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The Clean Car Standard should just be scrapped altogether
Commenting on the Government’s review of the Clean Car Standard, which sees Minister Simeon Brown look to adjust the targets to make them more ‘achievable’ for vehicle companies, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Alex Murphy, said:“Much like the Clean Car Discount was just middle-class welfare that did nothing to help...
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Taxpayers’ Union calls on Privacy Commissioner to open formal investigation into alleged misuse of census data by John Tamihere entities
The Taxpayers’ Union has written to the Privacy Commissioner this morning calling on him to launch an investigation into alleged misuse of census data by Auckland’s Manurewa Marae, entities associated with John Tamihere, and Te Pāti Māori.Taxpayers’ Union Spokeperson, Jordan Williams, said:“The allegations made this morning on a...
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Police Commissioner’s job is to enforce the law, not publicly lobby the government to change it
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming comments from Police Commissioner Andrew Coster where he appears to be lobbying the government to change alcohol regulations. Taxpayers’ Union Spokesperson, Jordan Williams, said:“Andrew Coster is acting as a constitutional barbarian. There is a long-held constitutional convention that Police - especially leadership -...
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Four-year council terms must come with right of recall
Commenting on reports that former National Minister and current Mayor of Nelson, Nick Smith, will chair a group exploring local government electoral system reforms, Taxpayers’ Union Head of Campaigns, Callum Purves, said:“Ratepayers across the country are rightly frustrated by a toxic combination of sky-high rate hikes, wasteful spending and cuts...
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Manurewa Marae allegations warrant public inquiry
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Government to form a public inquiry under the Inquiries Act to ensure that MSD and Stats NZ are not tasked with reviewing their, alleged, lack of action following complaints from whistleblowers that the Manurewa Marae illegally used census data collation to...
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Taxpayer Update: Snap Budget Poll 📊 | National spends more than Labour 💥 | Government must go further and faster ✂️
Happy King's Birthday weekend!For the team at the Taxpayers' Union, Budget week is always the busiest of the year. This week's Taxpayer Update wraps up our coverage, and (more importantly) asks you, what did you think of Budget 2024?I've had thousands of responses to our initial reaction to Budget 2024...
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Taxpayer Talk: Eric Crampton gives his post-Budget analysis
This week on our podcast is a special post-Budget analysis with New Zealand Initiative Chief Economist, Eric Crampton.To support Taxpayer Talk, click hereIf you have any comments, questions or suggestions, feel free to email [email protected] You can also listen to Taxpayer Talk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and all good podcast apps.
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Taxpayer Talk: Cameron Bagrie Gives His Post-Budget Analysis
This week on our podcast is a special post-Budget analysis with Bagrie Economics Lead Economist, Cameron Bagrie.To support Taxpayer Talk, click hereIf you have any comments, questions or suggestions, feel free to email [email protected] You can also listen to Taxpayer Talk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and all good podcast apps.
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Budget 2024: The Mother of All Disappointments
Budget 2024: The Mother of All DisappointmentsNicola Willis’s first Budget is the “The Mother of All Disappointments” says the Taxpayers’ Union, failing all three tests the National Party were elected to deliver on:The tax reductions amount to just half the costs to the average worker of 14 years of...
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Budget 2024: $2.6 billion down the drain for no climate benefit
Budget 2024: $2.6 billion down the drain for no climate benefitThe Taxpayers’ Union is slamming today’s continuation of a number of Labour’s climate change initiatives as economically and scientifically illiterate.Taxpayers’ Union Head of Campaigns, Callum Purves, said:“This Government is supposed to be one that understands the Emissions Trading Scheme. Under the...
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Budget 2024: Government promises to hike taxes by stealth
Budget 2024: Government promises to hike taxes by stealthThe Taxpayers’ Union is condemning the Government for failing to introduce ongoing annual adjustments to income tax brackets for inflation and calling out the hypocrisy of Nicola Willis using fiscal drag to get back to surplus, after complaining about the same in...
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Budget 2024: National continue to give taxpayer money to corporate welfare bludgers
Budget 2024: National continue to give taxpayer money to corporate welfare bludgersThe Taxpayers’ Union is lashing out at the continuation of the Government’s corporate welfase schemes, labelling them ‘socialism for the rich’.Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“The $181.161 million to the Hollywood bigwigs and Peter Jackson’s of the world, along...
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Budget 2024: Debt interest costs soon to be higher than spending on primary schools, secondary schools and the Ministry of Justice combined
Budget 2024: Debt interest costs soon to be higher than spending on primary schools, secondary schools and the Ministry of Justice combinedThe Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the projected explosion in Government debt over the next 4 years, which will see interest payments amounting to more than $4,622 for every household...
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Taxpayer Update: It's budget day tomorrow 🙏
Tomorrow morning, Jordan, Connor and I will be heading into the Budget 2024 "Beehive lock-up" to be briefed on the Budget before it's made public by Nicola Willis at 2pm sharp.As with every Budget, your humble Taxpayers' Union will be cutting through the political spin and will send you what you...
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NEW POLL: Just 9% of New Zealanders think Grant Robertson’s Wellbeing Budget didn’t spend enough
A new Taxpayers’ Union – Curia poll has revealed that most New Zealanders think that the level of spending in Grant Robertson’s 2019 Wellbeing Budget was about right or too high. Tomorrow’s budget from Nicola Willis should be compared against this as a pre-Covid baseline.Voters were asked: “Grant Robertson’s 2019...
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Taxpayers’ Union lays challenge to Nicola Willis ahead of Budget Day
As the Minister of Finance prepares to deliver her first budget to the nation this Thursday, the Taxpayers’ Union has issued a challenge to Nicola Willis to keep her promise of delivering effective tax relief to New Zealanders.Attached to a letter to Minister Willis was a collection of responses gathered containing...
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Is 40-year-old data is driving key health policy in 2024?
Opinion piece by Jordan WilliamsCommentators, the Opposition and media went apoplectic when the new Government repealed Labour’s smoking laws. Despite being years away from having any effect, these policies, somehow, apparently ‘save thousands.’ The worrying innovation of ‘prophecy-based policymaking’. But the same experts who insist upon ‘evidence’ have...
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ACC Chief Executive must lead from the front with savings
Responding to reports in today’s NZ Herald that ACC chief executive, Megan Main, spent $32,000 of taxpayers’ money on a business class trip to Europe while consulting on nearly 400 job cuts to reduce spending, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“While bureaucrats are losing their jobs, it is tone-deaf for executives...
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Public Service cuts must be put in context
Responding to numerous reports in media relating to the number of jobs cuts in the Public Service, the Taxpayers’ Union is encouraging the media to put those cuts in context by referencing the more than 18,000 FTE growth in the bureaucracy since 2017, compared with just 3900 proposed...
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The first day of the year taxpayers get to work for themselves
Tax Freedom Day will fall at 02:17am Sunday 26th May this year, which means that every cent taxpayers have earnt so far in 2024 has taken by the government in tax. Almost 5 months into the year, Monday 27th May is the first full day where Kiwis get...
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Taxpayer Update: At least $49/week 💰 | Luxon, Joyce, & voters support indexation ✅ | Cut cut cut to Stop the Clock ⏰
Just one week until we see what the new Government is really made of – in the form of Nicola Willis' first budget.While the media have been in a tailspin about a few bureaucrats being moved on, your humble Taxpayers' Union has been making the case for the Government to...
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Taxpayer Talk: Eric Crampton on the growth in Government and Structural Deficit
This week on our podcast is a special Budget edition with our friend from the New Zealand Initiative, Eric Crampton.Eric is the Initiative’s Chief Economist and provides a much welcome voice of reason to counter some the economic illiteracy often espoused by politicians. In this episode, Eric and...
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New Wellington billboards throw down $49/week gauntlet for Budget
The Taxpayers’ Union is today launching five billboards around Parliament depicting the Finance Minister riding a piggy bank to emphasise the fact that the average Kiwi needs to see a $49/week tax reduction at next year’s budget in order to reverse 14 years of stealth tax hikes. The...
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REVEALED: Taxpayers fork out $870,000 a year for MBIE staff to do union roles
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that taxpayers are forking out at least $871,484 each year for MBIE staff to do union work on taxpayer time.The secretive arrangement - the creation of which MBIE did not have any correspondence with Ministers - includes two full-time roles paid at least...
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Nicola Willis must tackle cost of living at next week’s Budget
Commenting on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand holding the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 5.5%, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Sky-high interest rates and the soaring price of household essentials continue to punish Kiwi families, and that won’t change until reckless and inflationary...
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Labour must walk the talk and join the campaign against corporate welfare
Reacting to today’s Budget Speech from Labour’s Finance spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“It is encouraging to see that one of Labour’s stated priorities is to focus on creating ‘a level playing field for small and medium businesses, not preferential treatment for those businesses...
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NEW POLL: Overwhelming majority of New Zealanders think debt is too high
A new Taxpayers’ Union – Curia poll has revealed that a large majority of New Zealanders think government debt is too high.Voters were asked: “In June 2017, New Zealand’s Net Core Crown Debt was $59 billion. Between then and June 2023, while the cumulative inflation was 25%, Net Core Crown...
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Wake up call: Government debt hits $90,000 per household today – “$90k Debt Day”
Based on the latest Treasury forecasts, New Zealand Government debt will tick above $90,000 per household for the first time ever at 10pm today, Sunday 19 May 2024. The Taxpayers’ Union is calling it “$90k Debt Day”.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross,...
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If the Wellington Mayor’s not going to bother turning up anyway, sell the airport shares
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has been revealed to have missed half of all Wellington Airport board meetings in the past year. Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Given the local government crisis Wellington finds itself in, the very least the Mayor should...
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NEW POLL: Luxon wants tax bracket indexation, so do Kiwis
Following comments from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in yesterday’s pre-budget speech that not adjusting tax brackets for inflation each year is “lazy”, the Taxpayers’ Union is releasing a new poll that reveals that the vast majority of New Zealanders support automatic inflation adjustment of income tax brackets. 74%...
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Anything less than $49/week isn’t tax relief, it’s shortchanging New Zealanders
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s pre-budget speech today, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“Christopher Luxon is right to point out that inflation over the last 14 has pushed New Zealanders into higher income tax brackets so that they are paying more of their wages in tax even when they are...
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Taxpayers’ Union warns against Digital Services Tax
Responding to the Government’s plans to implement Labour’s proposed Digital Services Tax (DST), Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, warns against the move:“The Government should be cutting wasteful spending, not introducing new taxes that will see New Zealand businesses slapped with devastating retaliatory tariffs as seen in France.“Introducing...
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Comical incompetence as Wellington Council might have to dig up brand new $55 million bus lanes and cycleways
A memo accidentally released by Wellington City Council shows at least $5.2 million of pipes needing urgent repair have just been covered up by $55 million of brand new bus and cycle lanes on Thorndon Quay.Responding to this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Residents...
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Luxon must rule out taxpayer funding for “fatally compromised” Christchurch Call
Responding to the official launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Only last month, the Christchurch Call Advisory Network was slammed for pressuring advisors to stifle reports which were critical of signatory governments. Leading experts called its independence “fatally compromised.”“Internet...
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Wellington residents’ views being misrepresented in Long-Term Plan consultation
Responding to allegations that the Wellington Long-Term Plan consultation has been falsely marking submitters as supporting certain projects, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“True to form, Wellington City Council’s consultation has been a flop. If they’ve been recording residents’ answers incorrectly, then the only...
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NEW POLL: Labour up, Greens down but Centre-Right remains ahead
National is up slightly on last month to 37.3% (+0.2 points) while Labour is up to 30.0% (+4.3 points). The Greens maintain third place with 10.2% (-4.4 points) while ACT gain 2.2 points bringing them to 9.4%The smaller parties are NZ First on 5.5% (-0.8 points) and Te Pāti Māori on 3.1% (-1.5 points). For the minor parties,...
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Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL 📊 | Donating your money to my charity 🤨 | Disability CEO "knows best" on use of Te Reo 👀
Click here to subscribe to the Taxpayers' Union newsletterHappy Friday,NEW POLL: Labour up, Greens down but centre-right remains ahead 🔢Quick, WhatsApp Maiki Sherman! It's 'panic stations'! Mayday, mayday, mayday! Abandon ship, in this month's Taxpayers' Union – Curia poll.Whoops, wrong script. Unlike 1News, your humble Taxpayers' Union trusts readers to...
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MPs in Depth: Tom Rutherford
This week on Taxpayer Talk is another episode in our MPs in Depth podcast series where we get to know Parliament's new MPs. In this episode, Connor sat down with National Party MP, Tom Rutherford. Tom was elected as the MP for the Bay of Plenty at the 2023 General Election....
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Local council distracted by international politics
In response to calls made on Wednesday by Whanganui District Council for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesperson, Sam Warren, said:“Locals are facing 10.6% rate hikes during a cost-of-living crisis. After receiving a record number of public submissions for its Long-Term Plan, Whanganui Council’s focus should...
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Covid inquiry chair needs to jump or be pushed over conflicts of interest
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Brooke van Velden to replace epidemiologist Tony Blakey as Chair of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry after the extraordinary revelations in today’s NZ Herald suggesting several strong conflicts of interest.Commenting, Taxpayers’ Union Head of Campaigns, Callum Purves, said:“New Zealanders need to have...
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Government still a long way off $49 a week tax relief
Reacting to Nicola Willis’ speech to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce this morning, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“Nicola Willis rightly recognises that ‘[w]orkers have endured 14 years without any adjustment to tax brackets’. She must now unwind those stealth tax hikes by providing $49 a...
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Gas tank heritage listing decision nothing but hot air
Responding to news that Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop has rejected Wellington City Council’s calls to remove ten buildings from the Heritage List, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Wellington ratepayers are drowning in the cost of propping up buildings like the Town...
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Chief Electoral Officer needs to fall on his sword
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Even after taking weeks to count the vote, the best the Electoral Commission could manage was rushing an error-filled attempt at a final check...
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Beehive need to lead by example
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office.Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, says:“This is a bad look for the Government, and an own goal.“This spending, on top of...
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Double-dipping MP needs to pay salary back to Council
Responding to an announcement by Jamie Arbuckle MP that he intends to resign as a Marlborough Councillor in October this year, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross:“Jamie Arbuckle claims that he’s hanging around as a Councillor until October to avoid the cost of a by-election,...
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Double-dipping MP Jamie Arbuckle taking ratepayers for a ride
NZ First MP Jamie Arbuckle should do the honourable thing and either resign his seat as a Marlborough councillor, or stop ‘double dipping’ in taking two salaries to be an elected representative. Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said; “Being an MP is more than a full-time...
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Auckland’s Watercare plan avoids pitfalls of Three Waters
The Taxpayers’ Union welcomes the Government’s changes to Watercare, as part of the Government’s replacement to the so-called “Three Waters”.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Jordan Williams said:“The devil may be in the detail, but the Government’s announcement is consistent with our proposed replacement to Three Waters. It keeps ratepayer ownership...
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Taxpayer Update: Time to get rid of TVNZ 📺💰 | Hipkins caught telling porkies 🤥🐷
Click here to subscribe to the Taxpayers' Union newsletterHappy Friday,Lots to cover this week so let's get straight into it...1News isn't even pretending to be impartial anymore1News political editor, Maiki Sherman, could barely hold back her excitement on Monday night when she announced the results of the latest...
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MPs in Depth: James Meager
This week on Taxpayer Talk is another episode in our MPs in Depth podcast series where we get to know Parliament's new MPs. In this episode, Connor sat down with National Party MP, James Meager. James was elected as the MP for Rangitata at the 2023 General Election, reclaiming the seat...
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BREAKING: Ivory tower academics call for tax on Netflix to subsidise Video Ezy and United Video
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming a proposal from ivory tower academics to tax digital services to subsidise traditional news media, equating it to taxing Netflix to subsidise obsolete Video Ezy and United Video.Commenting on the proposal, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“If producers of better and cheaper...
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Te Huia Train Service Must Stop Stealing From Motorists’ Pockets
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Government to end the rort that sees millions of dollars funnelled away from motorists into the inefficient and expensive Te Huia Train Service.A recent review of the train service between Auckland and Hamilton reveals that it has budgeted a $5.45 million...
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Economically illiterate council must not force $55 million hotel cost onto ratepayers
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming a proposal by Whanganui District Council to build a $55 million four-star hotel and carpark.Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“It is unbelievable that while ratepayers are staring down the barrel of a 10.6% rates hike the council wants to throw ratepayer money...
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Punishing businesses won’t lift Kiwis out of cost-of-living crisis
Responding to comments from Nicola Willis that scrapping commercial depreciation is being used to raise funds for personal income tax relief, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Hardworking Kiwis need income tax relief, but that’s only half the equation. Driving up the cost of doing...
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Taxpayers’ Union slams secret list of judges’ perks
Taxpayers’ Union slams secret list of judges’ perksResponding to the long-awaited release of judges’ special allowances, including free air travel and hotels for spouses, generous sabbaticals, and access to limousines, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Alex Murphy said:“In what world does your employer cover personal air fares for both you...
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Hipkins is wrong about what Labour Government got wrong
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming comments by Chris Hipkins that freezing MP pay under the Ardern government led to worse outcomes, arguing that he should instead reflect on the poor decision-making that made outcomes much worse over the past six years.Chris Hipkins claimed on RNZ this morning that “every...
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MPs must reject out-of-touch near $20,000 pay hike
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming today’s determination from the Remuneration Authority that backbench MPs will be receiving an additional $17,239 in base salaries by the end of the Parliamentary term. This comes alongside a $2,320 increase to backbench MPs’ annual tax-free expense allowances by the end of the...
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Air NZ’s nosediving performance shows need for privatisation
Commenting on news that Jetstar has overtaken Air New Zealand as the most reliable airline service provider, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Where’s the incentive for efficiency when the Government’s always got your back? It’s no wonder Jetstar is beating Air NZ to the punch.“Taxpayers...
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Revealed: Tauranga Council spending thousands paying transport fares for highest paid staff
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Tauranga City Council has spent $41,900 over just seven months paying public transport fares for 630 of its staff, almost half of which are earning more than $100,000 a year.The spending is part of the city’s Bee Card scheme that forces ratepayers to fund...
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Kiwis slapped with second-highest tax hike in the developed world
Responding to news that New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax hikes in the OECD last year, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“People earning no more in real terms have a higher and higher proportion of their income taken with every passing year thanks to...
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Government should should pull plug on tech sector handouts
Government should should pull plug on tech sector handoutsResponding to calls from tech sector group KiwiSaaS for millions of dollars in corporate welfare to be renewed, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“A special interest group calling for corporate welfare isn’t exactly news, but Judith...
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New Media Minister must rule out state intervention in private media
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector.Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“His first move must be to condemn Willie Jackson’s Fair Digital News...
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Taxpayers’ Union shatters Window & Glass Association’s protectionist drivel
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming today’s comments from Window and Glass Association NZ whinging about the opening up of their sector to much-needed competition.Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“Only a special interest industry group could complain about reducing building costs during a housing crisis. Their superficial arguments...
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Revealed: Health Quality and Safety Commission continues rebrand madness, blowing nearly $365,000
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that the Health Quality and Safety Commission have spent $363,745 on a rebrand including $316,250 on a new website and $47,495 on a logo change (including GST).These changes occurred during 2022 and 2023 which, according to the Commission ‘reflect how we see ourselves’.Taxpayers’...
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Ratepayer Victory! Wellington pulls out of $32 million corporate handout
Commenting on the news that Wellington City Council have decided to not go ahead with the $32 million Reading Cinema deal, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Whatever spin the mayor tried to put on it, it was clear from the get-go that shoving $32...
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Taxpayer Update: 18 months to assess whether water tank = fire risk 🤦♂️ | Tauranga's grifters lobby to stay on gravy train 🚂 | Labour's 182 questions about the Taxpayers' Union 🤨
Click here to subscribe to the Taxpayers' Union newsletter The geniuses at MBIE take 18 months to officially decide that a water tank is not a fire risk 💦 ≠ 🔥The Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) took 18 long months of umming and ahing to come to the...
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RMA changes welcome, but must go further
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said:“These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable red tape but they don’t go far enough.“While we welcome the removal of the requirement...
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Rates Increase Shocker – Gore residents face rates hike of 21.4%
Responding to reports that Gore District Council is proposing to hike rates by 21.4%, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Sam Warren, said:“Clearly something is very broken for councils across New Zealand.“A culture of historic wasteful spending throughout local government, combined with soaring costs, has resulted in an proposed average increase...
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MPs in Depth: Mike Butterick
This week on Taxpayer Talk is another episode in our MPs in Depth podcast series where we get to know Parliament's new MPs. In this episode, Connor sat down with National Party MP, Mike Butterick. Mike, a farmer and farming advocate, was elected as the MP for Wairarapa in the 2023...
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MPs in Depth: Andrew Hoggard
This week on Taxpayer Talk is another episode in our MPs in Depth podcast series where we get to know Parliament's new MPs. In this episode, Connor sat down with ACT Party MP, Andrew Hoggard. Andrew is a Manawatu farmer, has an Agricultural Economics degree and, prior to entering Parliament, was...
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Taxpayers’ Union slams eye-watering Hastings rates hike
Responding to reports that Hastings District Council is set to hike rates by 25 percent, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“We get that cyclone recovery and investing in resilient infrastructure will obviously be front of mind but the Council must ensure that it does not make the...
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Christchurch City Council's stadium obsession needs to stop
Christchurch City Council's stadium obsession needs to stopResponding to Christchurch City Council’s dilemma on what to do about their $34.2m stadium streets project, given that the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) have not confirmed whether they will provide $13m in funding for the project, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Alexander...
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REVEALED: RNZ’s hypocrisy over Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Radio New Zealand (RNZ) spent $71,842.53 on Facebook advertising over the past 12 months, despite earlier this year coming out in support of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, which would force the likes of Facebook to pay media companies when users share links to...
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Government spending still driving cost of living skyward
Responding to today’s release of the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Domestic inflation is still punishing Kiwis, with non-tradeable inflation – the aspect most affected by reckless and inflationary government overspending – still sitting stubbornly high at 5.8%.“Public...
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NEW POLL: Strong support for inflation adjustment of tax brackets to end the stealth tax
NEW POLL: Strong support for inflation adjustment of tax brackets to end the stealth taxA new Taxpayers’ Union — Curia poll has revealed that New Zealanders – at a ratio of five to one – support inflation adjustment of income tax brackets. 67% of respondents supported inflation adjustments...
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Taxpayer Update: MPs set to get monster pay hike🍾👯♂️ | New Report: Up in Smoke 😱 | Luxon gets into spat with trade unions ✊
Click here to subscribe to the Taxpayers' Union newsletterIt's been another busy week. More complaints from the media of "public service cuts" without giving the context that growth in recent years has been many times more, the team has exposed yet another expensive government rebrand, and we expose the tax...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: MPs set to get monster pay hike🍾👯♂️ | New Report: Up in Smoke 😱 | Luxon gets into spat with trade unions ✊ -
More competition, not less, the solution to failing councils
Responding to comments from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham on the prospect of Supercity-like deals in New Zealand, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Where there are savings to be found, councils should of course work together on service delivery to find efficiencies. But councils sitting in...
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NEW POLL: Kiwis want Nicola Willis to hold firm on tax relief
A new Taxpayers’ Union – Curia poll has revealed that 53% of New Zealanders believe that the Government should continue to deliver the tax relief that was promised by the National Party during the election campaign. 29% of respondents thought that the tax relief should not proceed while 18% were unsure. There...
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NEW POll: New Zealanders oppose taxpayer-funded bailouts for private media companies
A Taxpayers’ Union – Curia Poll has revealed that 55% of New Zealanders are opposed to taxpayer money being used to fund struggling private media companies, with just 29% in support.Labour voters were the only demographic in support of media bailouts (+7% net support), while those aged under...
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Sky-high interest rates show Kiwi families need Government to show some fiscal responsibility
Responding to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s decision to hold the Official Cash Rate (OCR) at 5.5%, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“High interest rates stifle growth and punish Kiwi families. They’re being punished for runaway inflation driven by reckless overspending by a...
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Government must clamp down harder on managerial class with Public Service cuts
Responding to concerns from public servants that managers seem to be ‘immune’ from staffing cuts, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Alex Murphy, said:"The whole point of the Government's spending cuts was to axe the back-office bureaucracy and prioritise frontline delivery, but by letting department heads put forward their own proposals on how...
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MPs in Depth: Carl Bates
This week on Taxpayer Talk is another episode in our MPs in Depth podcast series where we get to know Parliament's new MPs. In this episode, Jordan sat down with National Party MP for Whanganui, Carl Bates. Carl joined the Young Nats aged just 12 and less than 30 years later...
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NEW POLL: More bad news for Centre-Right as Government parties drop in support
National is down on last month to 37.1% (-0.3 points) while Labour is up slightly to 25.7% (+0.4 points). The Greens take third place on 14.6% (+3.3 points) while ACT drops back to 7.2% (-2.8 points).The smaller parties are NZ First on 6.3% (-1.1 points) and Te Pāti Māori...
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Taxpayer Update: Centre right down in new poll 📊 | Tax relief under threat? 😱 | Luxon's new action plan ✅
Click here to subscribe to the Taxpayers' Union newsletterNEW POLL: Bad news for centre-right parties in in latest poll 📊Christopher Luxon's coalition partners won't be overjoyed with their results in this month's hot-off-the-press Taxpayers' Union – Curia poll. Meanwhile, a boost for the centre-left comes mainly from increased support for the Greens...
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MPs must not take pay hike while Kiwis go backwards
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on MPs to put their money where their mouths are and implement a pay freeze rather than accept a taxpayer-funded pay hike at a time when many families are going backwards.Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“Every year, politicians reach deeper and deeper into New...
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Government KPIs show progress but lack ambition
Responding to the release of nine Government key performance targets to be achieved by 2030, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Kiwis won’t need reminding that despite public spending jumping 84% since 2017, just about everything has got worse. Outcomes in Education, health, and law...
Read more about Government KPIs show progress but lack ambition -
Revealed: Callaghan Innovation wastes over $170,000 on rebrand as staff call out job cuts
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Callaghan Innovation has blown $170,000 on a rebranding exercise at a time when taxpayer-funded agencies were being told to curb spending. Information obtained under the Official Information Act reveals that Callaghan Innovation - the body largely responsible for providing corporate welfare by picking winners - has...
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Government puts an end to Labour’s hijack on local democracy
Responding to the Government’s decision to restore binding referenda for local councils in determining whether or not to establish Māori wards, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager Connor Molloy, said:“It is a fundamental right of voters to have the final say on the design of their electoral systems. Changing this without gaining...
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Unelected commissioners need to learn their place
Responding to an interview from Anne Tolley on Newstalk ZB this morning, where the Tauranga City Council Commission Chair warned against going back to elected councillors as it would bring back the “old guard” and make the city go “backwards”, Alex Murphy, Spokesman for the Taxpayers' Union, said:“It’s no...
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Ratepayers need competent councils, not more debt
Responding to calls by councils including Wellington, Hamilton and Tauranga for their debt caps to be raised, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Sometimes it makes sense to use debt to spread the cost of an investment over time. But neither blown-out staff budgets nor...
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Taxpayers’ Union welcomes Government’s new action plan
Taxpayers’ Union welcomes Government’s new action planResponding to the Government’s 36-point action plan for the second quarter, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Alex Murphy, said:“It's refreshing to see the Coalition sticking to their guns on the issues Kiwis voted them in on, like delivering tax relief, cutting wasteful spending, and...
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Ratepayers, not unaccountable bureaucrats, should be responsible for heritage listings
Responding to calls from Wellington City Council to be able to delist heritage buildings by a simple majority vote, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Ratepayers are on the hook for paying to preserve heritage buildings, and so it should be ratepayers deciding what is...
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MP expense information leaked to the Taxpayers’ Union – will be made public tomorrow
The Taxpayers’ Union has been leaked five years of MPs expense information up to early 2021 following a public request for data on how taxpayers’ money is being spent, reportedly available to alleged Chinese-backed hackers, but not to New Zealanders. “We don’t know who used a secure channel to anonymously provide...
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Taxpayer Update: Book your Airbnb before Monday 🗓️ | Robertson's Regrets 🤦♂️ | Handout #5 for ski field ⛷️💸
Click here to subscribe to the Taxpayers' Union newsletterReminder to book your 2025 holiday before Monday! App Tax delivered in 36 hours 📲🏠This April Fool's Day, don't let the joke be on you! The App Tax (Labour's idea that National promised to scrap) will see the cost of...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: Book your Airbnb before Monday 🗓️ | Robertson's Regrets 🤦♂️ | Handout #5 for ski field ⛷️💸 -
Taxpayers’ Union make formal request to Chinese Government for MP spending information
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information (中华人民共和国政府信息公开条例) for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer money.Union Spokesman, Jordan Williams said, “We don’t know whether hackers – allegedly connected to the...
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Government must not continue Labour legacy of special treatment for DJs
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application.Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“No one can forget the irrational and unfair treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic that saw DJs...
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Two steps forward, one step back for taxpayers
Reacting to the Government’s bill to increase the trust tax rate to 39% passing its third reading today, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“National have just passed into law yet another of Labour’s tax increases. Rather than tackling the 84% increase in spending that every single one of their...
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Government must cut spending and provide permanent tax relief
Responding to the release of the 2024 Budget Policy Statement, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“We welcome today’s commitments to fiscal responsibility and reduced spending, but it must be backed up by real action.“At the very least the Government must deliver its promised tax relief, funded by cutting back...
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If the CCP can see politicians' expenses, so should taxpayers
Responding to reports of a cyberattack on the Parliamentary Counsel Office and Parliamentary Service by an organisation with links to the Chinese Government, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“It’s a sad day when overseas hackers know more about how taxpayers’ money is being spent than taxpayers themselves.“Currently, there is...
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Lack of warning signs at speed camera locations is dishonest and dangerous
Commenting on reports that out of 10 permanent speed cameras installed by the Government late last year, only one will have warning signage, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Alex Murphy, said:"The Transport Minister has time and again assured us that his Government's proposed speed camera empire will be built strictly in...
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Small Wellington businesses punished by swipe at drivers for no gain
Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has proposed scrapping car parking spots on Cuba Street with misguided claims it will reduce emissions. This will reduce parking revenue by $200,000, plus damage already struggling local businesses. Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Whanau wants to scrap car...
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GDP figures mask tougher times ahead
Responding to today’s release of the March quarter 2026 GDP figures, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Austin Ellingham-Banks said:“0.8 percent growth is welcome, but it is no cause for complacency. Most of it was banked before the Iran shock arrived, so the June quarter will be the real test.”“We go into...
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FENZ failures prove governance oversight is missing
Responding to reports today that Minister Brooke van Velden is very dissatisfied with the way the Department of Internal Affairs discharged its governance role over Fire and Emergency New Zealand, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:"Since Fire and Emergency New Zealand was formed in 2017, we have written three...
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Prime Minister Must Explain Shane Jones’ Doubled Travel Bill
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to explain how Shane Jones was allowed to rack up a $63,000 travel bill after reportedly spending almost twice what had been approved, including a private limousine, on standby 24 hours over multiple days.Taxpayers’ Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson,...
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Simon Watts promised to ‘fix’ local government – but he's is about to make it even worse
Dear Supporter, We've uncovered major fishhooks buried deep inside Simon Watts' "Local Government (Systems Improvement) Bill" currently before Parliament and in the last stages.It's not a politically sexy issue, and it's technical. But if we are to fix local government, it's essential.The Bill was sold as a reform...
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Maternity scans with what money? Labour’s CGT revenue is already spent
Labour has today promised to fund maternity scans through its capital gains tax, but the Taxpayers’ Union says the money has already been swallowed by other spending promises. Once again, Labour’s numbers do not add up.Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:“Using recent housing market data, Labour’s CGT would...
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Heads must roll after officials caught plotting to bypass Ministerial oversight
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union says revelations that public servants knowingly misled a Minister, deliberately avoided Cabinet scrutiny, and wasted millions of taxpayer dollars on a failed immigration project expose a culture of arrogance and impunity within the public service.Reports indicate officials withheld information from the Minister, deliberately...
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Tobacco tax hikes are now a gift to gangs
The Taxpayers’ Union says new figures on illicit tobacco show the Government’s sky-high tobacco excise is now backfiring.Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says:“Illicit tobacco has reportedly jumped from 27.2 percent to 33.5 percent of consumption in just one year. Wellington has taxed tobacco so hard it has...
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National must rule out bed tax on domestic traveller
Responding to the Prime Minister floating a potential bed tax on Newstalk ZB this morning, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“The Prime Minister needs to categorically rule out slapping domestic travellers with yet another tax.“Make no mistake: a bed tax won’t just hit overseas tourists staying in flash...
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Labour’s $8k per household budget hole shows why Independent Office of Budget Responsibility overdue
Labour’s $8k per household budget hole shows why Independent Budget Responsibility Office overdueThe Taxpayers’ Union says National’s claimed $18.2 billion gap between the Labour Party's promised spending and revenue measures highlights exactly why New Zealand needs an Independent Office of Budget Responsibility to independently verify the costings of election promises.Taxpayers’...
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The Ratepayers’ Guide to Amalgamation
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has released The Ratepayers’ Guide to Amalgamation, setting out a ratepayer test for council mergers ahead of the Government’s deadline for amalgamation plans.Taxpayers’ Union Senior Policy Analyst Josh Van Veen said:“Councils have been given just three months to prepare amalgamation plans. Ratepayers should not...
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Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL: Labour crashes and Winston's back 📊💥 | Tell Grant Robertson to Cut the Waste ✂️💰 | Let’s Get Wellington (Not) Moving;🛑🚌
Big newsletter today – we learn how the 'other half' (that is, those bureaucrats in Wellington) live. A new poll is bad news for the Government, but good news for Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters, plus Jordan sits down with expert pollster (and Taxpayers' Union Co-founder!) David Farrar to ask...
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Taxpayer Update: Exclusive: Greens "New Steal" exposed💰 | Shocking Three Waters salaries🚰 | DOC's te reo bonuses 🗣️💵 | Election Debates 📣📊
Exposed: Green Party misused taxpayer money for local body electioneering! 🗳️An investigation by the Taxpayers' Union has exposed that the Green Party used money meant for MPs constituency activities to pay for election ads for their local council candidates.Our Investigations Co-ordinator, Oliver Bryan, uncovered that the Greens used...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: Exclusive: Greens "New Steal" exposed💰 | Shocking Three Waters salaries🚰 | DOC's te reo bonuses 🗣️💵 | Election Debates 📣📊 -
Taxpayer Update: Wealth tax will hamper entrepreneurial growth 🤑📉 | Taxpayers footing bill for Pamū animal welfare fines 🐮😔 | Pūhoi to Warkworth blowout 🚗🥳
More bad news on the cost of living frontThis week's slight dip in the inflation figures will not come as much consolation for families across New Zealand who are struggling with the cost of living. While the overall rate may have dropped, food price increases and domestic inflation...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: Wealth tax will hamper entrepreneurial growth 🤑📉 | Taxpayers footing bill for Pamū animal welfare fines 🐮😔 | Pūhoi to Warkworth blowout 🚗🥳 -
Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL: Hung Parliament, Māori Party up 📊😳 | Hipkins rules out wealth and capital gains taxes
NEW POLL: Hung Parliament as Māori Party and ACT make gains 📊😳Exclusively for our supporters like you, here are the results of July's Taxpayers’ Union – Curia Poll:National drops 2.4 points on last month to 33.3% while Labour drops 1.8 points to 31.1%. ACT is up 0.5 points to...
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Taxpayer Update: Parker's planning power grab gets worse 🏘️⚖️ | MBIE's rocketing expenses 🚀💸 | David Farrar on New Zealand media bias 📰📺
It has been another busy week in politics. While the Prime Minister has been away in China, his Ministers have continued to cause him problems at home. Having already lost three Ministers in the last few months, he will have been relieved to hear that the Privileges Committee found...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: Parker's planning power grab gets worse 🏘️⚖️ | MBIE's rocketing expenses 🚀💸 | David Farrar on New Zealand media bias 📰📺 -
Taxpayer Update: Stop Central Planning 📰 ☭ | Future of Local Government 📜 | Tax Hikes 🛑
Three Waters 2.0: Our ad in the Herald exposing David Parker's central planning "reforms"With the support of hundreds of supporters like you, we managed to secure a four-page lift-out in the NZ Herald this week to coincide with the final day on our 'Hands Off Our Homes: Stop Central Planning...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: Stop Central Planning 📰 ☭ | Future of Local Government 📜 | Tax Hikes 🛑 -
Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL 📊🟢 | Parker's First RMA U-Turn ↩️⚖️ | ACT's plan to slash red tape ✂️🟡
NEW POLL: Centre Right could form government while Greens see bump in support 📊🟢Exclusively for our supporters like you, here are the results of June's Taxpayers’ Union – Curia Poll:National is unchanged from last month on 36% while Labour drops 1 point to 33%. ACT is also unchanged on 13%...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL 📊🟢 | Parker's First RMA U-Turn ↩️⚖️ | ACT's plan to slash red tape ✂️🟡 -
Taxpayer Update: Stop Central Planning Committees 🛑🏘️ | Trustee tax rate hike 💰🔺 | It's time for tax cuts ✂️💵
Taxpayers' Union on Tour: Stop Central Planning Committees 🛑🏘️On Monday, we kicked off our nationwide tour to Stop Central Planning Committees in Christchurch and the team are currently working their way down the South Island – tonight we are jointly hosting an event with Federated Farmers at 6pm at the Invercargill...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: Stop Central Planning Committees 🛑🏘️ | Trustee tax rate hike 💰🔺 | It's time for tax cuts ✂️💵 -
Budget 2023 – From the Beehive lock-up: What you need to know
Callum and I are just out of the Beehive bunker where we’ve spent the morning poring over Grant Robertson’s sixth budget with media and analysts before it is delivered in Parliament.Summary: nothing big bang spending wise other than free ECE for 2-year-olds. Tax hikes for those with trusts,...
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Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL: Centre-Right can form government 📊🟡 | $420k for a new website 💻💸 | Axe the Inflation Tax 📈💵
NEW POLL: ACT boost means Centre Right can form Government in latest poll 📊🟡Exclusively for our supporters like you, here are the results of May's Taxpayers’ Union – Curia Poll:National drops one point this month to be on 36% but retakes the lead over Labour which falls back three points...
Read more about Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL: Centre-Right can form government 📊🟡 | $420k for a new website 💻💸 | Axe the Inflation Tax 📈💵