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  1. Taxpayer Talk: Three Waters with Christopher Luxon

    Nanaia Mahuta has announced that the government will mandate to seize Three Waters assets from councils. Jordan is joined by National's spokesperson for Local Government Christopher Luxon to discuss the implications, the flaws and what can be done about the government's plans.  Subscribe to Taxpayer Talk podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google...

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  2. It’s no wonder local councils are rebelling against LGNZ

    The following is an opinion piece by Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams.Local Government New Zealand President Stuart Crosby resorted to name calling in a recent opinion piece, calling the thousands of New Zealanders who emailed local councillors about Three Waters “wilfully ill-informed keyboard warriors”.This is a desperate...

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  3. REVEALED: Government’s favoured unions repaid $1.6 million in wage subsidies

    The Taxpayers’ Union has today revealed that the Labour Party’s trade unions – First Union and E Tū – have repaid the full $1.6 million they received in wage subsidies. This comes after the Union called on them to do so earlier this year.We’d like to congratulate these left wing unions on finally...

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  4. Taxpayer Talk: David Seymour

    What's the secret to ACT's success? Why after years of campaigning are they opposing housing reforms? Who does David think should win the biggest government spending blowout award? Jordan and David discuss this and more in this weeks episode of Taxpayer Talk. Subscribe to Taxpayer Talk podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google...

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  8. Taxpayers’ Union asks Jacinda Ardern to clarify role of electorate secretary acting as wedding planner

    The Taxpayers’ Union has today written to the MP for Mt Albert asking for more details about her electorate agent’s role in managing the Gisborne wedding venue, given the staffer is based in Auckland and wouldn’t normally travel for her job.We know of at least two visits to...

    Read more about Taxpayers’ Union asks Jacinda Ardern to clarify role of electorate secretary acting as wedding planner

  10. Taxpayer Update: Our exclusive new poll | Taxpayer-funded political parties | Bike bridge $$

    Dear Supporter,New Taxpayers’ Union Curia poll released: Labour & Greens down, National & ACT up 📊Exclusive to members and supporters like you, we commissioned another Taxpayers’ Union Curia Poll that shows support for National and ACT is up, while Labour and the Greens are down. ACT is at a...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Our exclusive new poll | Taxpayer-funded political parties | Bike bridge $$

  14. Taxpayer Update: Gang bill drawn | Toa's torture | Tax-funded media

    Dear Supporter,Bill drawn to end government funding of gangsWhen it was revealed that a Mongrel Mob-affiliated group received $2.75 million to run a meth rehab programme, Taxpayers' Union supporters pitched in to publicise the Prime Minister's dodgy decision with nationwide newspaper ads and promotion of a petition signed by...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Gang bill drawn | Toa's torture | Tax-funded media

  15. Document dump reveals DOC put politics ahead of Toa the orca’s welfare

    The Department of Conservation spent $129,000 and 12 days prolonging the pain of a baby orca for the sake of politics.That’s the takeaway from today’s massive document dump, which includes an incident management plan that explained: “An intervention approach is not the traditional DOC position that we have taken in...

    Read more about Document dump reveals DOC put politics ahead of Toa the orca’s welfare

  17. You take the low road, James Shaw takes the high road, and he will be in Scotland a’fore ye!

    Green Party co-leader James Shaw has been under fire for planning to fly to Glasgow for a climate change conference with an unspecified number of support staff. Priding ourselves on fairness towards New Zealand’s elected representatives, the Taxpayers’ Union offered Mr Shaw the opportunity to present his defence....

    Read more about You take the low road, James Shaw takes the high road, and he will be in Scotland a’fore ye!

  18. Taxpayer Update: A new tax grab | Grant's confession | Super tax

    Dear Supporter,Congestion charging: A new raid on commuters' wallets?Parliament's Transport Select Committee has completed an inquiry into congestion charging – and every party involved is keen on the idea.The proposal would initially involve charging motorists entering central Auckland during peak traffic hours, but the door has been left open for...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: A new tax grab | Grant's confession | Super tax

  24. Taxpayer Update: Where your money went | Clean car propaganda | Higher ETS levies

    Dear Supporter,Exposed: how the Government exploited COVID-19 to spend more of your moneySince my last newsletter, the Taxpayers’ Union has continued to expose how the Government has frittered away the $62 billion COVID-19 response fund.The COVID response fund was 20 times larger than Shane Jones’s infamous Provincial Growth fund,...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Where your money went | Clean car propaganda | Higher ETS levies

  26. Revealed: Government spends $183,000 advertising 'Clean Car Discount'

    The New Zealand Transport Agency (Waka Kotahi) has spent $183,751 advertising its Clean Car Discount, reveals the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union.An official information response shows the advertising campaign was developed by Clemenger BBDO and ran for most of July including print, radio, posters, flyers, Google ads, and "content partnerships".What a pointless...

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  27. Taxpayer Update: What on earth happened to the COVID-19 response fund?

    Dear Supporter,None of us can know what the coming weeks will bring, but like the first time around, the Taxpayers' Union team is working from home laser-focused on demanding more efficient spending in Wellington.Lockdowns – and their inevitable economic consequences – make every dollar of taxpayer money even...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: What on earth happened to the COVID-19 response fund?

  31. Simeon Brown on Gangs

    Max is joined by Simeon Brown to address exactly why the donation of 2.75 million to the gang-run Kahukura program was a poor decision by this government, and to rebut some of the points that have been brought up in support of it.Subscribe to Taxpayer Talk podcast via Apple...

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  32. Taxpayer Update: SkyPath u-turn? | Bureaucracy booming | Dodgy media funding

    Dear Supporter,The Government's feeling the pressure on its cycle bridgeThe proposed $685 million cycle bridge has perhaps been the Government’s worst political misfire. In June we commissioned a Curia poll which showed that 63 percent of New Zealanders oppose the cycle bridge. Now, a new Newshub poll corroborates our findings, showing its even...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: SkyPath u-turn? | Bureaucracy booming | Dodgy media funding

  35. Revealed: $2.75m funding for Mongrel Mob was signed off by PM

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that the fund that gave a $2.75 million drug rehab contract to Mongrel Mob leaders is managed by just three Ministers, meaning the grant was signed off by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, and Minister of Justice.The Ministry of Justice’s website confirms that...

    Read more about Revealed: $2.75m funding for Mongrel Mob was signed off by PM

  36. Taxpayer Update: Your money given to the Mongrel Mob | Even more tax on ute owners | Debt Monster is coming

    Dear Supporter,Louis took a much-deserved break this week, but the Government's attacks on taxpayers have continued. Thankfully the whole team is back on Monday!Wondering where the Mongrel Mob gets its money? You! Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt made an appalling decision to give a taxpayer-funded koha to...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Your money given to the Mongrel Mob | Even more tax on ute owners | Debt Monster is coming

  37. Petition launched to end all taxpayer funding for gangs

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has launched a petition calling for the cancellation of all taxpayer funding for gangs, at www.taxpayers.org.nz/gangs. This is in response to the revelation that the Ministry of Health is paying the Mongrel Mob $2.75 million to run a drug rehab programme.Last week, New Zealanders rightly condemned the Human Rights...

    Read more about Petition launched to end all taxpayer funding for gangs

  38. MP in Depth: Karen Chhour

    In this episode of our "MPs in Depth" series, our Researcher Max Salmon interviews newbie ACT Party MP Karen Chhour to discuss the switch to working in parliament, why the Government isn't walking its talk in regards to child poverty reduction, and the role of ACT in opposition. Subscribe...

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  40. Op-ed: Be the Minister, not just a frustrated onlooker

    The following is an op-ed by New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Analyst Neil Miller. It is free for publication. The headlines read “Health Minister 'extraordinarily frustrated' as just five new acute mental health beds added after $1.9b investment”. Sorry Andrew Little, that is simply not good enough. You are not an impartial observer, a mid-level official,...

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  41. Revealed: Porirua City Council’s ‘Living Wage’ hike trickles up to higher paid staff

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Porirua City Council’s introduction of a ‘Living Wage’ policy resulted in 52 percent of Council staff receiving wage hikes.In July 2020, while 39 staff were moved up to the living wage rate, a further 176 received ‘relativity adjustments’ in pay...

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  42. New poll shows 63% of Kiwis oppose Auckland's cycle bridge

    Polling commissioned by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union shows that nearly two-thirds of Kiwis ‘oppose’ or ‘strongly oppose’ the Government’s planned $685 million cycle and pedestrian bridge for Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour. Meanwhile, just 18 percent ‘support’ or ‘strongly support’ it.The full data set can be viewed here. The polling was conducted by...

    Read more about New poll shows 63% of Kiwis oppose Auckland's cycle bridge

  43. Taxpayer Update: Our campaigns ramp up | You fund propaganda | A taxpayer victory

    Stormclouds forming over SkyPath 2.0? 🚴🌧️Our petition to withdraw taxpayer funding for the proposed $685 million cycle and pedestrian bridge has now reached 56,000 signatures. That's incredible, and it shows the depth of public opposition to such a brazenly wasteful vanity project.Our "Stop SkyPath" billboards are currently hammering the...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Our campaigns ramp up | You fund propaganda | A taxpayer victory

  44. 2021 Ratepayers’ Report released, methodology explained

    The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union has today published the 2021 edition of Ratepayers' Report – online local government league tables – at www.ratepayersreport.nzWith these league tables, New Zealanders can easily compare their local council’s performance and financial position for 2019/20 against others.Setting out more than two thousand data points, the Ratepayers' Report provides transparency for ratepayers, and...

    Read more about 2021 Ratepayers’ Report released, methodology explained

  46. The most open and transparent Government should not take a year to supply official information

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pledged: “This government will foster a more open and democratic society. It will strengthen transparency around official information.”The fact that it took Radio New Zealand a year to get a response to an Official Information Act request about a heated bureaucratic turf war between...

    Read more about The most open and transparent Government should not take a year to supply official information

  47. Taxpayer Talk: Climate Change Commission delivers the big kahuna – wholesale economic transformation uncoupled to climate change mitigation

    The Climate Change Commission’s final advice to the Government was released today. Our Executive Director Jordan Williams speaks again to Matt Burgess from the NZ Initiative to discuss the implications. You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and all good podcast apps.

    Read more about Taxpayer Talk: Climate Change Commission delivers the big kahuna – wholesale economic transformation uncoupled to climate change mitigation

  48. Taxpayer Update: Tinder studies | SkyPath 2.0 | Fake climate protest

    Radical climate plan set to be unveiledThis afternoon the Climate Change Commission releases its final recommendations for the Government. Based on recent statements from the Commission Chair, they are pushing ahead with a plan to radically up-end New Zealand's economy with costly regulations.The draft plan seeks to:•  Ban imports...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Tinder studies | SkyPath 2.0 | Fake climate protest

  52. Taxpayer Update: Socialist MPs | Notes to Nanaia | Debt clock ticking

    Why didn't these MPs boast they were socialists before the election?Thursday night's Budget Debate took a weird turn. Multiple Labour MPs (and one Green MP) took off their centre-left masks and professed allegiance to socialism.The following quotes are taken direct from Parliament’s “Hansard” transcript:Kieran McAnulty: “Yes, I am a socialist...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Socialist MPs | Notes to Nanaia | Debt clock ticking

  56. Taxpayer Talk: Budget 2021

    Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams and consulting economist Joe Ascroft both attended the Budget 2021 lock up. Louis asks why they've described it as a major shift in the economic dial to the left. And what's this about another new tax?You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple...

    Read more about Taxpayer Talk: Budget 2021

  58. Taxpayer Update: KiwiSaver interference | Boozy dinners | Wailing unions

    Government sticks its nose into your KiwiSaver portfolioOur old friend David Clark is back in the news. Today he rolled up to work 🚴 and announced the Government will force default KiwiSaver providers to boycott fossil fuel investments.I told the media why this is a terrible idea:The last thing KiwiSaver members...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: KiwiSaver interference | Boozy dinners | Wailing unions

  60. Op-ed: Back-office bureaucrats are exploiting sympathy for frontline workers

    The Government’s bombshell announcement that it will rein in public sector salaries has been applauded by unionists – specifically, the Taxpayers’ Union. Union co-founder, blogger, and cheeky fellow David Farrar proclaimed Grant Robertson and Chris Hipkins honorary members of the Taxpayers’ Union for their fiscal restraint during a pandemic. It is...

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  61. Illiberalism, Free Speech and Conservative Values with Simon Bridges

    Former Opposition leader and National Party MP Simon Bridges joins Max on the podcast for a chat about his time in politics, worrying tendencies towards intolerance, and of course tax bracket creep.You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and all good podcast apps.

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  62. Petition Launched: Public sector pay freeze should extend to local councils

    The Taxpayers’ Union has launched a petition to extend the recently announced public sector pay freeze to local councils.Click here to sign the petition.The Government’s public sector pay freeze was a prudent measure that reflects the sacrifices made by businesses and employees in the wake of COVID-19. However, the freeze...

    Read more about Petition Launched: Public sector pay freeze should extend to local councils

  64. MPs in Depth: Barbara Edmonds

    Barbara Edmonds is the MP for Mana. In this episode, Max and Barbara discuss working for Judith and Jacinda, her attitude to tax, and what she wants to get done in Parliament.You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and all good podcast apps.

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  68. Taxpayers’ Union refutes Davidson’s “rejection” of being quiet on emergency housing

    After claiming that “some of our emergency housing is inhumane”, Associate Housing Minister Marama Davidson “rejected” criticism that as a responsible minister she had been “quiet” on the issue since the election. She said: “I've certainly been nothing but loud."Taxpayers' Union spokesman Neil Miller says, “She may have been loud in...

    Read more about Taxpayers’ Union refutes Davidson’s “rejection” of being quiet on emergency housing

  69. Taxpayer Update: Mahuta reviews local govt | MBIE embraces Greenpeace | Court rorts

    Dear Supporter,Nanaia Mahuta has appointed a crew of foxes to guard the local government hen houseNanaia Mahuta's wide-ranging review of the local government sector should be laser-focused on increasing value for money for ratepayers.But having looked closely at the review panel, we're predicting it will do the opposite.Firstly,...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Mahuta reviews local govt | MBIE embraces Greenpeace | Court rorts

  70. MPs in Depth: Mark Cameron

    Mark Cameron is one of ACT's 9 new MPs, in this episode of MPs in Depth Louis sits down with Mark for an educational and energetic conversation on the plight of farming, the urban and rural divide, and why he chose ACT.You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple...

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  73. MPs in Depth: Simon Court on Agent Orange, Environmentalism and Infrastructure

    From cleaning up Agent Orange, to being deported from Fiji, new ACT MP and self-described 'radical environmentalist' Simon Court shares his background on our MPs in Depth podcast series.You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and all good podcast apps.

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  75. Taxpayer Talk: The Frightening Growth of Government Regulation with Damien Grant

    Louis sits down with Damien Grant for a discussion about the growth in size and role of the government, such as new tax changes on housing and the potential for rent control. You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and all good podcast apps.

    Read more about Taxpayer Talk: The Frightening Growth of Government Regulation with Damien Grant

  77. Taxpayer Talk: Climate Change Commission head Dr Rod Carr, with NZ Initiative's Matt Burgess

    Jordan Williams gets 30 minutes with the Climate Change Commission's Chair, Dr Roderick Carr at their offices.  He is joined by Matt Burgess, the Senior Economist at the New Zealand Initiative think tank to put to Dr Carr many of the criticisms of the report.You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple...

    Read more about Taxpayer Talk: Climate Change Commission head Dr Rod Carr, with NZ Initiative's Matt Burgess

  78. Taxpayer Talk: Ian Harrison on the Climate Change Commission

    Jordan is joined by Ian Harrison, Principal at Tailrisk Economics for a discussion on the Climate Change Commission, the benefits of an ETS and why the commission is wrong about Electric Vehicles.Read Ian's submission here: http://www.tailrisk.co.nz/documents/ClimateChangeCommission-13march.pdfYou can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and...

    Read more about Taxpayer Talk: Ian Harrison on the Climate Change Commission

  79. EXCLUSIVE: Hamilton City Council harvested submissions from school children

    Hamilton City Council staff members have been visiting classrooms and harvesting submissions from children on the Council’s Māori partnership strategy, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal. We have been contacted by a Hamilton ratepayer who was perplexed to discover the name of his 13-year-old daughter among the...

    Read more about EXCLUSIVE: Hamilton City Council harvested submissions from school children

  81. Taxpayer Talk: The dangerous folly of the Climate Change Commission

    The Climate Change Commission plans to up-end our economy with a highly political, centrally-planned regulatory agenda. Jordan is joined by Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director at the New Zealand Initiative, to untangle this mess.You can subscribe to Taxpayer Talk via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and all good podcast...

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  83. Megan Woods: House of Cards

    The following is a diary note from Dr Megan Woods. (satire)My big housing announcement did not go nearly as well as expected.People are missing the big picture which is about community, inclusivity, well-being, and kindness.Instead, they are overly fixated on the numbers. Specifically, the number 12 – because...

    Read more about Megan Woods: House of Cards

  85. REVEALED: Farewell bash for Winston Peters cost taxpayers $12,000

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters was thrown an $11,733 farewell party by the new Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and her Ministry. The bill covered catering, event furniture hire, and technical costs. Guests included the Prime Minister, other Ministers, diplomats, and their spouses. The Taxpayers’ Union understands that, despite Parliamentary protocol requiring invitations to...

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  87. Taxpayers' Union calls on all unions to pay back wage subsidy

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is repaying the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy and is calling on other unions and political groups to do the same. A petition has been launched at www.taxpayers.org.nz/payitback. When the Government last year made the unprecedented decision to lock down New Zealand’s economy, the Taxpayers’ Union publicly...

    Read more about Taxpayers' Union calls on all unions to pay back wage subsidy

  90. Taxpayer Update: Creative NZ sends $$ overseas | Payout for overstayer | RNZ propaganda

    Dear Supporter,Creative NZ sending your money overseasThis morning we revealed that in just 12 months Creative NZ paid out grants worth $631,266 to recipients in Germany, the UK, Sweden, Finland, Australia, Poland, South Korea, Fiji, the Netherlands, the Cook Islands, and the United States.And of the 25 grants,...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Creative NZ sends $$ overseas | Payout for overstayer | RNZ propaganda

  92. Op-ed: Why we won’t stop calling it ‘taxpayer money’

    The following is an op-ed written by Taxpayers' Union Campaigns Manager Louis Houlbrooke. It is free for publication with attribution.Jonathan Barrett, a taxation lecturer at Victoria University, wants New Zealanders and the media to stop talking about “taxpayer money”.He makes the bland observation that when the government takes...

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  94. Taxpayer Update: Signposting waste in Rotorua | More Creative NZ madness

    Dear Supporter,Happy New Year! I hope you've enjoyed some sunny days.Our office was shut down for the holiday period, but we still managed to cause some mischief in Rotorua and expose even more waste from Creative NZ..."Monument to waste ahead" in RotoruaRemember Rotorua's $743,000 Hemo Gorge sculpture that ran...

    Read more about Taxpayer Update: Signposting waste in Rotorua | More Creative NZ madness

  96. Petition launched for Trevor Mallard to pay back taxpayers for his defamation settlement and legal costs

    --> Click here to sign the petition <--A written Parliamentary question has confirmed the Taxpayers’ Union’s understanding that the Speaker paid a six-figure settlement to a staffer he accused of rape.Taxpayers should not have to cover the bill for Trevor Mallard’s careless accusations. It’s not like making defamatory allegations is part...

    Read more about Petition launched for Trevor Mallard to pay back taxpayers for his defamation settlement and legal costs

  97. Highest and lowest council rates in New Zealand revealed -Ratepayers’ Report

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union’s 2020 Ratepayers’ Report reveals the highest and lowest average council rates in the country. The league tables are available at www.ratepayersreport.nz.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Louis Houlbrooke says: “The key attraction of Ratepayers’ Report has always been the league table for average residential rates, which uses a standardised...

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  98. 2020 Ratepayers’ Report released, methodology explained

    The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union, in partnership with the Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance, has today published the 2020 edition of Ratepayers' Report  – online local government league tables – at www.ratepayersreport.nzWith these league tables, New Zealanders can easily compare their local council’s performance and financial position for 2018/19 against others.Setting out more than two thousand data points, the...

    Read more about 2020 Ratepayers’ Report released, methodology explained

  100. Leaked: MP Election Diaries

    Your stupendous yet humble New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has obtained copies of Members of Parliament’s election diaries. We requested them under the Official Information Act from new MPs, who apparently do not know that the OIA does not apply to them. Stuart Smith answered because he was desperate...

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