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Ministry of Health's Taxi Spending Raises Eyebrows
Ministry says walk's silly, we'd rather take a cab Stuff.co.nz - 27/07/2014When it comes to walking the talk, it seems Ministry of Health staff would rather just take a cab.Last year ministry staff took more than 1000 taxi rides for less than $10 - at the same time as...
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Getting around without a car
The Taxpayers’ Union is questioning the merits and costs of the “No car? No problem! Getting around your community without a car” brochure, released by the Office for Senior Citizens. The brochure’s purpose is to explain to senior citizens transport options when they can no longer drive.The primary purpose...
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When someone else is paying, why walk?
A few months ago a Ministry of Health official contacted us regarding the use of taxi charge cards within the Ministry, and suggested we look at the number of 'micro-trips' taken by managers, often between the Ministry's Wellington offices and Parliament.Details of the Ministry's taxi charges show its Wellington...
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Letter to the Speaker
News broke on Wednesday that Mana Party leader Hone Harawira had erected hoardings for the election which displayed the crest of the House of Representatives. This led to questions about how the hoardings had ben funded – had taxpayers’ money been used?When we questioned if taxpayers’ money had ben...
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Taxpayers Union plays part reducing foreign aid waste
In May the Taxpayers' Union revealed that $116,000 of NZ Aid money, intended for economic development, was used to buy Cook Island Prime Minister, Henry Puna a new boat and outboard motor. The Cook Islands Government initially denied the claims, which were later found to be well founded following a 3 news investigation. Two...
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When burritos become sandwiches
In recent days we have heard how NZ First leader Winston Peters wants to take GST off some foods, but not others. While any reduction in the tax-burden should be welcomed, this picking and choosing of which items should include a sales tax causes unnecessary confusion for suppliers,...
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Winston playing favourites with gst
Tax dodgers, GST on food top NZ First hit list The New Zealand Herald - 21/07/2014New Zealand First would take GST off basic food items and rates bills and would target tax dodgers to fund the expensive policies, leader Winston Peters said yesterday.But both proposals have already been tagged...
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Party, Party, Politics and the Taxpayers' Purse
Political parties often engage musicians to drum up support during the election season. It’s the time of year when party hacks attempt to swell their numbers by using musicians as Trojan Horses for their political ideals. We all remember The Feelers’ song used in National Party adverts last...
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Like Russian nesting dolls Auckland Council secretaries need secretaries
That’s right – the Auckland Council’s CEO has a secretary that is advertising for a secretary.We have all heard about stories of politicians looking to empire build courtesy of the taxpayers’ pocket, but this really takes the cake.No wonder Auckland Council now has more bureaucrats on living off...
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Allegations over Clayton Mitchell's Double Dipping
Candidate’s campaign on city debt Sunlive - 16/07/2014Allegations made by the NZ Taxpayers Union yesterday that Clayton will be “double-dipping” if he remains a councillor if elected are rubbished by the councillor.“It's not about double-dipping I didn't get into council for the salaries that you got – I'm...
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Taxpayers Union on Greens Economic Policy: 3 News
Greens announce $1B economic policy 3 News - 16/07/2014Meanwhile, the Taxpayers' Union says the Greens' policy is the "lesser of two evils" and is taking a cautiously optimistic approach."Although the Greens' policy still leaves room for picking winners, on balance it is better than the existing corporate welfare scheme...
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Taxpayers' Union Response to MP Claudette Hauiti charging Australian holiday to the taxpayers.
National MP charged Australia holiday to taxpayers The New Zealand Herald - 16/07/2014National Party MP Claudette Hauiti has given up her parliamentary charge card after she used it to pay for a personal trip to Australia.Ms Hauiti entered Parliament in May 2013, replacing disgraced list MP Aaron Gilmore.Taxpayers' Union...
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Would performance pay justify paying MPs more?
Stephen Franks blogs:Incentive pay for MPsThe moot for the New Zealand Initiative's youth debate semi-final this year in Wellington is a good one -"Should New Zealand tie MPs' and Ministers' salaries to a multiple of the average national income?"When the Remuneration Authority was asking MPs about reform of the system...
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Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce publicly responds to Taxpayers' Union criticism
Joyce slams Taxpayers’ Union attack The National Business Review - 11/07/2014Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce has slammed the Taxpayers’ Union’s attack on the minister as a “fundamental misunderstanding” by its executive director Jordan Williams.Mr Williams described the $31 million worth of grants to eight new company incubators –...
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Guest Post: Larry Mitchell on Auckland Council's finances
Auckland Ratepayers “Wake Up” at lastBernard Orsman's analysis last week of Auckland Council's financial trouble got right to the heart of the matter. The section headed "Hey Big Spender you’re in a deep financial hole" accurately nails the central issue facing Auckland’s overtaxed ratepayers. With a new 2015-2025...
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Waste Watch: Auckland Council spends 100k on a curtain
Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction - the Devonport Flagstaff reports:$100,000 curtain raiser for DevenportA $100,000 budget has been set aside for a space-dividing, silk curtain in Devonport’s new library.But the public art piece will be mostly invisible during the day.Creator of the curtain, Judy Millar, was...
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Good intentions not enough for good policy
Science and Innovation Minister, Steven Joyce hit back at us regarding our recent criticism of the Government's corporate welfare efforts, such as the millions of taxpayer dollars going into ‘company incubators’. The NBR reported on Thursday:Eight new company incubators are to receive funding under Callaghan Innovation’s incubator support programme.Callaghan, the...
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Guest blog post: Tony Joyce - KPMG Tax Partner
About two weeks ago Labour released its tax policy programme that it intends to implement if elected Government come 20 September. Predictably the increase in personal tax rates by 3% to 36%, and the confirmation of a capital gains tax, was widely criticised by senior National ministers as...
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Seven Sharp: How much gas do you really get for your dollar
How much gas do you really get for your dollar: Seven Sharp - 01/07/2014Yesterday we headed down to Z Energy Vivian Street where TVNZ's Seven Sharp filmed us refunding people's petrol tax. Not a single motorist guessed that for every dollar spent at the pump only 57 cents goes in the car!The Government...
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New problems at BNZ Harbour Quays building
We've received confidential minutes and a briefing via the tip-line relating to CentrePort’s problematic BNZ building which suggests the building will not be fully reoccupied until the end of October.What should be one of Wellington’s most modern and safest buildings looks to be still plagued with problems eleven...
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Taxpayer's money spent on 'junket' - Taxpayers' Union
Taxpayer's money spent on 'junket' - Taxpayers' Union ONE news - 29/06/2014The Department of Conservation has spent over $100,000 to send staff overseas to learn how to conduct controlled burn-offs, despite the practice not being used by DoC, a taxpayers' lobby group claims.The Taxpayers' Union says 47 DoC staff...
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Waste Watch: DoC sending staff to australia to burn taxpayer cash
Documents we've obtained show that the Department of Conservation has spent over $100,000 to send staff overseas to learn a skill not applicable in New Zealand. 47 staff have traveled to Australia to learn how to conduct controlled burn-offs, despite the practice not being used by DoC.Included in...
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Auckland public transport campaign hypocrisy
$356,000 for train campaign The New Zealand Herald - 28/06/2014 Public transport bosses in Auckland spent $356,000 to improve their public image - even as they lined up a special shuttle so staff don't have to travel on buses and trains.The marketing campaign came with the introduction of the new...
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'Do as I say, not as I do' attitude from Auckland Transport
News that Auckland Transport forked out $122,000 of ratepayers’ money for a six month trial of an employee shuttle service has gone down in Auckland like a lead balloon.Auckland Council has been left scrambling in an attempt to save face.We are concerned by the prevalence of the cavalier...
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101 ways for councils to cut rates
The Taxpayers’ Union has today published a new report by Jono Brown that suggest ways local councils can save money and reduce the rates burden on New Zealanders. Rate Saver Report: 101 Ways to Save Money in Local Government is a guide for local authorities on how they can cut waste, save money,...
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When phones go down, Dyson knows who to call
A fault caused telephones in Parliament to be temporarily blocked from making long-distance calls yesterday, prompting long-serving Labour MP Ruth Dyson to suggest Right-leaning lobby group the Taxpayers’ Union might have been behind the problem.‘‘No toll calling available from Parliament,’’ Dyson tweeted.‘‘Saw ‘taxpayers’ ‘union’ in the building earlier. Money-saving...
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Margaret Thatcher Conference on Liberty: Live streaming
While in the UK seeing family, I'll be pausing my vacation to fly the Taxpayers’ Union flag at the Margaret Thatcher Conference on Liberty. The conference will be hosted for the Centre for Policy Studies, a UK-based independent think tank advocating for greater economic liberalism. The event will...
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Greater Wellington loses $43million on one building
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the property management skill at Greater Wellington Regional Council which has lost 95% of the purchase price of the building it used to occupy.Information released to the Taxpayers’ Union under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act show that ‘Pringle House’ in Wakefield Street, also known as the 'Regional Council Centre',...
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Cera has enormous public relations team
Cera has enormous public relations team
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Ratepayers' Report
The Taxpayers’ Union, in collaboration with Fairfax Media, this morning launched "Ratepayers’ Report” hosted by Stuff.co.nz. Ratepayers’ Report builds on the work of local government expert and financial analyst, Larry Mitchell and his work in previous years comparing New Zealand’s 67 territorial authorities. The data was pulled together by...
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Leaked report shows efforts LGNZ making to protect poor performing councils
The Taxpayers’ Union has been provided a copy of a leaked report Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) commissioned. The report was prepared in response to work by the Taxpayers’ Union to improve transparency in local government. Earlier today Ratepayers’ Report – interactive local government league tables – launched at...
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Herald covers Taxpayers' Union outrage taxpayer funding joke party
Civilian's gain major parties' loss Herald - 11/06/2014The Civilian, a satirical website, has been allocated taxpayers' money to fund election policies such as 'free icecream' and a 'llama for each child'. The Herald covers Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams on the wasteful allocation of taxpayers' money. Mr Uffindell, the...
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How not to reform GST: Changing the rules with a Friday press release
Robin Oliver and Mike Shaw, a former Deputy Commissioner at IRD and former Deloitte tax partner respectively have provided a guest post on the changes to GST relating to bodies corporate announced by Revenue Minister, Todd McClay this morning.GST and Bodies CorporateWhat is proposed?All Body Corporate supplies under...
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Waste watch: Auckland Council funds conference on polyamory
Yesterday afternoon we received a tipoff that Auckland Council recently funded a one day conference to explore the practice of engaging in multiple sexual relationships with the consent of all the people involved, also known as polyamory. Last month the gaynz.com website reported that among the first recipients of Auckland Council’s first...
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Happy Tax Freedom Day
Today is Tax Freedom Day – the first day of the year when Kiwis stop paying for the state and start working for themselves. The Taxpayers’ Union believe that it is high time ordinary people saw the rewards of hard work going into their pockets, not the taxman’s.Congratulations...
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Are our priorities right in Tonga?
This morning we received the following press release from the Government:NZ to contribute to the upgrade of Teufaiva StadiumJohn Key4 JUNE, 2014Prime Minister John Key has today announced New Zealand will contribute around $2 million towards upgrading Tonga’s national stadium in Nuku’alofa ahead of the 2019 Pacific Games.Why are Kiwi...
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Taxpayers' Union calls for changes to the Official Information Act to include trusts
Trust investigates 'irregular payments' claim The New Zealand Herald - 27/05/2014A taxpayer-funded South Auckland disability support provider which received $30 million last year is investigating its own accounts, after claims from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters of "irregular payments".… The Taxpayers' Union called for changes to the Official Information...
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Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau Trust shows need for OIA reform
The NZ Herald has picked up our comments in response to the recent scandal surrounding "irregular payments" at the taxpayer-funded South Auckland disability support provider, Te Roopu Taurima O Manukau TrustTrust investigates 'irregular payments' claim NZ Herald 27 May 2014Trust investigates 'irregular payments' claimA taxpayer-funded South Auckland disability support provider...
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Oops - $2 billion mistake in budget appropriations
We’ve spent most of this week immersed in the budget documents and making notes of potentially questionable spending or unusually large increases.To our great surprise yesterday we noticed that one of the primary growth partnerships (PGPs) that the Government is funding appeared to have undergone a massive growth in spending....
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Wairoa responds to Taxpayers' Union rates claim
Further to our questioning of the use of a rates figure that does not include new targeted rates, the Wairoa District Council has issued a media release:Wairoa District Council Defends Against NegativityWairoa is transforming into a vibrantly energetic part of New Zealand and will no longer accept spin-driven...
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London return for the money written-off on rail since 2008
We’re currently working though the budget announcements and stack of material released last week. What’s caught our eye are the unbelievable amounts taxpayers are forking out for KiwiRail. On Budget day the Government announced a further $198 million of funding for KiwiRail’s Turnaround Plan. That brings the total cost to...
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Where does 5.43% actually equal 15.9%?
Wairoa ratepayers should be furious with the Wairoa District Council for misleading the public on its forecast rate hikes. Earlier today the Taxpayers’ Union discovered that statements by the District’s Mayor and CEO that rates are forecast to increase by 5.43% are fanciful. The real figure is in fact 15.9%.Earlier...
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Dusting off the cheque book to qualify for tax relief
Yesterday we were scathing of Mr English's lack of tax cuts in yesterday's budget.Nevertheless, we were eager to qualify for the only tax cut that was it - the removal of cheque duty - worth about $1 a year per New Zealander.To avoid missing out on the tax...
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NBR: Ratepayers underpin vested interests’ development ambitions
With all the focus on yesterday's budget we nearly missed this piece in yesterday's NZ Property Investor.Ratepayers underpin vested interests’ development ambitionsThe Taxpayers' Union says councils around the country are not telling ratepayers about the cost of capital that ratepayers are underwriting for local authority subsidies.Jordan Williams brought...
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Post Budget comments from the Taxpayers' Union
Radio LIVE spoke to Jordan Williams and David Farrar of the Taxpayers' Union for their analysis of Budget 2014.
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Autotalk on electric vehicles
White elephant says Taxpayer’s Union, not so says APEV Autotalk - 01 May 2014The Taxpayers’ Union says it has uncovered what is probably the most expensive staff car park in the country, located at Z Energy on Customhouse Quay in Wellington.However the Association for the promotion of electric vehicles (APEV)...
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John Bishop on consultation irony
On Monday a fellow Taxpayers' Union board member and I spent a fascinating morning with a group of academics, middle level public servants and representatives of NGOs responding to a request for our views about 'open government'. Sounded interesting; well yes, but it turned out to be a quick fire...
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Union welfare at Parliament
This morning's Herald on Sunday carries a story on bonus for Parliament's unionists:The agency in charge of parliamentary staff has agreed to a cash bonus for union members, despite John Key's National Party previously denouncing such deals as discriminatory.An email obtained by the Herald on Sunday shows union members will receive...
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What does the taxpayer get from Lydia Ko?
I take my hat off to Lydia Ko. A young women with an impressive talent and no doubt a bright career ahead. New Zealanders can rightly take pride in her accomplishments. But why does taxpayer funding necessary follow pride?This morning’s Dominion Post reports:Golfer Lydia Ko is asking for...
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The Dominion Post picks up Taxpayers' Union criticism of Government funding the America's Cup
Taxpayers' Union criticise Government funding $36m towards the America's Cup The Dominion Post - 28/03/2014Government claims that last year's America's Cup campaign has paid for itself more than twice over have been criticised by the Taxpayers' Union.Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce yesterday released an independent report into the "direct...
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John Bishop on Judith Collins
Being involved in political activity makes it tempting to comment on each and every movement in the political dimension. Early on, the Taxpayers’ Union decided that it would focus on instances of waste and extravagance in central and local government spending, and on cases where spending had clearly not achieved...
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Turning a blind EY
You may recall that back in October, allegations of misspending within the commercial arm of the Te Kohanga Reo National Trust came to light as a result of an exposé by Maori TV’s Native Affairs programme. Allegations included a staff member spending Kohanga Reo funds on a wedding...
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Game On - 194 days
The Prime Minister has announced an election date of 20 September. The role of the Taxpayers' Union through the next 194 days is to make sure politicians are promising value for money - and not vote buying through pork barrel politics and government waste.Without fear or favour, we intend...
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A question of value for taxpayer money
This morning there has been some criticism of my comments in a story on the Herald website about a trip Mojo Mathers took to Masterton from Christchurch apparently just for a short interview on a community radio station.For clarification:The Taxpayers' Union did not seek media attention on this...
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Update on Dunedin Mayor’s “Gentleman’s agreement”
We now have more details of the deal uncovered by the Taxpayers’ Union over the weekend between Dunedin’s Mayor Dave Cull and former MP, Pete Hodgson, which the Mayor described in the media as a “gentleman’s agreement”.This morning’s Christchurch Press editorial analyses the deal:Editorial: Gentlemen sign contracts too...There is no reason to...
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Internal Affairs misleading public with five year passport justification
Earlier in the month, we launched Jordan McCluskey's briefing paper on the lousy deal New Zealand passport holders are getting. Following the briefing paper, and our presentation to the Parliamentary select committee considering a petition to reintroduce ten year passports, we've learned just how thin the justification is for the current...
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Payments by Dunedin City Council to former MP with no documentation
This morning the Taxpayers’ Union went public with material concerning a payment (or payments) totalling $3,400 by the Dunedin City Council to former MP Pete Hogdson with no documentation or contract.We're questioning the internal controls at the Council after the uncovering the payment following a recent media report that Mr Hodgson had...
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Fizz using Health Research Council's logo without permission
The Taxpayer’s Union has discovered that the 'Fizz' group of academics campaigning for a ‘sugar tax’ on soft drinks appears to have been falsely claiming the endorsement of the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC).A group of academics who have received a lot of publicity recently, calling themselves "Fizz" and...
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Wellington town hall strengthening cost blowout
Yesterday we issued a media release in response to a Dominion Post report stating that earthquake strengthening work on the Wellington Town Hall has been halted due to a $17 million budget blowout. The total cost of the work is now estimated to cost $60 million. We noted that this...
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Minister wrong on claim he's returned passport tax to New Zealanders
TV One’s Breakfast this morning had the Minister of Internal Affairs, Peter Dunne, interviewed about the figures provided in the briefing paper we released yesterday.Mr Dunne told Rawdon Christie that the profits the Government has made from passports have “been returned to people via a lower fee” (click here to watch the...
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John Key open to change on passport tax
Following yesterday's submission to the Government Administration Select Committee looking at the issue of ten year passports, and release of Jordan McCluskey's briefing paper showing that a New Zealand passport is the most expensive in the world on a per year basis, the PM isn't ruling out change.TVNZ's reported John Key's comments...
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Update on Napier omnishambles museum
The Hawke's Bay Today has picked up the story on the omnishambles that is the Napier Museum.The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union has labelled the MTG Hawke's Bay museum's problems an "omnishambles", while Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule has denied Napier Mayor Bill Dalton's claim they knew about storage issues with the facility...
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Museum of omnishambles in Hawke's Bay
It appears that Hawke’s Bay mayors may have known of the omnishambles at the new museum in Napier a year ago and apparently have failed to do much about it.The museum and gallery opened last September and cost Hawke's Bay ratepayers $18 million to build. To recap, last month we learned that...
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Consular cost supporting political 'Arctic 30' political activists
Last month 3 News reported that Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, was investigating ways to recoup costs to the taxpayer of providing assistance to Australian members of the Arctic 30:“Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australian taxpayers were entitled to ask why they should be covering the cost of assisting Australian...
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3 News: $15M genetics funding bad economics – union
A $15 million government investment to improve the genetics of New Zealand lamb and beef is bad economics, the Taxpayers' Union says.The Government this week announced it the investment, over five years, as part of a new partnership with Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics.The Government's $15M contribution...
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Stick to the cake stalls
This morning the NZ Herald reported that the Green Party want taxpayers to foot even more of the bill for political parties:“The Green Party believes the rules could be amended further. It wants an inquiry to investigate state funding for election campaigns.A spokeswoman said: "We see partial public funding of...
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Interview on Len Brown's staffing levels
Our Executive Director joined Larry Williams' Drive show on the revolution that Len Brown now has more staff in his office than the Prime Minister.Audio on Demand - NewstalkZB 31 January 2014
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$15 Million Gifted to Multi-Billion Dollar Industry
Yesterday Stephen Joyce announced:$15m investment in sheep and beef geneticsScience and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce today announced a $15 million investment over five years into advances in genetics research that will improve the profitability of New Zealand’s sheep and beef sector.A new partnership, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics,...
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Auckland Council charges for pool inspections
A reader has sent this in to me. They note:Just got a letter today that informs me that the Auckland Council will now inspect my pool fencing every three years to make sure it is still there and charge me for the privilege. Revenue generating at its best.Original inspection received...
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Update on the AAE - DoC requests that logo be removed
Further to our questions about whether or not DoC is a supporter of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (the scientific expedition that got stuck in the ice recently), yesterday we received another letter from DoC confirming that DoC has not supported the AAE. It states that DoC has now asked the AAE...
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Policy victory
Last week we released material showing that millions of dollars is being wasted in a CTU/Business NZ deal for health and safety training that, according to ACC's experts, for every dollar spent 84 cents is wasted. As you'll recall, the Minister of ACC, Judith Collins, labelled the scheme a 'sham' and...
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Pressure builds on Len Brown
Pressure builds on Len Brown Newstalk ZB - 20/1/2014Len Brown's opponents continue to apply pressure on the Auckland mayor.Security guards protected Mr Brown from hecklers as he opened a railway station at Panmure on Saturday.New Zealand Taxpayers' Union executive director Jordan Williams says if the mayor feels he needs...
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Fiscal rules
Readers will be aware that Australia is facing huge deficits, despite the promise of the previous Government to get into surplus.As a response to this, the Centre for Independent Studies has proposed some fiscal rules to bind future Governments.They are:require the federal fiscal balance to be maintained within a range...
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Newstalk ZB on funding for yacht race that never happened
Government won't seek repayment from axed yacht race Newstalk ZB - 16/1/2014The Government has no intention of making the organisers of an axed yacht race repay $100,000 in taxpayer funding.The inaugural Auckland to Bluff race - scheduled for next month - was cancelled due to a lack of...
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Business NZ finally responds to allegations of cosy deal
Stuff has just reported:BusinessNZ rejects training scheme attacksBusiness NZ has hit back at ACC Minister Judith Collins over her attacks on an ACC-funded health and safety training programme run by Business NZ, the Council Of Trade Unions and a private provider.ACC announced this week that the $1.5 million a...
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Why is the Government picking losers?
Yesterday Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce announced research and development grants that are set to cost taxpayers $140million over three years. The Herald reports:More than $140 million has been earmarked to go to 31 New Zealand tech companies in research and development grants.Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce yesterday named companies awarded R&D...
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$19m wasted on health and safety training with 84c per dollar wasted
Health and safety training 'a waste of time' ONE News - 14/1/2014 The ACC Minister is promising to scrap a Government-funded health and safety training scheme.Judith Collins agrees with a taxpayers' lobby group, the Taxpayers' Union, that the 10-year-old scheme has been a waste of money.Click here or the image...
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ACC cans useless scheme publicly, but extended the contract within the last month
Yesterday it looked like the Taxpayers' Union struck up it's first win, with ACC announcing that it would scrap the health and safety training scheme which has cost levy holders $19million to date, with 84 cents per dollar being wasted (even with optimistic assumptions).ONE News, 3 News, the Herald, Stuff, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB all reported...
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Media coverage of Business NZ/CTU ACC rort
Tonight's TV news coverage of the corporate and union welfare exposed earlier today.ONE News: $19m wasted on health and safety training with 84c per dollar wastedClick here or the image below for video on demand.3 News: ACC dumps workplace training schemeClick here or the image below for video on demand.
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ACC wastes millions on a cosy deal with Business NZ and the CTU
Material released by the Taxpayers’ Union show a cosy deal between Business New Zealand, the Council of Trade Unions ("CTU") and ACC has cost ACC-levy payers $19 million since 2003.The documents, available and summarised below show ACC knew that millions paid to Business NZ and the CTU to provide health and safety training...
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Cr Young on Wellington City Council's living wage
Cr Nicola Young, whose motion to consult before Wellington implemented the living wage was defeated 8 votes to 5, writes in today's Dominion Post.Wellington City Council has lit a fuse leading to a bomb of unknown size, with its vote to implement a "living wage" for its employees from...
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Oops - looks like DoC isn't the only 'supporter' of the AAE caught unaware
Further to my discovery and blog post earlier today that DoC is in fact not supporting the Australian Antarctic Expedition ("AAE") - despite being listed as such on the AAE website, the Australian blog "Watts Up With That" reports that the Australasian Antarctic Devision (i.e. a division of the Australian Department of the...
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Good work DoC - but questions about AAE claiming support
Following the well publicised case of global warming scientists being stuck in record pack ice in Antarctica (ironically the expedition was intended to study the dwindling sea ice) and the efforts to rescue them, the Taxpayers' Union began enquires late last year to find out precisely how much taxpayers' money the NZ Government "supporters" listed on the expedition's website had...
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MP employment spats costing taxpayers
This morning the New Zealand Herald covered figures released by the Taxpayers' Union show that MPs are chewing through more than $65,000 per month on payouts to avoid messy employment grievances.Parliamentary Service spent nearly $400,000 on payouts for former staff in the second half of last year, a period in which the...
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The Herald on the iTax
This morning's NZ Herald covers an opinion poll it commissioned on public support for lowering the threshold GST is applicable to for purchases made on foreign websites:A Herald-DigiPoll survey this month found that almost 55 per cent of the 750 New Zealanders polled had bought goods from foreign websites.Of...
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Cost of Royal visit less than full time head of state
Taxpayers' Union positive about royal visit Newstalk ZB 21/12/2014A body set up to critique the way taxpayers' money is spent is feeling positive about next year's royal visit.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - William and Kate - have confirmed a trip to New Zealand in April.It's not yet...
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Taxpayers' Union Uncovers Massive IT Screw Up Within DOC
The Taxpayers’ Union revealed a massive cost overrun of a mismanaged IT project jointly commissioned by DoC and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). Two independent reports on the project are damning of DoC. They blame mismanagement and ineffective governance for the project’s failure. It appears that LINZ has walked away...
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Paul Henry on the Taxpayers' Union's government waste 'top 3 for 2013'
Jordan Williams joined Paul Henry on Thursday's RadioLIVE Drive. Click here for audio on demand RadioLIVE 19/12/2013
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EXCLUSIVE: Tip off to Taxpayers' Union uncovers IT stuff up and cost overrun at DOC
The tip line worksJust after publicly launching in October, the Taxpayers' Union received an anonymous tip off that there was a massive cost overrun of a mismanaged IT project jointly commissioned by DoC and Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). The National Property and Land Information System (“NaPALIS”) had allegedly...
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Tax break or corporate hand-out? A brief comment on Avatar deal
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced a deal with Hollywood studios that will allow up to 25% tax rebates on film production expenditure within New Zealand.While we can all applaud our world-class film industry and the jobs the deal will create, why is the film industry so special? Many industries are...
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Taxpayers' Union calls on Len Brown to reimburse Auckland ratepayers for personal use of Council resources
Click here or the image below for video on demand.Tough questions over affair ahead for Auckland mayor 3 News - 14/12/2013
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Mayor Brown must pay the money back
As widely covered by media over the weekend, the EY report into suspected misuse of Auckland Council resources by Len Brown is deeply concerning. In addition to the undeclared freebies (including undeclared gifts from Skycity - at the same time as publicly championing the convention centre deal) the...
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Competition winner announced
Yesterday the Taxpayers’ Union announced the winner of its competition for the Aucklander with the highest percentage increase in rates and user-charges.The winner is Mrs Glenys Smith of Howick, whose rates have more than doubled since 2003.Mrs Smith is a classic example of an Auckland householder paying more but...
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Len Brown "still has questions to answer"
Brown thinks Aucklanders just want Council to get on with work Newstalk ZB - 14/12/2013He may have been officially cleared, but the Taxpayers' Union believes Len Brown still has questions to answer.An Ernst and Young review has revealed the Auckland Mayor failed to declare tens of thousands of dollars...
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Duncan Garner and Taxpayers' Union on Hone Harawira's trip to SA and Wellington City Council's living wage decision
The Executive Director of the Taxpayers' Union was interviewed by Duncan Garner on RadioLIVE's breakfast show. Click here for audio on demand. RadioLIVE - 12/12/2013
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City staff spent $220,000 at America's Cup
Anger at ATEED spending on America's Cup NewstalkZB - 6/12/2013The New Zealand Taxpayers Union is lashing out at council-controlled Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) for spending more than $200,000 on sending staff and media to the America's Cup in San Francisco.They say sending a few key staff...
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Open letter to Jacinda Ardern
Yesterday the Labour Party confirmed its proposal for a new Children's Ministry and Minister. The Taxpayers' Union emailed Jacinda Ardern, the party's Spokesperson for Children.Dear Ms Ardern,We understand from your public comments today that the Labour Party is proposing a new “Children’s Ministry” and “Children’s Minister” (refer to http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1312/S00106/report-slams-government-inaction-on-protecting-our-kids.htm).The Taxpayers’ Union supports all evidence...
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Kaipara District Council’s wastewater project - an expensive audit failure?
The report of the Auditor-General’s inquiry into the EcoCare wastewater project was released on Tuesday. It revealed serious failures in the management of the project, and strongly criticises Audit NZ. Inaccurate record keeping, mismanagement of the project, lack of financial advice and expertise, and reliance on private partnerships saw a huge...
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Auditor General report on Kaipara
Kaipara blow-out a warning stuff.co.nz - 4/12/2013A damning report into the $63.3 million budget blowout on Mangawhai's wastewater scheme comes with a warning for other councils. The Taxpayers' Union reacts to the report.
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State sector CEO pay
Pay top state bosses even more: report - DominionPost 30/11/2013Jordan Williams, executive director of the Taxpayers' Union, said the report acknowledged the "tenuous" connection between performance and pay in the public sector, but overlooked difference with the private sector."Traditionally public sector employees have expected less pay in exchange for...
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