Each year, the Taxpayers’ Union publishes an Annual Review setting out what we’ve been working on, what we’ve achieved, and where we’re heading next.
Our 2025/26 Annual Review and Campaign Plan for 2026 is now available, and it provides a detailed look at how a relatively small organisation continues to deliver outsized results on behalf of New Zealand taxpayers.
Punching above our weight
Despite our size, the Taxpayers’ Union continues to play a distinctive role in New Zealand’s public debate.
At a time when many voices in politics and the media are taxpayer-funded — and others are backed by large, well-resourced interest groups — the Taxpayers’ Union exists to provide balance. Our work is funded voluntarily by New Zealanders who believe government spending, regulation, and taxation should be subject to scrutiny.
The Annual Review shows how that support translates into real-world impact.
Highlights from 2025
💥 Our exposé on MBIE’s National Science Challenges revealed that $4 million of taxpayer money was spent playing music to kauri trees to “heal” them from kauri dieback. That story cut through nationwide — and became a benchmark in Parliament for what not to do with public money.
💥 As councils piled on ever-bigger rates increases, we made the case for rates capping — standing up for homeowners and renters who simply can’t absorb endless hikes. Our campaign exposed wasteful council spending and helped turn rates capping from a “fringe idea” into a serious, unavoidable national debate about fairness, affordability, and accountability at the local level and resulted in rates caps becoming government policy.
💥 One of our biggest wins of the year was the repeal of David Parker’s IRD snooping powers. Section 17GB had given Inland Revenue sweeping authority to pry into Kiwis’ most intimate financial and personal details — even when there was no suspicion of wrongdoing. Its repeal was a major victory for privacy, dignity, and basic fairness.
💥 We also exposed Simon Watts’ secret Ute Tax 2.0 — a stealth Fringe Benefit Tax hike on work vehicles. After thousands of supporters emailed their local MPs, the policy collapsed. Within 24 hours, the Prime Minister’s office stepped in and killed a $100 million-a-year tax grab before it could take hold.
The people behind the work
None of this happens automatically.
The Annual Review also reflects the effort of the Taxpayers’ Union’s staff, volunteers, unpaid board members, and interns — people who care deeply about accountability, transparency, and good public policy.
While 2025 saw meaningful progress, the challenges facing New Zealand taxpayers are far from over. Pressures on public spending, local government costs, and regulatory overreach remain significant.
Looking ahead to 2026
The accompanying Campaign Plan for 2026 sets out where the Taxpayers’ Union will focus its efforts next — continuing to scrutinise government decisions, expose waste, and advocate for policies that respect taxpayers’ money and freedoms.
If you have trouble viewing the report above, click here to download the PDF.