The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal, through a Official Information Act request, that Oranga Tamariki is burning through $1.97 million a year on salaries for a 14-person communications team.Every single one of these staff earn over $100,000.The team includes media advisors, senior comms managers, and a organisational communications manager.Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys...
Good news for the Coalition as they extend their lead over the Centre-Left bloc this month, with National taking back the top spot from Labour in this month's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll.For the first time in a Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, New Zealand are the third most supported party, leapfrogging both the Greens and...
Rates are soaring, transparency is declining, and too many councils are distracted from their core tasks. Whether it’s funding vanity projects, hiring communications staff instead of fixing potholes, or embarking on ideological crusades, councils are too often putting their own agendas ahead of the ratepayers they are supposed to serve....
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale for pushing amalgamation across the Bay of Plenty, as combining councils means less local control and higher costs, not more efficiency.Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:“Amalgamation is always sold as a cost-saving silver bullet but the Auckland Super City...
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is criticising Far North District Council following a 10.95 percent rates increase, just a notch below the 11.3 percent initially proposed. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager for Local Government, Sam Warren, said: “These double-digit rates increases have become the norm across New Zealand, and its unacceptable.”...
The Taxpayers’ Union has praised Waikato Regional Council for its decision to withdraw its membership to Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) citing costs, relevance, and left-leaning politicalisation.Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, said:“Councils have woken up to how disconnected LGNZ are from reality. Their six-figure memberships provide no value...