the Taxpayers' Union.
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Often the best information comes from those inside the public service or local government. We guarantee your anonymity and your privacy.
