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  4. Speaker must explain dodgy CommieMart costing and taxpayer-funded Green electioneering

    The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Speaker to intervene over the Parliamentary Library’s extraordinarily low costing of the Greens’ plan to nationalise 120 supermarkets and two distribution centres.The Greens' policy announcement cites a Parliamentary Library estimate for their claimed acquisition cost of just $1.3 billion, before another $1.5 billion...

    Read more about Speaker must explain dodgy CommieMart costing and taxpayer-funded Green electioneering

  5. Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL Labour, Opportunity take a tumble 📉 | Chlöe's CommieMart 🤡 | LGNZ employs bogus rates-cap numbers 🧮

    Dear Supporter,It was a huge weekend in terms of election policy - and it's also a big Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, hot off the press.Two months out from the election and it looks like Opportunity’s, well, opportunity, may have passed. Both National and Labour slump - Labour plummets this month...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL Labour, Opportunity take a tumble 📉 | Chlöe's CommieMart 🤡 | LGNZ employs bogus rates-cap numbers 🧮

  6. ACT right to stop exporting Kiwi jobs with carbon tax

    The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming ACT’s plan to reform New Zealand’s climate policy, including cutting the carbon tax, returning ETS revenue to households and protecting Kiwi businesses competing against overseas producers with lower carbon costs.Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Rhys Hurley, said:“ACT is recognising pushing production offshore to countries with...

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  9. REVEALED: ACT’s infrastructure policy could cut millions in cultural contracting costs

    At least $15.8 million has been spent on iwi and hapū resourcing, cultural monitoring, advisory roles and artwork across just three major transport projects, information obtained by the Taxpayers’ Union reveals.The figures come as ACT today announced a transport policy aimed at stripping ethnicity-based requirements from infrastructure procurement.Official...

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  11. Taxpayer Talk: Jordan Williams and Oliver Hartwich on MMP Gaming and Overhang Chaos

      Te Pāti Māori’s call for supporters to split their votes has put one of MMP’s strangest quirks back in the spotlight: overhang seats, strategic voting, and whether parties can game the system to change who forms the next government.Jordan is joined by Oliver Hartwich from the New Zealand...

    Read more about Taxpayer Talk: Jordan Williams and Oliver Hartwich on MMP Gaming and Overhang Chaos

  12. Billboards to turn up heat on Roche as Blakeley campaign goes public

    The Taxpayers’ Union will tomorrow launch billboards on Whitmore Street, in view of the Beehive, and Bunny Street as pressure grows on Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche over his refusal to front up on Nic Blakeley’s rejected resignation.The billboards will put the accountability question directly in front...

    Read more about Billboards to turn up heat on Roche as Blakeley campaign goes public

  13. Record-low drinking strengthens case for cutting alcohol tax

    In response to new figures showing alcohol consumption has fallen to record lows, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“As consumption is falling sharply, particularly among young people, the Government must reassess whether current excise rates can still be justified.”“With drinking at record lows and the hospitality sector already...

    Read more about Record-low drinking strengthens case for cutting alcohol tax

  14. Labour’s living wage pledge means fewer jobs or higher taxes

    Responding to Labour leader Chris Hipkins’ pledge to extend the living wage to all state sector workers, Taxpayers’ Union Policy Analyst Austin Ellingham-Banks said:“Labour wants to pile another cost onto an already-bloated public-sector wage bill. Higher payroll costs have to be paid for through higher taxes, fewer jobs...

    Read more about Labour’s living wage pledge means fewer jobs or higher taxes

  15. Ratepayers deserve maximum value from $2m property purchase

    The Taxpayers’ Union is questioning Horowhenua District Council’s decision to give iwi and hapū first right of refusal over six council-owned Oxford Street properties.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tyler Groenewald said:“These properties were bought using $2 million of taxpayer-funded Better Off grants. When they are sold, the council’s job should be to...

    Read more about Ratepayers deserve maximum value from $2m property purchase

  16. Reserve Bank hike shows why Labour’s spending plans are dangerous

    Responding to the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise the Official Cash Rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“Another OCR hike is a reminder that governments cannot spend their way to prosperity. Excessive government spending helped fuel inflation, and taxpayers are still...

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  18. Farmers Slugged With NAIT Tax Hike

    The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming OSPRI’s levy hike on farmers to fund a new National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) system.Taxpayers’ Union Investigative Lead, Rhys Hurley, said:“Farmers already have to wrestle with a notoriously difficult system, riddled with stories of its failures over the years. Now they’re being...

    Read more about Farmers Slugged With NAIT Tax Hike

  20. REVEALED: WINZ’s $236 Million Bond Grant Black Hole

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that the Ministry of Social Development approved 155,103 rental bond grants worth $236,121,897 since 2023, but cannot report the total debt repaid.MSD refused to provide repayment and write-off data, saying it would require substantial manual collation from individual client files.Taxpayers’ Union Investigative Lead,...

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  22. Taxpayer Talk: Paul Henry on ACT, Tax Cuts, and Taking an Axe to Wellington

     In this episode of Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams is joined by broadcaster-turned-ACT candidate Paul Henry for a lively, wide-ranging conversation on the campaign, the state of the centre-right, and why he thinks this election is too important to sit out.From ACT’s push for smaller government and lower taxes...

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  24. Labour’s Premier House Transparency Calls Hollow Till It Backs Opening Parliamentary Books

    The Taxpayers’ Union says Labour is close to hitting the nail on the head with its calls for greater transparency over spending on Premier House, but must now commit the same principle to Parliament itself.Taxpayers’ Union Investigative Lead Rhys Hurley, said:“Labour is right that taxpayers shouldn’t have to...

    Read more about Labour’s Premier House Transparency Calls Hollow Till It Backs Opening Parliamentary Books

  25. Taxpayer Update: Rates cap win 🧢 | Labour’s tax promise already unravels 💸 | $236m WINZ black hole 🕳️

    Dear Supporter,A mixed bag this week. On Sunday National recommitted to no new taxes (yay!), ACT unveiled its plan to put Parliament back in charge (stop courts stepping over the line), Labour released its, errr, "fiscal strategy" (i.e. even bigger government) and we had a major win on...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Rates cap win 🧢 | Labour’s tax promise already unravels 💸 | $236m WINZ black hole 🕳️

  31. Don’t hike fuel tax while infrastructure fund is wasted

    The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Government to scrap January’s planned 12-cent fuel tax hike before Cabinet’s decision deadline on Monday.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:“Before asking motorists for more, the Government should look at where its existing infrastructure money is going. If it can find $68.5...

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  32. Southland Referendum Gets It Right: Now Let Every Ratepayer Decide on Amalgamation

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming confirmation that Southlanders will get the final say on any council reorganisation plan and is calling for every council involved in the Government’s Head Start programme to make the same commitment.Taxpayers’ Union Investigative Lead Rhys Hurley said:“Whether amalgamation is a good...

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  34. Scrapping Climate Change Commission would be a win for taxpayers

    The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming ACT’s renewed commitment to scrap the Climate Change Commission, three years after first backing its abolition.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:“This would be a huge win for taxpayers. We backed scrapping the Commission in 2023 and are pleased ACT has stuck with it.“Taxpayers...

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  39. Government’s rates cap a campaign win for ratepayers

    The Taxpayers’ Union is celebrating a major policy victory after the Government announced council rates increases will be capped from 1 July 2029.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“This is a huge win for ratepayers. More than 31,000 New Zealanders backed our Cap Rates Now campaign, and the Government has listened.”“We...

    Read more about Government’s rates cap a campaign win for ratepayers

  40. Hipkins’ ‘only one new tax’ promise 'gone by lunchtime’

    The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Chris Hipkins for suggesting that bed taxes could be introduced under a potential Labour-led coalition, just hours after insisting Labour would introduce only one new tax.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“Chris Hipkins’ ‘only one new tax’ promise didn’t even make it to dinner.“This morning,...

    Read more about Hipkins’ ‘only one new tax’ promise 'gone by lunchtime’

  41. Taxpayer Update: NZ on Air’s $500k encore 🎸 | TWO Taxpayer Heroes this week 🦸‍♂️

    Happy Saturday,It's been another busy week. Let's get into it.Common sense prevails: TWO Taxpayer Heroes in one week! 🦸‍♂️💥Firstly, in a move designed to make us fall out of our chairs, someone in the Wellington bubble made a good decision this week.Taxpayer Hero Brooke van Velden has stopped Internal Affairs...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: NZ on Air’s $500k encore 🎸 | TWO Taxpayer Heroes this week 🦸‍♂️

  42. Welcome home, National: No new taxes pledge a win for taxpayers

    The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming National’s U-turn and unequivocal commitment to “no new taxes”, calling it a victory for taxpayers and common sense. Taxpayers’ Union Spokesperson Tory Relf said:“Welcome home, National. This is exactly where the party of lower taxes should be.“Just a few weeks ago, Nicola Willis...

    Read more about Welcome home, National: No new taxes pledge a win for taxpayers

  43. ACT right to rein in judges and protect taxpayers’ property

    The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming ACT’s plan to put property rights into the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, saying taxpayers need stronger protection from governments that treat private property as theirs to tax, regulate, or confiscate at will.Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:“Property rights are the...

    Read more about ACT right to rein in judges and protect taxpayers’ property

  44. Labour fiscal 'strategy' shows they learned nothing from COVID

    The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Labour’s fiscal strategy of locking-in Covid-era levels of government spending as 'fiscal and economic sabotage'.Responding to Barbara Edmond's "fiscal strategy" Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said:“Labour's pledge to keep core Crown expenses around 33 percent of GDP is a recipe for New...

    Read more about Labour fiscal 'strategy' shows they learned nothing from COVID

  45. Taxpayers' Update: 🎶 Singing on your dime | 🙃 $36k for "accountability" | 💸 Te Pāti Māori's broken promise

    Hi Supporter,This week, the team have uncovered millions being spent on public servants singing on the clock, found out Dunedin ratepayers have paid $36,000 to discover that “accountability” is a good thing (no ... Sherlock!), and Labour has misplaced yet another tax policy.Meanwhile, the Greens are flirting with price...

    Read more about Taxpayers' Update: 🎶 Singing on your dime | 🙃 $36k for "accountability" | 💸 Te Pāti Māori's broken promise

  46. Taxpayer Talk: Simon Court on the RMA shakedown holding NZ hostage

     In this episode of Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams is joined by ACT’s infrastructure and resource management spokesman Simon Court to take aim at the planning rules he says are stopping New Zealand from building the homes, roads, ports, quarries, power lines, and infrastructure we desperately need.From eye-watering consent...

    Read more about Taxpayer Talk: Simon Court on the RMA shakedown holding NZ hostage

  47. Government Must Ban Public Sector Golden Handshakes

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Government to ban settlement payouts across councils and government agencies following the Chatham Islands Council’s $100,000 payment to disgraced former Chief Executive Paul Eagle.Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Rhys Hurley, said:“How on Earth can someone whose conduct prompted their employer to...

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  48. Unwinding 9 months of bloat is not “generational harm”

    Public Service Association National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons’ claims that the Opportunity’s plans to remove 2,000 bureaucrats would ‘harm public services for generations’.Responding, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:“Between June 2025 and March 2026, the public service grew by 1,881 bureaucrats. There are still 17,284 more bureaucrats today than before...

    Read more about Unwinding 9 months of bloat is not “generational harm”

  50. Will New Plymouth's $25m art collection finally deliver value to ratepayers?

    The Taxpayers’ Union is backing New Plymouth Mayor Max Brough’s push to unlock value from the council’s $25 million art collection, after he took aim at its mounting costs.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:“While New Plymouth ratepayers are struggling, their council is sitting on $25 million worth of...

    Read more about Will New Plymouth's $25m art collection finally deliver value to ratepayers?

  51. REVEALED: ACT's Banning Of Public Service Waiata To Save An Estimated $3.5 Million Per Year

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that at least 9 public service agencies are running hours of waiata and karakia practice each week.Using a conservative estimate that just ten percent of staff at each agency participate, and applying the average public service hourly salary of $49.66 over 8,680 hours per...

    Read more about REVEALED: ACT's Banning Of Public Service Waiata To Save An Estimated $3.5 Million Per Year

  54. Breadlines are back on the menu

    Responding to the Green Party's proposed open-ended supermarket price controls, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:“There are two ways to ration scarce goods like food: prices or queues. The Greens seem determined to give Kiwis a refresher course in what a breadline looks like.”“New Zealand’s grocery rort is...

    Read more about Breadlines are back on the menu

  55. Taxpayer Update: $303k climate junket ✈️ | Labour’s ChatGPT subsidy 🤖 | Ferry gravy train ⛴️

    Dear Supporter,The week that was: National Party psychodrama, while Opportunity stalking horse continues 👀What a week.While Wellington has been consumed by the National Party's attempt to blow the arms off its own leader – only for the whole thing to blow up in Chris Penk's face – we've...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: $303k climate junket ✈️ | Labour’s ChatGPT subsidy 🤖 | Ferry gravy train ⛴️

  57. REVEALED: Climate bureaucrats burn $303,000 jet-setting to Brazil’s COP30 junket

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through Official Information Act requeststhat the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry for the Environment spent $303,026.78 sending 17 staff to the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.Key facts:-The Ministry...

    Read more about REVEALED: Climate bureaucrats burn $303,000 jet-setting to Brazil’s COP30 junket

  58. Labour kneecaps investment, then subsidises ChatGPT

    Responding to Labour’s announcement of millions more in taxpayer funding for AI adoption and start-ups, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Austin Ellingham-Banks said:“Labour has slapped ‘AI’ on an old-fashioned corporate welfare scheme for American Big Tech and called it innovation."“Businesses already have every incentive to invest in AI if it...

    Read more about Labour kneecaps investment, then subsidises ChatGPT

  61. ACT’s ‘no new taxes’ pledge puts pressure on National to make the same promise

    The Taxpayers’ Union welcomes ACT’s unequivocal commitment to no new taxes and is calling on National to do the same.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:“National’s ‘no new taxes on working people’ fudge is already falling flat, with the Prime Minister unable to tell Kiwis what their tax bill...

    Read more about ACT’s ‘no new taxes’ pledge puts pressure on National to make the same promise

  63. Nothing new in National’s fiscal rules – but ‘no new taxes’ promise conspicuously absent

    The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the direction of National’s newly announced “Budget Responsibility Rules”, but says there is nothing new in the fiscal targets and is calling on National to come clean about what taxes it plans to hike.Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:“There is nothing new...

    Read more about Nothing new in National’s fiscal rules – but ‘no new taxes’ promise conspicuously absent

  64. Taxpayer Update: New poll 📊 | Winston's baby bonus 💸 | Bureaucrat sickies 🤒 | $300k for kapa haka "research" 🤦

    Hi,Today marks three months until the election, and the silly season has well begun. It even snowed in Wellington!This week, we look at whether NZ First’s $400 million proposed 'baby bonus' is likely to work, expose who in the government is pulling sickies, and why the Nats need...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: New poll 📊 | Winston's baby bonus 💸 | Bureaucrat sickies 🤒 | $300k for kapa haka "research" 🤦

  66. Labour fudges fiscal drag fix

    Labour has today announced plans to raise the GST registration threshold from $60,000 to $80,000. Commenting, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:“The GST registration threshold was last adjusted in 2009. If it kept pace with inflation, it would now sit at $92,477. Partial relief is better than none.”“It...

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  67. Labour doubles down on New Zealand’s productivity crisis

    Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Labour’s plan to axe Investment Boost, warning it would discourage business investment and make New Zealand’s productivity crisis even worse.Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:“New Zealand’s stagnant productivity is the rot behind our squeezed wages, weak growth, and increasingly unaffordable superannuation, healthcare, and other...

    Read more about Labour doubles down on New Zealand’s productivity crisis

  71. REVEALED: Health NZ spent nearly half a million dollars on single ad campaign

    Health New Zealand spent $490,043.75 on a single advert featuring former Lotto presenter Russell Harrison, documents obtained by the Taxpayers’ Union reveal for the first time.Harrison, who remained suspended from the Ministry of Justice on full pay for years, was paid $3,000 to appear in the 30-second advertisement.Taxpayers’...

    Read more about REVEALED: Health NZ spent nearly half a million dollars on single ad campaign

  73. Public service diversity bureaucracy is a taxpayer-funded vanity project

    The Taxpayers’ Union says the public service should immediately freeze its expanded diversity plan until it can prove existing initiatives have delivered a single measurable benefit to taxpayers.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“MBIE has recently presided over catastrophic project failures, blown budgets and appalling financial controls. Its priority...

    Read more about Public service diversity bureaucracy is a taxpayer-funded vanity project

  74. Mike Hosking is right: Human Rights Commission has lost its way

    The Taxpayers’ Union is backing Mike Hosking’s criticism of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) after it opposed the Government’s proposed changes to Treaty clauses across 19 pieces of legislation.Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said:“Mike Hosking is right. The Human Rights Commission has lost its way. Instead of defending...

    Read more about Mike Hosking is right: Human Rights Commission has lost its way

  75. PSA must release legal advice behind political campaign

    The Taxpayers’ Union is demanding the Public Service Association immediately publish the legal advice it claims gave the green light for its “Change the Government” campaignto be distributed through ministry offices and public service workplaces.Taxpayers' Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:“The PSA told public servants to ‘change the government’...

    Read more about PSA must release legal advice behind political campaign

  76. PSA crosses the line with anti-government workplace campaign

    Responding to Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche directing the Public Service Association to remove its “Change the Government” campaign material from public service workplaces, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“The PSA’s politics are no secret, but using supposedly neutral public service workplaces to campaign for the Government’s...

    Read more about PSA crosses the line with anti-government workplace campaign

  80. MBIE boss’s slimy excuse for misleading Parliament fails the sniff test

    Responding to MBIE chief executive Nic Blakeley denying any attempt to mislead Parliament over the failed $35 million Biometric Capability Update project, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:“Claiming the project was 'commercially sensitive' is a slimy bureaucratic excuse for misleading MPs. If Mr Blakeley thought could not give...

    Read more about MBIE boss’s slimy excuse for misleading Parliament fails the sniff test

  81. Taxpayer Update: Luxon embraces higher taxes 💔 | MBIE's $35m cover-up 😳 | Councils' $1.1b art stash 🎨

     Hi,The big political story in the last 24 hours has been Christopher Luxon ruling out TOP.But there's a more important story this morning that's been largely missed – Luxon appears to be no longer ruling out increasing your taxes!Our new report out today also exposes local councils for...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Luxon embraces higher taxes 💔 | MBIE's $35m cover-up 😳 | Councils' $1.1b art stash 🎨

  82. Luxon embraces the inflation tax

    The Taxpayers' Union is slamming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s dismissal of inflation-indexing income tax thresholds as “not on our radar”, saying it shows the Government is happy to keep profiting from bracket creep.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tyler Groenewald said:“Luxon is choosing an inflation tax over simple cost-of-living relief. Bracket...

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  84. Taxpayer Update: RMA victory 🗳️ | Billion-dollar energy promises 💸 | DIA’s pokie maths 🎰

    Hi Friend,Another big policy victory, another boondoggle out of Shane Jones' slush fund "Regional Infrastructure Fund", and a new myth-busting paper targeting Chlöe Swarbrick's fake news oft-repeated claims that the wealthy in New Zealand do not pay their “fair share” of tax.Let's dive in, .A win for democratic...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: RMA victory 🗳️ | Billion-dollar energy promises 💸 | DIA’s pokie maths 🎰

  85. Treasury’s advice proves the Greens' Wealth Tax a fantasy

    Responding to Treasury advice casting doubt on the Green Party's wealth tax modelling, the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is calling on the Greens to withdraw the policy until credible costings are produced.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:"The Greens’ revenue claims depend on unrealistic assumptions that wilfully ignore capital...

    Read more about Treasury’s advice proves the Greens' Wealth Tax a fantasy

  90. Smoking a billion dollars of Green on a fourth energy company is madness

    The Taxpayers' Union is slamming the Green Party's idea to blow what it estimates to be $980 million on a fourth energy company when the Government already owns majority shares of three. Taxpayers' Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:"Taxpayers already own majority shares of Meridian, Mercury, and Genesis. Nationalisation...

    Read more about Smoking a billion dollars of Green on a fourth energy company is madness

  93. Heads should roll over Civil Defence website fiasco

    The Taxpayers' Union says there must be accountability after New Zealand's Civil Defence website crashed during last night's Fiordland earthquake and tsunami warning, leaving New Zealanders unable to access critical emergency information when they potentially needed it most.Taxpayers' Union spokesman, Jordan Williams, said:"Heads should roll. If Civil Defence...

    Read more about Heads should roll over Civil Defence website fiasco

  94. $1.7 billion ferry bill leaves every household $820 out of pocket

    The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union says the Government's announcement taxpayers will be charged up to $1.7 billion on the ferry fleet raises a fundamental question: why are taxpayers borrowing billions to own and operate a commercial ferry service in the first place?Taxpayers' Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said:"Every...

    Read more about $1.7 billion ferry bill leaves every household $820 out of pocket

  95. Callaghan losses show Government must stop picking winners

    In response to reports of mounting losses from Callaghan Innovation’s business loan book, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“The Government must simply stop trying to pick winners. These are either loans too risky for private investors or opportunities good enough to attract private money without taxpayer backing.”“Callaghan should...

    Read more about Callaghan losses show Government must stop picking winners

  96. If ‘local voice’ matters on amalgamation, let ratepayers vote

    Responding to emerging proposals for a Wellington “Super City”, the Taxpayers’ Union is calling for any council amalgamation to be put to ratepayers through a binding referendum.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:“These plans are being designed by the very officials who stand to gain bigger bureaucracies and build...

    Read more about If ‘local voice’ matters on amalgamation, let ratepayers vote

  97. Road delays show political parties cannot keep marking their own homework

    Responding to reports that the Government’s Roads of National Significance programme has been put in the “slow lane” after costing taxpayers $323 million, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says voters need independent scrutiny of election promises.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:“Spending $323 million before shovels have touched the...

    Read more about Road delays show political parties cannot keep marking their own homework

  98. Ratepayers missing an invite to the amalgamation party

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Local Government Minister Simon Watts to ensure ratepayers have a seat at the table as the Government considers council mergers.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:“Telling councils to redesign themselves without ratepayer representation is like asking foxes to redesign the henhouse...

    Read more about Ratepayers missing an invite to the amalgamation party

  99. Hipkins’ anti-corruption excuse for gold-plated perks doesn’t stack up

    Responding to Chris Hipkins defending MPs’ retirement perks as anti-corruption measures, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“Chris Hipkins seems to think taxpayers need to pay $2.50 for every dollar an MP puts into their retirement fund just to stop politicians becoming corrupt. That is an extraordinary admission."“If Hipkins...

    Read more about Hipkins’ anti-corruption excuse for gold-plated perks doesn’t stack up

  100. Auditor-General must investigate $29m satellite lost in space

    The organisation behind the failed $29 million MethaneSAT mission should not be allowed to review its own performance, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Ella Dickson, says:“When $29 million of taxpayer funding is literally lost in space, taxpayers deserve a genuinely independent investigation. The Environmental Defense...

    Read more about Auditor-General must investigate $29m satellite lost in space

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