The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the Minister’s commitment to a fair, user-pays approach to transport funding, but warns against the Government’s new “corridor tolling” proposal slipping into a new tax.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, James Ross, said:

“Tolling and congestion charging to manage peak-time pressure and pay for new roads make sense when they’re fair and revenue-neutral. By any honest definition, that means cutting Road User Charges to offset the new costs facing commuters.”

“International examples like Singapore show a light-touch system can keep traffic flowing without hammering households, and it makes tax relief through reduced RUCs realistic.”

"If the Government wants taxpayers on side for these reforms, it needs to stay true to its current approach. Keep charges low, keep them revenue-neutral, and charge people only for the infrastructure they actually use. The moment corridor tolling charges drivers for roads they don’t use, it stops being user-pays."

Commenting on today’s release of the Review of Retirement Income Policies 2025 by the Retirement Commission, James Ross of the Taxpayers’ Union said: “This is another warning shot across the Government’s bow.”

“Continued deficit spending means current policies are shifting more of the costs of supporting pensioners on to future generations. The Retirement Commission are right to call for productivity growth, and highlight the need to avoid higher taxes or increased debt.”

“Treasury’s three stewardship reports this year have been clear; our current trajectory is unsustainable. Persistent budget deficits, borrowing, and a growing debt pile threaten our economic stability. While the Retirement Commission were a bit more gentle in their critiques, they’re clearly pointing out the same risks.”

“The sooner policies are changed, the less dramatic the changes need to be. With Government spending still higher than when Labour left office, now is the time to be serious about getting spending under control.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says the latest job cuts at Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) are the inevitable result of years of executive-level overspending affecting the frontline.

The Taxpayers’ Union revelealed in September that FENZ employed:

• A Chief Executive being paid $503,000
• 7 Deputy Chief Executives, for a total $2.37 million
• 800 managers and support staff

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Rhys Hurley, said:

“These cuts are the direct result of years of empire building and waste at the top. FENZ has been spending millions on communications teams, HR staff, and consultants while one in four fire trucks rust in sheds or break down on call.”

“Every dollar of the $3 million in remuneration for the top brass is a dollar that’s not spent on the frontline firefighters who save lives and protect our communities. These cuts prove that FENZ’s funding problem isn’t the amount of money it gets, it’s how it’s being spent.”

“This proposal must target the number of overpaid top jobs within fire and emergency. There’s no reason frontline firefighters should pay the price for management’s failure to control spending.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon claims that 50 percent of government agencies don't have asset management plans.

That means half of the government's departments, crown entities, and state-owned enterprises have no idea what buildings, vehicles, and IT they own or what condition they're in.

This is a basic function of any organisation, and would never fly in the private sector. We've written to the Prime Minister to ask which agencies are failing to show respect for taxpayers' money, and what's being done about it.

Hi,

The breaking news re Andrew Coster / McSkimming's cover-up: another golden handshake must be ruled out.

Last night, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) dropped its report on the Police cover up of the allegations related to disgraced former Commissioner, Jevon McSkimmings.

As an organisation whose primary purpose is accountability of government, I can't think of a report in the last decade more damning of such a senior public official. 

The IPCA conclude that former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster "attempted to influence the nature and extent of the original IPCA investigation and the timeframe for its completion. Those attempts were perceived by some others within Police as designed to bring the investigation to a rapid and premature conclusion so as not to intersect with the Commissioner appointment process and jeopardise Mr McSkimming’s prospects of being appointed as the next Commissioner of Police, notwithstanding the seriousness of the allegations being made."

The former Police Commissioner also put in place a protocol to keep the Police Minister in the dark, ensuring communications intended for the Minister/his office were instead routed to him.

Put simply, New Zealand's former top cop tried to bury sexual allegations related to his mate, and second-in-command. Instead of ensuring a proper investigation, he allowed the Police to prosecute the victim for online harassment of McSkimmings!

He was once labelled 'Cuddles Coster' - 'Creepy Coster' seems more apt.

Regular readers will recall that in order to move Coster on from the Police, the Government moved him sideways last November to a very well paid role, CEO of the Social Investment Agency (he's on roughly the same as the Prime Minister's salary).

Despite the damning report, Coster has not resigned. He's digging in and is on 'garden leave', i.e. full pay.

This is the way it goes in the public service - as we saw with the former Reserve Bank Governor, Adrian Orr – no one gets sacked in Wellington, without a negotiated taxpayer-funded "golden handshake".

We say, enough is enough. We are calling on the Public Service Commissioner to publicly rule out a costly parachute for Coster (see our media release here: Brian Roche looking like a fool for every minute Creepy Coster remains on the public teat)

My prediction is that this will be a fast-moving story, and it is one the Taxpayers' Union will be keeping a very close eye on.

In the meantime, here are the links to the IPCA's own damning words: the full 135 page explosive report is downloadable here, and the IPCA's shorter summary is here.

On to more positive matters...

We've celebrated another Taxpayer Victory, and this one has been a long time coming...

Taxpayer Victory: health research funding responsibility to be taken away from the Health Research Council 💉🥳

Yyou might recall that last year, your humble Taxpayers' Union got into a little bit of controversy for calling out some of the most ridiculous Health Research Council stories.

Among the "science" grants we called out were the $377,550 for "Healing with Māori Music"; $150,000 for "Building room for equity: Culture centred design of hospital waiting rooms"; $150,000 for "Health Promotion Interventions for Pacific men in a Barbershop" and the following grant, that we're still trying to figure out...

More recently, we highlighted the hundreds of thousands of "science" money being shuffled by the Health Research Council to "exploring the narratives of the water" and "the use of te reo in Otago University". 

The wheels of Government move slowly, but at long last, the Health Research Council is having its wings clipped.

Minister for Science, Innovation, and Technology Dr Shane Reti has announced an in-principle decision has also been made to transfer health research funding from the Health Research Council to a new (and, we understand, narrower in scope) Research Funding NZ.

With every health and research dollar being precious, it's good to finally see some progress. We look forward to reviewing the next set of grant approvals...

MFAT spends five days figuring out what to do with Winston Peters’ Mongolian horse 🐎 

Ever had a horse to house? Last week, our investigations team uncovered that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spent five days debating how to handle Winston Peters’ gift from Mongolia: a horse named Stamina.

Thanks to a tip off and subsequent Official Information Act (OIA) responses (which can be read here and here), we now know that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spent a solid five days on what can only be described as a game of “What do we do with this horse?”

An email chain involving 14 MFAT officials reveals a whole lot of back-and-forth on issues like what to name the horse (eventually landing on Stamina), how similar gifts had been previously handled, and just generally what to do with this unusual diplomatic gift.

It’s an impressive display of the burden of bureaucracy in action. Spending five days working on what to do with Stamina doesn't exactly scream Government efficiency to us! 

Police breath tests: Allegations of a costly systemic rot 🚔 

RNZ recently broke the story that more than 100 police officers are under investigation for falsifying 30,000 breath‑tests.

And now we've learned that more than 100 of the officers currently remain on duty. This begs the question, where is the accountability for falsifying data?

The Police force exceeded its annual testing target by nearly a million tests, but it now appears some officers manipulated the numbers to hit performance goals. This exposes a system that prioritises appearances over accountability.

We say Ministers and senior police leadership must take action to restore trust, enforce consequences, and fix the culture that allowed this dishonesty to happen.

And with today's news (see top of email), isn't that true?!

Auckland's Supercity: A decade without a serious review 🔍🤨️

Can you believe the Auckland Council and the Supercity model have been operating for over a decade?

Yet despite billions flowing through rates and development levies, there’s never been a full, independent review into whether the supercity delivers value for ratepayers. 

Longtime Taxpayers' Union expert advisory, Phil Barry, has been crunching the numbers on the Super City. His latest analysis highlights how the governance framework remains bloated, opaque, and untested against real outcomes. From sprawling committees to overlapping council-controlled organisations, it creates layers of bureaucracy that cost everyday Aucklanders both time and money.

With other parts of the country considering amalgamation, it is important to understand whether Auckland's supercity has actually delivered for ratepayers before others follow and amalgamate.

Phil's report should be a call to arms to ensure the Government commissions the post-implementation review ratepayers were promised when the Super City was introduced.

Stephen Rowe: Leading AI Politics and global youth movements 🎤🇺🇸 

Last week, our university campus group Generation Screwed met with Stephen Rowe, who was over from the US being hosted by the Taxpayers' Union. Stephen has extensive experience in leveraging AI and technology to mobilise pro-freedom organisations and make political engagement more effective. 

Over the years, he has worked closely with centre-right activists, including the late Charlie Kirk, who hired Stephen as just the third Turning Point USA employee way back when.

Creating a first-class opportunity to learn from someone who knows how to transform ideas into action and grow a movement that matters… all while throwing in a Lord of the Rings reference or two.

Stephen featured on Sunday’s Q+A with Jack Tame, discussing AI in Politics and his experience working with Charlie Kirk. 

Stephen was also interviewed and featured on page two of the Weekend Post, and sat down for a (very entertaining!) podcast with Taxpayers' Union supporter (and Sunday Star Times columnist) Damien Grant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTVDH7-UdwU

Taxpayer Talk – Jamie Beaton on how to fix New Zealand's failing education system 📚

For this week's episode of Taxpayer Talk, I sit down with Jamie Beaton, the co-founder of Crimson Education and one of New Zealand’s most high-profile entrepreneurs. Hailing from Auckland, Jamie has turned his ambition into a global platform, helping students gain access to elite universities while showing the world what Kiwi talent can achieve.

Jamie didn’t shy away from the politics of entrepreneurship either, highlighting how burdensome regulation and high taxes can stifle young people trying to make their mark. Jamie argued the government should focus on empowering ambitious individuals, rather than penalising success, stressing the importance of nurturing local talent to compete on a global stage. 

For Generation Screwed and other young Kiwis looking to turn ideas into action, Jamie’s experience and advice offer a blueprint: ambition, persistence, and smart risk-taking. His story is proof that New Zealanders can play at the highest level internationally if given the right opportunities and support. 

Jordan Williams  Executive Director  New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

PS. The victory over the Health Research Council is a big win for taxpayers, but you know that we can’t stop here. We’re building up our reserves for election 2026 to ensure we can continue holding the government (and opposition parties!) accountable. If you want to see more wins like this, please donate to our fighting fund today.

NEW POLL: Centre-Right lead, Labour largest party, Seymour sees boost

Good news for the Coalition as they regain the lead in this month's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, conducted between 02 and 06 November – the first major national poll since Labour's capital gains tax policy announcement.

Despite the lead for the coalition, the poll shows Labour still keeps its spot as the largest party, gaining 2.1 points to 33.3 percent. National gained 0.6 points to 30.2 percent.

The Greens drop 2.8 points to 9.2 percent, while New Zealand First drops 1.5 points to 9.1 percent. ACT gains 2.0 points to 8.6 percent, while Te Pāti Māori drops 1.1 points to 3.3 percent.

Headline results and more information about the methodology can be found on the Taxpayers' Union's website at www.taxpayers.org.nz/tucurpoll_nov2025

For the minor parties, NZ Outdoors and Freedom was on 1.5 percent, TOP was on 1.2 percent, New Conservatives on 1.2 percent, and Vision NZ on 0.4 percent.

This month's results are compared to the last Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll conducted in October 2025, available at www.taxpayers.org.nz/2025polloct_taxpcur

The combined projected seats for the Centre-Right is up 3 to 62 seats. The combined seats for the Centre-Left is down 1 to 60. On these numbers, the Centre-Right bloc could form a Government.

Labour gains 2 seats to 42, while National gains 1 seat to 39. The Greens drop 3 seats to 12, while New Zealand First drops 1 seat to 12. ACT gains 3 seats to 11, while Te Pāti Māori remain unchanged on 6.

Christopher Luxon has reclaimed the top spot as Preferred Prime Minister, rising 1.0 point to 20.8 percent. Chris Hipkins fell 0.3 points to 20.6 percent. Winston Peters is on 8.5 percent (-1.4 points), Chlöe Swarbrick is on 4.1 percent (-2.2 points), and David Seymour is on 7.7 percent (+3.7 points).

Luxon's net favourability continues to be negative at -10 percent (+4 points), and Hipkins remains negative at -2 percent (nc). Peters is on 2 percent (+5 points), while Seymour jumps 16 points to -11 percent.

Commenting on the results, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Jordan Williams said:

"This poll will come as a relief for the Government. After a series of policy announcement by Labour, it appears to be gobbling up support from it's likely partner the Greens, rather than taking votes from the coalition."

"The much hyped capital gains tax appears to have caused a ripple, rather than a wave."

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling for Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche to immediately sack the Social Investment Agency's CEO, Andrew Coster and rule out a golden handshake or exit payout. This follows revelations that the former Police Commissioner “lacks integrity” and “lacks leadership”, according to current Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. Coster is currently on garden leave as CEO of the Social Investment Agency, and receiving full pay.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Jordan Williams said:

“Every hour Andrew Coster remains on the public payroll is a disgrace.”

 “He’s on similar pay to the Prime Minister, despite being exposed as totally unfit for leadership. The public service is treating taxpayers like fools, and Brian Roche is letting it happen."

”Under Coster’s watch, a victim was charged with harassment, while a secret protocol was implemented to hide information from the Police Minister. The IPCA even say that then-Commissioner Coster attempted to influence the nature and extent of their investigation."

"These are not technical slip-ups, they were serious abuses of trust. Yet, rather than being shown the door, Coster continues to enjoy full pay on garden leave. It's a slap in the face to victims."

“This is exactly what’s wrong with New Zealand’s bloated and unaccountable bureaucracy. “When ordinary Kiwis fail at their jobs, they get marched out the door. When top bureaucrats fail, even spectacularly, they get months of paid leave and more often than not a payout."

"Roche needs to front up to media this morning and assure taxpayers that there will be no payout, no golden goodbye, and no soft landing for Coster funded that costs taxpayers."

”Current laws prevent Ministers from firing senior officials who’ve lost public confidence without costly payouts."

"The Taxpayers' Union says that to improve public sector accountability, those laws need to change."

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the Reserve Bank of New Zealand for more than quadrupling its Auckland lease costs under former Governor Adrian Orr’s 10-year Britomart lease.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“Even after he’s gone, Taxpayers are once again forced to underwrite Orr’s empire-building at the Reserve Bank."

“6-figure golden handshakes, two and a half times more staff than 2018, and a $14.5 million fit-out for a half-empty luxury office in Auckland are just part of the former Governor’s legacy of waste.”

“The Reserve Bank has been the poster-child for government waste over the last seven years. Hopefully the incoming Governor can learn from her predecessor’s mistakes.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is praising Palmerston North City councillors who signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge for successfully removing unelected representatives from two council committees and is urging the full council to finish the job at Wednesday’s vote.

Between the first draft and current proposed committee structure, unelected appointees have been removed from the Sports & Recreation and Community Resilience & Sustainability Committees.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“This is a huge win for local democracy and a credit to the councillors who stood by their Ratepayer Protection Pledge. Ratepayers expect decisions about spending and local policy to be made by the people they voted for, not unelected appointees.”

“Unelected representatives have no democratic accountability, yet were being given influence over key decisions involving millions of dollars of public money. That’s simply not right.”

“With the vote on Wednesday, councillors have the chance to finish the job and ensure full democratic accountability to all committees. Those other councillors who believe in transparency and democracy must back the move to remove unelected members entirely.”

On Friday, Treasury’s latest Investment Statement delivered yet another warning that the Government’s current fiscal path isn’t sustainable. Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“Treasury saying the Government’s balance sheet is heading for deterioration is not-so-subtle code for living well beyond our means. Spending will keep growing far faster than revenue, and there’s no plan to bring things back under control.”

“We’re watching the Government walk straight down the same dark path Britain has taken. Britain’s response to a budget crisis has been to hammer taxpayers, pushing investment and high earners overseas, and trapping the economy in a downward spiral. New Zealand can’t afford to repeat that mistake.”

“Spending is still higher than when the last Government left office, even after Labour’s spending blowout. The Finance Minister still won’t make the hard calls to right the ship. If Minister Willis won’t listen to Treasury’s warnings, the obvious question is: who is she listening to?”

The Taxpayers’ Union is criticising the Government’s decision to spend $6.3 million to bring the Michelin Guide to New Zealand, calling it a lavish subsidy for top-tier restaurants.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross, said:

“At a time when the Government are trying to find savings and Kiwis are battling through a cost-of-living crisis, chucking $6.3 million away so fine diners can get a Michelin star dinner is a bad look.”

“Gambling on tens of thousands of visitors deciding to hop on a long-haul flight for their next meal is not responsible spending. It’s even more bizarre for Tourism New Zealand to fritter away millions, barely a year after slapping the sort of tax hike on international visitors which stops people holidaying here.”

“If the Government wants to support tourism and hospitality, there are far better ways to do that which benefit the whole economy. For starters, capping rates, which would provide relief for one of businesses’ fasting growing cost increases.”

In response to Wairarapa council leaders’ complaints about pay scales, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross asked, “If the pay is so unfair, why do so many people want to be on councils?”

“If councillors want to reduce their workload, they should focus on the basics: roads, pipes, parks, and recreation. Finding new ways to waste ratepayers’ money isn’t justification for a pay rise.”

“It’s hard to take these complaints seriously when all four councils raised rates by 25 to 45 percent over the last three years. Stop hitting ratepayers before asking for more money.”

“Councils should be streamlining processes as standard practice. That means using new technology like large language models (AI) to assist with research, but also making sure that officials don’t drag their feet on providing timely information.”

“The Remuneration Authority sets elected members’ base pay to try and take the politics out of remuneration. While not perfect, it’s far better than councillors being allowed to mark their own homework.”

Winston Peters’ diplomatic “gift horse” Stamina from Mongolia has turned into quite the spectacle, although not for the reasons you might expect. Thanks to a tip off and subsequent Official Information Act (OIA) responses (which can be read here and here), we now know that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spent a solid five days on what can only be described as a game of “What Do We Do With This Horse?”

An email chain involving 14 (!!!) MFAT officials reveals a whole lot of back-and-forth on issues like what to name the horse (eventually landing on Stamina, which they must have needed a lot of to get through this process), how to handle the paperwork, and just generally what to do with this unusual diplomatic gift. It’s an impressive display of the burden of bureaucracy in action.

With the average Wellington bureaucrat earning around $48.50 an hour, that’s a fair chunk of change spent on horse names, file handling, and, presumably, ensuring that Stamina’s paperwork was in tip-top shape. Five days spent working on a horse’s paperwork doesn’t exactly scream “efficient government spending,” does it?

Of course, the documents released to the public are heavily redacted, which only adds fuel to the fire. It’s hard not to wonder whether the full, unedited version might reveal even more comedic gems hidden beneath all the red ink.

Entrepreneur and Crimson Education founder Jamie Beaton joins Taxpayer Talk to discuss his extensive academic career, including his 11 degrees, and to offer a strong policy critique advocating for replacing the NCEA high school qualification with a more rigorous, globally standardized system.

Responding to David Seymour’s comments on selling down the Government’s stake in major electricity companies, Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“Seymour is asking the right questions. Why should the Crown own billions in shares in major electricity companies? We accept the Government doesn’t need to own fuel or telco businesses, so why should it own electricity companies?”

“Government ownership of these companies is outdated, withholding funds that could be better used elsewhere. It's time to free up the sector and allow private investment to take charge.”

“Partial sales worked before, delivering efficiency and better returns. The coalition must listen to Seymour’s call and sell down these assets to prioritise taxpayer interests, rather than holding onto assets for the sake of ownership.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Minister Willis to deliver full capital expensing to boost the economy following today’s figures showing unemployment at an eight-year high, with youth unemployment at 15%.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“More New Zealanders out of work is not a sign of a healthy economy, especially when combined with last month's GDP contraction. Minister Willis cannot simply talk about growth. If she wants more jobs and higher wages, she needs to back New Zealanders who create them.”

“Cutting wasteful spending and reducing taxes would send a clear signal that New Zealand is open for business again. You don’t solve unemployment by growing bureaucracy, you solve it by letting workers and employers keep more of what they earn so they can invest, hire, and build.”
 

“If Minister Willis is looking for inspiration, she needs to look no further than our report Going for Growth: Full Expensing of Capital Expenditure. Full capital‑expensing of new equipment and technology would unleash investment, lift productivity and create real jobs, and it’s right there in her hands.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming news of another taxpayer-funded payout, this time to Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby, calling it the second golden handshake revealed in as many months.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“This is déjà vu for taxpayers. Just weeks after Adrian Orr’s golden goodbye was revealed, we’re now seeing another six-figure payout dressed up as a ‘restraint of trade’. It’s the same old story: public-sector insiders look after their own while taxpayers pick up the tab.”

“Most Kiwis don’t get a cushy payout when they leave their jobs, so why should bureaucrats who already get paid eye-watering salaries be treated any differently?”

“The power to stop this sits squarely with Minister Judith Collins. Anyone in the public service earning more than the Prime Minister should have no entitlement to a taxpayer-funded golden handshake, period.”

“Two golden handshakes in two months is two too many. The Minister needs to act now to protect taxpayers from footing the bill for more of these outrageous payouts.”

Taxpayers who agree that golden handshakes must end can sign the petition at taxpayers.org.nz/petition_end_golden_handshakes.

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming ACC’s decision to halt funding to Water Safety New Zealand, saying taxpayers deserve spending based on results, not emotion, lobbying, or good intentions alone.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Jordan Williams, said:

“ACC isn’t a charity. It’s funded by taxes and every dollar spent has to be shown to actually reduce injuries and claims. Good intentions are not enough."

“If a programme can’t prove it works, taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to fund it.”

“Feel-good funding is not good-enough funding.”

The Union says ACC’s job is to prevent injuries cost-effectively, not hand out grants to advocacy groups without clear evidence.
 

Back in 2014 the Taxpayers' Union uncovered an ACC rort (as described by the then-Minister of ACC) involving the Council of Trade Unions and Business NZ who were being paid to conduct "health and safety training" that was found to have zero impact. It was, in the case of the CTU, being used to sell the benefits of union membership. In that case, it took exposing the cost-benefit analysis of ACC to force them to cut the programme.

"It's good to see ACC are not waiting to be publicly shamed into the decision."

“Drowning prevention is very important, but importance is not evidence. If the data doesn’t stack up for Water Safety NZ's programmes, the funding shouldn’t either.”

Commenting on Labour’s proposal to tax inflation by not adjusting their capital gains tax plans for rising prices, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“If Hipkins’ plan had been in place over the last decade, people would have faced an effective tax rate of 58.57 percent on real gains. Pretending that won’t hammer small businesses and drive up rents is a fantasy.”

“Even the original designers of capital gains taxes knew you don’t tax inflation. Hitting people whose assets are worth the same - or even less - in real terms is nothing but a shameless tax raid.”

“Labour’s plan to increase inflation and then tax people for it is unprincipled and unfair. Families and small business owners are being lined up for six-figure tax bills because of a cost-of-living crisis they didn’t create.”

The Ministry for Culture and Heritage confirmed in an OIA response that it gave $82,800 to support the Kiingi Tuheitia Portraiture Awards 2023 — a competition for Māori artists aged 35 and under.

One of the runner-up works, shown above, features a broom. While art is subjective, most taxpayers would be surprised to learn their money is going toward funding competitions that hand out large sums for entries like this.

Of course, supporting young artists is valuable. But so is accountability for how public funds are spent. When everyday New Zealanders are tightening their belts, it’s fair to ask whether $82,800 for a single art competition is the best use of limited taxpayer money.

Transparency and scrutiny aren’t anti-art, they’re about making sure funding decisions reflect the priorities of the people who actually pay for them.

Read the full Official Information Act response here:

The Taxpayers’ Union says Labour’s promise of three “free” (taxpayer-funded) GP visits won’t be worth much if New Zealanders can’t see a GP in the first place, with 1 in 7 GP practices unable to provide an appointment for more than a month. Instead, Labour's policy looks more like a cheap political gimmick to justify a new tax than a serious health solution.

This morning, researchers at the Taxpayers’ Union conducted a mystery spot audit of 14 randomly selected GP clinics across New Zealand, asking when an enrolled patient could get the next available appointment. The average wait time was more than a week (6.4 business days), and two clinics were unable to offer a single appointment for nearly a month.

“These results show the real barrier to primary healthcare isn’t the price of an appointment, it’s getting one, unlike what Labour would have you believe,” said Tory Relf, Head of Communications at the Taxpayers’ Union.

“Free GP visits are meaningless if the doctor can’t see you until Christmas. People aren’t asking for a new tax-funded bureaucracy, just to see a doctor before their condition gets worse.”

The Taxpayers' Union says New Zealand’s GP system is already stretched to breaking point.

“GPs are restricted in what they can charge and how they run their practices. There’s a de-facto price cap on services, so even wealthy suburbs with patients willing to pay more can’t attract enough GPs.”

“And these numbers understate the crisis. Thousands of Kiwis can’t even find a local GP clinic accepting new enrolments. No wonder A&Es are overflowing and our doctors are packing their bags for Australia.”

The Taxpayers' Union is urging political parties to focus on boosting GP workforce capacity, not marketing gimmicks.

“Ramping up demand by subsidising the wealthiest households at a time when there aren't enough appointments as it is, is simply lunacy. If anything, this policy is more likely to drive people into attending A&E unnecessarily when they can't get into a primary care provider.”

"Labour's policy reads like it was written for a campaign ad, not a health system in distress."

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling Labour’s proposed capital gains tax (CGT) an unfair and poorly thought-out policy that punishes ordinary New Zealanders for inflation, not real gains.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“Labour’s capital gains tax is effectively a tax on inflation. Around 40 percent of house price growth over the past three decades has simply been inflation, not real profit, yet Labour wants to tax it anyway. That’s not fair or sensible economic policy.”

“By refusing to adjust for inflation, Labour is taxing people on phantom gains. It means someone could sell a property for the same - or lower - real value they bought it for but still get hit with a 28 percent tax bill.”

“If Labour genuinely wanted to broaden the tax base, it would have made the policy revenue neutral by lowering other taxes. Instead, it’s just another cash grab dressed up as reform.”

A new report on New Zealand’s illicit tobacco market shows the Government’s tobacco excise policy is blowing smoke up gangs and criminals — while driving the first increase in smoking rates in decades.

The report by FTI Consulting reveals that illicit tobacco now makes up 27 percent of all cigarettes smoked in New Zealand, up from 23.6 percent last year and 16.5 percent in 2022. The result: over $600 million in lost excise revenue in 2024 — and an increase in smoking rates.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“This is textbook Laffer Curve economics. The Government has pushed excise rates so high that every further tax increase now reduces the tax take. While tax receipts for tobacco products are falling, demand hasn’t disappeared — it’s just gone underground."

“With nearly a third of cigarettes smoked in New Zealand now illicit, the losers are taxpayers, the health system, and legitimate retailers. The winners are the counterfeit Chinese producers, the smugglers, and organised crime."

“The irony is staggering: years of punitive tax hikes meant to cut smoking have instead increased smoking while starving the Treasury of hundreds of millions in revenue. If the Government is serious about a smoke free New Zealand, it needs to stop virtue signalling and get serious about enforcing the law.”

“Over-taxation has created a whole new market for dirt-cheap counterfeit cigarettes. That means while the tax receipts are going down, the actual number of people smoking is going up. This report should be a wake-up call.”

The Taxpayers' Union is slamming Labour's newly announced Capital Gains Tax on investment and commercial property, dubbing it a "Bach Tax" that punishes savers, kills productivity, and opens the door to a full-blown wealth tax.

"This is a tax on inflation disguised as fairness," said Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers' Union.

"Even if your property hasn't increased in real value, you'll still pay up to 28 percent of the paper gain. That's not tax reform, that's daylight robbery."

A tax that pretends to help productivity - but doesn't

Labour claims the policy will make the economy "more productive" by shifting tax away from "work and business." It's a nice talking point, but it's not the policy.

"Labour talks about the 'unfair burden on productive Kiwis' yet this policy doesn't reduce that burden by a single cent," said Williams.

"They're just piling a new tax on top. Not one business owner or wage-earner will pay a dollar less tax under this plan."

Taxing inflation is fundamentally unfair

Labour's CGT doesn't even adjust for inflation, meaning everyday savers, small business owners, and investors will be taxed on imaginary gains.

"If you buy a property today and sell it in ten years for exactly the same real value, Labour wants nearly a third of your nest egg," said Williams.

"That's not a tax on profit, it's a tax on patience."

A political Trojan horse

"Once a CGT is in place, history shows it inevitably expands to family homes, inheritances, and even death duties," said Williams.

"Every country that's adopted a so-called 'targeted' CGT ends up with the full-blown version. This is just the first spoonful."

Bad economics, bad politics

• Volatile revenue: CGT inflows crash in recessions, making it a terrible base for funding ongoing health entitlements like Labour's "free GP visits."
• Distorts investment: Discourages development and improvement - people hold onto assets longer just to avoid the tax.
• Inflated valuations: Tying the system to outdated council Capital Valuations (CVs) is a recipe for inequity and endless disputes. CVs are often materially wrong. A CV, wrong by just $100,000, will result in a $28,000 tax bill.

"The Government doesn't have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. In 2017, the Government was 27.7% of the economy. Now spending is 32.5%. Labour could easily have looked for savings and spending reprioritisation. Instead Hipkins is doubling down on new taxes. That's lazy, and to dressing it up as something to 'help' the economy is political gas lighting.”

This week on Taxpayer Talk, Jordan is joined by international consultant Rowan Pike, a former Australian Federal Police officer and Customs and Border Force expert, to unpack the explosive rise of illicit tobacco in Australia.

With around half of all cigarettes now sourced from the black market, Rowan reveals how sky-high excise taxes have fuelled organised crime, gang violence, and a thriving underground trade. Drawing on his frontline experience, he explains how well-intentioned policies can backfire — and what New Zealand can learn from Australia’s mistakes.

If you care about harm reduction, smarter regulation, and keeping communities safe from criminal networks, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Labour’s plan to expand taxpayer subsidies for the video-game industry, warning the current Game Development Sector Rebate is already unnecessary corporate welfare.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Rhys Hurley, said:

“This is déjà vu. We’ve already seen millions funnelled into the gaming sector through the Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE) and rebate scheme, with next to no public transparency and questionable results. Why double down on a failed policy?”

“If Labour are actually serious about jobs and growth, writing bigger and bigger cheques to high-performing overseas developers already turning over millions won’t cut it."

"New Zealand has some of the highest corporate tax rates in the world; that’s why firms can’t succeed here.”

“Labour want to keep taking money from small businesses who could stand on their own two feet and use it to prop up pet firms who can’t. This is corporate welfare in high-definition.”

The Taxpayers' Union is welcoming the resignation of disgraced former Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton as head of the LGNZ lobby group and says it is a chance for the organisation to hit the re-set button and appoint someone on the side of local democracy, not the Labour Party or partisan politics.

Taxpayers' Union spokesman Jordan Williams said:

"This is obviously sad for Sam, and we wish him well in his next endeavours, but it is a chance for LGNZ to draw a line in the sand and set a better path."

"With most New Zealanders living in council areas not joined up to LGNZ, unless something changes, it risks losing its legitimacy or even viability."

"In recent weeks, we've been hearing reports that Sam Broughton was lining up former Hutt City Mayor and Labour Party-activist Cambell Barry for the LGNZ CEO role. Such an appointment would be a nail in LGNZ's coffin, and we hope the reports are wrong."

"Like we say about local councils, LGNZ should stick to its knitting, core services, and not get caught up in activism and politics."

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming Labour’s newfound interest in economic growth, while warning that its proposed “New Zealand Future Fund” looks more like a trip back to the 1970s than a plan for the future.

Taxpayers' Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“Economic growth isn’t everything, but it’s almost everything when it comes to improving living standards, life expectancy, happiness, and even environmental outcomes. Only growth allows New Zealand to do more with less.”

“Labour are finally talking about growth - that’s progress. But their solution is a taxpayer-funded investment fund run by politicians and bureaucrats pretending to be venture capitalists. If government-backed venture funds worked, North Korea would be Silicon Valley by now.”

“Why would Labour deliberately choose to invest in assets with sub-par returns? If they’re serious about building national wealth, they should stop scaring investors away with constant talk of capital gains and wealth taxes.”

“Recycling state-owned assets to free up capital makes sense. Gambling with taxpayers’ money on politically chosen projects does not. The Super Fund has delivered strong returns because it’s independent and profit-driven, so why break a model that works?”

“The investment decisions will inevitably be political. When governments try to ‘pick winners,’ taxpayers end up with the losses while connected industries pocket the gains. We’ve already seen this with KiwiBuild and the Provincial Growth Fund. Successful wealth funds overseas, like Norway’s, were built on genuine resource surpluses and disciplined fiscal management. Labour want to ban oil and gas exploration and spend like there’s no tomorrow. That’s not a recipe for prosperity.”

“New Zealand is starved of capital, and Labour is right about that. But the answer isn’t another bureaucracy pretending to be a venture capital firm. The best way to get money into productive investment is to make it attractive for Kiwis to do it themselves, without politicians in the way.”

"Most taxpayers would agree that the Government should focus on what it's good at, not try to play fund manager. By all means recycle capital - into good quality roads, and public services. But how many times do politicians need to flirt with corporate welfare and job creation schemes before they learn the lesson? State sponsored capitalism - mixing profit and social objectives – always fails."

Responding to Statistics New Zealand’s announcement today that annual CPI inflation has hit three percent, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“Inflation is hitting the ceiling of the Reserve Bank’s target range, and council rates hikes are doing the heavy lifting. Local authority rates and payments contributed 27.9 percent of quarterly inflation."

“With average rates up 34 percent in just three years, council waste is hitting Kiwis with a double whammy: first directly in their pockets, and second through the inflation those hikes are fuelling.”

“These figures make it clear that local government needs to change. Kiwis can’t afford this cost-of-living crisis, so the Government must cap rates now.”

Hi,

Despite the sad news about the passing of Jim Bolger this week, it's still been very busy. As more of the final council election results come through, one message is clear: this was the Revenge of the Ratepayer.

Local election results: Revenge of the Ratepayer 🗳️

A clear pattern has emerged from the local body election results: mayors who treated ratepayers with disdain have been thrown out of office, while those who showed fiscal restraint have been rewarded.

Of the ten councils with the biggest annual rates hikes (12.6 percent and above), only one mayor — in Grey District — held on. Of the top 20 highest increases (9.9 percent and above), just five mayors kept their jobs.

In contrast, of the ten councils with the smallest rate hikes (5.8 percent and below), seven mayors were re-elected. Among the bottom 20, 13 mayors retained office.

Communities across New Zealand have sent a message loud and clear to stop using ratepayers as a money tree. This election proves what we’ve said all along: voters don’t want endless rate hikes, they want councils to live within their means.

Putting promises into practice 💪 

It’s been great to see some real wins coming out of our Ratepayer Protection Pledge campaign.

An incredible 108 candidates who signed our Pledge have been elected, including seven mayors (that’s about 10 percent of all mayors in New Zealand) and 101 councillors spread across 47 councils.

That’s 108 voices around the table reminding their colleagues that every dollar spent comes from someone’s pocket. It’s a solid start – a sign that voters want change, and that some of their representatives are ready to deliver it.

To everyone who chipped in, put up signage, or otherwise supported our efforts over recent months - thank you for making it possible.

From Mayor to Chair: have a job on your way out... 😳

Just because we’ve got a new crop of councillors doesn’t mean we’ve finished exposing the old ones yet.

There have been some real shenanigans going on as mayors and councillors seek to secure themselves a cushy job for their post-council selves.

Take Neil Holdom – former Mayor of New Plymouth District Council – who, in a closed-door meeting the day before the election closed, was appointed chair of his Council’s new Water Services Council Controlled Organisation.

The new Mayor, Max Brough, is not impressed. He’s instructed lawyers to investigate how it all unfolded. More to come on this, it seems...

No longer the Mayor, but still a picture of waste: Tory’s portrait problems 👩‍🎨

Neil Holdom wasn’t the only mayor securing a legacy on the way out. In Wellington, outgoing mayor Tory Whanau managed to leave behind something rather... artistic.

Thanks to what the Wellington City Council called a “mistake,” Wellington ratepayers have forked out $7,000 for a painted portrait of the outgoing mayor. The painting reportedly shows what Whanau herself described as “Mana serving Diva” (their words, not ours). 👀

For context, the last painted mayoral portrait was of Kerry Prendergast back in 2011. Since then, mayors have sensibly opted for photographs instead. Celia Wade-Brown’s photo cost $2,000 - hardly cheap, but still a bargain compared to Tory’s canvas.

Celebrating the Government’s good news: Smaller bureaucracy, better books ⚡️

This week brought two bits of good news for taxpayers (and the Government): the Government’s books look a little healthier sorry, less sick than expected, and the ballooning public service has actually started to shrink. And not a moment too soon!

The latest figures now show the public service has shrunk by 1,568 full-time roles since the election, from 64,222 to 62,654. It’s not a revolution, but it’s the first real movement in the right direction since the Government was elected.

Not even after the cuts, there are still 15,000 more bureaucrats than when Ardern was elected in 2017. And, as we all know, most of those roles are buried in policy shops and back offices that do little to improve frontline public services.

Meanwhile, the 2025 audited financial statements show the government itself is doing a bit better than forecast in terms of cutting fat. Core Crown spending has fallen as a share of the economy, and a few one-off blowouts from 2023/24 haven’t been repeated. Finally, some good news.

But let’s not break out the bubbly just yet. Government spending is still much higher than when the current Government came into office, and the return to surplus will take more discipline and a steady refusal to let the bureaucracy bloat back up.

Getting the Government's boot off the neck of the productive economy is the only way to boost growth, productivity and living standards.

More of this please, Nicola Willis! 👏👏👏

$2.8 million youth survey comes with $7,500 of brownies 🍫💸

Your humble Taxpayers' Union has sniffed out a baker's dozen of waste stories over the years arising from the Ministry of Social Development, and this one takes the biscuit.

MSD has spent $2.8 million on a "youth wellbeing survey" – amounting to more than $350 per survey response!

And as if that wasn't enough, the hungry bureaucrats decided the best way to get schools to take part was by sending them $7,544 worth of brownies.

Under the Official Information Act, Investigations Coordinator Rhys uncovered that MSD’s research contractor, Ipsos, sent brownie boxes to 184 schools and kura at $41 a pop. The perfect staffroom treat!

While families across the country are tightening their belts, bureaucrats are literally sweetening the deal to get people to [checks notes] fill in surveys. Questions include whether young people consider whether there is "value in connecting between groups".

And, just in case you worried that the survey was good value for money, check out the mumbo jumbo reports that the last one was used to create. This is what having 15,000 too many bureaucrats looks like...

Should the Government get out of the landlord business? 🧐🏡

Our friends over at the NZ Initiative have released a new report asking a simple question: why does the government still own more than 77,000 houses when it’s proven to be such a poor landlord?

The report, with the short and snappy title Owning less to achieve more: Refocusing Kāinga Ora, argues that helping people with housing doesn’t require the state to own the houses. Government ownership has been costly and inefficient. Kāinga Ora’s costs are roughly double those of private landlords, and it struggles with rent arrears and disruptive tenants.

The report suggests selling state houses to community housing providers, iwi, private landlords, or current tenants. He also recommends housing vouchers to give tenants more choice and selling off Kāinga Ora’s unused land to boost supply.

The takeaway: both tenants and taxpayers could be better off if the government stopped trying to be a landlord and focused on ensuring real housing options that actually work.

👉 Read the full report here

Taxpayer Talk: Cameron Luxton on the Gene Technology Bill 🎙️

This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams is joined by ACT MP Cameron Luxton for a wide-ranging discussion on the Government’s new Gene Technology Bill and what it means for innovation and regulation in New Zealand.

Cameron shares his perspective on the Bill’s Māori advisory committee and how ACT approached its position.

Peter and Cameron also discuss the Bill he has drafted to improve transparency and accountability in local government by banning unelected voting members on council committees - we'll definitely be keeping an eye on this!

You can listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Another long newsletter, after another busy week for the team. I'll let them sleep one day.

Enjoy your weekend!

Tory Relf Head of Comms New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Ps. Thank you to everyone who supported our Local Government Campaign Fund. We've had great success - including seven mayors who signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge - it couldn't have happened without your support.

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that Te Puni Kōkiri spent $91,086.50 in 2023/24 on branded merchandise, clothing, and lanyards.

Documents show:

• $52,355.21 on branded merchandise including umbrellas, sunglasses, drink bottles, beach blankets, and tote bags
• $38,219.77 was spent on branded clothing such as wool jackets, polo shirts, and cardigans
• $511.52 went on custom lanyards

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“While families have been struggling and cutting back on household spending, Te Puni Kōkiri spent thousands on backpacks, lanyards, and umbrellas.”

“The Ministry of Māori Development exists to promote the wellbeing of Māori, not to splash out on full-scale branding exercises.”

“When departments start spending on non-essentials, it’s a clear sign their budgets are too big and need to be cut back.”

“Taxpayers’ dollars should be going toward frontline services or paying down debt, not freebie swag that ends up in storage cupboards, staff wardrobes, or giveaways.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through Official Information Act request that Immigration New Zealand has collected $7,546,236 in International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levies (IVL) from people whose visa or NZeTA applications were rejected since 2022.

Between January 2022 and June 2025, 156,773 visa applications and 2,160 NZeTA requests were declined after paying the non-refundable levy. The Ministry justified the policy by saying refund mechanisms would impose “significant administrative costs” on the immigration system.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“This needs to be called what it is, a cash grab. Charging people a levy for conservation and tourism when they never even set foot in New Zealand makes no sense.”

“Immigration New Zealand is pocketing millions from would-be visitors who are told after the fact that their application failed.”

“If the Government can process nearly 160,000 rejections, it can process refunds. The current approach is unfair, and only risks hurting brand New Zealand to the rest of the world.” 

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through Official Information Act request that the Ministry of Social Development is spending $2.8 million on a youth wellbeing survey that included sending brownie boxes worth $7,544 to schools to encourage participation.

The Ministry confirmed that research firm Ipsos, which is contracted to deliver the Youth Health and Wellbeing Survey, sent brownie boxes to 170 schools and 14 kura at $41 each including postage - bringing the total cost of the survey to more than $350 per response.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“Taxpayers are footing a $2.8 million bill for a survey that somehow needed a nationwide brownie drop to get schools interested.”

“It’s the kind of sugary spending that shows how detached the Wellington Blob has become from reality. Families are having to cut back, while bureaucrats are spending millions with treats to make people fill in surveys.”

"With up to 8,000 participants, it must be asked if $350 per response is really what taxpayers would feel comfortable with."

"Nobody is questioning finding out the state of our youth's wellbeing, but this should be done at a far smaller price.”

Quarter of Te Pāti Māori and One in Five ACT Voters Say Violence May Be Needed to ‘Fix’ New Zealand

A new Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll reveals worrying levels of support for political violence across the political spectrum. One in four Te Pāti Māori voters and one in five ACT voters agree that “New Zealanders may have to resort to violence to get the country back on track."

Younger New Zealanders are far more likely to back political violence — and less likely to have friends with different political views — than older generations.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“It’s alarming that so many New Zealanders think violence might be justified to ‘fix’ the country. This isn’t a fringe issue any more; it’s a massive red flag for the health of our democracy.”

“Younger people are not only more open to violence, but they’re also less likely to have friends who see the world differently. That kind of political isolation breeds extremism.”

“It is frustrating that having had staff receive death threats and direct intimidation, the Police take absolutely no interest. It puts off good people from participating in public affairs - although for some that is the very purpose. We should not have to wait for a tragedy for the Police to get their act together."

"It’s also time for party leaders to take responsibility and tone down the rhetoric before it escalates further. Democracy depends on debate, not intimidation. Once people stop talking to each other and start seeing violence as an answer, we’re in real trouble.”

The Taxpayers' Union is calling on defeated former Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton to stand down as President of LGNZ and prevent more members of the organisation from pulling out and undermining the fiscal viability of the council lobby group.

Preliminary results of the Selwyn mayoralty show Sam Broughton losing in a landslide victory to Lydia Gliddon, with 4156 votes to 15,497 votes.

"LGNZ has becoming overly politicised and mistrusted under Sam Broughton's leadership," said out Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams.

"As we look through the election results it is pretty clear that without wholesale changes at LGNZ, even more councils will likely pull out."

"LGNZ's membership doesn't even cover half of New Zealand's population. As much as we disagree with LGNZ's direction and blatant left-wing activism, even we see that there is a role for a peak-body organisation."

"But fixing LGNZ is unlikely to come from the leadership which got it into this mess. With the electorate so strongly rejecting Mr Broughton, he should fall on his sword and let the newly elected councils who are still members of LGNZ pick a new President."

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the outgoing New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom being appointed chief executive of the council’s new Water Services Council Controlled Organisation, the day before local election voting closed.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Rhys Hurley said:

“This fails every test of transparency and fairness. Ratepayers will rightly be asking how the sitting mayor ended up in a lucrative new job through a process hidden from public view.”

“Even if Mr Holdom is qualified, this is just another example of why ratepayers are losing faith in local government."

"When the former mayor steps straight into a top executive role with a council-controlled organisation, it looks like the chief executive is giving jobs to his mates."

"The fact councillors were blindsided and the meeting was held in secret the day before polls closed only makes things worse."

"Ratepayers deserve accountability, not political insiders slipping into cushy ratepayer-funded roles on their way out the door.”

The Taxpayers' Union congratulates fellow Atlas Network participant Maria Corina Machado for winning the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize over the weekend.

Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

"Pro-freedom think tanks in Venezuela were among the very first Atlas Network partners in the early 1980s, promoting the ideas behind the movement for human rights and democratic norms in Venezuela that inspire the country's residents to this day. Machado has tirelessly strived to promote democracy and fight dictatorship in her country."

"Although Machado's involvement in Atlas predates mine, she was heavily involved in Atlas Network at about the same time as New Zealand's now Deputy Prime Minister, David Seymour."

"I am delighted to see that Atlas Network will continue to stand by her side, and alongside all of the world’s freedom’s champions, every step of the way."

"On behalf of the Taxpayers' Union - also an Atlas Network Partner - we extend our congratulations."

Analysis of the 2025 preliminary local election results shows a clear pattern that mayors who treated ratepayers like an ATM have been thrown out of office, while those who showed fiscal restraint have been rewarded.

Across the country, voters have sent a simple message: stop hiking rates.

Of the ten councils with the highest annual rates increases (12.6 percent and above), only one mayor was re-elected - in Grey District. Among the top 20 highest increases (9.9 percent and above), just five mayors kept their jobs.

In contrast, of the ten councils with the smallest rate hikes (5.8 percent and below), seven mayors were re-elected. Among the bottom 20, 13 mayors retained office.

Looking over the past three years, the same pattern holds: councils that delivered cumulative increases of 40 percent or more were punished, while those that kept costs under control were rewarded by voters.

“This is the revenge of the ratepayers,” says Jordan Williams, a spokesperson for the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. “Communities across New Zealand have sent a message loud and clear — stop using ratepayers as a money tree. Mayors who ignored that message are now out of a job.”

The data shows that fiscal discipline pays off politically. Mayors who respected household budgets and resisted runaway spending were re-elected in large numbers, while those who presided over record hikes and bloated bureaucracies were shown the door.

“This election proves what we’ve said all along: there’s no mandate for endless rate hikes. Councils must start living within their means.”

Reacting to the latest Public Service Workforce figures, the Taxpayers’ Union says it’s a good start but there is still a long way to go. The new data shows the public service has dropped by 1,568 since the last election from 64,222 in September 2023 to 62,654 full time equivalent roles, including a 0.9 percent decrease in the quarter from March to June.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf says:

“It’s encouraging to see the public service finally heading in the right direction, but we’re still a long way from where we need to be.”

“Even after this reduction, there are more than 15,000 extra workers compared to under the last National Government. While some of that may be frontline work we need, far too many bureaucrats remain in bloated back offices and policy shops.”

“This is a step forward, but it can’t be the last one. The Government needs to stay the course and keep trimming back the bureaucracy.”

BREAKING: Former Reserve Bank Governor under gag clause as part of $416,000 golden handshake

Before we get into the newsletter proper, we've just had land on our desk a copy of the agreement signed between former Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr and the Reserve Bank.

On Monday we learned Orr has been paid a $416,120 'golden goodbye' on top of his $766,180 salary as part of what the Bank and Minister of Finance described as a "restraint of trade".

But taxpayers (and the media) smelled a rat. When have you ever heard of a restraint of trade applying to a civil servant? As we said at time time:

"Heads should roll over this – it's a $416,120 reward for failure," 

"Just what were they worried about? Orr is so disgraced that the only Reserve Bank he could take over is in the third world. Heck, we should have been paying others to take him away!"

"Similarly, the idea a commercial bank would touch Orr is ridiculous. It was the commercial banks quietly telling people about Orr's outrageous behaviour in yelling at executives."

"I have never heard of a 'restraint of trade' in the public service. It's a golden parachute."

The idea the payment was about keeping confidences was also ridiculous: all Reserve Bank staff are already covered by a comprehensive non-disclosure agreement applicable to commercially sensitive information.

An hour ago, thanks to our friends at Newsroom.co.nz, we have a copy of the full agreement, and our suspicions were proved correct.

It isn't a 'restraint of trade' at all. It's a gag agreement!

And it isn't about prohibiting Orr from disclosing secrets, it's literally about prohibiting Orr from criticising the Reserve Bank, the Government, and even the Minister of Finance!

You can read the document for yourself here. 

Here is the statement I've just issued to the media. It speaks for itself:

MEDIA RELEASE

The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the news that disgraced former Reserve Bank Governor, Adrian Orr, is subject to a gagging clause applicable to not just the Bank, but the Government and Minister of Finance. Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Jordan Williams, said:

“The document obtained by Newsroom and shared with the Taxpayers' Union demonstrates how false the claims about the $416,000 so-called ‘restraint of trade’ really are. This is a classic gag agreement - designed to protect the reputations of the elite and shun public scrutiny.”

“Taxpayers’ money should be not be used to buy the silence of a disgraced former public servant. Nor should someone who, apparently, resigned be given a ‘golden goodbye’ for agreeing to keep their mouth shut.”

“Unless the Reserve Bank - and the Minister - waive the requirements on Mr Orr not to speak, it makes a mockery of public assurances of transparency.”

The Reserve Bank is one of New Zealand's most important public institutions. It's snubs to transparency, accountability, and focusing on keeping inflation low have cost New Zealand dearly.

Happy Wednesday! A bumper update today: this month's Taxpayers'-Union Curia Poll is bad news for the two big parties, we celebrate a major rates capping milestone, and expose the bureaucrats who spent 400,000 air miles fighting climate change in Azerbaijan. Let’s get into it.

NEW POLL: Major parties take hit in latest poll 📊🫨

The two Christophers won't be liking latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll with both National and Labour taking a hit.

Labour are down 2.6 points to 31.2 percent, while National are down 3.5 points to 29.6 percent. The Greens are up 1.3 points to 12.0 percent, while NZ First are up 2.5 points to 10.6 percent. ACT are down 0.1 points to 6.6 percent, while Te Pāti Māori are up 0.1 points to 4.4 percent.

On these results, Labour would have 40 seats in Parliament (down two from last month), National 38 (down four), the Greens 15 (up two), NZ First 13 (up three), ACT eight (no change), and Te Pāti Māori six seats (no change).

👉 On these numbers, the Centre-Left bloc could form a Government.

The combined projected seats for the Centre-Left remains on 61 seats, while the combined seats for the Centre-Right drops one to 59.

CAP RATES NOW? Luxon inserts council rates cap in Q4 Government Action Plan 🎉💪

Yesterday Christopher Luxon released the Government's Q4 "Action Plan" and there's some great news contained.

Just four months after we launched our "Cap Rates Now!" campaign at Fieldays, rates capping is now on the Government's official Ministerial action plan for this quarter. That’s a huge win for taxpayers and ratepayers (and supporter of your humble Taxpayers' Union)!

For too long, councils have been hiking rates faster than families can keep up – on average, rates are up 34% in just three years – while blowing budgets and wasting money on vanity projects. Now, thanks to your support, the message is cutting through: ratepayers deserve protection from runaway spending.

This victory is thanks to every one of the 30,000+ Kiwis who signed our petition, joined us for the protest outside the LGNZ conference, and have demanded action. You made sure the Government had to listen.

But let's not count our chickens before they hatch. The fight isn’t over yet. Talk is progress, but legislation is the finish line. And we know that the powerful interests at Local Government New Zealand are spending up large to try and derail the Government on this.

But this is progress...

You can read the Government's full Q4 Action Plan over on the Beehive website.

Taxpayer Hero: Chris Penk cuts $8.2 billion of red tape 🦸‍♂️💰

Here’s something else worth celebrating: Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has just earned himself Taxpayer Hero status.

Penk's overhaul of the earthquake-prone building rules will save New Zealanders more than $8.2 billion, finally putting an end to years of wasteful red tape that forced safe buildings to close for no good reason.

To put that number in perspective, $8.2 billion amounts to more than $4,000 for every Kiwi household! And even that is likely to be a gross underestimate.

Short of replacing the Resource Management Act (New Zealand's most expensive 'regulatory tax') Penk's announcement is likely to be this Government's largest piece of 'tax relief'!

The old rules – introduced under the John Key Government following the Christchurch quakes – were a gross overreaction.

Back in 2014, we highlighted the excellent work of Economist Ian Harrison of Tailrisk Economics. His report Error Prone: A Study in Failure analysed the cost-benefit of New Zealand’s earthquake hazard building regulations, particularly highlighting the situation in Auckland.

The conclusions were eye watering.

"Compliance with the minimum standard could cost over three billion dollars in Auckland, but is expected to take 4,000 years [to] save a single life"

The Tailrisk report found that compliance with the minimum national earthquake-prone standards in Auckland could cost (in 2014 dollars) more than $3 billion. Other analyses put the national cost as high as $10 billion – that's c.$18,000 per Auckland household!

But this was the kicker. For all that work, using the Government's own data, it was expected to save only one life every 4,000 years in the city.

That's right, {{recipient.first_name}} - thousands of dollars per household to save one life, every 4,000 years...

This figure comes from the cost of strengthening thousands of buildings in a low-risk seismic area – where the probability of a fatal earthquake is extremely low – leading to a negligible direct life-saving benefit compared to the massive financial outlay and impact on heritage buildings.

The old rules treated every old brick wall like a ticking time bomb, killing the economics of small and rural townships (and ratepayers!) while delivering little real safety gain.

Penk’s reform brings risk-based, common-sense regulation back to the system: targeting only buildings that genuinely pose a threat to life, while freeing up safe ones to reopen.

You can read the details of the changes here.

When a minister rolls back wasteful bureaucracy and protects both lives and livelihoods, they deserve recognition. Chris Penk: our Taxpayer Hero this week. 👏

Bureaucrats burn $226k on junket flights to fight climate ✈️👔

Our Investigations Coordinator Rhys has revealed that 13 of New Zealand's climate diplomats have racked up a stunning $226,000 bill to attend COP29, last year’s United Nations climate change get together in Baku.

That total included a whopping $18,000 on business class flights for the ‘Climate Change Ambassador’. Incredible hypocrisy work, when a business class flight can emit up three to nine times the emissions of a regular seat.

And yes, we all want our representatives well-rested when they’re negotiating on our behalf… except the ambassador wasn’t doing that, because we also sent a ‘Chief Negotiator, UN Climate Change’ – who racked up a further $14,000 travel bill.

The irony of this supposedly ‘green’ conference requiring 400,000 air miles when it could have taken place online is hard to miss.

This news came as bureaucrats build up to next month’s COP30 in Brazil. Rhys is already preparing the Official Information Act requests…

Business CEOs back a fiscal watchdog – and so do we 🔎💰

It’s not often we call for more government, but here's an exception.

Buried in last month’s Mood of the Boardroom survey was a striking result: 61 percent of New Zealand’s top executives want an independent budget watchdog to keep Government - no matter their political stripes - honest about the long term sustainability of the books.

In theory, Treasury should already be doing that job. But with a bloated bureaucratic blob and a Finance Minister who had to invent a whole new accounting fudge to claim a “surplus” it’s clear the current system isn’t working.

An independent Officer of Parliament, modelled on the Auditor-General or Ombudsman, could give taxpayers a watchdog that bites, providing brutal honesty, not political spin.

It’s rare for the Taxpayers’ Union to cheer on the creation of a new agency, but this one’s overdue.

Parents should not be punished for working harder 💼👫

This week, the Government announced that parents earning more than $65,000 will be responsible for supporting school leavers. We’re totally backing the Government on this – but we can’t help but notice how the policy risks punishing the very families who work hardest.

Breaking the benefit trap is a good thing. Too many young people who go straight from school onto a benefit end up stuck there for years, and helping them into work or training is good for taxpayers and good for them.

But the way this policy is designed makes no sense. Setting a hard income cutoff at $65,000 creates a new welfare trap, where earning just a little more can leave families worse off.

We love to see reforms that help young people get into the workforce and contribute to society. Common sense welfare reform shouldn’t punish parents for doing the right thing.

We’ve written to Social Development Minister Louise Upston asking to meet and push for a fairer, tapered system that supports struggling families without penalising ambition. You can read our open letter here. We’ll keep you updated on our progress.

Taxpayers' Union campus group, Generation Screwed, wins big at Vic Uni Awards Night 🎓👏

It’s been a huge year for Generation Screwed – our on-campus taxpayer advocates. And they’ve just capped it off with some well-deserved recognition from Victoria University.

At last week’s Vic Uni Club Awards, Generation Screwed Wellington was nominated in three categories and took home 1st Runner Up for Supreme Small Club. To top it off, Austin, the club’s inaugural President (and one of our favourite interns), received an Outstanding Contribution Award for his work growing the club on campus.

From a sold out activist training retreat in May, to running local election debates that made national headlines, the students have done incredible work promoting accountability and fiscal responsibility across campuses.

It’s not always easy being a pro-fiscal responsibility voice on campus, but this crew has proven that good ideas and hard work pay off. After a well-earned summer break, we can’t wait to see what they achieve next.

I said it was a bumper newsletter! Enjoy the rest of your week.

Tory Relf Head of Comms New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Ps. This week’s wins prove what people power can do, from pushing rate caps into the Government’s plan to ministers finally cutting wasteful earthquake overregulation. But the fight’s far from over. Every investigation, campaign, and poll is funded by supporters like you. Your donation keeps us effective - so thank you.

The Taxpayers' Union is slamming the news that disgraced former Reserve Bank Governor, Adrian Orr, is subject to a gagging clause applicable to not just the Bank, but the Government and Minister of Finance.

Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“The documents obtained by Newsroom and shared with the Taxpayers' Union demonstrate how false the claims about the $416,000 so-called ‘restraint of trade’ really are. This is a classic gag agreement - designed to protect the reputations of the elite and shun public scrutiny.”

"Taxpayers' money should be not be used to buy the silence of a disgraced former public servant. Nor should someone who, apparently, resigned be given a 'golden goodbye' for agreeing to keep their mouth shut."

"Unless the Reserve Bank - and the Minister - waive the requirements on Mr Orr not to speak, it makes a mockery of public assurances of transparency."

Bad news for National and Labour as they both take a beating in this month's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll.

The poll, conducted between 01 October and 05 October, shows Labour retain its position as the largest party, dropping 2.6 points to 31.2 percent. National dropped 3.5 points to 29.6 percent. 

The Greens gain 1.3 points to 12.0 percent, while New Zealand First gains 2.5 points to 10.6 percent. ACT drops 0.1 points to 6.6 percent, while Te Pāti Māori gains 0.1 points to 4.4 percent.

Headline results and more information about the methodology can be found on the Taxpayers' Union's website at www.taxpayers.org.nz/2025polloct_taxpcur

For the minor parties, Freedoms NZ is on 2.3 percent (+1.5 points), TOP is on 1.6 percent (+0.5 points), NZ Loyal is on 1.0 percent (+1.0 points), and Vision NZ is on 0.6 percent (+0.6%).

This month's results are compared to the last Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll conducted in September 2025, available at www.taxpayers.org.nz/sept2025_nztucurpoll

The combined projected seats for the Centre-Left remains on 61 seats. The combined seats for the Centre-Right drops 1 to 59. On these numbers, the Centre-Left bloc could form a Government.

Labour drops two seats to 40, while National drops 4 seats to 38. The Greens gain 2 seats to 15, while New Zealand First gains 3 seats to 13. ACT remains on 8, while Te Pāti Māori remain unchanged on 6.

Cost of Living remains voters' top issue on 26.4 percent (-1.1 points), followed by the Economy more generally at 17.4 percent (+1.3 points). Health is the next largest at 10.3 percent (-0.8 points), followed by Employment on 5.1 percent and Poverty on 4.1 percent.

Chris Hipkins has taken the lead as voters' Preferred Prime Minister, rising 3.2 points to 20.9 percent. Christopher Luxon fell 1.9 points to 19.8 percent.

Commenting on the results, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

"Treasury's fiscal forecasts have shone National and Labour in terrible lights this month, and a combined 6.1 percent drop for the major parties is quite the vote of no confidence."

"Cost of living and the economy are still voters' major concerns. With the finest of margins between the left and right blocs, tackling these will be key as we head into election year."

Responding to the Reserve Bank’s decision today to reduce the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 50 basis points, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“When the only plan for growth seems to be praying for OCR cuts, the Minister of Finance must be thanking her lucky stars for another one.”

“The economy shrank dramatically in quarter two and will likely shrink again in quarter three. Skyrocketing council rate increases will only push inflation higher and will dampen the Reserve Bank’s enthusiasm for further OCR cuts.”

“Relying on monetary policy alone to stimulate growth is not enough - the Government’s fiscal stance needs to dramatically change. Minister Willis simply has to control and reduce wasteful and excessive government expenditure.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the Government’s inclusion of rate caps in today's Q4 Action Plan, but warns that talk is not enough. Every month of delay means higher rates and more pressure on households already struggling with the cost of living.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:

“Rates have risen an average of 34 percent over the last three years. Families are tightening their belts while councils keep spending like there’s no tomorrow. Ratepayers are not bottomless cash machines for local government waste.”

“The Government deserves credit for recognising the problem, but it must act sooner rather than later. Councils are working on next year’s budgets right now. If legislation isn’t introduced and passed soon, households will be hit with another round of unaffordable rate hikes.”

“The time for consultation and reviews is over. Ratepayers need action, not promises. We’ll keep the pressure on until rate caps are written into law - and we’ll hold the Government to account every step of the way.”

Reacting to reporting by Newstalk ZB that Finance Minister Nicola Willis' says she only learned of Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr’s severance package when it was made public, the Taxpayers' Union is reiterating its call for the Board to be held to account by Minister Willis.

Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“Assertions that the Minister of Finance knew nothing of Adrian Orr’s outrageous severance package until yesterday are baffling. So much for the ‘no surprises’ policy."

“Why on earth would the Board think that they needed to restrain Orr’s activities for a period after his departure? This makes absolutely no sense at all. The public deserve full disclosure of the terms and conditions for this payment. In concealing this payment until minimal disclosure was forced upon it through the annual report, the Board have acted in bad faith.”

“The Board has not served the Minister, nor the Government and definitely not taxpayers well. We repeat our call for the Minister to act, and for the Board to be held to account."

The Taxpayers' Union is calling on Finance Minister Nicola Willis to justify why a $416k golden parachute was approved to disgraced governor Adrian Orr, and whether she knew about the proposal before it was agreed to by the RBNZ Board. If she didn't, she should sack the Board members who approved it.

"Heads should roll over this – it's a $416,120 reward for failure," said Jordan Williams of the Taxpayers' Union.

"Calling it a 'restraint of trade' payment is yet another dishonest ruse from the Reserve Bank. It's gaslighting taxpayers."

"Just what were they worried about? Orr is so disgraced that the only Reserve Bank he could take over is in the third world. Heck, we should have been paying others to take him away!"

"Similarly, the idea a commercial bank would touch Orr is ridiculous. It was the commercial banks quietly telling people about Orr's outrageous behaviour in yelling at executives."

"I have never heard of a 'restraint of trade' in the public service. It's a golden parachute."

"Adrian Orr is an ill-tempered bully whose actions lost taxpayers literally billions of dollars.  Yet again, the Reserve Bank's Board have let taxpayers down."

"The Taxpayers' Union has long argued that we need a law to stop those in the public sector paid more than a Member of Parliament from receiving golden handshakes. This is case in point why."

Responding to the Government’s announcement that parents earning more than $65,000 will be responsible for supporting school leavers, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“Breaking the benefit trap is good for young people and good for taxpayers. School leavers who go straight onto a benefit often end up spending decades out of work."

“A bit of common sense in the welfare system is long overdue. Parents who can support their kids should do so, and those who genuinely can’t should still have the state’s backing."

“But setting a hard parental income cutoff at $65,000 risks creating a perverse incentive, where parents very quickly become much worse off for earning only slightly more. Support should be tapered off gradually, so families aren’t punished for working harder.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is backing Christopher Luxon’s call for a bipartisan approach to natural gas exploration. Commenting on Luxon’s letter to Labour, Union spokesman James Ross said:

“Energy prices used to be New Zealand's edge, and within a decade they've become one of our biggest liabilities. We’re consciously crippling ourselves, and it’s not sustainable.”

“Not only do high prices worsen the cost-of-living crisis, they’re tanking the economy. The manufacturing sector is in freefall, shrinking 3.5 percent in just the three months to 30 June 2025 alone.”

“Nothing’s going to change while parties keep playing politics with power bills. Labour need to answer the call and find a sensible, bipartisan approach to keeping New Zealand’s lights on.” 

The Taxpayers’ Union is applauding today’s decision from Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk to overhaul the earthquake-prone building system, cutting red tape and saving New Zealanders more than $8.2 billion.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“This is a win for common sense. The old rules lumped massive costs on many building owners for little real safety gain. By targeting only buildings that pose a genuine risk to life, the Government is protecting people without bankrupting communities."

"The changes mean that venues like the historic Leys Institute in Ponsonby no longer sit empty and at the mercy of vandals, and can instead be returned to their proper place at the centre of communities - without the projected $9.5 million cost to ratepayers."

“Minister Penk deserves credit for pulling back a system that was punishing ordinary Kiwis. This is what smarter, risk-based regulation looks like.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through Official Information Act requests that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry for the Environment sent 13 staff to the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Collectively, these departments spent $226,159 to cover the cost of the trip, including travel, accommodation and meals.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“Business class flights and tens of thousands spent on accommodation for a small group of officials is exactly the sort of extravagant spending these high-flying bureaucrats are getting too used to.”

“The irony is hard to miss: this supposedly ‘green’ gathering required 402,610 air miles of business-class travel, all to attend a climate change conference."

"Taxpayers will be left wondering why this couldn’t have been done over Zoom, like most of the other meetings these officials take while in the country.”

“New Zealand already has a world-leading Emissions Trading Scheme. Maybe it’s time for these staff to put down the suitcases and come into the office for a lesson or two.”

Hi,

From $5 million roadside statues to a new Taxpayer Hero council, it’s been a week of contrasts. We’ve also had our say on the draft Code of Conduct, checked the mood on Nicola Willis, and seen more candidates sign up to the Pledge. 

Pledge Update: Who’s really standing with ratepayers? 🗳️📊

The pledge is live, the numbers are in, and they’re growing by the day! Over 1 in 6 local election candidates have now signed our Ratepayer Protection Pledge — spanning 67 councils, including nearly 1 in 5 mayoral candidates. 

We’ve already heard from supporters using the Pledge and our Ratepayer Voting Guide to press candidates and share the results with friends. It’s proving to be more than a list of signatures - it’s turning into a national movement.

And it’s needed. A new survey of candidates shows that even though 75% of voters support a rates cap, a whopping 62% of candidates won’t commit to one. That’s the gap the Pledge helps close. It lets you see exactly who’s willing to stand for ratepayer-friendly policies — and who isn’t.

Our Ratepayer Voting Guide makes it simple: enter your address and instantly see which candidates back transparency, accountability, and rates restraint in your patch.

The bottom line? Don’t let candidates get away with vague promises. The Pledge shows who’s on your side — and who’s not.

👉 Search your address to check who signed the pledge before you vote.

Ratepayer Heroes: Fewer cones, bigger savings in Taranaki 🚦👏

I love shining a light on councils that actually deliver for ratepayers and this week, New Plymouth District Council deserves the spotlight.

Instead of dragging their feet, NPDC got ahead of the game and started applying the new risk-based traffic management guidelines last year. The result? Projects are being finished faster and cheaper.

Transport Minister Chris Bishop has even written to the Council, praising them for “vision and leadership”. And for once, we’re delighted to say that this is exactly the kind of behaviour we need to see from councils.

The numbers tell the story: NPDC set a goal of cutting traffic management costs by 5 per cent. They smashed it – hitting 6 per cent savings already. On top of that, smart planning during the Waitara roundabout project saved another $100,000 by coordinating water main works at the same time.

This isn’t just about fewer road cones (though we’ll happily take that too). It’s about a council making the effort to coordinate properly, reduce disruption, and respect ratepayers’ money.

Ratepayer Heroes indeed. 🌟

Auckland Council sells film studios — and we’re all for it 🎬💰

This week, we heard the news that Auckland Council is reportedly finally moving ahead with selling its film studios in Henderson. And honestly? Good move.

For years, ratepayers have been footing the bill for upgrades, maintenance, heavy capital outlays, while council juggled a business it probably never should have run in the first place.

The studios are massive (they house multiple sound stages, prop workshops, production offices, you name it) and have been central to many high-profile productions.

Selling to a private consortium (reportedly involving high-profile names 👀) puts the studios into hands that can run them leaner, smarter, more aggressively. They’ll chase clients, maintain competitiveness, be nimble. That’s how industries grow, not by having councils trying to be film-studio landlords.

Of course, there are risks around access, lease agreements, public interest protections, heritage. But those are negotiable. The alternative is leaving ratepayers on the hook for continuing cost overruns. 

This could be a huge win for Auckland. Let the private sector take on the risk; let ratepayers see fewer surprise bills.

It’s about time councils stop being in the movie business.

$5 Million for Roadside Statues? 🚧🎨

The newest low from NZTA isn’t potholes or delays — it’s art installations. Our OIA shows the agency spent $5.05 million on mahi toi (artwork) along the Manawatū Tararua Highway.

What wasn’t included in that multi-million dollar price tag? A tender process. A cost-benefit analysis. Even proper community consultation. Just a big bill for taxpayers.

The sculptures were created in collaboration with local iwi and tied to cultural themes — but this isn’t about heritage or art. It’s about priorities. New Zealand already ranks near the top of the OECD for what we spend on infrastructure, and near the bottom for what we actually get. Extras like this might look small in isolation, but across projects they stack up fast. It’s one reason budgets blow and delivery slips.

If NZTA is serious about cutting back on non-essential spending, roadside artwork should be the first to go. Ratepayers want money put into safety, maintenance, and actually finishing roads — not statues.

Confidence in Willis Collapses 📉

The Mood of the Boardroom survey dropped this week – and it says what taxpayers already know. The Government’s books are in a hole, and business leaders have lost confidence in Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon. The graph below shows how much their ratings plummeted in just one year.

The ministers actually getting things done – Erica Stanford, Chris Bishop – scored well overall.

You can feel the strain in every piece of comms out from the Beehive. The numbers don’t add up, the path back to surplus is murky, and confidence is slipping. It's time for a reset.

What we’re calling for is simple: a Spring Statement. To make a difference before election year, the Government needs to front up before the year is out, lay the books on the table, and set out a credible path back to surplus. No more vague promises. No more “wait and see.”

Start with something that actually lifts investment and productivity. Full capital expensing is the obvious first step. Our A Pathway to Surplus report shows how to pay for it – without higher taxes and without more debt.

No more working groups. No glossy strategies. Just a plan to balance the books and boost growth. The tools are already there – they just need to pick them up and get on with it.

 Read A Pathway to Surplus here 

Draft Code of Conduct: back to the drawing board 📝📜

Local Government Minister Simon Watts has been keen to get a Code of Conduct completed for local authorities because the existing, non-standardised, arrangements are not working well.

The main problem is that allegations of code violations get thrown around when parties merely have disagreements, which is stifling freedom of expression and the forthright exchange of views. Unfortunately, the Local Government Commission’s draft standardised code doesn’t cut the mustard.

James and Ray have put together a full submission, which you can read here. 

First off, the draft randomly includes prescriptive Treaty of Waitangi references. The Treaty isn’t even in the Commission’s own terms of reference – and worse, it clashes with the Local Government Act 2022. That’s not “standardisation”, that’s confusion baked in from the start.

Then there are the principles. Some are so vague they could be twisted into weapons by anyone with a grudge. The whole point of a Code is to reduce misuse, not invite it.

And don’t get us started on the investigator powers. They’re over the top – failing every test of fairness and impartiality. No councillor should ever face a process where the investigator plays judge, jury, and executioner.

But the biggest red flag? The draft doesn’t even guarantee councillors access to council-held information, despite the terms of reference explicitly saying it must. Without it, elected members can’t do their job of holding officials accountable.

Our submission went in today. We’ll keep you posted – but for now, this draft needs to go back to the drawing board.

Taxpayer Talk with Peter Williams: Roger Partridge on unscrambling the ministerial maze 🍝🎙️

This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams is joined by Roger Partridge from the New Zealand Initiative to unpack his new report: Unscrambling Government: Less Confusion, More Efficiency.

Right now, New Zealand has 81 ministerial portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments. That’s three times as many portfolios and nearly twice as many departments as comparable countries.

Roger argues this sprawling Cabinet structure makes it harder to know who’s accountable, pushes up costs, and slows down solutions to big challenges like housing, welfare, and climate change. In short: too many cooks, not enough results.

👉 Listen to the new episode or wherever you get your podcasts.

Have a good weekend!

Tory Relf New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Ps. We’re heading into a critical stretch, {{recipient.first_name_or_friend}}. With ballots in mailboxes, our work makes the difference between councils that spend wisely and councils that blow the budget. If you want to see more Pledge signers, more OIA revelations, and more pressure on big spenders, please chip in if you can. Every dollar helps us keep fighting for you.

This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams is joined by Roger Partridge from the New Zealand Initiative to unpack his new report: Unscrambling Government: Less Confusion, More Efficiency.

Right now, New Zealand has 81 ministerial portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments. That’s three times as many portfolios and nearly twice as many departments as comparable countries. No wonder things feel messy.

Roger argues this sprawling Cabinet structure makes it harder to know who’s accountable, pushes up costs, and slows down solutions to big challenges like housing, welfare, and climate change. In short: too many cooks, not enough results.

Responding to today’s release of Treasury’s 2025 Long-Term Fiscal Statement, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“This was a shot across the bow from Treasury. One way or another, change is coming. We either pick how now, or have the markets make much more unpleasant choices for us.”

“The Treasury Secretary couldn’t have been clearer that the longer we delay, the greater the adjustment we’ll need. Every month delayed makes the future that little bit more painful. It means higher taxes, lower incomes, and less ability to overcome future crises.”

“Our current track has government finances driving straight into a wall. An aging population, increasing health costs, and record levels of government spending have Net Core Crown Debt set to hit 200% of GDP by 2065, compared to just 19.4% in 2018. Interest costs per household could top $60,000 a year.”

“There’s no one silver bullet. Pro-growth tax reform, spending restraint, and welfare reform all need to go hand in hand.”

“This is the time for a full financial reset, to resize government and make way for growth. With one of the largest structural deficits of any developed country and no pathway back to surplus, just shifting money around won’t cut it.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union welcomes the appointment of Dr Anna Breman as Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and is urging her to rein in the waste and empire-building that flourished under Adrian Orr.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:

"New Zealanders deserve a Reserve Bank that is focused on its core mission of economic prosperity, not one that bloats itself with bureaucrats and pet projects. Under Adrian Orr, staffing numbers ballooned to two and a half times what they were in 2018. That growth is completely out of step with the Bank’s responsibilities, and taxpayers are footing the bill."

"Dr Breman has an opportunity to restore discipline and credibility to the Reserve Bank. That means pulling back from the excesses of the Orr era and ensuring resources are tightly focused on delivering monetary stability for New Zealand households and businesses."

"We urge Dr Breman to draw a line under the empire-building and chaos of the past six years and bring the Reserve Bank back to basics."

Commenting on today’s planned announcement of the next Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor , Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“There’s only one word for timing the announcement of a new RBNZ Governor to take coverage away from today’s Long-Term Fiscal Statement: Cynical.”

“Nicola Willis says she wants the public to have a serious conversation about the long-term challenges facing New Zealand. So why try to bury bad news?”

“Rather than pulling strings to keep the Government’s dire finances off the front pages, all of Nicola Willis’ focus should be on balancing the books.”

Reacting to today’s Mood of the Boardroom survey, the Taxpayers’ Union is saying that the report tells us what taxpayers already know: Nicola Willis has tanked the books and business leaders have lost confidence.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:

“There are no surprises here. Willis and Luxon have flopped, while the Ministers who are actually making the tough calls and getting work done, like Erica Stanford or Chris Bishop, come out on top. Action is rewarded, not excuses. That’s the difference.”

“Boardrooms aren’t stupid. They can see the dire state of the finances Willis has kept us in. And it’s not just boardrooms feeling the pinch – taxpayers are the ones paying for her failure to get the books under control.”

“That’s exactly why we need a Spring Statement, for Willis to fess up and reset before the year is out. The Government can spin all it likes, but the numbers don’t lie – and neither do the boardrooms.”

“Full capital expensing would give businesses the shot in the arm the country is desperate for. Our Pathway to Surplus report lays out how Nicola Willis can pay for it. Willis doesn’t need another working group or glossy strategy – she needs to pick up A Pathway to Surplus and get on with it. All the answers are in black and white on Willis’ desk, so there’s no more room for excuses.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that Waka Kotahi spent $5.05 million on mahi toi (cultural artworks) along the Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway.

The spending went ahead without an open tender process.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“Blowing $5 million on roadside art with no accountability is exactly the sort of decision-making that drives up project costs and erodes public trust.”

“While this may be a fraction of the overall budget, the same approach across projects nationwide adds up quickly. What’s the real bill to taxpayers?”

“New Zealand ranks among the top ten percent of OECD countries for infrastructure spending but the bottom ten percent for value for money. That gap comes from poor outcomes and wasteful spending.”

“If Waka Kotahi is serious about trimming non-essential spending, roadside artwork – unrelated to road safety or delivery – would be a good place to start.”

In light of yesterday's alarming GDP figures and the failure of the Government's current fiscal and economic approach, the Taxpayers' Union is calling on Nicola Willis to present a 'Spring Statement' to decidedly reset the economy on a growth path before this year's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update.

"Two years into the Government's economic agenda, it is clear the current plan is failing and it's time for a bold change in direction," said Hon Ruth Richardson, the Chair of the Taxpayers' Union.

"The first thing the Government needs to do to deliver growth is get Big Government's foot off the throat of the economy. Despite running on a platform of cutting the last government's bloated spending, Nicola Willis has actually increased government spending as a proportion of the economy. She is perpetuating high levels of deficit and debt, which are dragging the economy down."

"Nicola Willis tried to portray her approach favourably in opposition to my 'short and sharp' approach when I faced similar fiscal challenges in the early 1990s. That approach set the scene for a growth rate of 5 percent - it's better to be short and sharp than this long, painful torture of continuing the last government's fiscal recklessness. Yesterday's numbers are vindication of my high-growth choice."

"New Zealanders cannot afford to stick with failing policies. A course correction is urgently needed. The best way to do it is a Spring Statement to correct the fiscal path, get spending under control and give the private sector room to grow again.”

“The Government must stop pretending that the current approach will work.  The attacks on me and others who are pointing out the fiscal elephants in the room do Ms Willis, and all New Zealanders, a disservice. Moving government spending back to, say, the levels of Ardern's 'wellbeing budget' isn't 'slash and burn', it's responsible and necessary."

"Treasury are making clear that the situation is getting worse, not better.  The Government says they are on a path to 'surplus', but it's spin over substance. The amount being borrowed per day now is higher than when the Government entered office.”

“It’s time for a hard reset, a shift in priorities towards fiscal responsibility and economic stability.”

“The longer we wait, the deeper the hole.  A Spring Statement is necessary.”

GDP has fallen 0.9% this quarter. Responding to today’s release of the shocking Q2 2025 GDP figures, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“The economy is shrinking fast, and it is expected to do so again next quarter. These numbers confirm what Kiwis have known for months, which is that Nicola Willis is failing to deliver the economic growth her Government was elected for.”

“On Monday, NZIER forecast economic growth for the year to March 2026 would be just 1.5 percent. That’s less than half the 3.2 percent Treasury forecast for the year to June 2026, produced as recently as May’s Budget.”

“Let’s call the Government’s projections what they are: wishful thinking. But a hope and a prayer won’t keep factories open, offices full, and services funded.”

“Paltry growth means tax revenues will continue to fall below expectations. Any hopes of balancing the books will keep slipping further away, unless this Government kicks its wasteful spending habits.”

“The ball is in Nicola Willis’ court. It has been for nearly two years now.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is criticising the Government for skimming up to $139 million a year from the International Visitor Levy while telling the public it’s for tourism and conservation, raising serious questions about whether the levy is being used as promised.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“No wonder the Department of Conservation wants to charge visitors extra for certain sites; the Government is siphoning off tourist tax money instead of properly funding conservation.”

“They’ve also announced a new events fund that’s smaller than the amount they’re keeping from the levy. It looks like the tourist tax has just become a general top-up for the Crown’s books, not the dedicated tourism and conservation fund people were told it would be.”

“When the Government tells the public that the IVL is for tourism and conservation but quietly diverts hundreds of millions elsewhere, it undermines trust and accountability. New Zealanders and visitors alike are entitled to expect levies collected for a specific purpose to actually be spent on that purpose.”

This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams sits down with financial advisor and Stewart Group founder Nick Stewart to tackle a question too many councils would rather avoid: are skyrocketing rates making inflation worse?

Nick explains how council spending flows through to households and businesses, pushing up the cost of living just as families are already struggling. Rates might look like a local issue, but the ripple effects are felt nationwide.

If you’ve ever wondered why your grocery bill feels higher every time the council votes through another rates hike, this episode is a must-listen.

Hi,

We had an amazing week on the road with our mayoral debates. I loved getting to meet so many supporters, from Hamilton to Dunedin, and visiting new parts of the country that I've not seen before.

Voting is Open: Who’s standing with ratepayers? 🗳️

Local body voting is officially underway – ballots are out, and we have until 11 October to make our voices heard.

Still on the fence? Our Ratepayer Voting Guide makes it simple. We’ve pulled together every candidate who signed our Ratepayer Protection Pledge (thanks to the many supporters who helped us get answers from local contenders!) and laid it all out so you can see exactly who stands with ratepayers on rates, transparency, and accountability.

Don’t let the big spenders and secrecy merchants slip through – check the guide before you tick the box.

Catch up on our mayoral debates 📺📢

What a week it’s been! As well as launching the Ratepayer Voting Guide, our team travelled much of the country, hosting mayoral debates. We hit the road with debates in Hastings, Dunedin, Queenstown, New Plymouth, and Hamilton – as well as our debate last month in Wellington – putting the tough questions to candidates on rates, spending, and transparency in local government.

Jordan took the moderator’s podium in Hastings, Peter Williams fronted Queenstown, and James kept New Plymouth’s candidates honest. In Dunedin and Hamilton, the next generation of taxpayer champions from our campus movement, Generation Screwed, ran the show. Once again, I was like a proud mum watching the Generation Screwed volunteers. They’re fantastic.

Couldn’t make it on the night? Every debate was filmed and is now up on YouTube. We’ve also cut together shorter highlight reels so you can get the best bits in just a few minutes.

👉 Watch the debates here.

Rusty fire trucks, while chief execs cash in🔥

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) raked in a whopping $712 million from the fire levy last year. But, while frontline volunteers are sent out in rust-bucket trucks, Wellington executives are laughing all the way to the bank.

Under the Official Information Act, our investigations team can reveal the Chief Executive is paid $503,000 a year, with the seven deputy Chief Executives splitting $2.37 million between them. 

It doesn't stop there, though, with more than 800 back office staff on the payroll, yet across the country, over 1 in 4 fire trucks are more than 25 years old. 

So while staff and unpaid volunteers risk their lives in vehicles older than some of their crew, the suits at HQ are cashing in.

If FENZ can afford more than $500,000 for its CEO and millions more for his deputies, they can certainly afford safe trucks for our communities. Instead, taxpayers are being fleeced while frontline firefighters are left stranded.

Ratepayer Heroes: Ruapehu Council balances the books without hiking rates ⛷️

Ruapehu District Council has just pulled off something we rarely see in local government: fixing a $700,000 budget hole without whacking ratepayers with higher bills.

Faced with a massive overspend in its Community and Recreational Services, the Council didn’t go for the easy option of hiking rates or piling on debt. Instead, it tightened its belt, trimming back on operations, consultancy, maintenance, and finance costs until the gap was closed.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s exactly what responsible councils should do. When mistakes happen, you fix them yourself - you don’t send the invoice to ratepayers. Ruapehu has shown that fiscal discipline is possible, and other councils should take note.

The $44K taxpayer funded TikTok chopper ride  🚁

I was in Queenstown last week for the debate, and the place is stunning. If I ever get the chance, I’d jump at a helicopter ride over the mountains too.

But, I wouldn’t be letting the taxpayer foot the bill.

Last week, Christopher Luxon thought it was a good idea to spend $44,000 of taxpayer money on a helicopter joyride over Queenstown with Australia’s Anthony Albanese. The excuse? To “show off New Zealand’s scenery”.

I also understand the argument for a bit of soft diplomacy. But in reality, it simply turned into a slick TikTok and Instagram reel for the PM’s comms team.

No media were invited along, so the only real audience was Luxon’s social media followers. That makes this less about promoting New Zealand tourism and more about taxpayer-funded PR.

With families struggling under the cost of living, it’s an insult to expect taxpayers to foot the bill for a vanity flight.

NEW Taxpayer Talk with Peter Williams and Nick Stewart 🎙️

This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams sits down with financial advisor and Stewart Group founder Nick Stewart to tackle a question too many councils would rather avoid: are skyrocketing rates making inflation worse?

Nick explains how council spending flows through to households and businesses, pushing up the cost of living just as families are already struggling. Rates might look like a local issue, but the ripple effects are felt nationwide.

If you’ve ever wondered why your bills feel higher every time the council votes through another rates hike, this episode is a must-listen.

👉 Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.

 I loved being out last week meeting supporters and seeing the impact the Taxpayers’ Union can have on local and national politics. 

Have a great week,

Tory Relf New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has today released the Ratepayer Voting Guide, giving voters a clear picture of where local body election candidates stand on rates, transparency, and unelected appointments. 

The Guide is based on candidates’ responses to the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, which asked every mayoral and council candidate to commit to: 

• Opposing rates, levies, and charges rising faster than inflation and population growth, 

• Supporting greater transparency of council spending through tools such as online expenditure disclosure and open data, 

• Opposing unelected members being appointed to council committees with spending and regulatory powers. 

The release of the Ratepayer Voting Guide comes after a series of mayoral debates across the country where voters could question their candidates directly.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said: 

“Councils make decisions that affect households every day, yet most voters have no idea where their candidates actually sit on the big issues. The Ratepayer Voting Guide cuts through the spin and shows who is standing up for ratepayers and who isn’t.” 

“Every one of the more than 350 pledge signatories has been published online, so ratepayers can check their local candidates before casting a vote. This is about accountability and making sure ratepayers aren’t left guessing at the ballot box.” 

“Ratepayers are sick of higher bills, poor transparency, and unelected voices wielding power. The Voting Guide makes it easy to back candidates who will deliver change.” 

The Ratepayer Voting Guide is available now at www.Ratepayer.Vote

If candidates have not responded to the pledge and wish to do so, they can email [email protected] throughout the campaign period and the website will be updated.

A new Taxpayers' Union - Curia poll of Queenstown Lakes voters shows that the mayoral race is wide open, ahead of the Taxpayers’ Union-hosted Mayoral Debate taking place in Queenstown tonight.

The independent poll of 500 residents found that while incumbent Glyn Lewers has the biggest support among voters, at just 11 percent, 71 percent of voters remain undecided.

Darren Rewi is on 6 percent, John Glover on 4 percent, Daniel Shand and Nik Kiddle on 2 percent each, and Al Angus on 1 percent.

On broader sentiment, only 28 percent of residents said Queenstown-Lakes is heading in the right direction, while 59 percent said the wrong direction — a net positive of -31 percent. 58 percent rated Queenstown Lakes District Council's performance as below average.

When asked about local issues, 77 percent of Queenstown Lakes residents said they support a cap on rates increases, while just 9 percent oppose and 13 percent are unsure.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said the results show tonight’s debate will be a key opportunity for candidates to win over undecided voters.

“With nearly three quarters of Queenstown Lakes residents yet to make up their minds, tonight’s debate is going to matter. These results clearly show that voters have strong opinions on rates and the overall direction of Queenstown Lakes District Council. We are expecting a robust debate tonight as ratepayers decide for themselves who stands for them."

Footage of the debate will be available on the Taxpayers' Union social media tomorrow, Friday 12 September.

The Taxpayers’ Union has welcomed commitment from ACT to oppose voting powers for unelected appointees in local government, included in today’s Democracy policy release.

“Democracy has been treated as a plaything in local councils for too long. Making a clear stand on this issue is essential for restoring fair and accountable governance in local government.” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaign Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“Councils are in disarray. Rates are climbing, and the need for representatives who are truly accountable to the public is more important than ever. Good advice and insight can certainly be offered by experts and interested parties, but at the end of the day, democracy must be front and centre in all decision-making.”

“Every ACT Local candidate standing for council has committed to all three policy items in the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, that includes opposing unelected appointees. It’s a massive win for ratepayers as they begin to vote, seeing a range of candidates wearing their policies on their sleeves. Candidates who have signed the pledge, and those who have not, can be found at Ratepayer.vote.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling for an end to the 16 year old National Ticketing System (NTS) after the announcement the scheme's full implementation will now be delayed until 2027.

An Official Information Act request has revealed the scheme was reviewed in October 2024 and was deemed well governed and resourced, with feasibility issues deemed resolvable at the time. Yet this latest delay comes with changes to the programme’s governance, leadership, delivery, and decision-making.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“Each Kiwi household is having to stump up $650 each for this ongoing fiasco, with costs of $80 million every year. This project is already sixteen years old yet what do we have to show for it?”

“As if that wasn’t long enough it’s now slipped back yet another year. The least the public should expect is a full, unredacted copy of where this all became such a mess in the newest independent review next month”

“More to the point, whoever at NZTA created the October review calling the project “well governed, led and resourced” needs to hang their head in shame.”

“The National Ticketing System needs scrapping, and replaced with a simple, off-the-shelf card payment solution if we’re ever going to put this John Key-era money pit to bed.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) collected $712 million from the fire levy last year, yet are failing to maintain frontline equipment while executives and back-office staff take home millions.

New figures obtained under the Official Information Act show:

• 1 in 4 fire trucks (347) are over 25 years old
• FENZ Chief Executive is paid $503,000
• The seven Deputy Chief Executives are collectively paid up to $2.37 million
• Over 800 non-frontline staff are employed in support and managerial roles

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“While unpaid volunteers respond to emergencies in decades-old trucks, FENZ’s top brass is earning more than the Prime Minister. It’s an insult to every firefighter doing the real work.”

“This is an organisation funded by a compulsory levy on every insured Kiwi home and business. But instead of going to the front line, the money is vanishing into bloated management and Wellington salaries.”

“The fire levy isn’t just a tax but a blank cheque for bureaucracy. We now have seven Deputy Chief Executives, hundreds of non-frontline staff, and trucks so old they belong in a museum.”

“If FENZ can afford $500,000 for its CEO and nearly $2.4 million for his deputies, it can afford to buy new trucks for our volunteer brigades.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is applauding the decisive action taken by Ruapehu District Council to rein in a projected $700,000 overspend in its Community and Recreational Services, managing to offset it without saddling ratepayers with additional debt.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Sam Warren, said:

“The council spotted a budget hole the size of a ski field and managed to fill it without sending ratepayers the bill. That’s how it should be.”

“Finding savings in operations, consultancy, maintenance, and finance might not sound glamorous, but it beats the usual trick of hiking rates. Ratepayers will be relieved to see some good old-fashioned fiscal responsibility for a change.”

“This is exactly the kind of accountability and cost-conscious governance taxpayers expect: when mistakes happen, own them, fix them, and get on with serving the community without reaching into ratepayers’ pockets.”

A new Taxpayers' Union - Curia poll of Hastings voters shows Marcus Buddo in the lead in the race for mayor, ahead of the Taxpayers’ Union-hosted Hastings Mayoral Debate taking place in Havelock North tonight.

The independent poll of 500 residents found Buddo has the support of 25 percent of decided voters, with Damon Harvey on 14 percent, and Wendy Schollum on 12 percent. 

Steve Gibson is on 9 percent, and Darrin Wilson on 3 percent. A large proportion, 28 percent of voters, remain undecided.

Damon Harvey has the highest name recognition at 65 percent, followed by Wendy Schollum on 59 percent. Steve Gibson follows on 51 percent, Marcus Buddo is on 45 percent, and Darrin Wilson on 33 percent.

On broader sentiment, 50 percent of residents said Hawke’s Bay is heading in the right direction, while 29 percent said the wrong direction — a net positive of +21 percent.

When asked about local issues, 70 percent of Hastings residents said they support a cap on rates increases, while just 21 percent oppose and 9 percent are unsure.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said the results show tonight’s debate will be a key opportunity for candidates to win over undecided voters.

“With more than a quarter of Hastings residents yet to make up their minds, tonight’s debate is going to matter. Voters clearly care about rates and the direction of the region, so we expect some robust discussion as ratepayers get into who stands for them - and who stands against.

Footage of the debate will be available on the Taxpayers' Union social media tomorrow, Tuesday 9 September.

Hi,

NEW POLL: National up, ACT down, centre-left could form Govt 📊

Our latest Taxpayers’ Union–Curia Poll is out, and it’s mixed news for the centre-right. While Christopher Luxon's personal numbers are up, overall, it's bad news for the Government.

Labour hold on to its spot as the largest party, up 0.2 points from last month to 33.8 percent. National gained 1.3 points to 33.1 percent.

The Greens gain 0.9 points to 10.7 percent, while New Zealand First gains 0.3 points to 8.1 percent. ACT drop 1.9 points to 6.7 percent, while Te Pāti Māori gains 1.1 point to 4.3 percent.

On these numbers, the centre-left bloc would hold 61 seats – just enough to form a government – while the centre-right is out of Government dropping to 60 seats. Labour and National are now deadlocked on 42 seats each after ACT drop three seats.

With this close result, and last month's poll showing a hung Parliament, the only takeaway can be: next year's election is going to be a nail-biter.

As for the issues, the cost of living remains voters’ top concern, climbing 3.1 points to 27.5 percent. The broader economy follows on 16.1 percent, with health, employment, and taxes rounding out the top five.

More information about the poll, including preferred PM numbers, are available here.

2025 Mayoral Debates: Coming to a town hall near you 🗳️🎤

After the success of the Wellington Mayoral Debate, hosted by our student leaders at Generation Screwed, we're now undertaking a series ratepayer debates across the country.

Come along and hear your mayoral candidates grilled on rates, spending, accountability, and questions from local Taxpayers' Union supporters.

The Hastings Mayoral Debate kicks off tonight at 7 pm (at the Havelock North Community Centre), and we'll be in Dunedin this Wednesday (the 10th), Queenstown Thursday (the 11th - hosted by Peter Williams), New Plymouth on the same night (Thursday 11th - in conjunction with our sister-group, the New Plymouth Ratepayers' Alliance), and Hamilton this Friday (the 12th) hosted by Waikato University's branch of Generation Screwed.

The events are free – just register online or turn up on the night (details here).

Jordan will be moderating in Hastings, Peter Williams in Queenstown, and in both places, we’ll be releasing exclusive polling. Dunedin and Hamilton are hosted by our youth group, Generation Screwed, while New Plymouth is in partnership with the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Alliance.

These aren’t boring meet-and-greets – expect sharp questions and straight answers. If you care about what your next mayor plans to do with your rates bill, don’t miss it.

👉 Full event details and registration here.

End the Ministerial Maze: Time to Cut Cabinet Down to Size ✂️🏛️

A new report from our friends at the New Zealand Initiative think tank has laid bare just how bloated Cabinet has become – and why it’s costing taxpayers dearly.

New Zealand currently has 81 portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments. That’s about three times as many portfolios as comparable countries like Ireland or Singapore, which manage to govern effectively with far fewer ministers.

The real problem is accountability. When a giant ministry like MBIE answers to 20 different ministers, no one is clearly responsible. That means delays, finger-pointing, and wasted money while taxpayers pick up the bill.

The boffins at the NZ Initiative say their report is a blueprint for reform. They say the Government should be setting a clear target to reduce the size of Cabinet, publishing a timeline, and making ministers properly accountable again. Until it does, New Zealanders will keep paying for a system where everyone is in charge of something, but no one is in charge of anything.

Right now, the Government has no real pathway back to surplus. And according to the Public Service Commission are more bureaucrats now than there were at the last election (Nicola Willis says otherwise, but she uses March-to-March numbers to make things look better than they actually are). 🙄

The only way to cut costs and rebuild accountability is to rein in the ministerial maze and get the bureaucratic beast under control.

Labour Party finally announce a policy! Handouts for their funders 🤦‍♂️

As the results from the by-election over the weekend showed, Labour are playing their cards close to their chest in terms of policy announcements.

But what little we've had shows where its loyalties lie – and it’s not with taxpayers.

The Labour has endorced a Council of Trade Union policy that would see a taxpayer-funded agency set up to train Labour Party fundraisers and activists union delegates.

In other words, Chris Hipkins is shamelessly trying to funnel taxpayer money straight into the pockets of the very unions that bankroll his political campaigns.

It's taxpayer funding of the Labour Party by another name.

We’ve seen this playbook before. Last year, we revealed that MBIE staff were being paid at least $871,000 a year to do union work on taxpayer time. Now Labour is doubling down with a plan to create a new agency to run training for unions, further blurring the line between government resources and party political interests.

But it doesn’t stop there. The Public Service Administration’s recent antics – contacting foreign embassies in a clumsy attempt to smear New Zealand’s meat inspection standards – show just how much damage these unions can cause. Rather than holding them to account, Labour wants to reward them.

This is a clear conflict of interest. Instead of putting taxpayers first, Labour is prioritising its big union backers and expecting taxpayers to foot the bill.

It’s wasteful, politically sleazy, and self-serving. It must be stopped.

No Labour-Party taxpayer funded subsidies here: How a real union does it  🧢🪧

Unlike our "friends" at the Council of Trade Unions, the Taxpayers' Union merchandise doesn't want a cent of taxpayer funded subsidies.

Alongside classics, we’ve just added Cap Rates Now merch so you can demonstrate your support for ratepayers loud and clear.

From "I'm not a mug, I'm a taxpayer" tea cups, T-shirts, yard signs, and banners, every purchase fuels the fight for more accountable government – including against wasteful councils and higher rates.

➡️ Check out the full range here ⬅️

How to vote - and how to vote guide: keep an eye on your mailbox, and your inbox 📨

We've had hundreds of mayoral and council candidates sign the 2025 Ratepayer Protection Pledge – and they are still flying in.

Our team are putting the final touches on the official Ratepayers' How to Vote Guide.

Keep an eye on your inbox this week  – we'll let you know as soon as it's ready...

British politics update: Taxpayer Talk with the UK’s TaxPayers’ Alliance 🎙️🇬🇧

This week on the podcast, our Chief Policy Nerd James sits down with John O’Connell, Chief Executive of our British sister-group, the TaxPayers’ Alliance.

James and John dig into some big issues: rates caps, the so-called death tax, and of course, the infamous Westminster MPs’ expenses scandal – the one that forced every British MP and peer to open their expense reports to public scrutiny, after six of them went to jail and hundreds more were caught out.

What’s surprising is that nothing similar has happened in New Zealand. Despite the lessons from overseas, our politicians still aren’t required to open their books in the same way. It’s yet another reason why our Open the Books campaign remains so important.

👉 Listen to the full conversation here or wherever good podcasts are shared.

Have a great week - hopefully I'll see you at one of the Mayoral debates!

Tory Relf New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Ps. Our debate series is only possible thanks to the generous support of our donors like you. Support our debates and the Local Government Fighting Fund. Every dollar goes towards the fight for lower rates and more accountability.

Mixed news for National in this month's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, with National gaining but the Coalition unable to form a Government.

The poll, conducted between 31 August and 02 September, shows Labour hold on to its spot as the largest party, gaining 0.2 points to 33.8 percent. National gained 1.3 points to 33.1 percent.

The Greens gain 0.9 points to 10.7 percent, while New Zealand First gains 0.3 points to 8.1 percent. ACT drop 1.9 points to 6.7 percent, while Te Pāti Māori gains 1.1 point to 4.3 percent.

Headline results and more information about the methodology can be found on the Taxpayers' Union's website at www.taxpayers.org.nz/sept2025_nztucurpoll

For the minor parties, TOP is on 1.1 percent (-1.5 points), Outdoors and Freedom is on 0.8 percent (-0.3 points), Vision NZ is on 0.6 percent (+0.2 points), and New Conservatives are on 0.3 percent (+0.3 points).

This month's results are compared to the last Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll conducted in August 2025, available at https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/augpoll2025_250808

The combined projected seats for the Centre-Left remains on 61 seats. The combined seats for the Centre-Right drops 1 seat from last month to 60. On these numbers, the Centre-Left bloc could form a Government.

Labour drops 1 seat from last month to 42, while National gains 2 to 42. The Greens gain 1 seat to 13, while New Zealand First remain on 10. ACT drops 3 seats to 8, while Te Pāti Māori remain unchanged on 6.

Cost of Living remains voters' top issues at 27.5 percent (+3.1 points), followed by the Economy more generally at 16.1 percent (-4.6 points). Health is the next largest at 11.1 percent (+1.1%), followed by Employment on 7.5 percent and Taxes on 4.7 percent.

Commenting on the results, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

"With Labour and National tied on 42 seats each, it's neck and neck as we close in on the final year before the next election:"

"This Government is still hanging on by its fingertips. They were elected to provide cost-of-living relief, and so far they've been unable to deliver."

"If National want to go into the next election with some breathing room, families need to stop feeling the squeeze. That means growth, jobs, and rates relief."

This week on Taxpayer Talk, James sits down with John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the UK TaxPayers' Alliance. John and James dig into some big issues, to see what New Zealand can learn from the UK's (many) mistakes.

Rates caps, death tax, and John's role in exposing the infamous MPs' expenses scandal, which forced every British MP to open their expense reports to public scrutiny. Six MPs were jailed, and hundreds more were caught out.

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the Government over its release of internal documents revealing an $8.4b “unfunded” hole in funding future public services over the years to 2028/29.

Taxpayers’ Union Economist Ray Deacon said:

"The Minister of Finance’s current strategy is to tinker around the edges and shuffle spending, but if we want to balance the books and close the deficit, hard choices must be made."

"This Government has no serious fiscal plan. It’s simply hoping that growth alone will cover the gap - but hope is not a strategy, especially when the country faces a debt burden equivalent to $138,900 per household."

"The refusal to scrap costly legacy programmes like the $1.09 billion film subsidies and $3.54 billion in KiwiSaver top-ups shows this Government isn’t yet willing to make the calls that matter."

"The Taxpayers’ Union is urging Finance Minister Nicola Willis to adopt the common-sense reforms in our policy roadmap, A Pathway to Surplus."

"Our plan gives the Minister the tools to smash the deficit, stop the borrowing, and restore New Zealand’s financial resilience."

"If the Government is serious about avoiding higher taxes, a credit downgrade, and mounting debt, it needs a real plan, not just blaming Labour's sins of the past."

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming a new report from The New Zealand Initiative calling for Cabinet reform, saying the bloated system of portfolios and departments wastes money and dodges accountability.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“This report must be a wakeup call to the Government. New Zealand has 81 portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments. That’s three times as many portfolios as comparable countries. Taxpayers are footing the bill while accountability vanishes.”

“When a ministry like MBIE answers to 20 different ministers, no one is clearly in charge. That means delays, excuses, and wasted money.”

“Countries like Ireland and Singapore prove you can govern effectively with 15–20 ministers. It’s time for New Zealand to cut Cabinet down to size and make responsibility clear.”

“If the Government is serious about delivering for New Zealanders, it must take this report as a blueprint: set a clear target to cut Cabinet down to size, publish a timeline, and start the job of rebuilding accountability.”

“This Government has shown no pathway back to surplus. Getting the bureaucratic beast under control is the only way they’ll cut costs”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is backing ACT MP Cameron Luxton's concerns over councils campaigning in favour of Māori wards. Legal advice circulated to all councils by Taituarā has already made it clear that doing so may breach electoral law and could result in the poll being declared void and another poll issued.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“Promoting a ‘Council position’ on the very question up for public vote risks invalidating the result entirely. Despite this, councils like Hastings and now Western Bay of Plenty are using ratepayer money pushing their staff’s own views.”

"This is a matter of democratic integrity. You can’t be both referee and cheerleader. When councils take a side in a process they’re meant to run neutrally, they’re opening the door to legal challenges and a possible repeat of the entire poll.”

“Councils have been clearly warned. Not just of the legal risk, but of potential Auditor-General investigations, overturned results, Ministerial intervention and the cost to ratepayers of having to redo the same poll.”

“If councillors want to campaign, they should do it with their own money and time. Not with ratepayer-funded communications teams.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Nicola Willis to be bold and adopt full capital expensing to give firms the certainty they need, among reports that the Investment Boost programme has failed to spark the confidence firms need to invest.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“While the Government’s Investment Boost programme was a small step in the right direction, it hasn’t gone far enough. We called it at the time – the programme lacked the ambition needed and was destined to become a flop. Business owners are still left without the confidence they need to commit to new investment.”

“Unlike the limited 20 percent Investment Boost, full capital expensing would allow businesses to immediately deduct the full cost of new equipment, machinery, and technology. That puts more cash in the hands of firms right away, making it easier to take on ambitious projects and invest in growth.”

“Full expensing has already been shown to work overseas. In the United States and the United Kingdom it drove higher business investment, productivity, and even boosted tax revenue over time. If Willis is serious about getting the economy moving, she should be ambitious and deliver the policy in full.”

"How much more advice will it take for Willis to do the right thing? She travelled to the UK, where the Adam Smith Institute gave her the exact same advice - full capital expensing is a tried-and-tested way to boost growth."

“If Nicola Willis wants a plan that actually gets businesses investing, she should read our report, Going for Growth: Full Expensing of Capital Expenditure.”

Hi,

Next week we head into Spring – and the meaty part of the local elections. Read more on our Ratepayer Protection Pledge below.

This week we’re also celebrating a major Taxpayer Victory, an unexpected Taxpayer Hero, and a kid who gives us all hope for the future. It’s a long newsletter, so let’s go.

TAXPAYER VICTORY: Nosey Parker clause scrapped 🎊

We celebrated a MAJOR Taxpayer Victory this week with the announcement that Section 17GB – otherwise known as the Nosey Parker clause – of the delightfully-named Tax Administration Act 1994 is on the chopping block.

We’ve been campaigning to get rid of David Parker’s snoopers’ charter since its rushed introduction during Covid – and we finally can claim victory.

What does this mean? Well, it means that Inland Revenue no longer have the power to snoop on your bank accounts in the vague hope that you might have been hiding something they could use to squeeze more tax out of us all.

Parker might not have thought so, but taxpayers have a right to privacy and open-ended, arbitrary powers have no place in the tax system.

Revenue Minister Simon Watts is clearly busy trying to rack up brownie points with taxpayers, given his commitment to a rates capping law with his Local Government Minister hat on. And on that topic…

Ghastly Grey District Council caught on camera 🎥

Remember this next time you go to the ballot box.

After Central Ward Councillor Timothy Mora asked an entirely justified question on the reaction to rates increases, Grey District Council rather let themselves down.

How did they react? With concern over the increased cost of living? With compassion for the families struggling to make ends meet? No. They laughed.

Sounds unbelievable? Watch it for yourself here.

Insane behaviour from the council that oversaw the highest rates increase on the West Coast this year.

NEW POLL: All ages, regions and parties support a rates cap 🧢

With behaviour like Grey District Council’s, is it any wonder why Kiwis back a rates cap law by 3:1?

We published our latest poll results this week, showing a majority of Kiwis – no matter the age, region or party split – backing an introduction of a law to cap council rates.

We knew it was popular. You told us you wanted it. But when you’ve got a policy that unites Labour and ACT, National and Te Pati Māori? You know it’s a good one.

Read the full results and James’ analysis here.

Sign our petition: XXXX 📜

In a few weeks, our policy wonks James and Ray will hopefully be heading to Parliament to present our submission on the Local Government (Systems Improvements) Bill. This is the one Simon Watts has promised will fix all the ills of local government.

But the Bill is not ready yet. We have a lot to say – and we know that you will too.

Rates capping isn’t in there yet (although Watts promised it by Christmas at our LGNZ rally last month). And without removing the so-called general competencies from Council mandates, they’ll still be free to spend wildly on anything that isn’t core business.

So, sign our petition today to add your name to the list – show the select committee that we mean business. [INSERT LINK]

Ratepayer Protection Pledge: Your 2025 Ratepayer Voting Guide 🗳️🛡️

This week we launched the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, drawing a line in the sand between those mayoral and council candidates who are standing with ratepayers and those who are not.

Every candidate standing for mayor or council has been asked for their commitment to ratepayers on three vital issues:

• Oppose any measures that will see the total burden of rates, levies and additional council charges exceed the level of inflation and population growth, 
• Support initiatives that will improve transparency of council expenditure, including the public disclosure of all expenditure items (known as 'armchair audit' and 'open data')
• Oppose unelected appointments onto council committees with spending and regulatory powers.

Councils are only as good as the people we elect to sit on them. And we’ve seen more than enough evidence to show councils are in bad shape (looking at you, Grey District Council).

That’s why every name added to the pledge will be published online, so voters can make an informed decision on who best represents them. Keep an eye out for our website launch early next week.

Auckland Transport Gets Schooled by a 20-Year-Old Student 🏛️

Have you ever felt extraordinarily old? I did this week, when 20-year-old Auckland University law student Sean O'Loughlin took a case to the High Court at Auckland against Auckland Transport – and won.

He tripped AT up at their own game – layers and layers of paperwork – after discovering that AT did not consider whether a raised pedestrian crossing and three speed bumps on The Parade in Bucklands Beach would unduly impede vehicular traffic.

AT were found to have not fulfilled their legal duty drivers and therefore the decision was unlawful. Given they spent a whopping $667,000 on installing the things, you would have thought AT could have paid a bit more attention. Maybe they were distracted by spending more than $147,000 on social media influencers?

Either way, it sounds like it’s time for AT to be stripped back to basics and focus on providing decent service to all Aucklanders, including the ones in cars.

Huge, huge congrats to this Taxpayer Hero. What a legend.

Campbell Barry, the unlikely Taxpayer Hero 🦸

In news even more surprising than last week’s Taxpayer Hero being given to a Cabinet Minister, this week we’re giving a gong to none other than Hutt City Mayor Campbell Barry 🤯

Yes – you heard that right. Mayor Barry did a solid this week and, as a parting shot to Council before stepping down, he warned them not to spend recklessly after removing water services from their balance sheet. Maybe he should start with his own Hutt City Council…

By shifting most of their assets off the books, councils should return most of the rates take to ratepayers. It’s not an invitation for yet another local government lolly scramble.

It was a clear shot across the bow to remind councils that their first obligation, above all else, is to the people paying the bills.

While it’s a shame he didn’t realise that before hiking rates by 44.7 percent over the last three years, it’s still refreshing to see a leopard can change its spots.

On the Campaign Trail: Join us for a debate near you 🎤

In a tradition as old as time – or certainly one older than that Auckland Uni student I told you about earlier – we’ll be putting your questions to the candidates hoping to lead some of the country’s most infamous councils.

Starting in Hastings on 8^th September, we’ll heading on the road to a debate near you. For some, we’ll be partnering with our youth wing, Generation Screwed. For a taste of what’s to come, catch up on their Wellington debate here.

Keep an eye out for more information in your inbox next week.

Taxpayer Talk: Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett on Infrastructure and Local Government🎙

Building anything in New Zealand has no shortage of challenges. Whether it be soaring costs, reels of red tape, or problems with supplying labour, our choked infrastructure pipeline deeply affects this country's economy and quality of life. 

CEO for Infrastructure New Zealand, Nick Leggett, joins Peter Williams for a deep dive into how can overcome these challenges so we can build faster, more efficiently, and more affordably.

Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Phew. I warned you it was a long one!

Have a great weekend.

Tory Relf New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

 

PS. We can’t continue to hold local government candidates to account without the generous support of people like you, XXX. Please donate here to our Local Government Fighting Fund to support our Ratepayer Protection Pledge and the Ratepayer Voting Guide. Thank you.

The Taxpayers' Union has slammed Labour's backing of a proposal to create a taxpayer-funded agency for union delegate training, calling it a misuse of public funds to benefit Labour’s union allies.

Taxpayers' Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:

"It is outrageous that Labour would use taxpayers' money to fund training for unions when those same unions fund Labour's political campaigns. This is a clear conflict of interest and would be an egregious overstep of government resources."

"Last year, we exposed how taxpayers forked out at least $871,000 a year for MBIE staff to do union work on taxpayer time. Now, we’re seeing Labour propose a taxpayer-funded agency to train unions. This is a pattern of wasteful spending to support Labour's union partners."

"The Public Service Administration’s recent attempts to smear New Zealand’s meat inspection standards by contacting foreign embassies are just another example of the damage these unions are causing, yet Labour want to reward them.”

“It’s time for Labour to stop prioritising their union backers at the expense of taxpayers.”

https://www.buzzsprout.com/944017/episodes/17672947

Building anything in New Zealand has no shortage of challenges. Whether it be soaring costs, reels of red tape, or problems with supplying labour, our choked infrastructure pipeline deeply affects this country's economy and quality of life. 

CEO for Infrastructure New Zealand, Nick Leggett, joins Peter Williams for a deep dive into how can overcome these challenges so we can build faster, more efficiently, and more affordably.

Rates across the country have soared, many into the double-digits. But while most councils point fingers and find excuses, Mayor for Whanganui Andrew Tripe has kept his average rates increase as little as 2.2 percent – the lowest in the country this year.

Mayor Tripe joins Peter Williams for a discussion on how this was achieved, and the work behind getting his Council focused on the basics, while keeping up with important infrastructure and services, and paying down debt. 

Hutt City Council Mayor Campbell Barry has called on councils not to spend recklessly after removing water services from their balance sheets.

Responding to this, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Sam Warren said:

“Shifting most of their assets off the books means councils can return the majority of the rates take to ratepayers. It’s not an invitation for yet another local government lolly scramble.”

“Candidates looking to use this as an opportunity to sneak huge increases in the cost of living for ratepayers need to be front up and admit it before voting opens next month.”

“Well done to Campbell Barry for this shot across the bow, reminding councils that their first obligation is to the people paying the bills. It’s a shame he didn’t realise that before hiking rates 44.7 percent over the last three years, but better late than never.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is sounding the alarm that recent reports of public service reforms are falling short of delivering the bold changes needed to tackle inefficiency and escalating national debt.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:

“The proposed reforms are nothing more than a superficial reshuffle. Without cutting duplication and reducing waste, these changes will be just rearranging the deck chairs under a different logo.”

“We’re in a structural deficit, with no plan whatsoever to get back to surplus. If now isn’t the time to cut costs, when is? Former Minister Peter Dunne is right that a radical cost-cutting review is long overdue. Any efficiencies should go straight to tackling the national debt, which is fast approaching $300 billion as highlighted by the National Debt Clock.”

“Merging departments is fine, but what is the point if you’re keeping all the same functions? There’s still 16,286 bureaucrats than there were in 2017 - focus on cutting these first.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has slammed Grey District Council for its disgusting conduct during a council meeting, where councillors laughed when asked how residents felt about rates increases.

“It’s utterly disgusting behaviour from councillors. Clearly the mask has slipped, showing no remorse for the impact their rates increases have placed on households.” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers' Union.

“Where is exactly do Grey councillors find so funny? Under their watch, Greymouth has suffered an average rates increase of 37 percent in the last three years. That’s incredibly serious, and cackling away in their chambers only shows how insensitive they are to the issue.”

“Locals neither want nor deserve clowns running the show. The only way to show us they’re serious is to sign the Ratepayer Protection Pledge by 1 September, publicly committing to keeping rate rises below inflation and easing the pressure on households."

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Nicola Willis to protect the dignity of the Reserve Bank and sack its chair, after yet another of Neil Quigley’s gaffes was made public today.

Commenting, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“Let’s call this for what it is: Neil Quigley was asking Treasury to break the law to protect ‘goodwill’ between Treasury and the RBNZ.  That alone should see his out the door.”

“Last month, Quigley was caught out having lied to the public. We said back then he had to go. Avoiding bad PR is not a reason to break the OIA, and Nicola Willis is looking weaker by the day she doesn’t show him the door.”

“We are hearing good quality people are passing up roles at the RBNZ because of Quigley’s continued tenure. He risks tainting the next Governor before they're even in the job, when it was never intended that the guy who picked Adrian Orr would get another go at it.”

"Why is Nicola Willis not putting Quigley out of his misery and protecting the Central Bank's reputation?" 

Revenue Minister Simon Watts has confirmed a major victory for taxpayer privacy with plans to repeal Section 17GB of the Tax Administration Act 1994.

The so-called “Nosey Parker” clause, introduced in 2022, gave Inland Revenue the power to demand “any information the Commissioner considers relevant” for tax policy or reform, regardless of how private or personal.

The Taxpayers’ Union, which spearheaded a campaign to scrap the law, says the repeal is long overdue.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“David Parker’s snoopers’ charter is headed for the scrap heap, and good riddance. Taxpayers have a right to privacy, regardless of how little the former Labour Revenue Minister may have respected that."

“Open-ended, arbitrary powers have no place in the tax system, just like IRD has no business prying into people’s family lives or spending habits.”

“Rammed through during COVID with no public consultation, there was next to no limit on the taxman’s powers to rifle through people’s private lives. Well done to Minister Watts for putting Big Brother back in his box.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is backing Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche’s call to cut waste by consolidating or abolishing costly demographic ministries, like the Ministry for Women and Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“New Zealanders don’t not need individual government agencies for each demographic. We need a government that delivers quality service and value for taxpayers’ money.”

“Our A Pathway to Surplus report shows scrapping the five overlapping agencies would save $2.4 billion between now and 2028, putting $1,200 back into each household’s bank account. Minister Willis wants to ease the cost of living - here’s the answer.”

“The Public Service Commissioner is right to call for leaner public services that focus on all Kiwis’ outcomes. Given there’s still more bureaucrats now than at the last election, here’s the place to start cutting.” 

NEW POLL: Rates Caps Backed by Every Group Polled

In the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll, voters overwhelmingly expressed support for rates capping.

Voters backed rates capping by a ratio of almost 3:1, with 64 percent of voters supporting rates caps compared to just 22 percent who opposed. 14 percent were unsure.

Respondents were asked:

"The Government is planning to introduce a law that would cap how much local councils can increase rates by every year. Do you support or oppose there being a rates cap law?"

Moreover, voters of every Parliamentary party were majority in support of rates cap laws. As were voters of every single age group, gender, and region.

Net support by Party was:

New Zealand First +65 percent
National +61 percent
Undecideds +48 percent
ACT +38 percent
Greens +37 percent
Labour +22 percent
Te Pati Māori +19 percent

Commenting on these results, Taxpayers' Union spokesman James Ross said:

"The Government might be backing rates caps, but its time for all parties to get on board. There's no votes to be won by playing partisan games when Kiwis want a solution that will stick."

"With the average rates bill spiralling 34 percent in just three years, people don't just want rates caps: they want them now."

"Rates hikes are the single largest contributor to the cost of living crisis. Voters of all stripes want to see an end to the gravy train."

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has today launched the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, 14 days before voting opens for local body elections.

Every candidate standing mayor and council has been asked for their commitment to ratepayers over three key issues;

1.) Oppose any measures that will see the total burden of rates, levies and additional council charges exceed the level of inflation and population growth, 

2.) Support initiatives that will improve transparency of council expenditure, including the public disclosure of all expenditure items (known as 'armchair audit' and 'open data')

3.) Oppose unelected appointments onto council committees with spending and regulatory powers.

Taxpayers’ Union Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said:

“Councils are only as good as the people we elect to sit on them. Often we don’t know where they stand on important issues. The Ratepayer Protection Pledge draws a line in the sand to highlight which candidates are standing with ratepayers this year.”

“Every name added to the pledge will be published online, so voters can make an informed decision on who best represents them, and who chooses to coast through another term of higher rates and less transparency.”

“Councils today are in bad shape. We need good candidates to make a stand. They have until Monday 1 September to add their names and show us how seriously they will take the growing call for change in local government.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is questioning a new $500,000 pilot fund from NZ On Air to subsidise national concert tours but only for artists who have already received taxpayer support and completed a prior headline tour.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley said:

“If you’ve already got a taxpayer-funded music project, already have done a tour, and already have a professional team behind you then congratulations, NZ On Air might just give you another $50,000.”

“How does taxpayer top-up for artists who are already shown they are well-established and commercially viable support startup musicians?”

"This funding is a perfect example of how public arts money often goes to the same insiders, while working artists who are actually building a following get overlooked."

“Let’s be real, if you’ve already had a national tour and a government grant, it’s time to stand on your own two feet. Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for encore rounds.”

"Public money needs to start going to the frontline services where it’s actually needed, not to those with the best industry connections."

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out The Wairarapa Times Age for overstepping the line between journalism and political activism after it publicly endorsed council amalgamation in Wairarapa, stated it will be lobbying candidates and dismissed public input as irrelevant.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Sam Warren said:

“When local journalists start telling communities their voices don’t matter, they stop being part of the fourth estate and start acting like political lobbyists.”

“The role of the media is to inform and scrutinise, not push a political agenda. It’s not the job of editors to decide how local government should be structured, especially when they openly admit they don’t trust the public to decide for themselves.”

“Calls for amalgamation are often pushed by council insiders with no understanding of what communities actually want or need.”

“The Auckland Super City was supposed to deliver savings and efficiency. What it delivered was higher rates, more bureaucracy, and less local control. And now the same elite voices want to repeat the same mistake in Wairarapa.”

“We urge journalists to stick to reporting the facts and let communities decide how they want to be governed.”

The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Kapiti Coast District Council didn’t bother to bond CEO Darren Edwards to the Council, despite approving a $42,979 six-day Harvard Business School programme for him. Mr Edwards can walk away from the role at anytime, with ratepayers picking up the tab for his personal development.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“Edwards could resign tomorrow and wouldn’t have to pay back a cent. Ratepayers are being cheated.” 

“Usual practise for any employer is to bond an employees for at least a year to ensure that the organisation actually gets the value for the training. But not at Kapiti Coast District Council - where the spending was rubber stamp approved with no strings attached. He is not even obliged to serve out until the end of his fixed term contract.”

“The casual approach taken to what amounts to a $43,000 discretionary bonus is astounding and represents a major failure in governance. Ratepayers expect the Mayor and Councillors to be taking the same approach as any private sector employer would: ensure that the benefits of such a large spend accrue to the organisation." 

“Given Mr Edwards’ past, we are frankly amazed he was even admitted into the Harvard course.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling out RNZ for being quick to amplify council spin but ignoring the people footing the bill.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:

“RNZ continues to give councils a free pass while shutting out the voices of the very people forced to pay their bills. By shutting out the ratepayer perspective, it’s no wonder the broadcaster’s audience is walking away.”

“RNZ’s coverage parrots spin about ‘rundown infrastructure’ if rates are capped but never asks how much more struggling households can afford.”

“Ratepayers have faced rates hikes of more than 60 percent over just three years in some areas. For RNZ to ignore that side of the story is a slap in the face to the very people funding local government, and RNZ itself.”

“Until RNZ starts treating ratepayers fairly, it will keep losing the trust and ears of the public.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ attack on the Taxpayers’ Union doesn't hide the fact that under her watch government spending as a share of the economy is significantly higher than when Grant Robertson left office.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“Willis is entitled to her own opinion but she’s not entitled to her own facts. She is deflecting from the state of the economy by making cheap shots, but the fact remains that spending as a proportion of the economy has surged on her watch, making the cost of living crisis even worse. That is not responsible fiscal management, it is a doubling down of Grant Robertson economics.”

"And Willis knows it. She is clearly under pressure to start performing. That's why she's pointing to supposed future reductions as a fix. It's as if she's not already delivered two government budgets."

“Willis needs to get off the starting block, and even the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Statement admits we need to see some pro-growth policies. That doesn’t mean continuing to take more money from the public than at any point under the last government.”

“There are plenty of places for savings without having to touch schools and hospitals, as outlined in our A Pathway to Surplus report. Or perhaps the Minister can start with her own international travel rather than touching health or education?”

“The fact Willis needs to attack using a left-wing caricature speaks for itself. Attacking the Taxpayers' Union doesn't fix the fact that while options are there for Willis to take, what’s missing is the political will."

The Taxpayers’ Union says today’s 25 basis point cut to the OCR is no substitute for the Government tackling its reckless spending.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:

“This isn’t a normal downturn, it’s a prolonged recession. The Reserve Bank has done its bit, but the real problem is fiscal. Inflation is set to bounce back, and council rate hikes are still feeding through the system.”

“Nicola Willis keeps praying for growth while kicking the surplus can further down the road. Fitch may have reaffirmed our AA+ credit rating, but they made it clear debt is higher and consolidation has been delayed.”

“The Treasury has already shouted ‘fire’, yet the Minister refuses to act. Until the Government reins in its spending, no amount of OCR cuts will rescue the economy.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that NIWA is refusing to disclose how much it paid private developers to build an online climate adaptation game, or the total cost of the game, despite the project being funded by taxpayers through the MBIE Endeavour Fund.

The “My Coastal Futures” game, built by NIWA in partnership with Hum Interactive and Geo AR Games, has research costs estimated at over $300,000, yet NIWA has refused to reveal what the subcontractors were paid, citing vague claims of commercial confidentiality.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“This is public money, spent on a public project, developed by private companies. Yet NIWA is stonewalling. New Zealanders have every right to know how much was paid, and to whom.”

“If the Government can publish what it spends on roadworks, consultancy reports, or film grants, then there’s no excuse for hiding the cost of a publicly funded game.”

“The Ombudsman must step in and start hold agencies to account when they misuse ‘commercial sensitivity’ as a catch-all excuse to dodge transparency.”

“The fact that NIWA won’t even release the bill speaks volumes about how far some agencies have drifted from basic public accountability. The new Earth Sciences New Zealand must do better and uphold the principals its predecessor has ignored.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming news of further cuts to taxpayer-funded research that results in little to no value to the taxpayer, including the Marsden Fund and the Endeavour Fund.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“We’ve seen six-figure grants handed out to study how dating apps are used, whether it’s ‘benevolently sexist’ to think men should protect women, and even the history of Spanish bullfighting. Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to fund this nonsense while households are struggling with the cost of living.”

“In the past, we have highlighted dozens of similar examples, from projects exploring Pacific climate change storytelling to finding out how religion affects inequality – in Fiji. While academics may enjoy this kind of work, taxpayers rightly expect research dollars to deliver tangible benefits here in New Zealand.”

“Tightening the tap on wasteful research spending is exactly what taxpayers expect. The Government should keep going until every dollar is focused on projects with real-world outcomes that benefit New Zealanders.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is applauding Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden for rejecting costly bureaucratic delay tactics and changing the Department of Internal Affairs/Te Tari Taiwhenua logo and name at minimal cost.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Rhys Hurley said:

“Brooke deserves full credit for cutting through the Wellington blob. This is what leadership looks like: clear, simple, and grounded in the affordability the public actually wants.”

“Wellington bureaucrats wanted expensive rebranding exercises and endless consultation. Brooke said no, and just got on with it."

"She’s a hero for telling the bureaucracy she could do it herself for no cost if they wouldn't.”

“For any other Minister looking to implement the change we’ll do the job for free. No consultants, no branding agencies, no bureaucratic waffle and delays, just a clean, free fix."

Former Wellington Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow will act as interim Chief Executive for Whanganui Council in what has been described as an ‘exciting new adventure’ by McKerrow and a ‘terrifying new chapter’ for Whanganui ratepayers.

Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, Sam Warren, said:

“Our thoughts are with the people of Whanganui during these uncertain times.”

“McKerrow brings with her a track record, just not the kind you’d want to flaunt. Under her clerkship, Wellington experienced phenomenal disfunction and rates rises – we can only hope Whanganui doesn’t have a town hall that needs upgrading, or pipes to fix.”

“While in Wellington, McKerrow’s $553,356 pay packet raised some eyebrows when compared to her performance. The latest Taxpayers’ Union Council CEO Rich List ranked her as the second-highest paid individual council CEO. For the sake of Whanganui ratepayers, let’s hope McKerrow brings more bang for buck this time round.“

“With McKerrow should come a warning not to repeat the same mistakes. For McKerrow, we wish her ‘bon voyage’. For Whanganui locals, we wish you ‘good luck – she’s your problem now’”.