From Perth to Wellington: An Aussie Intern’s Time at the Taxpayers’ Union

Declan Blaine interned at the Taxpayers' Union January 2025. He is a Juris Doctor candidate at the University of Western Australia in Perth, Australia. 

My name is Declan Blaine, and I’m currently completing an internship with the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union through the Mannkal Economic Education Foundation’s international scholarship programme. I am a Juris Doctor candidate with a strong interest in public policy, fiscal responsibility, and public law. Throughout my academic work, I have focused on clarity, accountability, and making complex systems more understandable, all values that align closely with the mission of the Taxpayers’ Union.

Mannkal, based in Western Australia, is a classical liberal think tank dedicated to developing young leaders who understand the importance of free markets, limited government, and individual responsibility. Each year, Mannkal selects a small group of students and early-career professionals for internships with partner organisations around the world. These placements provide hands-on experience in policy research, public advocacy, and the institutions that help hold governments to account.

I was placed with the Taxpayers’ Union because the organisation embodies the principles Mannkal seeks to foster: rigorous economic analysis, transparency, and a willingness to challenge wasteful or ineffective government spending. During my time here, I have contributed to research on council and mayoral salaries, including analysing the legislation that will determine remuneration for 2025–2026. That work revealed councillor salaries increasing by 9.81 percent, a striking jump when compared with inflation of 3.1 percent over the same period.

I have also examined the fiscal management of both current and previous governments, helping to translate complex economic data into clear, accessible insights for everyday taxpayers.

This internship has been an invaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding of public finance while supporting an organisation dedicated to ensuring New Zealanders receive value for every tax dollar spent.