Hon Ruth Richardson Appointed Chair of the Taxpayers' Union
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is pleased to announce the appointment of Hon Ruth Richardson as Chair of its Board of Directors.
A former Minister of Finance, and internationally respected expert in public finance, Ruth Richardson brings unparalleled experience to the role at a time when New Zealand faces significant fiscal challenges.
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says:
“Ruth Richardson is the personification of fiscal responsibility. Her track record of driving fiscal discipline and structural reform is unmatched in New Zealand’s modern political history. In the face of mounting public debt and economic uncertainty, who better to chair the Taxpayers' Union?”
Ruth Richardson served as New Zealand’s 37th Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993. She was the principal architect of the country’s second wave of economic reform, introducing the Fiscal Responsibility Act 1994, which is widely regarded as setting international best practice and remains a cornerstone of New Zealand’s economic framework.
Since leaving Parliament in 1994, Ms. Richardson has advised governments, international agencies, and think tanks around the world on strategies designed to achieve good governance and the development of high-quality policy frameworks.
Ms. Richardson says:
“The role of the Taxpayers’ Union is to champion the cause of fiscal responsibility which requires debt to be reduced to prudent levels and public spending to be reined in. Accountability for the wise and effective use of taxpayer resources is imperative. There must be no tolerance for waste and an insistence that there be a demonstrable link between public expenditure choices and the achievement of the intended results. New Zealand has strayed far from the responsible stewardship of public finances and the Taxpayers’ Union means to be a loud but constructive voice calling for urgent course correction. As a lifetime activist in these causes, being Chair of the Taxpayers’ Union sits well with my DNA.”
In recognition of her service as a Member of Parliament and contributions to governance, Ms. Richardson was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2025 King's Birthday Honours.
The Taxpayers’ Union also wishes to extend its sincere thanks to outgoing Chair, Laurence Kubiak, for his steady leadership and generous service over recent years. Mr Williams says:
"A former CEO of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research and seasoned public affairs professional, Laurie brought a rare combination of economic acumen, regulatory insight, and good humour to the role. His mentorship, strategic guidance, and willingness to roll up his sleeves have left a lasting mark on the organisation. We are deeply grateful for his contribution."
The Taxpayers’ Union is New Zealand’s largest taxpayer pressure group, with around 200,000 subscribed supporters. The Union is politically independent and funded by more than 22,000 individual donors.
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