Election-year slush fund spending returns

The Taxpayers’ Union says the Government’s $10 million Ringatū marae announcement is election-year pork-barrel politics, funded through loosely-governed slush funds with little accountability to taxpayers.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“We heard the same excuses with the Murihiku Marae during COVID, when spending was dressed up as ‘job creation’. Now, in an election year, the Regional Infrastructure Fund is being treated as a political piggy bank.”

“This money is borrowed and signed off with minimal scrutiny, and future taxpayers will be left paying the bill, plus interest.”

“If the project genuinely stacks up, it should go through the normal Budget process, not be waved through under the cover of an election-year slush fund.”