Hi,
Next week we head into Spring – and the meaty part of the local elections. Read more on our Ratepayer Protection Pledge below.
This week we’re also celebrating a major Taxpayer Victory, an unexpected Taxpayer Hero, and a kid who gives us all hope for the future. It’s a long newsletter, so let’s go.
TAXPAYER VICTORY: Nosey Parker clause scrapped 🎊
We celebrated a MAJOR Taxpayer Victory this week with the announcement that Section 17GB – otherwise known as the Nosey Parker clause – of the delightfully-named Tax Administration Act 1994 is on the chopping block.
We’ve been campaigning to get rid of David Parker’s snoopers’ charter since its rushed introduction during Covid – and we finally can claim victory.
What does this mean? Well, it means that Inland Revenue no longer have the power to snoop on your bank accounts in the vague hope that you might have been hiding something they could use to squeeze more tax out of us all.
Parker might not have thought so, but taxpayers have a right to privacy and open-ended, arbitrary powers have no place in the tax system.
Revenue Minister Simon Watts is clearly busy trying to rack up brownie points with taxpayers, given his commitment to a rates capping law with his Local Government Minister hat on. And on that topic…
Ghastly Grey District Council caught on camera 🎥
Remember this next time you go to the ballot box.
After Central Ward Councillor Timothy Mora asked an entirely justified question on the reaction to rates increases, Grey District Council rather let themselves down.
How did they react? With concern over the increased cost of living? With compassion for the families struggling to make ends meet? No. They laughed.
Sounds unbelievable? Watch it for yourself here.
Insane behaviour from the council that oversaw the highest rates increase on the West Coast this year.
NEW POLL: All ages, regions and parties support a rates cap 🧢
With behaviour like Grey District Council’s, is it any wonder why Kiwis back a rates cap law by 3:1?
We published our latest poll results this week, showing a majority of Kiwis – no matter the age, region or party split – backing an introduction of a law to cap council rates.
We knew it was popular. You told us you wanted it. But when you’ve got a policy that unites Labour and ACT, National and Te Pati Māori? You know it’s a good one.
Read the full results and James’ analysis here.
Sign our petition: XXXX 📜
In a few weeks, our policy wonks James and Ray will hopefully be heading to Parliament to present our submission on the Local Government (Systems Improvements) Bill. This is the one Simon Watts has promised will fix all the ills of local government.
But the Bill is not ready yet. We have a lot to say – and we know that you will too.
Rates capping isn’t in there yet (although Watts promised it by Christmas at our LGNZ rally last month). And without removing the so-called general competencies from Council mandates, they’ll still be free to spend wildly on anything that isn’t core business.
So, sign our petition today to add your name to the list – show the select committee that we mean business. [INSERT LINK]
Ratepayer Protection Pledge: Your 2025 Ratepayer Voting Guide 🗳️🛡️
This week we launched the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, drawing a line in the sand between those mayoral and council candidates who are standing with ratepayers and those who are not.
Every candidate standing for mayor or council has been asked for their commitment to ratepayers on three vital issues:
- Oppose any measures that will see the total burden of rates, levies and additional council charges exceed the level of inflation and population growth,
- Support initiatives that will improve transparency of council expenditure, including the public disclosure of all expenditure items (known as 'armchair audit' and 'open data')
- Oppose unelected appointments onto council committees with spending and regulatory powers.
Councils are only as good as the people we elect to sit on them. And we’ve seen more than enough evidence to show councils are in bad shape (looking at you, Grey District Council).
That’s why every name added to the pledge will be published online, so voters can make an informed decision on who best represents them. Keep an eye out for our website launch early next week.
Auckland Transport Gets Schooled by a 20-Year-Old Student 🏛️
Have you ever felt extraordinarily old? I did this week, when 20-year-old Auckland University law student Sean O'Loughlin took a case to the High Court at Auckland against Auckland Transport – and won.
He tripped AT up at their own game – layers and layers of paperwork – after discovering that AT did not consider whether a raised pedestrian crossing and three speed bumps on The Parade in Bucklands Beach would unduly impede vehicular traffic.
AT were found to have not fulfilled their legal duty drivers and therefore the decision was unlawful. Given they spent a whopping $667,000 on installing the things, you would have thought AT could have paid a bit more attention. Maybe they were distracted by spending more than $147,000 on social media influencers?
Either way, it sounds like it’s time for AT to be stripped back to basics and focus on providing decent service to all Aucklanders, including the ones in cars.
Huge, huge congrats to this Taxpayer Hero. What a legend.
Campbell Barry, the unlikely Taxpayer Hero 🦸
In news even more surprising than last week’s Taxpayer Hero being given to a Cabinet Minister, this week we’re giving a gong to none other than Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry 🤯
Yes – you heard that right. Mayor Barry did a solid this week and, as a parting shot to Council before stepping down, he warned them not to spend recklessly after removing water services from their balance sheet. Maybe he should start with his own Hutt City Council…
By shifting most of their assets off the books, councils should return most of the rates take to ratepayers. It’s not an invitation for yet another local government lolly scramble.
It was a clear shot across the bow to remind councils that their first obligation, above all else, is to the people paying the bills.
While it’s a shame he didn’t realise that before hiking rates by 44.7 percent over the last three years, it’s still refreshing to see a leopard can change its spots.
On the Campaign Trail: Join us for a debate near you 🎤
In a tradition as old as time – or certainly one older than that Auckland Uni student I told you about earlier – we’ll be putting your questions to the candidates hoping to lead some of the country’s most infamous councils.
Starting in Hastings on 8th September, we’ll heading on the road to a debate near you. For some, we’ll be partnering with our youth wing, Generation Screwed. For a taste of what’s to come, catch up on their Wellington debate here.
Keep an eye out for more information in your inbox next week.
Taxpayer Talk: Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett on Infrastructure and Local Government🎙
Building anything in New Zealand has no shortage of challenges. Whether it be soaring costs, reels of red tape, or problems with supplying labour, our choked infrastructure pipeline deeply affects this country's economy and quality of life.
CEO for Infrastructure New Zealand, Nick Leggett, joins Peter Williams for a deep dive into how can overcome these challenges so we can build faster, more efficiently, and more affordably.
Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Phew. I warned you it was a long one!
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 Tory Relf New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union |
PS. We can’t continue to hold local government candidates to account without the generous support of people like you, XXX. Please donate here to our Local Government Fighting Fund to support our Ratepayer Protection Pledge and the Ratepayer Voting Guide. Thank you.
