Organisations including the Taxpayers’ Union, Council of Trade Unions, New Zealand Initiative, and BusinessNZ have been banned from Treasury’s Budget lock-up.

Commenting, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“Nicola Willis is spending more than Grant Robertson and borrowing more than $47 million every single day. Burying her head in the sand won’t change that.”

“Even after OIA documents released in March showed groups like ours were banned in a ministerial power-trip over a spat with the Council of Trade Unions, the Minister has doubled down.”

“Kiwis want credible government finances. Banning the critics won’t fix the books.”

“Budget briefings are one of the few instances where civil society groups and economic commentators have the chance to engage directly with Treasury officials. In previous years, the Taxpayers’ Union has even picked-up on mistakes in the Budget that were subsequently corrected.”

“The only reason you bar these groups is if you don’t want informed discussion, and want to be able to play the media - many of whom rely on the few economists in the room not on the government payroll to cut through the political spin.”

“Let’s call this what it is - chicken. At December’s briefing, the books were cooked with the made-up ‘OBEGALx’ to pretend Minister Willis had a plan for surplus. What fantasy finances are being hidden this time?”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is joining the Public Service Association in slamming  Health New Zealand for blowing nearly $2.75 million on consultants  to “manage restructures”. The Taxpayers' Union is calling the latest scandal "just the tip of the iceberg" of the $338 million Health NZ consultant budget this year alone.

Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:

“Only in the bizarre world of government bureaucracy do you fire staff, then fork out millions to consultants to help you do it.”

“If Health NZ wants to restructure, they should do it themselves. After all the taxpayer cash splashed on conferences and canapés for senior managers, surely someone in the building has the brains and backbone to get the job done.”

"But this $2.7 million is just the tip of the iceberg. With Health NZ spending more than $338 million this year alone on external consultants, it's no wonder Health NZ is a dumpster fire."

“If the Government is serious about getting the health system ‘back on track’, it’s time they follow through on their promise and pull the plug on wasteful consultant spending.”

Responding to news that the Government is considering a market study into the aviation sector while retaining a controlling stake in its largest player, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Government to sell its entire stake in Air New Zealand.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, James Ross, said:

“It’s a farce for the Government to claim this review will be fair and impartial while it continues to hold a majority share in Air New Zealand. You can’t be both referee and player, it’s a blatant conflict of interest.”

“If the Government is serious about improving competition and lowering fares, the first step is simple: get out of the way. Air New Zealand should be a private company competing on a level playing field, not a political pet project dressed up as market participation.”

“Every state asset should be under scrutiny. If private ownership is likely to deliver better service and lower costs, then the Government has no business holding on. Selling Air New Zealand would not only boost competition but also reduce taxpayers’ exposure to commercial risk.”

NEW POLL: Net country direction drops, centre-right could still form a Government.

The latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll shows the Government Coalition once again able to form a Government, despite net country direction falling ten points.

The poll, conducted between 30 April and 04 May shows National gain 1.1 points on last month to 34.6 percent, while Labour jump 3.4 points to 33.2 percent.

ACT is down 0.5 points to 9.5 percent, whilst the Greens are down 1.9 points to 9.1 percent. New Zealand First remains unchanged on 7.4 percent, while Te Pāti Māori is down 0.4 points to 3.9 percent. 

Headline results and more information about the methodology can be found on the Taxpayers' Union's website at www.taxpayers.org.nz/polling_may07_2025tucur

For the minor parties, TOP is on 0.5 percent (-1.0 point), Outdoors and Freedom is on 0.4 percent (-0.6 points), and Vision NZ is on 0.4 percent (+0.4 points).

This month's results are compared to the last Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll conducted in April 2025, available here at www.taxpayers.org.nz/tucur_04_aprpoll2025

The combined projected seats for the Centre-Right of 63 is down 1 seat from last month. The combined seats for the Centre-Left is up 1 seat to 58. On these numbers, the Centre-Right bloc could form a Government.

National remains on 42 seats again this month, whilst Labour is up 4 seats to 41. ACT is down 1 seat to 12, whilst the Greens are down 3 seats to 11. New Zealand First remains on 9 seats, while Te Pāti Māori remains on 6. 

With 33.3 percent (-8.5 points) saying the country is headed in the right direction and 46.0 percent (+1.8 points) in the wrong direction, net country direction has fallen 10.3 points this month to -12.7 percent.

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

"The same week the Hīkoi to Balance the Budget showed Government debt blow past $190 billion, net country direction dropped more than ten percent. If that's not a sign Kiwis want Nicola to balance the books, what is?"

"With each household's share of the debt at $93,500 and counting, Kiwis can't look the other way until the Government get their fiscal ducks in a row."

"Across the ditch, another centre-right party just blew their election chances by failing to present a credible fiscal plan. If National doesn’t get serious about fixing the books, the risk is the same here.

"Budget 2025 is only a fortnight away. Nicola Willis needs to give Kiwis what they need and finally put the debt clock into reverse."

Tauranga City Council has come under for fire for spending $200,000 on a series of short videos amidst a 12.5 percent rates increase.

Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, slammed the Council’s spend, saying:

“Again and again, we’re seeing completely shameful spending by Tauranga City Council. Ratepayers demand one thing: to stick to the basics. When will they get the message?”

“Unfortunately, Tauranga have form in this space—and this is just one of many recent expenditures exposing their lack of respect to ratepayers.”

“How can they justify a 12.5 percent rates hike on top of last year’s 13.1 percent? Together, that’s a compound increase of more than 27 percent in just the last two years alone.”

“Rates capping laws are urgently needed to reign councils and get them focused on providing core services—not nice-to-haves.”

Responding to reports of President Donald Trump’s proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made films, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“Kiwis have forked out over $1 billion in film subsidies in just five years — much of it for big-budget international productions.”

“Film handouts have soared from $129 million in 2017 to $342 million in 2023. Treasury found nearly $500 million in subsidies delivered just $13.6 million in net benefit — an annual return of less than one percent. You’d get better returns from popcorn futures.”

“Claims that movies boost tourism don’t stack up — the gains are inconsistent and nowhere near worth the cost.”

“We’re not building an industry — we’re stuck in a global bidding war. US states alone have spent $25 billion chasing Hollywood.”

“New Zealand now has the perfect opportunity to step away. Let’s call ‘cut’ on this failed fantasy and stop throwing good money after bad.”

Commenting on the New Zealand Herald’s front-page story on organized crime groups making millions on smuggled tobacco and cigarettes, Taxpayers’ Union executive director Jordan Williams says:

“Is it not surprising one in four cigarettes smoked in New Zealand is illegally imported – New Zealand taxes tobacco harder than just about anywhere else in the world, making it highly profitable for criminal enterprises."

“This explosion in black market tobacco proves what we have long said: New Zealand’s sky-high tobacco tax, combined with lenient penalties, makes us an obvious target for international organised smuggling groups. On a per household basis, the cost of lost revenue is up to $160 per year."

"The best way to get people off the durries is to continue New Zealand's path of successfully incentivising hard core smokers to make the switch to safer alternatives like vaping. In Australia - one of the only countries where tobacoo tax is even higher than New Zealand - vaping is not encouraged. As a result, both the illicit market is out of control and Australia continues to have much higher smoking rates."

Responding to news of a $6,180 farewell party for Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“Taxpayers might forgive the sausage rolls and muffins — but what really sticks in the throat is the total lack of transparency around Orr’s exit.”

“Orr bloated the Reserve Bank from 225 to 660 staff, let inflation run wild, and torched $11 billion through his reckless money-printing spree — enough to build four Dunedin hospitals.”

“His extreme capital rules spiked mortgage costs, adding $3,750 a year to a $1 million home loan. And when inflation finally fell, he snoozed through the signal — deepening the pain.”

“Now he’s slipped out the back door with a tray of sausage rolls and no accountability. Nicola Willis and the Reserve Bank need to come clean. Kiwis deserve better than muffins and a cover-up.” 

Palmerston North City Council will vote this week on a proposal to ban the sale of fizzy drinks at most council-owned venues, described as an ‘overreach’ even by the Mayor.

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

“Councillors supporting this charade clearly don’t have enough on their plate. That, or they have become so distracted by non-core business that they think this is a good use of their time.”

“After the 10.1 percent rates increase last year, and the 7.7 percent rates increase proposed this year—you’d think Council would have more important things to think about than a can of coke being sold at the netball courts.”

“Let’s agree, this is a complete ‘overreach’—and much more focus needs to be restored to Council to keep rates increases as low as possible and the city affordable.”

As the Taxpayers' Union tours the country on its Hīkoi to Balance the Budget, the Government will hit a nasty fiscal milestone with Net Core Crown Debt passing the $190 billion mark at 8:53PM this evening.

Commenting on the financial milestone, Taxpayers' Union spokesman James Ross said:

"Nicola Willis is borrowing nearly $48 million per day to fund her deficit spending. Tonight the total net borrowing ticks over to $190 billion. That's $93,381 debt for every New Zealand household."

"Government debt robs our kids and grandkids. Not only has high borrowing in recent years driven up the costs of living, the interest payable means less money for quality public services in the years to come."

"Nicola Willis likes to blame the previous government for sky high spending and the debt hangover. But she's spending even more than Grant Robertson, and continues to put much of that on the national credit card."

"This month's Budget needs to cut wasteful spending, and 'Stop the Clock'."

The figures used for the National Debt Clock at DebtClock.nz are based on Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2024: Net Core Crown Debt.

Bureaucracy is still booming — taxpayers need a smaller, sharper government

Responding to ACT Leader David Seymour’s comments calling out New Zealand’s bloated executive, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:

“Taxpayers are sick of funding a government that looks more like a political participation programme than a lean, effective executive. With 82 portfolios, 28 ministers, and 41 departments, it’s no wonder no one’s accountable.”

“Since 2017, the number of core public servants has jumped from 47,252 to 63,537 — a 34% increase,  more than triple population growth over the same period. Titles and departments keep multiplying, but results don’t.”

“New Zealand has fewer people, yet more ministers than South Korea or the UK. The system is bloated, duplicative, and wasteful — and taxpayers are footing the bill.”

“The test for Nicola Willis in Budget 2025 is simple: to help get the books back in black, abolish pointless portfolios, fold duplicative departments, and deliver fewer ministries that actually work.”

Rotorua Lakes Council has voted to retain its membership with Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) through to 2025/26—while some Councillors raised concerns over political bias within the organisation, and its $93,458 price tag paid for by ratepayers.

“Councils are waking up to the fact that LGNZ has become captured by ideologues and activists” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“More Councils are pulling out of their pricey memberships–and it’s real shame Rotorua Council didn’t do the same, at least this time.”

“No two ways about it—LGNZ is a politically captured lobby group, paid millions of ratepayers dollars to push an agenda that is increasingly at odds with the public’s own wishes.”

“Once pretending to be champions of localism—LGNZ showed their true colours the day they got into bed with Labour and its radical Three Waters agenda. Ratepayers shouldn’t be forced to fund activists.”

“Well done to the Councillors bold enough to push back and raise their concerns, and shame on the Councillors continuing this expensive and politically-skewed charade.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has not ruled out ending Government KiwiSaver subsidies ahead this year’s Budget.

“Willis’ Government was elected to make hard decisions—ending Government funded KiwiSaver subsidies is exactly one of them” said Sam Warren, a spokesman for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“Make no mistake, the subsidies costs taxpayers hundreds of millions each year, diverting desperately needed funds from other services or urgently needed debt repayments.”

“A product of the Fifth Labour Government back in 2007, the subsidies hoped to encourage KiwiSaver participation and contributions—but with that comes its own problems.”

“Now that membership levels are near-universal, the subsidies themselves are redundant. They also distort behaviour as individuals with investments and savings elsewhere will opt for lump contributions annually to receive the $521 payment by government.”

“The programme also operates as a private savings scheme, making the subsidy a wealth transfer from taxpayers to savers.”

“Most will agree that propping up private savings is completely inefficient—the government should straight out prioritise tax relive and allow individuals to save independently.”

"Times are incredibly tough, and the books are in dire straights. It's a hard decision, but it's the right one to get the economy back in shape."

Local Government Minister Simon Watts has today suggested rates capping laws are still on the table following a proposed 16 percent rates increase by Tauranga City Council.

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

“We’ve been pushing for rates capping laws for years. Used in the UK and states of Australia—they’re neither new, nor radical. But they are effective.”

“Rates on average increased 15 percent last year alone, far higher than inflation and salary growth. Councils too readily have shifted the burden of their own bad spending decisions onto the shoulders of ratepayers. Enough, we say.”

“Meanwhile Minister Watts had refused to engage with us on the issue, despite his predecessor, Simeon Brown, clearly being interested in this as a way to manage excessive rates increases.”

“Rather than engaging with us, Watts has spent the last few months meeting with Local Government New Zealand, a pro-Council lobby group paid millions with ratepayers’ money from subscribed councils, who are doing their best to steer Watts back from the policy.”

“Our advice to Watts is ‘do not listen to them’. If this is finally a sign that you are actually committing to effective rates capping—don’t budge an inch or allow councils to water it down in any form.”

The Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill has drawn criticism from several Tauranga Councillors, objecting that revenue could be invested elsewhere.

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

“Tauranga City Council is hardly a bastion of fiscal leadership—so when even they are blowing the whistle, you know something is wrong.”

“The promise was for this to be revenue neutral, to reduce congestion and improve efficiency. But if the funds can be spent elsewhere, we’ll call it what it is—another tax.”

"Key to this is for an equivalent cut to Road User Charges to ensure revenue neutrality can be sustained."

“The right parameters need to be in place so the scheme can be measured. If it's found that congestion targets aren't met, it’s essential the charges are scrapped.

"We demand clarity from the Minister that this will be the case, and not just another handbrake placed on locals."

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Ruapehu District Council after it overspent by $700,000 on Community and Recreational services — blaming the blowout on incorrect coding.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

"Ratepayers already struggling under a cost of living crisis and skyrocketing rates are right to call this completely unacceptable. Being whacked with a $700,000 bill because someone ticked the wrong box is a slap in the face to anyone expecting even basic financial competence."

"Errors like this are exactly why the Taxpayers' Union is calling for standardised financial reporting across all councils. Different general ledger codings and practices make it far too easy for mistakes like this to go unnoticed - and for accountability to slip through the cracks."

“If councils are serious about transparency, they must adopt clear, consistent financial reporting standards. Ratepayers deserve better than excuses.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is renewing its call for central government leadership to implement a national framework for council accounting standards, ensuring every ratepayer, journalist, and auditor can easily scrutinise where and how public money is being spent.

Commenting on Finance Minister Nicola Willis’s announcement of a $1 billion cut to the Government’s operating allowance, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager James Ross said:

“Cutting the operating allowance is a good start — but with the books this bad, a slow march won’t cut it. Taxpayers need a full sprint.”

“New Zealand is now running the worst primary deficit of any advanced economy, and government debt has exploded from $59 billion in 2017 to a projected $192 billion this year. Every dollar of new spending needs to be matched by savings — not a cent more.”

“If the Government can’t set the operating allowance at zero this year, it must lock it in for Budget 2026. Anything less is just kicking the can toward a cliff.”

“Taxpayers deserve a government that lives within its means, not politicians who keep maxing out the country’s credit card and handing them the bill.”

Councils enacting the Local Government (Ratings) Act are collecting millions of dollars of unpaid rates directly from the owners’ mortgages in the last 12 months.

“We’ve seen some of the steepest rates increases in the last 30 years—and you want to kick them while their down?” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“These increases have been one of the main drivers in a sustained cost of living crisis, dragging out with little end in sight. Claims that this is to reduce the burden of those staying afloat misses the point—cut the waste and reduce the rates.”

“Councils are so distracted by a massively broadened scope that they have forgotten they work for the ratepayer, who now rightly expects them to get back to the basics; roads, pipes and rubbish.”

The Dunedin City Council has come under fire for its $92.4 million development of Smooth Hill landfill—at risk of blowing out to become ‘another white elephant’.

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

“Council is up to its eyeballs in debt—expected to climb to one billion dollars by 2030. Experts are raising concerns that the economics don’t stack up, why won’t Council listen?”

“Councillor Vandervis is entirely right to express concern. Until more sustainable finances can be achieved, the project should be held off.”

“Cheaper and less risky options exist for the City’s waste. In the meantime, every effort must be made by Council to reduce the ever-growing rates burden on locals.”

“Another white elephant is the last thing they need—when they are already weighed down by astronomical levels of debt.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Official Information Act request that the total cost through the Members of Parliament (Former Prime Ministers Travel Services) Determination 2017, that former Prime Ministers car entitlements of $296,009.87 in purchases and $14,061.99 in fuel and maintenance.

The Department of Internal Affairs buys and replaces these cars for ex PMs and/or spouses, with the exception of Chris Hipkins, who wasn’t in the job more than two years, and John Key, who declined the entitlement.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Co-ordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“Taxpayers are forking out close to $60,000 a pop for new cars so ex-Prime Ministers can cruise around in style — on top of the air travel, rail, taxis and chauffeur services they already enjoy on the taxpayer dime.”

“At a time when everyday Kiwis are struggling just to keep their own cars on the road — let alone afford a new one — why are we still buying luxury vehicles for politicians who don’t even have the job anymore?"

"These are people who clocked out years, sometimes decades ago. In what other line of work do you keep getting perks long after you’ve left the building?”

"The Prime Minister needs to make a call: end the perk, or explain to taxpayers why his predecessors still deserve a free ride.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal, through a Official Information Act request, that the Department of Internal Affairs has redirected $67,000 of public money from its core functions to sponsor the 2025 Te Matatini kapa haka festival — all without sign-off from Minister Brooke van Velden.

DIA described the deal as a way to “enhance visibility” and demonstrate its commitment to Māori–Crown relations, while securing access to corporate hospitality. Despite never supporting any comparable community or cultural event in this way before, DIA agreed to this sponsorship at the deputy chief executive level with no Ministerial approval.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Co-ordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“These funds were meant for delivering public services — not topping up a festival the Government already funds. Public servants have raided their own operational budgets to play sponsor and score perks.”

“Who’s really getting a new passport while supporters are cheering their home kapa haka teams? What’s next — picking up your marriage certificate at the rugby?”

“The link between offering services and this festival is a joke. This is bureaucrats dipping into service budgets for a trip they don’t need and can’t justify.”

“The rationale in the Official Information Act response and the internal memo to the chief executive don’t match up. One claims the sponsorship is about community 'connection and service delivery', while the other talks about 'branding, logo placement, and access to the corporate lounge."

“If bureaucrats want to play patron of the arts, they should do it with their own money — not yours.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal, through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request to the Far North District Council the total cost of the construction of a single public toilet at Rangitāne Reserve in Kerikeri.

The final location had to be signed off by both local hapū and Heritage New Zealand, with excavation carried out under the watchful eye of both a cultural monitor and Heritage NZ representatives.

The project ended up costing ratepayers $157,821.43—with more than $30,000 eaten up by compliance and red tape alone. This includes:

• $5,000 paid to local Hapū for a Cultural Impact Assessment,
• $5,198.90 to Northern Archaeological Research for survey and assessment work, and
• $19,732.21 for consents, charges, project management, and monitoring.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“We’ve now got to the point where even a single toilet needs a army of consultants, cultural monitors, and bureaucratic sign-offs.”

“This is a textbook case of red tape strangling local infrastructure. It’s not just motorways and housing being held up anymore—it’s reached the public loos.”

“Councils are sinking more money into ticking boxes than delivering outcomes. Cultural impact assessments, archaeological surveys, live monitoring—none of it comes cheap, and most of it is wildly disproportionate to the size of the job. This toilet block ended up costing more than a house deposit. That’s not just absurd—it’s indefensible.”

“Slashing the project cost a bit lower isn't good enough when Far North ratepayers are staring down the barrel of a 11.43 percentage rate hike. If councils are going to keep hiking rates year after year, the least they can do is deliver infrastructure without blowing the budget on red tape.” 

On the news Health NZ paid for outgoing Chief Executive Margie Apa to attend a governance course — after she’d already resigned.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Co-ordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“Margie Apa was already one of the highest-paid public servants in the country — pocketing $895,000 this year, nearly $400,000 more than the Prime Minister. Now taxpayers are being forced to top that up with a golden handshake on the way out the door.”

“This wasn’t some internal training session. This was a career-boosting governance course — funded by you and me — for a Chief Executive who had one foot out the door."

"Health NZ calls it ‘outplacement support’. We call it a waste of money.”

“While hospitals are under pressure and frontline workers are crying out for resources, the top brass are looking after their own. It’s bureaucratic back-handers at its worst.”

"Its time to end the days of public service Golden Handshakes."

Dear Supporter,

As the country battens down the hatches for Cyclone Tam, your humble Taxpayers' Union is preparing for a different storm: the economic implications on New Zealand of the Trump tariffs. 

This week, we also cut to the truth about whether Nicola Willis is spending big or cutting her cloth, and why she is so annoyed with the Taxpayers' Union.

We also, errr, expose Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet bureaucrats for looking at p*rn while at work. Awkward...

But first: the economy.

The impending storm clouds - growth forecasts slashed in half 🌩️

Hot of the press this morning, Infometrics is the first of the major economic consultancies to put some actual numbers around what everyone agrees is an uncertain international situation.

The company says GDP growth for next year will come down from 2.4 percent to just 1.0 percent. Not good news for the Beehive or anyone who wants New Zealand to get out of the economic shtook.

Read more on the Infometrics website here: Economy’s recovery on ice as trade war hits growth

All roads lead back to the need for this year's Budget (just 35 sleeps away) to go for growth.

New Zealand needs substantive policy, not just PR and bumper sticker solutions.

The best 'bang for buck' to get a rocket under growth is full capital expensing: to get businesses investing in the very capital that will make New Zealand more productive.

To read more about the merits of the proposal click here.

When the facts don't fit the political narrative: Nicola Willis takes a swipe at the Taxpayers' Union 😱

The role of any good taxpayer advocate is to point out inconvenient fiscal truths. Sometimes that annoys the politicians – whoever is in Government. 😬

So is the case with Nicola Willis who likes to position herself as a prudent fiscal manager. Among other things, she claims to be reigning back the last Government's excessive spending.

But the facts don't fit the narrative.

Last year's Budget (the first delivered by Nicola Willis) spent more than Grant Robertson's Budget the previous year. That's true for both measuring it in real (inflation adjusted) terms and as a percentage of the economy.

But Ms Willis continues to claims she's spending 'less'. How does she square the circle?

You see, it's all framed up using what was projected using the earlier budgets.

In her Budget 2024 speech in Parliament Nicola Willis highlighted that the final "operating allowance" (that is the term used for new baseline spending) for Budget 2024 was $3.2 billion, which is below the $3.5 billion allowance set by the previous government.

Willis emphasised that this is the lowest allowance in nominal terms since Budget 2018 and the lowest in real terms since the Sir Bill English-era. That's all true, but 'reduced' spending, it is not.

So let's cut to the facts:

1. No matter how you measure it, Nicola Willis is spending more than Grant Roberson was actually spending (she's also borrowing at a faster rate than Robbo!)
2. But she is spending less than Grant Robertson planned to spend.

The opposition use exactly the same spin trick 😏

This reliance on forecasting - rather than actual spending – is the very same trick the opposition use to claim the Government has 'cut' public services. They treat the earlier longer-term forecasts as if it was real spending, and say that reductions to the size of an increase is a 'cut'.  

Now you know...

Nicola Willis says we don't have 'our facts in a row'. Judge for yourself... ⚖️

Last night on Heather du Plessis-Allan's NewstalkZB show, Nicola Willis gave your humble Taxpayers' Union a serve, claiming that "not for the first time, they haven't got their facts quite in a row" referring to our media release.

>>Listen here<<

Rather than hit back (we've been called worse!), make up your own mind.

In 2015 – the Bank's five-year funding was set at $324.3 million. In 2020, it was hiked up to $639.6 million. Grant Robertson also granted "emergency" top ups for 2023 and 2024 ($48 million and $30 million, respectively).

Now it's time for the next five-year funding round and Willis says she's "cut" the funding to $775.6 million.  

But that still amounts to a 21 percent hike on the last five-year agreement, and a 131 percent increase on the one before that.

The Government would have you believe it’s a funding reduction because – get this – the Reserve Bank asked for $1.03 billion and Nicola Willis didn’t quite give them all of it. And, it is a reduction from the "emergency" funding that Grant Robertson waved through before exiting the building for his good mate Adrian Orr.

Six years ago the Reserve Bank had 225 staff. Now it has 660 (not quite captured by the chart below).

Is Nicola Willis 'cutting' or just locking-in Grant Robertson's big-spending legacy? 🔒

It doesn't bode well for what’s in store in next month’s Budget...

Today's inflation data: Local council's continue to drive costs of living pressure 💸

The other big economic news today is the latest inflation numbers released few hours ago. It's ticking up, and a big driver is yet again is the out of control council rates...  🙄 

Local rates increases were responsible for 14 percent of the CPI increase.

You can read our comments to media here.

TAXPAYER VICTORY! $400m green slush fund gets flushed 🚽☘️

In better news, Minister for Climate Change Simon Watts has flushed the $400 million green slush fund known as the NZ Green Investment Finance Ltd (NZGIF).

NZ Green Investment Finance Ltd (NZGIF) is a $400 million green slush fund that blew $115 million on Solar Zero (a company backed by trillion-dollar BlackRock) and still went bust.

$280 million in climate handouts were dished out to big business in last year's Budget, including EV truck subsidies and “fuel switching” grants. Now it’s up to Nicola Willis to finish the job in Budget 2025 and put an end to the subsidies.

With an emissions trading scheme to reduce emissions already in place – why are we paying twice? We say the subsidies also need to go to zero. 

Greenwashing lobbyists, you’re on notice. 👊

Money doesn't grow on trees - unless you're funding a $12 billion defence plan? 🪖💰

The Government recently announced a $12 billion plan for Defence spending.  That's not chump change: it's the equivalent to $6,000 for every household. 

Prime Minister Luxon told media that “we can afford this,” but things get a bit murkier when it comes to how. 🤔

Most New Zealanders agree that New Zealand needs to up its defence. But with no savings flagged elsewhere how exactly are we to pay for it?

Ironically, only Australian media asked this blatantly obvious question. 🤷

The Government is already borrowing $6,000-per-household per year thanks to the deficit. The offical national debt clock is climbing $25 million higher every day.

That’s not sustainable – and it's a real threat to New Zealand.

The Finance Minister has said that the extra $9 billion of new spending will come entirely from the Government's $2.4 billion yearly spending buffer. Even if that's true, it means the Government will effectively be pausing all other new capital spending: i.e. new hospital equipment, school refurbishments etc.

It just doesn't add up.

Speaking of Defence spending, our research team has come across an example of its spending that probably won't have New Zealand's adversaries shaking in their boots. Forget tanks, it's Beam scooters!

Marching round bases is so yesterday: Defence Force's $32,800 Beam Scooter joyrides 🛴💨

Military heroes aren't always taxpayer heroes. Thanks to an anonymous tipper, our investigations team confirmed the Defence Force has spent $32,800 on e-scooters. For one airforce base! 🚨

Yes - officials decided it was a good time for our nation's defenders to zip round on extortionately priced, rent-by-the-second e-scooters. 

Even the most staunch taxpayer advocate knows we need a strong and capable Defence Force. But spending money preparing for the invasion of a skate park isn't it!

PM's Office caught with their tabs down 😵

It seems one too many late nights in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) has left more than a few Cabinet staffers red-faced.

Some rather diligent digging from the Taxpayers' Union investigations team revealed 24 recorded 'incidents' of government personnel trying to access *ahem* adult entertainment on their work devices.

Now we're all for a little (fiscal) discipline, and we certainly don't object to burning the midnight oil – but let's all agree there's no place for bureaucrats to be accessing smut while on the taxpayers' dime!

Either these staffers have way too much time on their hands – or not nearly enough accountability during their work time. Either way, taxpayers deserve more focus (or perhaps fewer distractions?) from the public service supporting the PM.

NEW POLL: “Woop! Woop!” – bad news for da' Greens 🚨

It's been a bad few weeks for the Greens, who've dug themselves into holes doubling down on controversies. 👀

Green Police and Corrections spokesperson Tamatha Paul MP is sticking to her comments that police made people feel more unsafe, should be defunded, and that prisons should be abolished.

 

However our latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll found that police on more beat patrols made 66 percent of people feel safer and only 10 percent feel less safe.

 

Embarrassingly for Ms Paul, even her own party's voters don't agree with her.

The polls finds that 48 percent of Greens felt safer with more beat patrols, compared to just 19 percent who felt 'less safe'.

Speaking of feeling safe, apparently some people are scared of the Taxpayers' Union...

Taxpayer Talk: What are Simon Watts' climate targets costing you? 💰🌳

This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams sits down with our Senior Researcher, Levi Gibbs, to discuss the true cost of New Zealand’s climate targets – and how the Government can get back on a pathway to surplus without raising taxes.

In this episode, Levi also previews our upcoming report, Pathway to Surplus, revealing billions in potential savings by cutting wasteful spending, ending corporate welfare, and rethinking welfare spending.

You can listen to the episode on our website, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and other good podcast apps. 

Have a great long weekend and stay safe in this weather.

James Ross Policy & Public Affairs Manager New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that the South Taranaki District Council has spent $194,379.23 on radio advertising over the last three years.

Taxpayers Union Investigation Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“Almost $200,000 of hard-earned money pumped into the airwaves with no evidence it changes behaviour is hardly best practice. Spending more money doesn’t equal better results.”

“The Council has no reports showing whether these ads actually raise awareness about rates or campaigns—or whether the money is just going down the gurgler.”

“Stories of the local farmer paying the rates because he heard it while "milking in the milking sheds" aren’t enough to justify this spend.”

“Survey after survey, ratepayers have said they want South Taranaki focused on roads and frontline services—not chucking money at airtime with no accountability. When will Councils start listening.”

Responding to today’s CPI update, showing annual inflation has ticked up by 0.3 points to 2.5 percent, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“Even a small rise in inflation is a reminder that the cost-of-living crisis hasn’t gone anywhere. People can’t make do without housing, and the costs keep soaring.”

“Local rates increases were responsible for 14 percent of the increase, and with a fresh set of rates hikes just a few months away in July households are going to continue being clobbered. Central government has the power to put the brakes on these runaway costs.”

“Ministers Willis and Watts needs the courage to slash inflationary overspending and cap council rates hikes. That’s the pathway back to a growing economy.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling out spin over the Reserve Bank’s newly signed five-year funding agreement, warning that despite talk of “funding reductions”, the deal still locks in a major increase compared to the previous period.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“Slapping the Reserve Bank’s ludicrous $1 billion funding request down to $775.6 million isn’t restraint — it’s just stopping them coming back for seconds.”

“$775.6 million is 21% higher than the last five-year agreement back in 2020, and 139% higher than the one before that in 2015. Costs are still skyrocketing.”

“Headcount has exploded by 2.5 times since 2018, and yet the Reserve Bank still managed to fuel New Zealand’s worst economic downturn in thirty years. Too many cooks have clearly spoiled the broth.”

Ross says the funding boost is a bad omen ahead of the upcoming 2025 Budget.

“If this is the kind of ‘restraint’ the Finance Minister is banking on for the Budget next month, New Zealand is in serious trouble.”

Responding to news that Tauranga City Council has signed a $91.9 million lease for new offices and budgeted a further $33.5 million for an interior fit-out—complete with $470,000 worth of coffee machines — Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“This isn’t an office—it’s a corporate penthouse for local bureaucrats. Ratepayers are coughing up for a $125 million glass tower with barista-grade coffee on tap, while basic city services fall by the wayside.”

“Council staff already enjoy perks like $100,000 life insurance, bonus annual leave, and subsidised bus cards. Now they’re adding $470,000 in coffee machines and a Wall Street-style fit-out on the ratepayer tab.”

“Tauranga City Council needs to get back to basics. Fix roads, clear drains, and stop behaving like a Fortune 500 company. Tauranga doesn’t need a luxury headquarters—it needs accountability.”

On the news of Ray Chung’s commitment to freeze rates for the next three years following this year’s painful 18.5 percent rates hike, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Rhys Hurley said:

“Ray Chung is putting a stake in the ground and saying the Council should live within its means. Ratepayers aren’t an ATM, and Wellington’s had enough of being shaken down to fund consultants and vanity projects.”

“The pipes are leaking, roads are crumbling, and yet somehow Council always finds money for another photo op. It’s time to get back to basics and we commend Mr Chung for putting ratepayers first.”

“Anyone who says you can’t freeze rates just isn’t willing to do the hard yards on savings. The waste is obvious — it just takes guts to say no.”

"All candidates need to come up with detailed savings plans that ratepayers can hold them to."

The Taxpayers’ Union has today slammed the $5.2 million spend on consultants by Invercargill City Council for the Te Unua Museum of Southland, as part of the wider $87 million dollar ‘Project 1225’ development.

Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, commented:

“Councillor Pottinger is right to raise concern—it’s a complete quagmire.”

“In no way should external consultant costs be allowed to go so high. Council has already lifted the budget by $13 million, and answers need to be demanded.”

“Every dollar spent needs to stand up to scrutiny and, right now, local ratepayers simply cannot afford these kinds of white elephants.”

“To say ‘council has developed a greater understanding of how to deliver’ is a bloody expensive lesson. As Pottinger prepares to dissect consultant costs at the next full council meeting, so too will the Taxpayers’ Union.”

Potential amalgamation is today in the news as the Government pursues resource management restructuring that would scale back council responsibilities.

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

“Better collaboration between councils to find efficiencies for both service and infrastructure delivery is certainly encouraged, so long as they reduce the burden on the local ratepayer.”

“But remember, big council doesn’t always mean better council.”

“Consider Auckland’s ‘Super City’ as a cautionary tale—the only thing achieved was more bureaucracy and empire building. By all means, find the sweet spot where cost per ratepayer is effectively minimised, and go no further.”

“Key to this discussion is localism. So long as the discussion is community-driven, and locals are aware of the nuances involved with council amalgamation, the result will be better.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union can reveal, through an Official Information Act response that over eleven months the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) recorded 24 instances of staff attempting to access adult entertainment websites on government devices.

The response confirms the incidents occurred across multiple months in 2024, with a particularly high concentration in May (5), June (4), and July (7) — suggesting a consistent pattern of misuse rather than one-off mistakes.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley said:

“Taxpayers expect their public servants to be focused on the job, not trying to access porn at work. If the Department supporting the Prime Minister can’t even keep its staff off x-rated sites, what hope is there for the rest of the bureaucracy?”

“This isn’t a case of a single slip-up. The pattern here is showing that for months on end, some staff in our most high-profile government agencies are trying to access inappropriate content while on the clock.”

“The Department says it’s reminded staff about IT rules—but won’t say if anyone was actually held accountable. Tellingly, they wouldn’t even publish this OIA response on their website.”

“This isn’t just about smut on work time — it’s a symptom of a bloated public service with too much time on its hands and too little accountability. This year’s Budget must get staffing back to 2017 levels and restore some discipline to the public sector.”

On the news the Government is considering scrapping the $118 million-a-year Kāhui Ako (Communities of Learning) scheme.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“Kāhui Ako was supposed to be a revolution in school collaboration. Instead, it has shown to be a taxpayer-funded teachers’ lounge—complete with bonuses, busywork, and not a single meaningful improvement in student achievement to show for it.”

“In 2023, just 22 percent of Year 8 students met the expected standard in Maths, and only 47 percent in Reading. If Kāhui Ako were a student, it’d be repeating the year.”

“Redirecting that $118 million to learning support for kids is something taxpayers can get behind.”

“Minister Stanford’s flicked to the right chapter. Now it’s time to slam the workbook shut, expel Kāhui Ako once and for all, and invest in something that actually works."

Dunedin City Council (DCC) has refused to explain the ongoing absence of its Deputy Chief Executive, Leanne Mash, citing privacy. Questions remain as to whether Mash still receives her full salary, which is as high as $499,999.

Sam Warren, Local Government Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, commented:

“This is a shocking lack of transparency from Dunedin City Council. Ratepayers deserve better, not a wall of silence.”

“Concerns for privacy has a legitimate place, but right now it looks more like an excuse than a reason. Council must prove otherwise and stop treating public accountability as an optional extra.”

“As part of the executive team, and having a salary up to $499,999, there’s an expectation for high-ranking staffers to be accountable. This is now all at risk. Council and Mash need to clear the air with the public covering her salary.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that the New Zealand Defence Force has splurged $32,800 on e-scooters for Base Auckland from private operator Beam.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:

“Kiwis are doing it tough — cutting back on groceries, delaying holidays, and skipping takeaways. But while households have no money to play around with, the Defence Force is splashing out on rent-by-the-second electric scooter joyrides.”

“If zipping to the gym on overpriced e-scooters is what Defence top brass call value for money, it’s no wonder the books are blowing out.”

“The Defence Force has just been handed a $12 billion funding plan. If this is the starting point, taxpayers should buckle up — it’s going to be a rough ride.”

“With Budget 2025 exactly six weeks away, Ministers need to be going through the books line by line to root out waste like this. Because with $25 million being borrowed every day, the Government debt clock won’t slow down on its own.”

On the news that Gisborne District Councillor Nick Tupara has attended only 41.2 percent of meetings and workshops in his third term—failing to see ‘why it is an issue’.

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

“You can’t represent your community if you can’t be arsed showing up."

“And being unable to understand why locals are angry is next-level arrogance. Anyone else showing up less than half the time without giving reason would be sacked. What makes Tupara so special?”

“His absence highlights a massive problem with standing orders. If the Local Government Act doesn’t effectively address a councillor’s truancy, it needs to change.”

“We objected to an Ashburton’s Water Zone representative, Arapata Reuben, for missing two years' of meetings—and we object to Councillor Nick Tupara for thumbing his nose at ratepayers paying his salary.”

“Expecting more from an elected official is not unreasonable. Get real or get out.”

Responding to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s decision to cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25bp to 3.50%,Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“The economy is only just starting to crawl out of recession, and interest rate relief couldn’t come soon enough for families who’ve spent years being hammered by high mortgage costs.”

“Adrian Orr squeezed the life out of the New Zealand economy, and now US tariffs are doubling down on our already anaemic growth. We’re not out of the mire yet.”

“Going for growth now needs two things – slashing inflationary overspending by the Government to put punitive interest rates firmly in the rear-view mirror, and driving real productivity gains. Lower interest rates aren't a licence for the Government to ramp up spending further.”

“If Nicola Willis doesn’t put Full Capital Expensing at the heart of a cost-cutting, pro-growth Budget next month, New Zealand will stay stuck on the path of managed decline. 

The Taxpayers’ Union is responding to the Government latest supposed “Going for Growth” announcement, which will restrict Government departments and agencies to only using New Zealand wool.

Commenting on the Finance Minister’s latest move to increase government waste, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Alex Emes said:

“If the Finance Minister is trying to go for growth by ramping up government procurement costs, she’s baa-king up the wrong tree.”

“Is this seriously the best the Government has to offer to get New Zealand growing? Not meaningful reforms like Full Capital Expensing, just taxpayer subsidies for carpet-makers?”

“The Government need to stop trying to pull the wool over taxpayers’ eyes with low-effort spin like this, and get serious about cutting costs and boosting productivity.”

On the news of the Government’s decision to wind down the New Zealand Green Investment Finance Ltd (NZGIF), which has cost taxpayers $400 million.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“Credit where it’s due, scrapping this expensive and ineffective green slush fund is a huge win for taxpayers.”

“NZGIF’s biggest achievement was torching $115 million on a loan to Solar Zero, a company backed by BlackRock which still managed to go under. You couldn’t make it up.”

“Subsidising businesses to reduce emissions under a capped Emissions Trading Scheme was - and is - economically illiterate. It doesn’t cut emissions. it just bungs money straight into the compost heap.”

“Budget 2024 handed out $280 million in green corporate welfare. Scrapping NZGIF is a start, but Budget 2025 must finish the job. That means axing the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s (EECA) fuel switching schemes, clean heavy vehicle grants, and every last dollar of green pork. Climate policy should cut emissions — not write blank cheques to corporate cronies.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act response that the Council is tagging information requests as “high” or “medium” risk based on who requested it.

Sitting at the top of the “high risk” list, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“We’d almost take this as a compliment—if it wasn’t so deeply concerning.”

“Ratepayers and other groups are asking perfectly reasonable questions, yet instead of simply answering them, Council bureaucrats are red-flagging anyone who looks too closely at their bloated books.”

“Councils aren’t private companies, and shielding themselves from public scrutiny is no excuse."

"Local government exists to serve the public, so ratepayers have every right to see official information without wading through the spin doctor treatment.”

“This isn’t just about Ōtorohanga. If this Council is drawing up hit lists of who they think is dangerous for asking questions, how many others are doing the same?”

With Finance Minister Nicola Willis’s announcement of a “Growth Budget,” the Government must act now to deliver it. In a tough global economic climate, not least driven by 10 percent US tariffs further punishing Kiwis, New Zealand needs bold, pro-growth reforms—starting with full capital expensing.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Rhys Hurley said:

“We need action—not talk. The Government should announce full capital expensing today to buck the global trend and boost New Zealand’s economy.”

“This simple reform lets businesses immediately deduct the full cost of new investments like machinery and equipment, rather than waiting years. That means more investment, higher productivity, and a stronger economy."

Our report on implementing full capital expensing can be found here.

Responding to the PM’s latest claims around the affordability of the latest defence spending plans, the Taxpayers’ Union is wondering where the recently announced 12 billion dollars of defence spending is coming from.

Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:

“While the PM has claimed ‘we can afford this’, he has yet to explain where this extra $9 billion of defence spending has been magicked up from.”

“If the Government is serious about staying on ‘fiscal track’, they need to start getting serious about cutting wasteful spending to fund this latest big-ticket spending spree.”

“Considering the debt pile is growing by $25 million a day, this Government needs to show some serious savings plans by next month’s Budget.”

The Local Government Funding Agency (LGFA) has increased the borrowing limit for Tauranga City Council from 2.8 times revenue, to 3.5 times revenue.

Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager for Local Government, Sam Warren, responded:

“If you need to borrow 350 percent of your income, you don’t have a revenue problem, you have a spending problem.”

“Mayor Drysdale’s assurance that the limit won’t be touched ‘for now’ doesn’t inspire confidence. Sooner or later, it will be. What steps are being taken to avoid more borrowing and to reduce debt for ratepayers?”

"More to the point, why can't Council live within its means under the current borrowing limit by cutting expenditure on items that aren't essential infrastructure?"

“Tauranga’s growth puts pressure on infrastructure—that’s exactly why the LGFA’s debt limit exists. Loosening the belt on debt isn’t good policy, it’s kicking the can down a very expensive road that ratepayers will eventually need to pay for.”

The latest Taxpayers' Union–Curia Poll will bring a sigh of relief for the Coalition parties as they find themselves able to form a Government again. 

The poll, conducted between 29 March and 01 April, shows National is effectively static, down 0.1 points to 33.5 percent, while Labour is down 4.3 points from last month to 29.8 percent.

The Greens are up 1.0 point to 11.0 percent, while ACT is up 2.3 points to 10.0 percent. New Zealand First is also up 2.3 points to 7.4 percent, while Te Pāti Māori is down 2.2 points 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/tucur_04_aprpoll2025

For the minor parties, TOP is on 1.5 percent (+1.0 points), Outdoors and Freedom is on 1.0 percent (+0.4 points) and New Conservatives are on 0.4 percent (+0.4 points).

This month's results are compared to the last Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll conducted in March 2025, available here at www.taxpayers.org.nz/march25_nztupollsuhg

The combined projected seats for the Centre-Right of 64 is up 6 seats from last month. The combined seats for the Centre-Left is down 5 to 57. On these numbers, the Centre-Right bloc could form a Government.

National remains the same as last month on 42 seats, while Labour is down 5 seats to 37. The Greens are up 2 seats to 14, and ACT is up 3 to 13 seats. New Zealand First is up 3 seats on last month to 9, while Te Pāti Māori is down 2 seats to 6.

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

"The Coalition have been taking a beating in the polls since December, but their fortunes appear to be improving."

"This month the economy crept out of recession, and Chris Bishop's sweeping, pro-growth RMA reforms were announced. It's no coincidence that voters are beginning to swing back behind the Government."

"This Government's chances of re-election are still very much up in the air. But if there's one clear message from the polls, it's this: growth gets votes, stagnation doesn't."

"Budget 2025 is less than 50 days away. Kiwis will want to see high-impact, high-val

Commenting on the proposal to cut 478 roles at Kāinga Ora, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Alex Emes said:

“While this is difficult time for those affected, it’s a necessary reset as the agency moves in a new direction."

“But the real savings don’t come from trimming staff—they come from fixing the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) contracts so they’re bankable: safe and predictable enough for banks to confidently lend against.”

“Right now, contracts can be torn up on a ministerial whim—no wonder banks won’t go near them. Thousands of Kāinga Ora homes are nearing the end of their useful life. Replacing them will cost billions. Instead of maxing out the taxpayer credit card, let private capital carry the load. A few tweaks to the fine print and we’re talking real savings—no DIY required.” 

Today, President Trump imposed a ten-percent tariff on New Zealand exports to the United States, with the possibility of larger tariffs on agricultural products in the near future. The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is warning against any moves to impose retaliatory import tariffs, as these will do more harm than good.

Taxpayers’ Union economist Ray Deacon said:

“Tariffs are just another tax – and like all taxes, they ultimately fall on the shoulders of hardworking New Zealanders. If the Government imposes tariffs in response to protectionist policies overseas, it won’t be foreign companies that suffer. It will be Kiwi businesses and families paying higher prices at the checkout.”

“New Zealand has long prided itself on being a champion of free trade, with some of the most open markets in the world. Imposing retaliatory tariffs would be a step backwards, harming New Zealand’s economy and inviting further trade restrictions from the United States and other countries.”

“Rather than punishing Kiwi consumers with higher prices, the Government should focus on expanding free trade agreements, reducing unnecessary regulations, and making New Zealand a more competitive place to do business.”

“We urge politicians to reject knee-jerk protectionism. Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past by engaging in a tit-for-tat tariff war that only makes New Zealanders poorer.”

Commenting on the NZ Herald’s story about the Government’s and Council plans for congestion charging.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Rhys Hurley said:

“Congestion charging is great in theory to ease traffic and improve productivity, only if it’s managed properly and not used as an excuse to double-dip and squeeze more money out of motorists.”

“With the cost of living biting and fuel prices still sky-high, the last thing drivers need is another financial hit. They’re motorists, not cash cows — and if the Government wants to tax congestion, it must stop milking them at the pump.”

“Every dollar raised should be returned to motorists by cutting fuel taxes or road user charges. Otherwise, it’s just another tax grab dressed up as transport policy.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming KiwiRail following today’s decision by the Ombudsman, revealing $8 million spent on McKinsey mega-consultants. This comes after continued attempts by KiwiRail executives to keep the information from the public, citing ‘commercial sensitivity’ as a reason.

"This is a shocking revelation - $8 million dollars for McKinsey to tell KiwiRail how to do their jobs shows a complete disrespect for Kiwi taxpayers."

“No wonder KiwiRail fought so hard to keep this secret and only revealed the horrible truth when forced to do so by the Ombudsman. This just illustrates further the culture of excess and incompetence at KiwiRail. It is well past time for the Government to implement a formal enquiry into KiwiRail.”

“KiwiRail has a culture of demanding more and more taxpayers’ funds and this is just another example of KiwiRail flushing money into Cook Strait. Taxpayer money needs to stop flowing overseas and stay in the pockets of New Zealanders.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is calling on the Government to can its costly school lunch programme in light of a new RNZ-Reid Research poll revealing that 61.5% of voters believe parents should be primarily responsible for providing their children's lunches.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Rhys Hurley said:

"This poll confirms what we've all been saying: New Zealanders expect parents, not the Government, to feed their kids. It's time to phase out this expensive and wasteful programme."

“When even the majority of Labour supporters don’t support their own legacy programme and over $300 million being spent every year, it’s clear taxpayers are losing out.”

"No child should go to school hungry—but this scheme isn’t working. Despite the best intentions, the pig trough is overflowing and the waste is piling up."

“It's time for David Seymour to scrap the school lunch programme and use the money to fund areas like health, education, or targeted interventions for those families in real need.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will squander $60.7 million under the plan for a new administrative headquarters.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

"This isn’t a case of need outweighing cost—it’s the opposite. Queenstown’s plan to merge four Council offices into one was originally budgeted at $51 million, but it's now blown out by nearly $10 million. Ratepayers are being asked to foot the bill for a project that's spiralling out of control and is completely unjustified."

"This so-called deal, where Ngāi Tahu Property covers some of the cost, then shares joint ownership with QLDC is nothing more than a backdoor deal that has nothing to do with treaty obligations."

"If relocating HQ to Frankton saves money, ask yourself, who really loses? With locals opposed to the plans and most services moving online, clinging to an outdated, pricey location for staff convenience just doesn’t stack up."

"Ratepayers are facing a 15.8 percent rate hike for 2024–2025. How can you celebrate 'community spirit' when your wallet is being picked clean?"

The Taxpayers’ Union is thanking its departing Executive Director and Co-founder, Jordan Williams, following his appointment as Chair of the Government's Department of Government Efficiency Aotearoa—DOGEA—announced by Minister Willis today.

“When David Farrar and I started the Taxpayers' Union back in 2013—a borrowed office, a jammed printer, and generous support from the Atlas Network—we could never have imagined the organisation would grow to 200,000 subscribers."

“The Government’s decision to set up an agency to rein in waste shows they’re serious about getting back to basics.”

“My first job is to investigate who’s been eating all the school lunches—1News blames the school pigs, though some say the real hogs are already on the payroll.”

"I am delighted to have been tapped on the shoulder to lead DOGEA and I look forward to working productively within Government to fight for taxpayers albeit in a less publicly facing role.”

Taxpayers' Union Co-founder David Farrar says, "As New Zealand’s main voice for fiscal responsibility, I am confident that the Taxpayers' Union will continue to thrive under new leadership. I wish Jordan all the very best in his new role."

The Government has unveiled more details about its plan to buy shiny new ferries for the state owned KiwiRail's Interislander service —with no price tag and no sign of a sale.

Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Alex Emes said:

“Taxpayers don’t buy planes for Jetstar, so why are we buying ferries for KiwiRail? Bluebridge has privately sailed the Cook Strait for decades—upgrading ships, turning a profit, and not draining a dollar from the public.”

“Meanwhile, KiwiRail treats the public like a bottomless wallet. Every time its ferries spring a leak, the taxpayer gets soaked.”

“If the Government cared about value for money, it would separate the Interislander from KiwiRail and let private operators do what they do best—run safe, efficient, unsubsidised services.”

“We already contract private operators for public buses and other ferry routes. The Cook Strait should be no exception.”

“Bluebridge proves competition works. It’s time to ditch the bailout buoy and let the Interislander swim on its own.”

Commenting on the revelation that former Kāinga Ora CEO Andrew McKenzie will walk away with a $1.066 million pay out, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Alex Emes, said:

"Forget the farewell card and supermarket voucher, this is just a golden handshake for failure. All for the guy who steered the ship straight into a mountain of debt."

“McKenzie was already on a $731,000 salary, but still scored redundancy and a payment in lieu of notice—despite sticking around for two extra months. Only in the public sector can you be paid to leave and paid to stay at the same time.”

“Kāinga Ora won’t even explain what triggered the extra payout. It’s cloak-and-dagger stuff—with taxpayers left holding the bag.”

“This whole saga shows just how broken New Zealand’s employment laws are. Boards can’t sack incompetent CEOs without writing them a goodbye cheque and a love letter.”

“The Government’s employment law reform Bill—would end the threat of chief executives making personal grievance claims and the need for golden handshakes. It’s time to cut the golden parachutes once and for all, and put taxpayers first.”

For once, it's been a great week for taxpayers! News that the Government is finally getting on top of the Ardern/Hipkins-created "consultant gravy train" is welcome, as are the details for what amounts to the most important thing the Luxon-led Government is likely to do to improve New Zealand's long term prosperity.

Plus, thanks to a very talented Taxpayers' Union student intern, we have an exclusive for supporters of the Taxpayers' Union: we've been leaked a recording of Christopher Luxon's recent call with President Donald Trump, where The Donald gives a lesson on growth... 😉

$800 Million Saved: Crusher Collins Crushes Wellington Consultant Gravy Train 💥🚂

As Minister for the Public Service under Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins grew the core public service (i.e. back-office bureaucrats) so much that by 2023, salary costs were up by 72 percent in six years!

But that surge doesn't count what's made the Wellington partners of KPMG, Deloitte, PwC etc, very well off indeed: a boom in the so-called "cling-on bureaucracy" of consultants.

Now the new Minister, Judith Collins is crushing it, with the Beehive announcing this week:

The Government’s move to cut public sector spending on consultants and contractors is on track to save $800 million over two years – double the initial target, Public Service Minister Judith Collins says.

“We set a two-year target to cut $400 million in spending on consultants and contractors across the public sector by 2024/25,” Ms Collins says.

“The latest update anticipates savings will come in at more than $800 million by the end of June. [continue reading here]

$800 million amounts to $398 for every New Zealand household. Bravo Judith! 👏👏👏

Scrapping the RMA: The Biggest (Regulatory) Tax Cut in Our Lifetime? 🎉🥳

Time and time again, the economic gurus tell us that the biggest handbrake on growth – and therefore New Zealand's long term economic prosperity – is the Resource Management Act.

The RMA is the cause of New Zealand's housing crisis. It blocks (or, at best, seriously hikes the costs of) building infrastructure, it stifles growth, and it makes us all poorer.

So the Taxpayers' Union has always argued that scrapping the RMA isn't just mission critical. It is the litmus test of whether the political elite are serious about New Zealand ever getting back into the top half of the OECD for what we produce per capita.

Labour's David Parker tried to scrap the RMA but failed. Parker's Three Waters-style co-governed, anti-democratic 'Central Planning Committees' regime would have made things even worse! (It was so bad, in fact, that we spent a month on the road to raise awareness).

So, the Government's bolder initiative to Go for Growth and deliver planning laws based on property rights should be more than welcomed. And so far, we like what we see:

• Property rights will be front and centre — if your land use doesn’t harm others, you can get on with it.

• Standardised zoning rules will replace the tangled mess of 1,000+ local variations.

• Red tape will be slashed, with up to 45 percent lower compliance costs

According to National's Chris Bishop and ACT's Simon Court, the reforms are all about returning decision-making back where it belongs: with property owners.

That means minimising potential interference by busybody activists, politicians and clipboard-wielding council officials except where there is a genuine impact on neighbouring property owners (what economists call externalities).

Chris Bishop cites a consultant's report (ironic, we know, given above) which estimates his alternative will deliver a 45 percent improvement in administrative and compliance costs when compared to the current system.

But there's a looooong way to go yet... 💣

No changes will kick in until 2027 – and there's still a lot that could go wrong between now and the actual laws being drafted, consulted on, and passed through Parliament. Chris Bishop says his target is to get it done before next year's election.

But already, the vested interests who thrive on the bureaucratic kumbaya approach of the RMA are out there in the media complaining. A perfect example: Government’s RMA reforms an ‘open attack on Māoridom’ (Stuff.co.nz).

To our astonishment, despite being arguably the most important work stream by the Government, 1News didn't even bother to mention the announcement on Monday's six o'clock bulletin.  So if you're interested in a deep dive into the detail (or don't trust how the media is reporting on it), head over to the Beehive's news item (in particular, see the "Factsheet" listed under "Related Documents").

So, let's ensure that the Government holds firm, and we hope that this announcement reflects a willingness for the Government to be bolder in "Going for Growth". 👍

(EXCLUSIVE) LEAKED CALL: President Trump's Advice to Chris Luxon on how to 'Go for Growth' 🚀💰

Speaking of Going for Growth, we've published an exclusive recording of one of our scarily talented student interns President Trump's recent call with Prime Minister Luxon. 

In it, The Donald tells Luxon how he should kickstart New Zealand's economy (and I can 100 percent assure you, no AI was used for this recording).

Listen to the leaked recording here

Bang for buck, the best possible tax cut: Full Capital Expensing 🚀

In case you missed our Briefing Paper on Full Capital Expensing, head over to our website. 😉

It's the best tax idea for the Government to Go for Growth, but most people haven't heard of it. It lets businesses write off capital investments (the very things that will make New Zealand more productive) instead of drip-feeding depreciation deductions over many years.

Full Capital Expensing = more investment = higher productivity = faster growth = higher wages.

It worked in the US and Britain, and we break it down here.

Health officials lobby against...slides and sandwich boards? 🛝🥪

Public health officials have been called out by the new Health Minister for lobbying: it turns out money meant for health services is being used to employ the fun police.

Instead of tackling public health, officials have been submitting against lawful developments that have nothing to do with public health. Public Health officers have been spending taxpayer money (meant for the health service) lobbying against:

• A Mitre 10 in Petone (because it had too many car parks)
  
  
• Extremely hazardous, err, Sandwich boards outside Nelson bakeries
  
  
• A McDonald’s drive-thru in Wānaka, because... "planetary health" (yes, seriously!)
  
  
• School charity raffles in case they lead to a life of high-stakes gambling
  
  
• A children's playground in Lower Hutt (kids playing outdoors is far too risky, apparently)
  
  
• And even housing developments, because they might "block mountain views"

Every dollar spent nitpicking is taken away from actual healthcare.

So, a round of applause to Minister Chris Bishop for calling it out — and even bigger props to Health Minister Simeon Brown for finally putting a stop to it. 

Predictably, the poor do-gooders taxpayer-funded lobbyists managed to find a Stuff journalist to complain: ‘It’s censorship’: Public health leaders slam ‘Trumpian’ edict (Stuff.co.nz).

We say a Ministerial instruction to bureaucrats to stop using taxpayer money to lobby for things that most taxpayers would not agree is far from 'censorship'. And (regardless of your views on Trump!) surely these taxpayer-funded lobbyists are a lost cause when they have to resort to 'Trumpian' name calling of Minister of Health Simeon Brown.

PETITION: Support equal voting rights in Local Government  🙌🗳️

Last week, National MP Sam Uffindell introduced a Bill to give everybody equal voting rights in local elections.

The Bill extends the equal voting protections for Parliamentary elections in the Bill of Rights Act to local elections—common sense, right?

Right now, different votes can count for different amounts – whether directly through rural or Māori wards or indirectly, thanks to unelected appointees with voting rights. This Bill doesn’t fix the problem of unelected members being appointed to local council, but it's a big step towards 'unscrewing the scrum'.

Equality of suffrage is seen as bad by Radio NZ 🤪

Incredible, New Zealand's very own Pravda – the fully taxpayer funded Radio NZ news service labeled equal voting rights a ‘step backwards’

As highlighted by Taxpayers' Union Cofounder, David Farrar, over on Kiwiblog:

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell has a simple proposed members’ bill to amend the Bill of Rights Act to have equal suffrage extend to local government.

Equal suffrage is a fundamental human right. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says:

The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also states:

To vote and to be elected at genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors

So equal suffrage is a fundamental human right, included in both major global human rights declarations. It is also in the NZ Bill of Rights Act:

has the right to vote in genuine periodic elections of members of the House of Representatives, which elections shall be by equal suffrage and by secret ballot

So our law already states that equal suffrage applies to national elections. Uffindell’s bill would change NZ BORA so it reads:

Every New Zealand citizen who is of or over the age of 18 years has the right to vote in genuine periodic elections by equal suffrage and secret ballot of members of the House of Representatives; and members of local authorities.

So a very simple law change that enhances human rights in New Zealand. So how does Radio NZ report on this proposed bill. Well in this article they quote two opponents of the bill as a “backward step”, and doesn’t go to a single person (apart from the MP proposing it) supporting it for comment.

Remind me why we fund RNZ again? Because if it's objective or trusted news, taxpayers should be demanding their money back!

Unlike Radio NZ, we think this Bill is a good one, but say it should go further and ban unelected appointees from having voting powers at Council as well.

If you have 30 seconds, please back us and sign our petition calling for equal voting rights in local elections.

>> SIGN THE PETITION ✍️

ACC's latest $243,000 is a pain in the backside 🍑🤭

Wellington City Council's $22,000 Hikoi 'flush-fund' 🚽🧻

Our investigations team have caught Wellington City Council spending $21,702 of ratepayer money on portaloos for the Toitū Te Tiriti Hīkoi protest—despite never funding toilets for any other protest or having a policy to do so.

The Council admitted this was a one-off exception, not part of any established process. Every other protest pays for its own loos, so why were ratepayers forced to cover the bill for a cause council officials happen to support?

With an 18.5% rates hike already hitting Wellingtonians, the portaloos aren't the only thing that stinks here – especially when it's public facilities/services that only appear when it's a protest the Mayor's own Green Party sides with.

Other news in brief 📰⏰

• Last week, we made our submission on Media Reform: Modernising regulation and content funding arrangements for New Zealand. Read our submission here. 
• The New Zealand Defence Force has announced 374 civilian job cuts ✂️
• GDP-per-capita grew 0.4 percent, the first growth in more than two years 📈
• Western Bay of Plenty District Council the latest to leave Local Government New Zealand 👋
• The Ombudsman has called for Chief Execs to be personally liable for OIA failures 🙌
• Auckland City Councillors have been handed 150 free tickets by the owners of a stadium whose future they voted on this Thursday 🏟️ Our sister group, the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance, is rightly calling it out.

Have a great weekend.

Jordan Williams Executive Director New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

A meeting held on Wednesday saw unelected Iwi appointees reinstated with voting powers on Tauranga City Council committees, following a decision made by councillors in December.

Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, said:

“In a democracy, only elected representatives have voting powers on council committees. If it’s not democracy that Mayor Mahé Drysdale wants, he needs to front up to voters.”

“Hiding behind vague pseudo-legal claims that unelected appointees with voting powers are a requirement of both the Resource Management Act and the Treaty won’t work.

"If the Mayor and councillors are confident this is what voters want, then they should put the decision to a referendum. What right do they have to sign away democracy without even asking electors?”

“This comes just days after Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell introduced a Members’ Bill to extend the same protection for equal voting rights in parliamentary elections to local government. At least one politician in Tauranga is on the side of democracy.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming today’s announcement from Local Government Minister Hon Simon Watts and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Hon Scott Simpson that Wellington Water will be subject to economic regulation by the Commerce Commission at the earliest opportunity.

This will require the troubled water provider to regularly report to the public and the Commission on key financial and performance measures.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, James Ross, said:

“Wellington Water has been a basket case – literally pouring ratepayers’ money down the drain and treating them like an unlimited fountain of cash.”

“The fact it didn’t even have a basic asset management plan says it all. Contractors ran the show while Wellington Water looked away and signed the cheques.”

“How has this slow-motion trainwreck been allowed to blunder on for so long? Ministers have made the right call stepping in and shining some much-needed sunlight on this entity’s disastrous record.”

“The real worry now is how many more Wellington Waters are lurking out there. Local Water Done Well can’t come soon enough.”

The Government has announced $150 million in cheap taxpayer-backed loans for Community Housing Providers (CHPs)—propping them up with training wheels instead of letting them ride with private capital.

Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“This is Kāinga Ora-lite—same subsidies, different logo. Taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook when private capital is ready to go.”

“Kāinga Ora’s debt is projected to explode from $2 billion in 2017 to nearly $25 billion by 2026. Now we’re repeating the same mistakes with CHPs without fixing the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development contracts that scare off banks.”

“If the Government truly wanted to empower CHPs, it would fix the contracts to make them bankable—which means predictable and safe enough for banks to confidently lend against. That costs nothing and unlocks billions in private finance—no taxpayer IOUs required. The houses get built, quality stays high, and taxpayers are off the hook."

“We already use private capital for kindies and retirement homes with no fuss or fanfare. If toddlers and retirees can handle it, so can the Minister.”

The Government’s reduction in consultants and contractors is set to save $800 million, while the public service workforce has shrunk by 4 percent to 62,968 FTEs.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Rhys Hurley said:

“Fewer consultants writing pointless reports and sucking up taxpayer dollars is good progress—but let’s not pretend this is some kind of fiscal detox. Back in 2017, the public service was a smaller beast at 47,252 FTEs.”

“That means we’re still paying for nearly 16,000 more mandarins to lap it up at the taxpayer buffet. These aren’t frontline workers like doctors or teachers—these are the back-office bureaucrats pulling the strings and doing the Ministers’ bidding.”

“The Government needs to go full cold turkey and ditch the extra public servants. Trimming a little off the top won’t cut it. Nicola must show she’s serious in Budget 2025 and bring staffing at least back to 2017 levels. New Zealand deserves a healthy fiscal future—not one weighed down by an overstuffed bureaucracy.” 

The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that the Ministry for the Environment has handed out $3,839,094 (exc. GST) to environmental NGOs over the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years—without a single report measuring its effectiveness.

Amongst the big winners are the Environmental Defence Society ($377,743) and Forest & Bird ($200,000)—groups that have spent the last two years attacking the Government’s policies in court and the media.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“This isn’t environmental protection—it’s a taxpayer-funded activist slush fund.”

“Kiwis don’t fork out their hard-earned money so lobbyists can live off taxpayer handouts. If these groups have real public support, they should stand on their own two feet.”

“The Minister has put a stop to some of this funding—but the real problem is MfE itself. It’s ballooned from 360 staff in 2017 to 939 today. Clearly, they’ve got far too much time and money on their hands.”

“These activist handouts are just the tip of the iceberg. Nicola Willis needs to take an axe to MfE’s funding in the May Budget and slash this bloated bureaucracy back to size.”

The Government’s announcement today of legislation to finally repeal and replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) is a long-overdue, much-needed win for New Zealand’s productivity. Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, James Ross, said:

“The RMA has long been a bureaucrat’s dream and a developer’s nightmare. It’s been a lead weight around New Zealand’s neck — throttling housing, blocking infrastructure, jacking up costs and stifling growth.”

“This new system puts the right to use your own land back where it belongs — in the hands of the people who want to build and grow, not clipboard-wielding council officials or meddling neighbours from across town.”

“Councils will no longer be able to tie Kiwis up in red tape for wanting to build a deck or a granny flat. It’s a return to common sense, where resource management means managing actual resources — not micromanaging people’s lives.”

“This is the sort of bold, pro-growth reform New Zealand has been crying out for. This is a huge win for anyone who wants to spend less time filling out forms and more time laying down foundations.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that Dunedin City Council (DCC) has spent a staggering $1.365 million over just three years on consultation with Aukaha—an iwi-owned consultancy firm—with ratepayers now hit by an average rates hike of 17.5%.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“Ratepayers expect their money to go toward fixing potholes, maintaining pipes, and keeping life affordable—not six-figure bills for cultural interpretations for cycleways. In a cost-of-living crisis, this looks less like cultural engagement and more like virtue-signaling with other people’s money.”

“Among the more eye-watering line items are $100,310 for Harbour City Cycleway cultural interpretation and $94,984 for George Street design work. If that wasn’t enough, the Council is cutting Aukaha a $750,000 cheque for handouts to clubs and groups.”

“The Government has rightly decided to scrap Councils’ focus on social and cultural ‘wellbeings’ and get them back to getting the basics right first, and it’s time Dunedin Council followed suit.”

“Ratepayers deserve roads that aren’t crumbling and bills that don’t break the bank—not more than $40,000 spent on consultancy for a landfill.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that Wellington City Council flushed $21,702 (exc. GST) of ratepayer money on portaloos for last November’s Toitū Te Tiriti Hīkoi protest—despite having no policy on funding facilities for protests and never having done so before.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley says:

“The portaloos aren’t the only thing that stinks here - councils shouldn’t be playing political favourites with ratepayers’ money.”

"The Council have never funded protest facilities before—why now spend tens of thousands playing politics when organisers have always managed before to pay their own bills?"

“In the same year as an 18.5% rates hike, Wellingtonians overwhelmingly want their Council focussed only on delivering essential services - that doesn’t include subsidies and handouts for political causes staffers happen to agree with.”

“If the Council insists on spending ratepayers’ money on non-Council events, it needs a clear and consistent policy—not inconsistent decisions that reek of bias.”

New figures obtained by the Taxpayers’ Union under the Official Information Act request lay bare an embarrassing trend—ACC claims for injuries involving objects stuck where the sun doesn’t shine are on the rise, with taxpayers left to pick up the tab.

In the 2023/24 financial year alone, ACC shelled out $125,348 for these mishaps—a sharp increase from the previous year’s $50,093. Worse still, claims have already hit $117,799 in 2024/25, putting Kiwis on track for yet another record-breaking year of reckless insertion incidents.

In the last full year, Auckland remained New Zealand’s capital of curiosity gone wrong, while Wellington, Southland, and Otago bring up the rear in joint second place. 

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“What Kiwis do in their own time is their business, but when things get stuck, why are taxpayers stuck with the bill?”

“With ACC levies soaring, it’s taxpayers getting hit in the back pocket—making them the real butt of this costly joke.”

“But unfortunately, this is just one example of wasteful ACC spending habits. With ACC under review for performance mismanagement and ballooning costs, New Zealanders deserve a full review of how ACC funds are spent—and where to draw the line on personal responsibility.”

After eight consecutive quarters of decline, New Zealand’s GDP per capita has inched up by 0.4%.

Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“Kiwis can breathe a small sigh of relief, but it’s far from time to pop the champagne. Even after two years of declining living standards, Kiwis are still much poorer than this time two years ago.”

“The Government’s cautious approach is failing to deliver enough. We need serious reform to break out of this economic slump—starting with Full Capital Expensing.”

“Letting businesses deduct the full cost of investments immediately—rather than dragging the process out over years—put a rocket under the US economy. We need the same medicine here.”

“With Budget 2025 just two months away, Nicola Willis has a choice: settle for stagnation, or deliver a pro-growth Budget with Full Capital Expensing front and centre.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) for its token attempt to trim its bloated workforce, with just 64 jobs on the chopping block.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Rhys Hurley said

“In 2017, DIA had 2,159 staff. Fast forward to 2024, that number had exploded to 2,871. Now they have the cheek to demand a pat on the back from the Minister for shaving off a measly 64 roles. Give us a break.”

“The Government promised to rein in the sprawling bureaucracy that has been sucking up taxpayer dollars, and a handful of job cuts won’t do it.”

“DIA’s staffing should return to 2017 levels—at minimum. And the same goes for every other department and agency that ballooned under the last government. Every cent wasted on unnecessary pen pushers is a cent that could be funding frontline services, tax relief, or paying down the growing government debt.”

“Minister van Velden must take accountability and show she is serious about delivering real savings within her Ministry, not just tinkering around the edges.”

Western Bay of Plenty District Council has today voted to leave Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) with one councillor saying it has swung ‘so far left’ that it no longer represented local views.

“Western Bay of Plenty is the latest council to ditch the increasingly toxic group” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“Councils for years have been under the thumb of hardcore political ideologues not remotely capable of tolerating any views other than their own. LGNZ sold out the day it decided to push Labour’s divisive Three Waters plans, abandoning genuine localism for a radical, centralising agenda.”

“Under the guise of localism, LGNZ is nothing more than an activist group backing bureaucrats instead of the locals paying the enormous yearly membership fees.”

“Bravo to Western Bay of Plenty, the latest to join the ranks of six other councils abandoning the group, including Auckland, Christchurch, Grey, Kaipara, West Coast Regional, and Westland. Who will the next domino be?”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that KiwiRail has spent $87,259 on murals—including a “kitty mural” and various cultural artworks—while Wellington commuters continue to endure delays, cancellations, and fare hikes.

Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator Rhys Hurley said:

“Wellington commuters should be fur-ious that KiwiRail is prioritising feel-good pet projects while services go to the dogs.”

“After clawing a 10% fare hike out of commuters in 2024, followed by another 2.2% increase this year and cuts to off-peak discounts, KiwiRail’s focus clearly isn’t on making life easier for commuters—it’s apparently on painting staff members’ cats all over train stations.”

“KiwiRail claims the murals will ‘bring colour, joy, and beauty’ to commuters and help deter graffiti. But if they really want to bring joy, they should cut the vanity projects and focus on delivering reliable trains at a fair price.”

As part of its Long-term Plan, Wellington City Council wants to apply commercial rates to short-term accommodation providers like Airbnbs. This would see an increase of 3.7 times more than the current rates applied to these properties.

“It’s an excuse to get more out of ratepayers” said Sam Warren, the Local Government Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“They've got this backwards. Instead of working to lower rates, council's M.O. seems to be finding new ways to increase them.”

“Key to this discussion is that short-term accommodation providers are not the same as hotels. Their scale incurs no significant toll on local infrastructure that could justify applying commercial rates, nor are they constantly occupied.”

“Most Airbnbs use only a small portion of their property for guests, and are often sporadic in tenancy. Despite this fact, council really wants to apply commercial rates to the entire property? Get real.”

“The only thing they will achieve is the disappearance of short-term providers like Airbnb, as if it wasn’t hard enough finding affordable accommodation in Wellington.”

“Putting this into context—rates in Wellington over the next 10 years are expected to increase by 175 percent. More rates aren't the solution locals are crying out for."

"Instead the council needs to show that it can cut the waste, stick to the basics, and find ways to reduce the cost of living in the capital.”

Wellington City Council this week expects to confirm its long-term plan that will include a budget of $437 million for social housing upgrades over the next 10-years.

“Many of the houses are in fine shape following recent upgrades by government, and we’re in danger of seeing money spent for the sake of spending it” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers' Union.

“Attempts were made last year to push out these upgrades so more work could be done in lowering the cost—but was ultimately voted down.  We implore the council to consider Councillor Ray Chung’s amendment before they go barrelling down another budget sinkhole.”

“By all means, fix what needs to be fixed. But given the enormous price of a quarter million per unit, or roughly $5,400 per Wellington household—far greater thought needs to be given by council in getting this number down and making sure ratepayer money is spent strategically.”

“Over the same 10-year period, Wellington locals are facing rates increases of more than 175%.  We simply cannot afford more reckless spending. If hitting 'pause' for another year ensures this project is carried out in a more cost-effective way—council needs to do it.”

Responding to The Post’s front page article, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is demanding the Government take immediate action to overturn a High Court ruling which will grind infrastructure development to a halt by making it next to impossible for NZTA to relocate or inadvertently kill wildlife.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross says:

“This isn’t just a spanner in the works—it’s a wrecking ball that will demolish New Zealand’s infrastructure pipeline. New Zealand’s bang-for-buck on infrastructure spending is already in the bottom ten percent in the developed world, and this ruling will bind taxpayers in a wave of delays and legal challenges.”

“Tieing the country up in green tape is the last thing we need to “Go for Growth”. The only thing getting built will be more courtrooms.”

“This bombshell lands right as the Government is trying to coax foreign investors to invest billions into infrastructure projects that now might never see the light of day. How can investors take New Zealand seriously when we’re putting spiders and slugs ahead of building roads?”

“We’ve just seen NZTA waste $85,000 finding a single lizard in Taranaki, but following this absurd ruling that gold-plated gecko hunt will just be the start. The Government needs to take immediate action, or we may as well slap a ‘closed for business’ sign on the country.”

As part of the Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll, each month our pollsters ask participants "How do you rate the job your local Mayor has done since the last election? Has it been very poor, poor, average, good or very good?". The results below are based on responses to our monthly polls from January to November 2023 and February 2024 to February 2025 totalling 24,000 respondents. As cities and districts vary in size, only where we have 100 or more responses are reported below, as anything less than 100 responses would be a the margin of error (MOE) that is too large for the results to be meaningful. For further information about the methodology click here to download the report by our pollsters.

Metropolitan Mayors - changes over time

Because the sample sizes for the Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington mayors are larger, we are able to deduce trend data over time. For that analysis, click here.

Revenue Minister Simon Watts is two weeks behind the curve with today’s announcement on Foreign Investment Fund (FIF) rule changes, says Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross.

“The FIF rules are one of the biggest deterrents to foreign investment in New Zealand, and today’s changes barely scratch the surface. The real question is: why should New Zealand tax foreign assets that never even touch our shores?”

“To be competitive, New Zealand needs to scrap the FIF rules for new tax residents altogether. Tweaking them won’t cut it.”

“Any savvy international investor will see right through this. The old FIF rules still apply to overseas investments acquired after moving here, so this change is meaningless for active investors—especially the tech talent the Government claims to want to attract.”

“Two weeks ago, US President Donald Trump unveiled a ‘Gold Card’ visa, exempting foreign income from local tax. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Government is still fiddling with outdated rules that drive investors away.”

“This is a headline-grab, not a serious attempt to 'Go for Growth'.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is releasing a full briefing paper on how to fix FIF rules in the coming weeks.

The Taxpayers’ Union is reacting to 1News’ footage of unhappy schoolchildren tipping their taxpayer funded lunches into a bin subsequently fed to the school pig at a school in Nuhaka.

Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, called this “a misuse of taxpayer-funded food. It begs the question: If the children were genuinely hungry, would they really be refusing to eat a pasta meal because it was ‘bland’ and provided too often?”

“If flavour truly is the problem, add some salt and pepper. It would be much more affordable for New Zealand taxpayers for the school to invest in some basic condiments than buying all these meals just for unionised teachers to make a show of chucking them to the pigs.”

“Nuhaka school needs to keep a register of those kids throwing away the meals, and reduce their order accordingly. Properly means-testing this programme will ensure those kids in need are still getting the food they need, without taxpayers’ money going straight to the pig trough.”

The Government has today opened consultation on new procurement rules that would prioritise contracts based on “public value”—a concept that includes social, cultural, and environmental benefits, alongside a preference for domestic businesses - rather than cost-effectiveness.

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross has condemned the move as “irresponsible protectionism at the exact same time the Government claims to be focusing on growth and cutting costs.”

“Favouring more expensive local firms over better-value alternatives will only drive up costs. The Government’s books are already $12 billion in the red.”

“It’s worse than just protectionism. Why are we prioritising social and cultural ‘benefits’ over cost-effective Government services whilst New Zealanders are grappling with a cost-of-living crisis?”

“These new rules will give future governments free rein to mandate their own pet projects. They’re an open invitation to lock in woke, expensive contracts—funded by taxpayers who are already stretched thin.”

“With Budget 2025 two months away, we need to see pro-growth policies like Full Capital Expensing on the table, not bizarre new rules which will make growth harder.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through the Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act that Nelson City Council has spent $661,704.35 on a footbridge – with $100,518.95 of the total cost spent on cultural designs.

Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said:

“The bridge works out to be $50,000 per metre, with more than $100,000 spent on making it more visually appealing. This is the opposite of doing away with the nice-to-haves and doing the basics well.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a dash of culture in our infrastructure – but perhaps not during a time when locals struggle with a 8.2% rate rise for 2024-25 and a $300 per household storm recovery levy.”

“Nelson ratepayers are tightening their belts. Would it be so outrageous to expect council to do the same?”

“It doesn’t have to be barebones, but when one-sixth of the cost of a footbridge is simply on flourish, it’s probably time to pull back. The people of Nelson deserve better from their council in terms of spending decisions.”

Here are the headline results for March's Taxpayers’ Union – Curia Poll:

National is up 1.7 points to 33.6% while Labour gain 2.8 points to 34.1%. The Greens are down 3.2 points to 10.0%, while ACT are down to 7.7% (-2.3 points). New Zealand First are down 1.3 points to 5.1% while Te Pāti Māori is up 2.1 points to 6.5%.

For the minor parties, Outdoors and Freedom is on 0.6% (-0.3 points), TOP is on 0.5% (0.0 points), and Vision NZ is on 0.4% (+0.4 points).

More bad news for the Coalition Government following the latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll, as Labour edges ahead of National and the Centre-Left bloc increases its lead.

The poll, conducted between 02 and 04 March, shows National up 1.7 points to 33.6 percent, while Labour gains 2.8 points to 34.1 percent.

The Greens drop 3.2 points to 10.0 percent, while ACT declines 2.3 points to 7.7 percent. New Zealand First is down 1.3 points to 5.1 percent, while Te Pāti Māori rises 2.1 points to 6.5 percent.

The poll results and information about the methodology are available on the Taxpayers' Union website at https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/march25_nztupollsuhg

For the minor parties, Outdoors and Freedom is on 0.6 percent (-0.3 points), TOP remains at 0.5 percent, and Vision NZ is on 0.4 percent (+0.4 points).

This month's results are compared to the last Taxpayers' Union–Curia Poll conducted in February 2025, available at https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/poll_feb_25_basjfgas

Based on these results, the Centre-Right bloc drops 1 seat to 58, while the Centre-Left bloc gains 1 seat to 62. On these numbers, National and ACT could not form a government even with the support of New Zealand First.

National gains 3 seats to 42, while Labour also rises by 3 to 42. The Greens lose 4 seats, bringing them to 12, while ACT drops 2 to 10 seats. New Zealand First falls by 2 seats to 6, and Te Pāti Māori gains 2 to a total of 8 seats.

For the first time since the election, Chris Hipkins has overtaken Christopher Luxon as preferred PM.

Christopher Luxon drops slightly to 20.3 percent (-0.4 points), while Chris Hipkins jumps 3.1 points to 20.7 percent. David Seymour falls to 5.0 percent (-1.4 points), Winston Peters is at 8.6 percent (+0.6 points), and Chlöe Swarbrick falls 4.1 points to 4.8 percent.

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

"Kiwis elected this Government to fix the economic mess. Unless the Government starts delivering meaningful growth, the polls are only going to show them slip further."

"Luxon losing his top spot as preferred Prime Minister for the first time has to be a wake-up call. We're neck-deep in the worst economic downturn in three decades, and the country needs to see a plan to rebuild the economy."

"With Budget 2025 in just over two months' time, now's the time for the Government to be laser-focused on delivering economic growth. Kiwis need high bang-for-buck reforms like full capital expensing, because managed decline has lost its appeal."

Going for Growth

What gets us up in the morning is a determination to put a stop to the economic drift - and the low productivity - that New Zealand's had for a generation.

Economic growth isn't the silver bullet to all New Zealand's problems, but it comes close! Only with growth can we afford world-class public services, to protect the environment, and economic opportunities so our kids (and grandkids) can thrive.

And with the Prime Minister now 'talking the talk' on growth, our job is to ensure the Government 'walks the walk'.

That's why, today we are launching the first of a series of Taxpayers' Union Briefing Papers: Going for Growth: Full Expensing of Capital Expenditure.

The best tax policy you've (probably) never heard of: Full Expensing 🚜🖥️

 >> Read the Briefing Paper <<

Simply put, Full Capital Expensing lets businesses write off the cost of new equipment, machinery, and technology immediately, instead of dragging it out over years through depreciation schedules.

In other words, it puts money back into businesses faster, allowing them to invest, expand, and create better jobs and higher wages for hardworking Kiwis.

Here at the Taxpayers' Union, you'll understand that we love tax relief (no kidding). But this is, we think, the best type of tax relief in terms of promoting economic growth, and its driver: productivity.

Politicians often like to dangle personal tax relief (National) and entitlement handouts (Labour) in front of voters as a sweetener to get people to rush down to Harvey Norman for big-screen-TV-fuelled economic sugar hits.

In comparison, Full Capital Expensing promotes the very type of spending that serves to make New Zealand's economy more productive and labour more efficient (which is the key driver of wages).

And the best part: if introduced as part of Budget 2025 (which is less than three months away) it could serve to boost the economy immediately. Unlike most tax changes, it could come into effect straight away...

And this policy has form! As covered in the Briefing Paper, it's proven effective in the UK and the USA. More investment means more productivity, higher wages, and more tax revenue in the long run.

Read the Briefing Paper here.

The 'use it or lose it' approach 😉

We think Full Capital Expensing is such a good idea, it should be done right now, and made permanent. 

But if the Government wanted to really put a rocket under the economy in the short term, Nicola Willis could tell firms that Full Capital Expensing is time-limited (as happened in the UK and USA, originally).

Think about what that would mean. Say you're a business owner looking to upgrade machines or build a factory later this decade. If suddenly you could deduct the cost from taxable income (rather than do the same over a decade or more under IRD's complex depreciation rules) you'd bring the investment forward to take advantage of Full Expensing, right?

That's what makes this tool so powerful in boosting capital spending and productivity.

We set out this option in the Briefing Paper.

War on Waste 🎯 NZTA's $85,000 golden gecko wild goose chase 🦎🪿

From the 'you couldn't make this up file', the team have uncovered that Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has shelled out $85,000 to catch and relocate just one lizard in Taranaki!

Since one skink was found back in 2023, NZTA have been waiting for sign-off to send in the lizard life-savers – and we wonder why infrastructure takes so long and is so expensive...

The $85,000 includes travel and accommodation costs for our gecko guardians - because for a project in Taranaki, a Rotorua-based company was contracted to conduct the gecko hunt in New Plymouth, employing contractors from as far afield as Wellington.

We're all for conservation, but not wild goose gecko chases. But to be fair to NZTA, they've got some catching up to do – remember when we uncovered Otago Regional Council's $2.76 million hunt that nabbed just 18 wallabies?

The Reserve Bank's Orr-deal is over (finally)! 🥳🎉

Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr is finally out the door, and his resignation couldn't come soon enough. Think we’re overstating things? Buckle up.

Orr's "Large Scale Asset Purchase (LSAP) programme" (effectively, a fancy name for money-printing) lost taxpayers $11 billion because when interest rates rose after COVID the value of the bonds plummeted. Those losses (underwritten by Grant Robertson the taxpayer) could pay for four Dunedin hospitals. Per household, it's five and a half thousand dollars!).

Then there's the extreme capital rules (applicable to how banks finance themselves) that spiked mortgage costs, putting an extra $3,750 on the annual interest bill for a $1 million home loan.

And being too slow to ease up on interest rates plunged New Zealand into the worst economic downturn in thirty years.

Under Orr, the Bank's staff numbers increased 2.5x between 2018 and 2024, and the cost to taxpayers climbed with it. No wonder Nicola Willis refused Orr's demands for $1 billion of funding for the Reserve Bank over the next five years. 

Good riddance.

We say the next Reserve Bank Governor needs to cut through the distractions and focus on one thing, and one thing only: keeping inflation in check.

SHOCK POLL: Chris Hipkins is now the preferred PM 🛑

The news keeps getting worse for the Government in the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, as the Centre-Left bloc increases their lead. Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori could form a government.

The combined projected seats for the Centre-Right of 58 is down 1 seat from last month. The combined seats for the Centre-Left is up 1 to 62. On these numbers, National and ACT could not form a government even with the support of New Zealand First.

In the Preferred Prime Minister rankings, Christopher Luxon is down from last month at 20.3% (-0.4 points) while Chris Hipkins is up 3.1 points to 20.7%. For the first time since the election, Hipkins has overtaken Luxon as top choice for Prime Minister.

In fact, it is generally highly unusual for Opposition Leaders to top "preferred Prime Minister" polls outside of an election period.

>>See the results on our website here<<

What do voters want? 🏭🤔

In last month's poll, our pollsters dug into voters' views on economic growth and policy reform. They found Kiwis are overwhelmingly in favour of boosting tourism, more international students, and (the important one) cutting taxes to drive growth. 

65 percent want income tax slashed, with just 15 percent opposed.

The country’s less keen currently on asset sales. Although, as a recent report by our friends at the NZ Initiative think tank shows, there is plenty of room to recycle capital and avoid selling the family silver while increasing New Zealand's prosperity by having the Government sell off the clapped-out old car rusting in the driveway underperforming assets.

We say, all options need to be on the table in Nicola Willis’ next budget to get the country growing again, and Mr Luxon "back on track".

NZTA's $1.338 billion ticket to nowhere 🚌🎫

16 years since the Transport Agency agreed to a National Ticketing system (Motu Move), it's still nowhere in sight. An investigation by the Taxpayers' Union has revealed the scheme has already cost taxpayers $146.4 million with nothing to show for it!

All we've had so far is a test run in Christchurch, and a planned rollout in Timaru – which has once again been pushed back. What's worse – the total cost of the project is set to hit $1.338 billion - that's $700 for every New Zealand household!

All of it would be solved if we could just tap on with PayWave like most of the developed world. Nicola Willis needs to find $12 billion of savings in May's Budget to get the books back in the black - scrapping this programme would put a big dent in that target.

Enjoy the rest of your Monday,

James Ross Policy & Public Affairs Manager New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Going for Growth: Taxpayers’ Union urges Government to adopt Full Capital Expensing in new briefing paper  

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is today launching the first in a series of briefing papers aimed at tackling the country’s long-standing under-capitalisation and low productivity. Titled Going for Growth: Full Expensing of Capital Expenditure, the paper makes the case for a tax policy with a proven track record of boosting investment, productivity, and wages. 

Full Capital Expensing allows businesses to immediately write off the cost of new equipment, machinery, and technology, rather than spreading the deduction over years under complex depreciation schedules. This policy has been successfully implemented in the United States and the United Kingdom, driving economic growth and increasing tax revenue in the long run. 

The briefing paper can be downloaded here (or read below).

Economic growth is not just a theoretical concept—it’s the key to higher wages, better public services, and greater economic opportunities for future generations. Full Capital Expensing is a no-brainer that would supercharge investment and make New Zealand businesses more productive.

With Finance Minister Nicola Willis set to deliver Budget 2025 in less than three months, the Taxpayers’ Union is urging the Government to seize the opportunity and implement the policy to come into effect on Budget night. 

If Christopher Luxon is serious about growth, Full Capital Expensing should be at the top of his agenda. And if the Government really want to put a rocket under the economy, they could adopt the ‘use it or lose it’ approach used by Donald Trump and Rishi Sunak – making the policy time-limited to encourage businesses to bring forward investment decisions.

The briefing paper highlights the success of Full Capital Expensing in other jurisdictions and details how New Zealand can implement it effectively. 

Politicians love to dangle short-term sweeteners in front of voters, but real economic growth comes from policies that drive productivity. Unlike tax cuts designed to boost consumer spending, Full Capital Expensing supports the kind of investment that lifts the entire economy.

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Kiwis who support pro-growth policies to endorse the initiative and send a clear message to the Government. 

Poll after poll shows Kiwis are tired of managed decline, and they want more than fiddling round the edges from Budget 2025. Here’s a cost-effective solution which will go a long way to breaking us out of our economic downward spiral.

The Taxpayers' Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that spending on a National Ticketing System for buses has so far cost $146.4 million (of a $1.338 billion budget over 14 years). NZTA first agreed to the project in 2009, and funding was approved for a business case in 2018.

Of the costs, $527.8 million is for design and build of the system, and further $800 million for operational costs.

Rhys Hurley, Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator said:

"16 years after the project was first agreed to, all we have is a Christchurch pilot and a local rollout in Timaru already facing problems. This project is the poster-child for how government bureaucracy bloats projects into expensive, inefficient nightmares."

"The rest of the world manages ticketing systems fine - so why in New Zealand does it take more than a decade and a half, and hundreds of millions of dollars, before we even get to the system rolling out?"

“The Motu Move system seems unable to move out of first gear, stuck in a traffic jam of complexity and disagreement."

"When the budget's $1.338 billion, taxpayers have every right to ask where the sense or urgency has been. Instead of getting value for money, we’re seeing endless delays and inflated costs, leaving commuters, councils and taxpayers to pick up the bill.” 

Dear Supporter,

EXPOSED: New Zealand's best and worst Mayor. How does your local Mayor rank? 🥇

With media thinner and thinner, and community newspapers often reliant on their largest advertisers (i.e. councils) accountability in local government is at an all time low. But your humble Taxpayers' Union is here to help...

To kick-off local body election year, we've published Mayoral rankings – based on the responses of random samples of voters as part of our regular political polling.

The Sunday Star Times splashed the headline results (read the coverage over on Stuff.co.nz)

Jordan, the verdict was not good. Barely half of the country's Mayors have a positive 'net approval' among their voters.

The country's most loved is the Far North Mayor, Moko Tepania with a 39 percent net approval score.

Coincidently... the Far North District Council / Mayor Moko Tepaia, delivered the lowest rates rise of anywhere in the country this year. Perhaps a lesson there for those local body politicians who we know read Taxpayer Update 😉

Incredibly the research suggests that there are Mayors even worse than Wellington's "Night Mayor", Tory Whanau. 😲  

>>> See how your Mayor compares <<<

Good news for Brown, bad news for Whanau 🗳️

Because a higher proportion of New Zealanders live in the three big cities, the larger sample sizes for the mayors of Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington allow for statistically meaningful trend data. As you might expect, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown is growing his support, while it seems Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is turning voters off the more they get to know her. Ouch.

🚨🚨🚨 Disinformation Alert 🚨🚨🚨

Public Sector Union promote myth about 'cuts to health spending'

Imagine if the Taxpayers' Union did a survey that asserted false information in the question, and then took the media results to justify complaining about the false information. We'd never get away with it (and rightly so!).

But the Public Service Commission – the self-interested union for Wellington's back-office bureaucrats – run by a former Labour Party candidate, Fleur Fitzsimons, did just that! And Stuff lapped it up! 🤦

This was splashed on Monday's front page of Wellington's The Post (owned by Stuff):

A couple of problems with that headline and the quote highlighted.

Contrary to what the bureaucrats want you to think, health funding has actually increased under the current government.

In fact, according to the Treasury's most recent fiscal update, even when adjusted for inflation and population changes, the Government is spending more on health than ever before.

They've also committed an extra $16 billion over the next three years, on top of what the previous Government was spending on health.

The only 'cuts' are cuts to back office spending that affect (you guessed it!) the back-office pen-pushers the PSA represent.

We say, the PSA are entitled to their own opinions, but they're not entitled to their own facts. Stuff / The Post should be ashamed.

And one more thing: a 'survey' is not a poll. Polls are based on a random selection of a population. A survey participants are self selected.

If the standards applied to the PSA applied to us, we could just survey Taxpayers' Union members and get front page coverage about how everyone is supporting our campaigns! But we have too much integrity to do a PSA-style campaign to mislead the public.

Yesterday, Jordan was on The Platform to discuss the PSA's false claims.

DANGER: Chris Bishop wants to give Councils a new way to tax your home! 🏠💰

Last week, Housing Minister Chris Bishop unveiled changes to how councils fund infrastructure for new housing, hoping to speed up building homes across the country.

In short, the Government wants to allow councils to 'value capture' from homes that benefit from new public infrastructure. In principle, it makes sense. In fact, value capture levies were how most of the New Zealand's infrastructure (such as rural roads) were funded in the early 20th century (they were commonly termed 'betterment levies').

Say a new road and pipeline opens up the potential for a big new housing development. It's only fair that those houses/properties pay for the infrastructure as their properties (and property values) directly benefit.

But there's a danger. Do you trust your local mayor council to decide what's good for you? 

Say your council wants to build a new cycle lane or bus way to be built near your home or something else where the council may assert there's an increased value. See the problem?

So the devil is in the detail. There needs to be strong legal and economic oversight to ensure that councils don't just use a new ability to tax to continue to grow wasteful or unwanted spending. And, while this new funding mechanism could enable much needed infrastructure to be built, if it locks-in councils as inefficient monopoly providers in the actual building of the infrastructure (where other providers may be able to deliver the same for cheaper) there is also danger.

Make no mistake, this is a 'new tax'. So your humble Taxpayers' Union will be on watch.

FEEDBACK SOUGHT: Do you support a four-year term for Parliament?

Julie Anne Genter's book review for the Taxpayers' Union! 🤣

Last week, the media approached us about an incident at Victoria University's "Clubs Day" involving Green Party MP Julie-Anne Genter.

You can read The Post's summary here.

Ms Genter approached the stall of our University movement, Generation Screwed, and started berating some of our interns and volunteers who were helping out. It was the usual nonsense you'd expect from a far-left activist ("foreign shills", "billionaire funded", "Atlas propaganda" nonsense), not the sort of conversation you'd expect from an MP.

Our Comms Officer, Alex, had the quick wit to get it on tape (unfortunately the sound failed to work), but the screenshots give you an idea of Ms Genter's, errr, animation...

Given Ms Genter's very strong views about the Taxpayers' Union and our book (pictured) we asked Chat GPT to tell us what Ms Genter would say if she were to formally review the book. It was too accurate not to share with you!

The Mission: the Taxpayers' Union at 10 – Book review by Julie-Anne Genter MP

The chapters on government waste nearly made me throw my reusable coffee cup across the room. If you enjoy fiction, conspiracy theories, and being wrong, this is the book for you. Otherwise, compost it immediately. ⭐☆☆☆☆

What a review we can be proud of! Grab yourself a copy before the Green Party snap them all up!

Enjoy the rest of your week,

James Ross Policy & Public Affairs Manager New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Reacting to the Minister of Finance’s announcement that RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr has resigned, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross stated “this resignation is not before time.”

“Orr’s work caused the single worst economic downturn in New Zealand in over three decades. He was far too slow to react as inflation increased, and far too slow to lower interest rates as inflation fell.”

“With more than two and a half times as many staff at the Reserve Bank now as in 2018, the Governor spent his time in the top seat empire-building rather than focussing on his core responsibilities.”

“This is the opportunity to take a thorough look at the Reserve Bank’s actions over the last few years, to ensure this never happens again. The replacement Governor needs to be absolutely laser-focused on keeping inflation within the target range, and we can’t see repeats of Orr’s money-printing spree.”

A report released by the Ombudsman has found Hastings District Council failed to properly maintain its streams and damns prior to Cyclone Gabrielle despite concerns raised during 2016 and 2021 reviews.

Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, commented:

“Once again they’ve dropped the ball in meeting their most basic obligations towards locals.”

“We're seeing here a council without priorities – focusing on nice-to-haves when really ratepayers just want them to get on with the basics. Roads, pipes, infrastructure, waste.”

“The relevant issues were not addressed in time, and unfortunately, the worst happened.”

“Sure, they’ve said they have accepted the Ombudsman’s findings – but will they learn? There needs to be a drastic return of focus towards core council business. It's time to lead like adults are in charge.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Wellington City Council for planning yet another punishing rate hike, with homeowners set to face a 12.2 percent increase this year—on top of last year’s staggering 16.9 percent rise and 1.6 percent sludge levy. Ratepayers are being bled dry while the Council continues to burn through money with little to show for it.

Rhys Hurley, Investigations Co-ordinator for the Taxpayers’ Union, said:

“This Council has truly lost the plot if they think a slightly lower rates hike is going to stop the pain to ratepayers.”

“Last year’s hike was meant to fix the books, yet here we are again, with Council considering another double-digit increase. How much more do they think Wellington can take of this shambles?”

“Council should be embarrassed as Wellingtonians are seeing wasteful spending, bloated bureaucracy, and pet projects take priority while essential services continue to crumble.”

“Ratepayers shouldn’t have to bankroll this financial incompetence as they struggle with their own cost-of-living crises.”

“As empty shops sprout up across the city, leaks continue to fester over footpaths, and pensioners struggle to pay the rates, when will councillors wake up and get back to basics? Projects like the Golden Mile and Town Hall revamp must come to an end.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) for wasting taxpayer money after revelations that $85,000 has been spent on a lizard relocation effort that has netted just one Gold-Striped Gecko.

Investigations Co-ordinator for the Taxpayers’ Union, Rhys Hurley, said:

“No-one’s saying conservation isn’t important, but $85,000 to find a single gecko? That’s not just bad value for money - it’s laughable.”

“Instead of these make work schemes, NZTA needs to shed its culture of waste like a gecko sheds its tail. Why is a Rotorua based company paying Wellington contractors for a gold-plated gecko hunt in New Plymouth while also employing local contractors on the side?”

“Taranaki needs its highways upgrade to deliver results at the best value possible. Pouring tens of thousands into finding one gecko will make taxpayers’ blood run colder than the lizard’s.” 

Dunedin City Council argues local water bills doubling ‘inevitable’ over the next 10-years as they seek consultation on a replacement for its Three Waters department.

“What we’re seeing is the result of years of underinvestment in local water infrastructure” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“Paying more than $4,200 a year on water – even after adjusting for 10-years of inflation – doesn’t seem at all acceptable for Dunedin ratepayers.”

“Councils long-ago have taken their eye of their core responsibilities; pipes, roads and rubbish. Doing too many other things and neglecting critical infrastructure is exactly why councils up and down the country are in this position.”

“Now, quite predictably, it’s the ratepayer copping the backlog of poor planning decisions and years of underinvestment. Better asset management and stronger focus are desperately needed in councils to mitigate these absurdly expensive blowouts.”

“Council must stop spending on all ‘nice-to-haves’ and mayoral vanity projects to reduce the impact on ratepayers. Is Council capable of exercising financial discipline?”

The Public Service Association (PSA) is misleading the public with false claims of health cuts—when the facts say otherwise, says Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Jordan Williams.

“The PSA’s outrageous scaremongering is nothing more than a desperate attempt to protect bureaucratic empire-building.”

Contrary to today’s The Post front page, which warns of the “devastating impacts of cuts to health,” the reality is clear: health spending has surged more than 24% since 2020—even after adjusting for inflation. Health NZ is hiring 4,200 frontline staff, and the Government has committed an extra $16 billion over three years.

“If the PSA knows something about the Budget that the public doesn’t, they should front up—rather than peddle disinformation.”

“This isn’t about patient care—it’s about shielding back-office pen-pushers from much-needed reforms. Their so-called ‘survey’ is a politically motivated whinge-fest designed to deceive the public and push a myth of ‘health cuts.’”

“Taxpayers want a health system that delivers results, not one that props up pointless bureaucratic sinecures. The PSA is clutching at straws, pushing fear-mongering to protect the bloated administrative machine. The public won’t be fooled.”

A report circulated this morning to Wellington mayors has made damning revelations over Wellington Water’s poor financial checks and strategic oversight that has resulted in pipework costing three times more than necessary.

“These revelations are nothing short of a scandal” said Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, Sam Warren.

“Highlighting the period between 2017 and 2022 – concerns have been raised on this for years by officials. Warning signs have been ignored, and heads need to roll.”

“Ratepayers have been completely betrayed – and need to start being put front-and-center in every decision for publicly-funded projects.”

“It has been longly suspected the CCO has taken the public for a ride, and this report has confirmed it.”

“The lack of scrutiny and mechanisms to detect these issues in Wellington Water is appalling. Why has it taken this long to find out, and will someone be held accountable?”

“There needs to be complete reassurance that this won’t happen again. Similar issues could likely be rife throughout local government and CCOs – requiring far greater oversight in areas like procurement.”

The results are based on a series of monthly polls across New Zealand and, because the sample sizes for the Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington mayors are larger, trends were able to be deduced over time.

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

“Of the three mayors from our largest councils, only Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has actually improved his approval score. Perhaps not so coincidentally, it is also Mayor Wayne Brown who has kept local rates increases the lowest of the three metro mayors.”

“Mayor Wayne Brown’s most recent approval score was +14 percent in February 2025 by his Auckland constituents, which puts him in good stead following his announcement to seek re-election later this year.”

“Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger’s approval has moved about the place. He had a positive first three quarters, dropped to -7 percent in December 2024, recovered – and now lands just above neutral at +1 percent approval as of February 2025.”

“Wellington City Mayor Tory Whanau had a positive score of +4 percent in her first quarter, followed by a slight decline to -1 percent. A massive drop took to -30 percent took place, and she has stayed in the negatives since.”

“Recovering to -11 percent in June 2024, Whanau took another massive fall as a result of her failure to pass her Long-term Plan that ultimately brought in an observer from Government. As of February 2025, Whanau has a -42 percent approval score and is the lowest placed mayor of the three largest city mayors – and third least approved mayor in the country on average.”

"Of the three cities, Wellington City has the highest rates increase last year on average. Rates are expected to further increase by more than 175% over the next 10 years, as is reflected by the mayor's low approval score.”

“A chart of the three metro mayors’ performance over time can be found at www.taxpayers.org.nz/metro_mayors”.

The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that Wellington City Council has wasted $93,819 of ratepayer funds on the 100-metre-long 'realms to the world of light' mural at Ākau Tangi Sports Centre.The expenditure breakdown is as follows:

• $4,000: Design and commission fees
• $5,762: Contract and legal fees
• $25,711: Wall preparation
• $52,945: Mural panels
• $5,401: Installation

Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:

“Wellingtonians are facing their rates bill nearly tripling over ten years. 87 percent of residents want the Council to get back to focussing on the basics. So why has Council wasted $94k on making the side of a sports centre a bit jazzier?”

“The Council is once again proving how tone deaf it is - spending almost a hundred grand painting whirlpools on buildings whilst real whirlpools aren't far off forming in the CBD thanks to all the leaking pipes.”

“It’s not just artwork up there, the writing’s on the wall too. Wellington’s broke, Wellingtonians are squeezed dry, and we can’t afford these vanity projects whilst core infrastructure like pipes and roads keep crumbling.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the Wellington City Council for its decision to allocate $300,000 of ratepayer money to event organisers so they can pay workers the ‘Living Wage'.

The ‘Living Wage for Events Fund’ allows anyone to apply for ratepayer-funded top-ups, regardless of whether or not the event would turn a profit.

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

“Ratepayers who earn less than the Living Wage themselves are being forced to subsidise wages for event workers. Pensioners, struggling small business owners, and hard-working families are footing the bill so that an event can pocket higher incomes, without the need to make any profit.”

“It’s another example of councils implementing corporate welfare to make themselves feel better. Not only are they topping up event organisers with ratepayer money, but unprofitable events now have an unfair advantage."

"From the pirate musical about Shakespeare’s ultimate lover "one bedroom still available in super sunny central wellington flat" to ‘Slavfest, the Secret Lives of Extremely Old People and Raw Meat Monday’ – everyone seems to have their hands out to council."

"But if Wellington City Council actually wants to help those struggling, they should focus on reducing rates and cutting wasteful spending – not throwing more cash around.”

Today it was revealed that Arapata Reuben, a representative from Ngāi Tūāhuriri, has not attended two-year’s worth of meetings for the Canterbury Water Zone Committee. Despite this, he was still paid his full $8000 honorarium.

“Reuben’s absence is perfectly in breach of standing orders, but both councils have not bothered to act as they say the future of the committee itself is under review” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.

“Between 2023-24, Mr Reuben was at zero of the fourteen meetings that he should have attended, not even sending an apology for the last seven of these. Does Council simply does not care if paid representatives show up? What exactly does it take to get fired here?”

“Now on the back foot, both councils are ‘following this up’. Unless an awfully good excuse is found, a refund is well in order for such an appalling display of contempt towards the ratepayers footing the bill.”

Commenting on the Herald’s front-page article about academics criticising the process behind Minister Judith Collin's decision to focus the Marsden Fund on core science, a spokesman for the Taxpayers' Union, Sam Warren, said:

“Anger from academics like Troy Baisden on the decision by Minister Collins to right-size Marsden funding is a storm in a teacup.”

“The process is irrelevant if it leads to taxpayers no longer funding dubious research, such as projects aimed at “amplifying pacific girl gamer voices” or “the desexualisation of te reo Māori domains.”

“It is clear the Minister's decision to cut Marsden funding for humanities and social sciences, along with requiring 50 percent of grants to demonstrate economic benefit, is a win for taxpayers."

“The gravy train for eccentric academic ideas is coming to an end. It’s time to refocus the Marsden Fund on its core purpose: supporting chemistry, maths, engineering, and biomedical sciences for the benefit of all.

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Public Service Association to sack its Acting National Secretary after she publicly suggested women, Māori, & Pasifika people are incapable of high-performance and should therefore have pay increases automatically applied.

“Suggestions that Maori, Pacifika, and woman are incapable of high performance belongs in the 17th century, not the modern public service,” says Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams.

“We must all call out racism and sexism when it occurs, especially in the trade union movement. We are disgusted that such stereotypes are being used to suggest performance-based pay rises will see women, Māori, and Pasifika people miss out.”

“At the Taxpayers’ Union, we are baffled that in 2025 anyone would suggest that sex or race would make people less capable. Either Fleur Fitzsimons is a bad egg, or there is something deeply wrong with the culture at the PSA.”

“Fleur Fitzsimons’ comments are plainly demeaning and condescending. If the PSA won’t act, the Government should – by refusing to engage with a failed Labour Party candidate with these extreme views.”

“We must say no to hate, even when it is disguised as concern.”

Today it was revealed Health New Zealand is undergoing an urgent overhaul for its data sharing agreements on discovering they had no power to check if sensitive health data had been misused.

“The public service has an appallingly lax attitude towards data privacy” said Sam Warren, a spokesman for the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

“The overhaul follows findings from Sir Brian Roche’s inquiry into the Manurewa Marae, and until now, Health NZ had no idea about its system’s weaknesses.”

“It’s not at all dissimilar to the issues we found with Inland Revenue last year, when they were caught giving sensitive taxpayer information to overseas tech firms like Facebook.”

“Sir Brian Roche is doing excellent work reorienting the public service. It’s a big job with seemingly no end for improvement. We’d strongly encourage him to take a look into Inland Revenue next, an agency that remains steeped with poor data safety protocols and an attitude completely at odds with the protection of Kiwis’ privacy.”

Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche has questioned automatic pay rises for bureaucrats, stripping powers off Chief Executives to further entrench the ‘tenure-based pay scale’ as pay rises become unaffordable.

Commenting on this, Taxpayers Union Spokesman James Ross said: “Roche has cast an unbiased eye on a serious and growing problem – the bloating of bureaucrats’ salary bills.”

“The public service salary burden jumped 72% between 2017 and 2023, and the average bureaucrat’s salary is now over $101k. Automatic pay rises, no matter what, are unsustainable under current economic conditions. ”

“Everyday Kiwis get pay rises when they earn them, and bear the consequences of their own performance. Public servants shouldn’t be entitled to special privileges, especially when everyone else is picking up the bill.”

“Rewarding time-served with automatic pay hikes subsidises mediocrity, and public sector performance pay is long overdue.”

The Reserve Bank has today slashed the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 50 basis points for the third time in a row, dropping the rate to 3.75%.

Commenting on the rapid drop, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross called this “an admission of failure by the Reserve Bank Governor.”

“The Reserve Bank being too slow off the mark to cut interest rates has driven the country into the worst economic downturn in three decades. With more than two and a half times the staff now than the Bank had in 2018, clearly too many cooks spoiled the broth.”

“To dig ourselves out of recession, we need to see serious growth. That means attracting investment, and the corporate tax reforms to fuel it.”

“With Budget 2025 just around the corner, now’s the time for Nicola Willis to be drafting plans for a pro-growth agenda, including high bang-for-buck policies like full capital expensing.”

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meeting Act request a total cost breakdown of Tauranga City Council $5 million destination playground.

A breakdown of costs shows $1.67 million was spent on play equipment, $1.1 million on hard landscaping, nearly $640,000 on consulting, engineering, and management costs, $361,000 on safety surfacing, and $150,000 on council staff costs.

Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:

“Building a park for $5 million is one thing, but spending nearly $800,000 before a single cent is spent on actual materials, is disgraceful.

"When the fact the floor alone cost more than 1.4million it makes you wonder if its made of shredded ratepayer cash.

“Not only did Tauranga council blunder millions on this project, including exorbitant council fees but they had the gall to jack rates 13.1% this year alone. It's time for Tauranga council to understand they can't have their cake and eat it to.

“This is yet another example of local councils treating ratepayers as a bottomless ATM. Tauranga residents deserve full transparency on where their money is going and why this playground climbed so much higher than it should have.”

The Taxpayers’ Union says that the Stats NZ Chief Executive, Mark Sowden, should be sacked, not allowed to quietly leave at the end of his term following the findings of an inquiry into data breaches released by the Public Service Commission today.

“The findings are damning - if public accountability is to mean anything, the Government should be telling Mr Sowden not to bother coming to work tomorrow - not serve out another six weeks fully paid to save face,” said Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross.

“Let’s put this in perspective, the Stats boss allowed census and Covid vaccine data to be leaked and allegedly misused to favour a political party. It doesn’t get much more serious than that. Heads should be rolling, but yet-again these public sector bosses are quietly moved on to save face.”

“We saw the same with the Police Commissioner – a cushy job elsewhere in the public sector found for someone Ministers had lost confidence in. Instead of a revolving door, Sir Brian Roche needs to be making examples.”

“The situation with Stats NZ does create an awkward situation for the IRD’s bosses though. Last year, an IRD data leak saw over a quarter of a million taxpayers’ data handed to third parties completely unencrypted. The very criticisms of Stats NZ about lack of processes and systems are applicable to IRD. But the IRD breach was on a much larger scale and it appears laws were broken.”

“The Public Service Commissioner should turn his attention to Inland Revenue. The Department’s culture of burying its head in the sand won’t end unless the IRD Commissioner’s job is also on the line.”