REVEALED: LGNZ’s secret campaign to attack ratepayers with their own money

The Taxpayers’ Union has uncovered previously secret plans from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) to mount a full-scale public campaign against rates capping —paid for with ratepayers’ own money.

“It’s shameless stuff from LGNZ, attacking ratepayers with their own money,” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“Documents provided to the Taxpayers' Union expose that LGNZ is seeking support from councils to fund a nationwide political campaign against rates capping, despite years of excessive rates hikes and overwhelming public support for the measure to limit rate hikes to inflation unless public local referenda are held.”

“A handful of councils have already withdrawn from their expensive memberships due to LGNZ’s politicalisation, and this should be a wakeup call to the rest."

“And just like their actions during the last Government's push for Three Waters, what we’ve found shows their true colours. It’s getting harder to shrug off accusations that LGNZ is anything more than a ratepayer-funded activist group – which LGNZ have called a ‘misconception’."

“More than 27,500 Kiwis have signed the Cap Rates Now petition, and LGNZ are clearly panicked. Kiwis want rates capped, not hijacked to fund yet-more LGNZ self-interested political campaigning."