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  1. Government needs to step in to stop Council screwing the democratic scrum and appointing unelected members to stack committees

    The Taxpayers' Union is slamming Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale and his Council's decision to appoint unelected, unaccountable, iwi representatives onto every one of the Council's powerful standing committees, with full voting rights.Responding to today's vote, Taxpayers' Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said:"This is a fundamentally undemocratic move. By...

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  2. Taxpayer Update: Labour's walk to higher taxes ➡️ | NEW POLL 🚨 | $786m on cones? 🚧 | Musseling $52m out of Shane Jones 🦪

    It's silly season in Wellington, with Christmas joy (i.e. taxpayer funded) knees up well underway.There's also the usual December "take out the trash" silliness where exceedingly well paid government spin doctors dump the bad news at the very time the media and public aren't looking... But here at the...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Labour's walk to higher taxes ➡️ | NEW POLL 🚨 | $786m on cones? 🚧 | Musseling $52m out of Shane Jones 🦪

  4. Equal taxation for all businesses despite charitable status a move in the right direction

    Radio New Zealand reported yesterday that Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, stated that tax changes for charities, and closing of loopholes, will be announced at next year’s budget in May.Taxpayers’ Union Acting Head of Campaigns, James Ross, said “this looks like a move in the right direction.”“Businesses should be...

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  6. ‘Should come with an R-rating’ - Council’s $400k logo refresh raises eyebrows

    Waitaki District Council is defending its new logo following complaints from the public it more closely resembles certain aspects of the human anatomy.“$100,000 of ratepayers' money has already been put towards this logo – which should probably come with an R-rating” said Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren.“The...

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  7. ‘Should come with an R-rating’ - Council’s $400k logo refresh raises eyebrows

    Waitaki District Council is defending its new logo following complaints from the public it more closely resembles certain aspects of the human anatomy.“$100,000 of ratepayers' money has already been put towards this logo – which should probably come with an R-rating” said Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren.“The...

    Read more about ‘Should come with an R-rating’ - Council’s $400k logo refresh raises eyebrows

  8. “Same old Labour” clearly not ready to return to Treasury benches

    Labour faithful gathered this weekend in Christchurch for the party’s annual conference to consider their approach towards the 2026 election – with future tax policy high up on the agenda.“Labour has never met a tax it didn’t like” said Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Sam Warren.“With ‘change’ and ‘challenge’ being...

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  9. Taxpayer gamble on SolarZero could cost country nearly $60 per household

    The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the disgraceful waste of $115 million in public funds sunk into the now-liquidated SolarZero by the Crown-owned New Zealand Green Investment Finance (NZGIF).Commenting on this Taxpayer’s Union spokesperson James Ross said:“When the government tries to gamble with taxpayers’ money, private companies line their...

    Read more about Taxpayer gamble on SolarZero could cost country nearly $60 per household

  11. ‘$254k Blunder’ Dunedin Chief Executive Must Go for Costly Behaviour

    Allegations of poor behaviour from Dunedin City Council’s Chief Executive, Sandy Graham, have cost ratepayers more than $250,000 in both legal fees and an investigative report that will not be released to the public.“Two issues are concerning – Graham’s extremely costly behaviour, and the utter lack of transparency surrounding...

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  18. NEW POLL: Kiwis overwhelmingly support MPs' expenses transparency law change

    The latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll has revealed Kiwis overwhelmingly support extending the Official Information Act to cover the expenses of MPs and their offices.Voters were asked: ‘Ministers’ expenses are covered by the Official Information Act and disclosed, but expenses for MPs who are not Ministers are not covered and kept secret....

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  19. Taxpayers Union supports Wairarapa residents’ battle for rates cap

    The Taxpayers’ Union is voicing support for the more than 1000 South Wairarapa residents who have signed a petition to cap next year’s rates rise at 3 percent.Commenting on this courageous act of common sense, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:“The Taxpayers’ Union supports and applauds South...

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  21. Transport Agency's traffic management cone-spiracy blows out to $786 million

    The Taxpayers’ Union is reacting to reports that show the New Zealand Transport Agency has spent more than $786 million dollars on road cones and temporary traffic management in the last three years.Responding to the outrageous amount of money, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:“You cone-not be...

    Read more about Transport Agency's traffic management cone-spiracy blows out to $786 million

  22. COP29 ends in promise to send more taxpayer money overseas

    The Taxpayers’ Union is defending taxpayers after New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement laid out $30 million dollars in additional commitments to send taxpayers’ dollars overseas.Responding to this, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:“This statement puts shipping Kiwis’ hard-earned tax dollars overseas for foreign countries ahead of focusing...

    Read more about COP29 ends in promise to send more taxpayer money overseas

  23. Who Carries the Can for Bailing-out Flooded Napier Homes?

    Stuff today reported on a stoush between Napier City Council and Hawke’s Bay Regional Council. Hawke’s Bay disagrees with Napier’s decision to mark a potentially flood-prone parcel of land as suitable for developing 660 homes upon.Commenting on this, Taxpayers' Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“While Hawke’s Bay...

    Read more about Who Carries the Can for Bailing-out Flooded Napier Homes?

  24. Taxpayer-funded Hīkoi organiser shows Parliament’s budget a political slush fund

    With one of the lead organisers of Hīkoi - Eru Kapa-Kingi - being a paid Parliamentary staffer working for Te Pāti Māori, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said “if taxpayer money is being spent, we need to see the receipts.”“Parliamentary budgets are for helping...

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  26. 25 million Wellington Begonia House upgrade must be scrapped

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act that planned upgrades to the Wellington Botanic Garden, Begonia House have reached $25 million, with $7.8 million budgeted until 2027.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, James Ross, said:“Rates are so high that people can’t afford to stay...

    Read more about 25 million Wellington Begonia House upgrade must be scrapped

  29. NEW POLL: Labour's highest result in 17 months, National also bounce back in Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll

    The latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll for November shows National up 3.9 points on October’s poll to 38.8%, while Labour gained 1.2 points to 31.5%. This represents a rebound for National from last month and the highest result for Labour in 17 months.The Greens are down 1.1 points to...

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  30. Taxpayer Update: Parliament's panicking 🚨 | NEW POLL 😱 | A $800k team-building bill ?🧾

    Hi A lot to cover this week: we expose yet another Government department's wasteful spending, #FactCheck Radio NZ on its [dis]reporting of a poll, plus a campaign win.And, we reveal November's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll.But first, what happens when you threaten to expose MPs' spending rorts?Parliament hits the panic stations,...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Parliament's panicking 🚨 | NEW POLL 😱 | A $800k team-building bill ?🧾

  33. Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill needs to meet its long-awaited end

    As the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill’s second reading has been postponed this week, “the Government might finally be seeing sense”, said James Ross, the Taxpayers’ Union’s Policy and Public Affairs Manager.“Carbon-copies of this bill have been tried overseas, and the results have been disastrous. Ask Canadians who can...

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  35. Christchurch and Wellington show Auckland how to buy a tree

    Following news yesterday in the NZ Herald on Wellington, the Taxpayers' Union can reveal through official correspondence that Christchurch City Council has also undercut Auckland's $1.3 million Christmas tree, $800k of which was funded by Auckland Council's targeted rates.“For only four percent of the total cost, Christchurch has managed to undercut Auckland's spending, while ratepayers...

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  36. Lindsay McKenzie has a tall ask ahead

    Commenting on former Tasman and Gisborne Council Chief Executive Lindsay McKenzie’s appointment as Crown Observer at Wellington City Council, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Some experienced hands to knock heads together at Wellington City Council won’t go amiss, but real cultural change is needed.“Officers...

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  38. More than 18,400 Kiwis call on Select Committee to front up on MPs’ expenses

    The Taxpayers’ Union’s Open the Books campaign has been calling for backbench and opposition MPs’ expenses - as well as Party Leaders’ budgets - to be covered by the Official Information Act.“Why should MPs not be held to the same standards as Ministers? If you’re spending taxpayers’ money, the public...

    Read more about More than 18,400 Kiwis call on Select Committee to front up on MPs’ expenses

  42. REVEALED: Ministry for the Environment blows more than $2 million on internal ‘events’

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that the Ministry for the Environment has spent $822,362 dollars during just fiscal year 2023 on “internal events”. Since 2018/19, the ministry has spent more than $2 million. Yearly costs for internal events have gone up more than 8x since 2018/19 when annual costs were...

    Read more about REVEALED: Ministry for the Environment blows more than $2 million on internal ‘events’

  43. Parliament blocks submissions calling for transparency on Parliament’s expenses

    For the first time, a Parliamentary Select Committee is blocking members of the public from emailing submissions on a Bill before Parliament to MPs.Nearly 10,000 individual New Zealanders have used the submission tool at OpenTheBooks.nz to ask the Parliament Bill Committee to remove the secrecy provisions that protect MPs from...

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  44. No more hiding for MPs’ expenses

    The Taxpayers’ Union is launching a major campaign for Kiwis to demand MPs’ expenses no longer enjoy a special carve out from the Official Information Act."Submissions on the Parliament Bill close this Wednesday and we are encouraging taxpayers to make their voice heard at OpenTheBooks.nz," says James Ross, Policy and Public Affairs...

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  48. REVEALED: New Plymouth's $1.2 million beach stairs and ramp, shows Auckland how to spend big

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through the Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act New Plymouth District Council has allocated $1,280,841 towards ramps and stairs for Fitzroy beach. This follows September’s news that Auckland Council spent $263,000 on four sets of stairs at Milford Beach."Accessibility, especially for the disabled, was obviously...

    Read more about REVEALED: New Plymouth's $1.2 million beach stairs and ramp, shows Auckland how to spend big

  49. REVEALED: “Upgraded web-platform” burns Otago ratepayers $200k

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through the Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act that Otago Regional Council has spent more than $200,000 redeveloping its website, which has virtually been unchanged since 2017. While Council branding remains mostly unaffected, the redevelopment apparently has more features, and enhanced relationships with Mana Whenua.“Otago seems...

    Read more about REVEALED: “Upgraded web-platform” burns Otago ratepayers $200k

  52. Government needs to “proceed with caution” when considering performance pay

    The Taxpayers’ Union is warning the government to “proceed with caution” after Nicola Willis’ comments about performance pay for public service executives.Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:“While it would be a nice change to see bureaucrats paid just like the rest of us by pegging their pay...

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  53. REVEALED: NZTA spends $710,000 on Mackenzie Basin art sculptures

    The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the New Zealand Transport Agency to “work on their negotiation skills” after documents were obtained from an Official Information Act request showing they spent $270,000 on design costs and $390,000 on installation for a 14 metre tall art sculpture outside a rest stop near Tekapo....

    Read more about REVEALED: NZTA spends $710,000 on Mackenzie Basin art sculptures

  56. Taxpayer Update: Halloween spook! 👻 I $575 e-cards 💌 | Future of Local Government 2.0 🙏

    👻 BOO! $90,388 trick or treat for your household 🎃💀Like many Dads, later today I'll be taking my kids around the neighbourhood for the American pagan tradition of "trick or treating".According to my five year old, the tradition is to "ward off the ghosts" – but I suspect she has...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Halloween spook! 👻 I $575 e-cards 💌 | Future of Local Government 2.0 🙏

  59. America’s Cup returning to New Zealand? Only if the numbers stack up

    Following this weekend’s victory in Barcelona, Team New Zealand has expressed interest in the possibility of defending the America’s Cup in Auckland once more, saying ‘it’s not off the table’.“Dalton and his team’s win has been nothing less than historic” said Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Sam Warren."But before any...

    Read more about America’s Cup returning to New Zealand? Only if the numbers stack up

  60. Health NZ broke yet spends $9,000 on canapes for ‘senior management’

    The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Health NZ to “focus on the figures, not the food” after an OIA was published by RNZ disclosing more than $60,000 on catering for 300 senior management.Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:“Senior Management at Health NZ need to focus less on...

    Read more about Health NZ broke yet spends $9,000 on canapes for ‘senior management’

  61. Taxpayer Update: Boozin' on the Med 🥂 | $600k te reo keyboards ⌨️ | Fact-checking ACT + ASB-boss 🤨

    Like rust, government waste never sleeps, and your humble Taxpayers' Union has been in the media this week exposing it.We also fact-check an ACT Party brag, and have bad news if you're an ASB Bank customer.EXCLUSIVE: Film Commission's $145,000 French soirée  🎥🇫🇷🍾💸The Taxpayers' Union is not very popular...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Boozin' on the Med 🥂 | $600k te reo keyboards ⌨️ | Fact-checking ACT + ASB-boss 🤨

  62. Give our brightest a reason to stay: New Zealand’s brain-drain reaching boiling point

    Record numbers of young Kiwis leaving the country for better economic opportunities overseas remains a serious problem not easily solved, economists warn.“These kids need a reason to stay” said Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Sam Warren.“Countries overseas are offering incentives to attract bright minds to settle, work and thrive in their economies....

    Read more about Give our brightest a reason to stay: New Zealand’s brain-drain reaching boiling point

  65. Inflation hasn’t gone away, Government cannot lose its focus

    Statistics NZ today released their latest figures for New Zealand’s Consumer Price Index (CPI). This dropped to 2.2%, which is within the target range of 1-3%.Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said “that’s only half the story, and the inflation beast isn’t slain yet.”“Domestic inflation...

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  66. Council’s 1500% ‘table tax’ hike completely out of touch

    Queenstown cafes and restaurants have been rocked by a near 1500% increase to al fresco dining charges following a decision made by Queenstown Lakes District Council.“After years of near impossible trading conditions, only now is the sector starting to get off its knees” said Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren.“One...

    Read more about Council’s 1500% ‘table tax’ hike completely out of touch

  67. Nicola Willis should withdraw slanderous accusation levied at New Zealand butcheries

    Nicola Willis' comparison of Wellington City Council to a butcher's slaughterhouse is demeaning to both the ratepayers of Wellington, and hard working, decent, blue collar butchers around New Zealand, says the Taxpayers' Union."Nicola Willis' comments on Newstalk ZB this morning were totally over the top. While Wellington City Council might...

    Read more about Nicola Willis should withdraw slanderous accusation levied at New Zealand butcheries

  68. Tauranga’s Table Tax another nail in the coffin for businesses

    Tauranga City Council has today faced backlash from local cafes and restaurants following changes to outdoor dining fees that would see further costs piled onto hospitality businesses offering alfresco dining options.“It’s a table-tax, plain and simple.” said Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, Sam Warren.“Mayor Drysdale needs to...

    Read more about Tauranga’s Table Tax another nail in the coffin for businesses

  69. REVEALED: Language Commission gives away more than $600k on keyboards

    The New Zealand Taxpayers Union can reveal through an Official Information Request that $605,499 of corporate welfare was given by the Māori Language Commission to PB Tech for the development of Te Reo Keyboards.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:“Instead of using taxpayer dollars to improve the lives of...

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  71. Film Commission living it up in the French Riviera

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through the Official Information Act that the New Zealand Film Commission has spent $145,354.81 for just four staff members to spend two weeks in France attending the Cannes Film Market.Receipts showed $24,329.08 in accommodation, $24,525.36 in food and drink, and $21,704.54 on travel.Commenting on...

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  74. Kāinga Ora’s Scandalous $1.2m Apartments Warrant Select Committee Review

    Kāinga Ora was slammed yesterday following revelations it spent $1.2 million per apartment build, as part of its new Meadowbank complex.“This appalling cost warrants urgent review across the organisation.” said a Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Sam Warren.“A Select Committee is needed to determine what went so wrong, with powers to...

    Read more about Kāinga Ora’s Scandalous $1.2m Apartments Warrant Select Committee Review

  75. Lowest support for National in 15 months; highest for Labour in 16 months; in latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll

    Lowest support for National in 15 months; highest for Labour in 16 months; in latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll  The latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll for October shows National down 4.1 points on September’s poll to 34.9%, and Labour up 3.6 points to 30.3%. This is the lowest result for National...

    Read more about Lowest support for National in 15 months; highest for Labour in 16 months; in latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll

  76. Taxpayer Update: Govt. books in worse shape than Navy ⚓️ | NEW POLL 😱 | Business-class bureaucrats Bonn (fire) 🔥

    Huge Taxpayer Update today.NEW POLL (not good news for Luxon); boat sinking (not good news for taxpayers); Government books even worse than feared (not good news for those who wanted Nicola Willis to tackle the last Government's wasteful spending).We do have some good news for your Friday though: Jordan's...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Govt. books in worse shape than Navy ⚓️ | NEW POLL 😱 | Business-class bureaucrats Bonn (fire) 🔥

  79. Unelected Mana Whenua Representatives Threaten Democratic Process

    Andrea Vance reports in The Post today on the horribly, messily complicated sale (or not) of Wellington City Council’s airport shares.“Whilst the Council’s complete dysfunction is widely understood, these new developments, as reported by Vance, are deeply disturbing” said Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross.“Vance reports that the two unelected...

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  81. Taxpayer Update: Bouncy councils 🦄 | Digital cash blowout 🤯 | Office-shy bureaucrats 😴

    We've been taking some big issues head-on this past week, and we wouldn't be the Taxpayers' Union if we didn't have a laugh while doing it...Bouncy Council? Well someone had to be the adults in the room 🦄🎉Kids on Council. Enough said, right?We've been banging the drum for years...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Bouncy councils 🦄 | Digital cash blowout 🤯 | Office-shy bureaucrats 😴

  83. Revealed: $10 million EECA EV charging contracts need to go!

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) has spent $9,957,895 co-funding EV chargers across the public service.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“EECA funding half the public service’s EV charger...

    Read more about Revealed: $10 million EECA EV charging contracts need to go!

  85. The time is now to sell TVNZ

    Following yesterday’s strategy meeting, TVNZ has proposed outsourcing its daily operations and shutting down the 1News website and app in an attempt to find $30 million dollars in savings.Commenting on this, Taxpayer’s Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:“It’s nice that TVNZ is finally looking to cut costs and start...

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  87. High-flying bureaucrats blow $150k on Bonn Climate Conference

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through the Official Information Act that the Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) and Ministry for the Environment (MFE) collectively spent more than $150,000 to send ten staffers to the Bonn Climate Conference. This cost covered travel, accommodation and...

    Read more about High-flying bureaucrats blow $150k on Bonn Climate Conference

  88. Simple ACC Survey costs more than $250,000

    The New Zealand Taxpayer’s Union can reveal through information obtained from an Official Information Request that ACC has spent more than $251,000 contracting The Research Agency (TRA) to administer a monthly survey tracking public engagement and trust.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:“ACC wasting over a quarter...

    Read more about Simple ACC Survey costs more than $250,000

  89. Health New Zealand reports near $1 billion dollar deficit

    The NZ Herald has released a story regarding Health New Zealand’s recent $934 million deficit for fiscal year 2024.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said: “These recent figures highlight the financial mismanagement that occurs at Health New Zealand. With news like this, taxpayers are absolutely in...

    Read more about Health New Zealand reports near $1 billion dollar deficit

  91. Stick to his knitting” – Adrian Orr’s digital cash project proves distracting for the Reserve Bank, costly for taxpayers

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through the Official Information Act that the Reserve Bank has spent more than $2 million on its digital cash programme so far. The ongoing project explores the introduction of an electronic currency, and has an approved total budget of $4.7 million.“Someone needs to tell the Governor...

    Read more about Stick to his knitting” – Adrian Orr’s digital cash project proves distracting for the Reserve Bank, costly for taxpayers

  93. Who Really Controls Wellington City Council?

    Andrea Vance’s reports in The Post on the latest ructions concerning the potential sale Wellington City Council’s shareholding in Wellington International Airport Limited, where council staff had been posting information supporting the sale on the council’s social media channels and website.Council chief executive Barbara McKerrow finally ordered the posts to...

    Read more about Who Really Controls Wellington City Council?

  94. Taxpayers’ Union’s “Bouncy Council” puts the spotlight on Hastings Mayor

    The Taxpayers’ Union – along with a hundred or so local members and supporters – presented the Hastings District Council new council chambers today in the form of a “Bouncy Council” (bouncy castle) to reflect the Mayor and councillors who are acting like children in appointing teenagers as...

    Read more about Taxpayers’ Union’s “Bouncy Council” puts the spotlight on Hastings Mayor

  95. Stratford's new $350k crossings: Hated by locals, costly to taxpayers

    The Taxpayers Union can reveal through the LGOIMA that Stratford District Council has received $344,558 for two new crossings from NZTA – with $96,230 spent on traffic management alone, and further work is required, the overall cost is set to rise.“When ratepayers say they are unhappy, elected members must start listening or face a very difficult election result"...

    Read more about Stratford's new $350k crossings: Hated by locals, costly to taxpayers

  96. Hastings Mayor and Councillors have lost the plot: using kids as political play things

    The Taxpayers' Union is telling Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst to 'grow up' after she used her casting vote to give committee voting rights, and a salary, to members of the Hastings District Youth Council: school-aged kids."We vote for a mayor and councillors to be adult decision makers and here they...

    Read more about Hastings Mayor and Councillors have lost the plot: using kids as political play things

  98. ANZ Bank CEO’s shameless self interest: This is why people hate bankers

    The Taxpayers’ Union is calling out ANZ NZ CEO Antonia Watson for what appears to be calculated comments to promote a capital gains tax to benefit home lenders and fuel New Zealand’s residential property money wheel.“New Zealand’s low wage economy is a direct result of under-capitalisation of the...

    Read more about ANZ Bank CEO’s shameless self interest: This is why people hate bankers

  99. Andrew Coster has lost the plot

    Political pundits across the country spat out their coffee this morning upon turning to the NZ Herald's front page splash that Andrew Coster "speaks out on being dragged into political debate"."Andrew Coster is either trolling the nation or has the self awareness of a paperclip," said Jordan Williams...

    Read more about Andrew Coster has lost the plot

  100. No time like the present to shine light on MPs’ expenses

    The Parliament Bill – an omnibus bill making a series of reforms aiming to modernise Parliament’s operations – has passed it’s first reading.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“If the Government’s talking about dragging New Zealand’s Parliament into the modern age, then...

    Read more about No time like the present to shine light on MPs’ expenses

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