This week on Taxpayer Talk, James sits down with John O'Connell, Chief Executive of the UK TaxPayers' Alliance. John and James dig into some big issues, to see what New Zealand can learn from the UK's (many) mistakes.
Rates caps, death tax, and John's role in exposing the infamous MPs' expenses scandal, which forced every British MP to open their expense reports to public scrutiny. Six MPs were jailed, and hundreds more were caught out.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the Government over its release of internal documents revealing an $8.4b “unfunded” hole in funding future public services over the years to 2028/29.
Taxpayers’ Union Economist Ray Deacon said:
"The Minister of Finance’s current strategy is to tinker around the edges and shuffle spending, but if we want to balance the books and close the deficit, hard choices must be made."
"This Government has no serious fiscal plan. It’s simply hoping that growth alone will cover the gap - but hope is not a strategy, especially when the country faces a debt burden equivalent to $138,900 per household."
"The refusal to scrap costly legacy programmes like the $1.09 billion film subsidies and $3.54 billion in KiwiSaver top-ups shows this Government isn’t yet willing to make the calls that matter."
"The Taxpayers’ Union is urging Finance Minister Nicola Willis to adopt the common-sense reforms in our policy roadmap, A Pathway to Surplus."
"Our plan gives the Minister the tools to smash the deficit, stop the borrowing, and restore New Zealand’s financial resilience."
"If the Government is serious about avoiding higher taxes, a credit downgrade, and mounting debt, it needs a real plan, not just blaming Labour's sins of the past."
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming a new report from The New Zealand Initiative calling for Cabinet reform, saying the bloated system of portfolios and departments wastes money and dodges accountability.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“This report must be a wakeup call to the Government. New Zealand has 81 portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments. That’s three times as many portfolios as comparable countries. Taxpayers are footing the bill while accountability vanishes.”
“When a ministry like MBIE answers to 20 different ministers, no one is clearly in charge. That means delays, excuses, and wasted money.”
“Countries like Ireland and Singapore prove you can govern effectively with 15–20 ministers. It’s time for New Zealand to cut Cabinet down to size and make responsibility clear.”
“If the Government is serious about delivering for New Zealanders, it must take this report as a blueprint: set a clear target to cut Cabinet down to size, publish a timeline, and start the job of rebuilding accountability.”
“This Government has shown no pathway back to surplus. Getting the bureaucratic beast under control is the only way they’ll cut costs”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is backing ACT MP Cameron Luxton's concerns over councils campaigning in favour of Māori wards. Legal advice circulated to all councils by Taituarā has already made it clear that doing so may breach electoral law and could result in the poll being declared void and another poll issued.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Promoting a ‘Council position’ on the very question up for public vote risks invalidating the result entirely. Despite this, councils like Hastings and now Western Bay of Plenty are using ratepayer money pushing their staff’s own views.”
"This is a matter of democratic integrity. You can’t be both referee and cheerleader. When councils take a side in a process they’re meant to run neutrally, they’re opening the door to legal challenges and a possible repeat of the entire poll.”
“Councils have been clearly warned. Not just of the legal risk, but of potential Auditor-General investigations, overturned results, Ministerial intervention and the cost to ratepayers of having to redo the same poll.”
“If councillors want to campaign, they should do it with their own money and time. Not with ratepayer-funded communications teams.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Nicola Willis to be bold and adopt full capital expensing to give firms the certainty they need, among reports that the Investment Boost programme has failed to spark the confidence firms need to invest.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“While the Government’s Investment Boost programme was a small step in the right direction, it hasn’t gone far enough. We called it at the time – the programme lacked the ambition needed and was destined to become a flop. Business owners are still left without the confidence they need to commit to new investment.”
“Unlike the limited 20 percent Investment Boost, full capital expensing would allow businesses to immediately deduct the full cost of new equipment, machinery, and technology. That puts more cash in the hands of firms right away, making it easier to take on ambitious projects and invest in growth.”
“Full expensing has already been shown to work overseas. In the United States and the United Kingdom it drove higher business investment, productivity, and even boosted tax revenue over time. If Willis is serious about getting the economy moving, she should be ambitious and deliver the policy in full.”
"How much more advice will it take for Willis to do the right thing? She travelled to the UK, where the Adam Smith Institute gave her the exact same advice - full capital expensing is a tried-and-tested way to boost growth."
“If Nicola Willis wants a plan that actually gets businesses investing, she should read our report, Going for Growth: Full Expensing of Capital Expenditure.”
The Taxpayers' Union has slammed Labour's backing of a proposal to create a taxpayer-funded agency for union delegate training, calling it a misuse of public funds to benefit Labour’s union allies.
Taxpayers' Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:
"It is outrageous that Labour would use taxpayers' money to fund training for unions when those same unions fund Labour's political campaigns. This is a clear conflict of interest and would be an egregious overstep of government resources."
"Last year, we exposed how taxpayers forked out at least $871,000 a year for MBIE staff to do union work on taxpayer time. Now, we’re seeing Labour propose a taxpayer-funded agency to train unions. This is a pattern of wasteful spending to support Labour's union partners."
"The Public Service Administration’s recent attempts to smear New Zealand’s meat inspection standards by contacting foreign embassies are just another example of the damage these unions are causing, yet Labour want to reward them.”
“It’s time for Labour to stop prioritising their union backers at the expense of taxpayers.”
https://www.buzzsprout.com/944017/episodes/17672947
Building anything in New Zealand has no shortage of challenges. Whether it be soaring costs, reels of red tape, or problems with supplying labour, our choked infrastructure pipeline deeply affects this country's economy and quality of life.
CEO for Infrastructure New Zealand, Nick Leggett, joins Peter Williams for a deep dive into how can overcome these challenges so we can build faster, more efficiently, and more affordably.
Rates across the country have soared, many into the double-digits. But while most councils point fingers and find excuses, Mayor for Whanganui Andrew Tripe has kept his average rates increase as little as 2.2 percent – the lowest in the country this year.
Mayor Tripe joins Peter Williams for a discussion on how this was achieved, and the work behind getting his Council focused on the basics, while keeping up with important infrastructure and services, and paying down debt.
Hutt City Council Mayor Campbell Barry has called on councils not to spend recklessly after removing water services from their balance sheets.
Responding to this, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Sam Warren said:
“Shifting most of their assets off the books means councils can return the majority of the rates take to ratepayers. It’s not an invitation for yet another local government lolly scramble.”
“Candidates looking to use this as an opportunity to sneak huge increases in the cost of living for ratepayers need to be front up and admit it before voting opens next month.”
“Well done to Campbell Barry for this shot across the bow, reminding councils that their first obligation is to the people paying the bills. It’s a shame he didn’t realise that before hiking rates 44.7 percent over the last three years, but better late than never.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is sounding the alarm that recent reports of public service reforms are falling short of delivering the bold changes needed to tackle inefficiency and escalating national debt.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:
“The proposed reforms are nothing more than a superficial reshuffle. Without cutting duplication and reducing waste, these changes will be just rearranging the deck chairs under a different logo.”
“We’re in a structural deficit, with no plan whatsoever to get back to surplus. If now isn’t the time to cut costs, when is? Former Minister Peter Dunne is right that a radical cost-cutting review is long overdue. Any efficiencies should go straight to tackling the national debt, which is fast approaching $300 billion as highlighted by the National Debt Clock.”
“Merging departments is fine, but what is the point if you’re keeping all the same functions? There’s still 16,286 bureaucrats than there were in 2017 - focus on cutting these first.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has slammed Grey District Council for its disgusting conduct during a council meeting, where councillors laughed when asked how residents felt about rates increases.
“It’s utterly disgusting behaviour from councillors. Clearly the mask has slipped, showing no remorse for the impact their rates increases have placed on households.” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers' Union.
“Where is exactly do Grey councillors find so funny? Under their watch, Greymouth has suffered an average rates increase of 37 percent in the last three years. That’s incredibly serious, and cackling away in their chambers only shows how insensitive they are to the issue.”
“Locals neither want nor deserve clowns running the show. The only way to show us they’re serious is to sign the Ratepayer Protection Pledge by 1 September, publicly committing to keeping rate rises below inflation and easing the pressure on households."
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on Nicola Willis to protect the dignity of the Reserve Bank and sack its chair, after yet another of Neil Quigley’s gaffes was made public today.
Commenting, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:
“Let’s call this for what it is: Neil Quigley was asking Treasury to break the law to protect ‘goodwill’ between Treasury and the RBNZ. That alone should see his out the door.”
“Last month, Quigley was caught out having lied to the public. We said back then he had to go. Avoiding bad PR is not a reason to break the OIA, and Nicola Willis is looking weaker by the day she doesn’t show him the door.”
“We are hearing good quality people are passing up roles at the RBNZ because of Quigley’s continued tenure. He risks tainting the next Governor before they're even in the job, when it was never intended that the guy who picked Adrian Orr would get another go at it.”
"Why is Nicola Willis not putting Quigley out of his misery and protecting the Central Bank's reputation?"
Revenue Minister Simon Watts has confirmed a major victory for taxpayer privacy with plans to repeal Section 17GB of the Tax Administration Act 1994.
The so-called “Nosey Parker” clause, introduced in 2022, gave Inland Revenue the power to demand “any information the Commissioner considers relevant” for tax policy or reform, regardless of how private or personal.
The Taxpayers’ Union, which spearheaded a campaign to scrap the law, says the repeal is long overdue.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:
“David Parker’s snoopers’ charter is headed for the scrap heap, and good riddance. Taxpayers have a right to privacy, regardless of how little the former Labour Revenue Minister may have respected that."
“Open-ended, arbitrary powers have no place in the tax system, just like IRD has no business prying into people’s family lives or spending habits.”
“Rammed through during COVID with no public consultation, there was next to no limit on the taxman’s powers to rifle through people’s private lives. Well done to Minister Watts for putting Big Brother back in his box.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is backing Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche’s call to cut waste by consolidating or abolishing costly demographic ministries, like the Ministry for Women and Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“New Zealanders don’t not need individual government agencies for each demographic. We need a government that delivers quality service and value for taxpayers’ money.”
“Our A Pathway to Surplus report shows scrapping the five overlapping agencies would save $2.4 billion between now and 2028, putting $1,200 back into each household’s bank account. Minister Willis wants to ease the cost of living - here’s the answer.”
“The Public Service Commissioner is right to call for leaner public services that focus on all Kiwis’ outcomes. Given there’s still more bureaucrats now than at the last election, here’s the place to start cutting.”
NEW POLL: Rates Caps Backed by Every Group Polled
In the latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll, voters overwhelmingly expressed support for rates capping.
Voters backed rates capping by a ratio of almost 3:1, with 64 percent of voters supporting rates caps compared to just 22 percent who opposed. 14 percent were unsure.
Respondents were asked:
"The Government is planning to introduce a law that would cap how much local councils can increase rates by every year. Do you support or oppose there being a rates cap law?"
Moreover, voters of every Parliamentary party were majority in support of rates cap laws. As were voters of every single age group, gender, and region.
Net support by Party was:
New Zealand First +65 percent
National +61 percent
Undecideds +48 percent
ACT +38 percent
Greens +37 percent
Labour +22 percent
Te Pati Māori +19 percent
Commenting on these results, Taxpayers' Union spokesman James Ross said:
"The Government might be backing rates caps, but its time for all parties to get on board. There's no votes to be won by playing partisan games when Kiwis want a solution that will stick."
"With the average rates bill spiralling 34 percent in just three years, people don't just want rates caps: they want them now."
"Rates hikes are the single largest contributor to the cost of living crisis. Voters of all stripes want to see an end to the gravy train."
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has today launched the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, 14 days before voting opens for local body elections.
Every candidate standing mayor and council has been asked for their commitment to ratepayers over three key issues;
1.) Oppose any measures that will see the total burden of rates, levies and additional council charges exceed the level of inflation and population growth,
2.) Support initiatives that will improve transparency of council expenditure, including the public disclosure of all expenditure items (known as 'armchair audit' and 'open data')
3.) Oppose unelected appointments onto council committees with spending and regulatory powers.
Taxpayers’ Union Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said:
“Councils are only as good as the people we elect to sit on them. Often we don’t know where they stand on important issues. The Ratepayer Protection Pledge draws a line in the sand to highlight which candidates are standing with ratepayers this year.”
“Every name added to the pledge will be published online, so voters can make an informed decision on who best represents them, and who chooses to coast through another term of higher rates and less transparency.”
“Councils today are in bad shape. We need good candidates to make a stand. They have until Monday 1 September to add their names and show us how seriously they will take the growing call for change in local government.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is questioning a new $500,000 pilot fund from NZ On Air to subsidise national concert tours but only for artists who have already received taxpayer support and completed a prior headline tour.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley said:
“If you’ve already got a taxpayer-funded music project, already have done a tour, and already have a professional team behind you then congratulations, NZ On Air might just give you another $50,000.”
“How does taxpayer top-up for artists who are already shown they are well-established and commercially viable support startup musicians?”
"This funding is a perfect example of how public arts money often goes to the same insiders, while working artists who are actually building a following get overlooked."
“Let’s be real, if you’ve already had a national tour and a government grant, it’s time to stand on your own two feet. Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for encore rounds.”
"Public money needs to start going to the frontline services where it’s actually needed, not to those with the best industry connections."
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out The Wairarapa Times Age for overstepping the line between journalism and political activism after it publicly endorsed council amalgamation in Wairarapa, stated it will be lobbying candidates and dismissed public input as irrelevant.
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Sam Warren said:
“When local journalists start telling communities their voices don’t matter, they stop being part of the fourth estate and start acting like political lobbyists.”
“The role of the media is to inform and scrutinise, not push a political agenda. It’s not the job of editors to decide how local government should be structured, especially when they openly admit they don’t trust the public to decide for themselves.”
“Calls for amalgamation are often pushed by council insiders with no understanding of what communities actually want or need.”
“The Auckland Super City was supposed to deliver savings and efficiency. What it delivered was higher rates, more bureaucracy, and less local control. And now the same elite voices want to repeat the same mistake in Wairarapa.”
“We urge journalists to stick to reporting the facts and let communities decide how they want to be governed.”
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Kapiti Coast District Council didn’t bother to bond CEO Darren Edwards to the Council, despite approving a $42,979 six-day Harvard Business School programme for him. Mr Edwards can walk away from the role at anytime, with ratepayers picking up the tab for his personal development.
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:
“Edwards could resign tomorrow and wouldn’t have to pay back a cent. Ratepayers are being cheated.”
“Usual practise for any employer is to bond an employees for at least a year to ensure that the organisation actually gets the value for the training. But not at Kapiti Coast District Council - where the spending was rubber stamp approved with no strings attached. He is not even obliged to serve out until the end of his fixed term contract.”
“The casual approach taken to what amounts to a $43,000 discretionary bonus is astounding and represents a major failure in governance. Ratepayers expect the Mayor and Councillors to be taking the same approach as any private sector employer would: ensure that the benefits of such a large spend accrue to the organisation."
“Given Mr Edwards’ past, we are frankly amazed he was even admitted into the Harvard course.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling out RNZ for being quick to amplify council spin but ignoring the people footing the bill.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:
“RNZ continues to give councils a free pass while shutting out the voices of the very people forced to pay their bills. By shutting out the ratepayer perspective, it’s no wonder the broadcaster’s audience is walking away.”
“RNZ’s coverage parrots spin about ‘rundown infrastructure’ if rates are capped but never asks how much more struggling households can afford.”
“Ratepayers have faced rates hikes of more than 60 percent over just three years in some areas. For RNZ to ignore that side of the story is a slap in the face to the very people funding local government, and RNZ itself.”
“Until RNZ starts treating ratepayers fairly, it will keep losing the trust and ears of the public.”
Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ attack on the Taxpayers’ Union doesn't hide the fact that under her watch government spending as a share of the economy is significantly higher than when Grant Robertson left office.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“Willis is entitled to her own opinion but she’s not entitled to her own facts. She is deflecting from the state of the economy by making cheap shots, but the fact remains that spending as a proportion of the economy has surged on her watch, making the cost of living crisis even worse. That is not responsible fiscal management, it is a doubling down of Grant Robertson economics.”
"And Willis knows it. She is clearly under pressure to start performing. That's why she's pointing to supposed future reductions as a fix. It's as if she's not already delivered two government budgets."
“Willis needs to get off the starting block, and even the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Statement admits we need to see some pro-growth policies. That doesn’t mean continuing to take more money from the public than at any point under the last government.”
“There are plenty of places for savings without having to touch schools and hospitals, as outlined in our A Pathway to Surplus report. Or perhaps the Minister can start with her own international travel rather than touching health or education?”
“The fact Willis needs to attack using a left-wing caricature speaks for itself. Attacking the Taxpayers' Union doesn't fix the fact that while options are there for Willis to take, what’s missing is the political will."
The Taxpayers’ Union says today’s 25 basis point cut to the OCR is no substitute for the Government tackling its reckless spending.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:
“This isn’t a normal downturn, it’s a prolonged recession. The Reserve Bank has done its bit, but the real problem is fiscal. Inflation is set to bounce back, and council rate hikes are still feeding through the system.”
“Nicola Willis keeps praying for growth while kicking the surplus can further down the road. Fitch may have reaffirmed our AA+ credit rating, but they made it clear debt is higher and consolidation has been delayed.”
“The Treasury has already shouted ‘fire’, yet the Minister refuses to act. Until the Government reins in its spending, no amount of OCR cuts will rescue the economy.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that NIWA is refusing to disclose how much it paid private developers to build an online climate adaptation game, or the total cost of the game, despite the project being funded by taxpayers through the MBIE Endeavour Fund.
The “My Coastal Futures” game, built by NIWA in partnership with Hum Interactive and Geo AR Games, has research costs estimated at over $300,000, yet NIWA has refused to reveal what the subcontractors were paid, citing vague claims of commercial confidentiality.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“This is public money, spent on a public project, developed by private companies. Yet NIWA is stonewalling. New Zealanders have every right to know how much was paid, and to whom.”
“If the Government can publish what it spends on roadworks, consultancy reports, or film grants, then there’s no excuse for hiding the cost of a publicly funded game.”
“The Ombudsman must step in and start hold agencies to account when they misuse ‘commercial sensitivity’ as a catch-all excuse to dodge transparency.”
“The fact that NIWA won’t even release the bill speaks volumes about how far some agencies have drifted from basic public accountability. The new Earth Sciences New Zealand must do better and uphold the principals its predecessor has ignored.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming news of further cuts to taxpayer-funded research that results in little to no value to the taxpayer, including the Marsden Fund and the Endeavour Fund.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“We’ve seen six-figure grants handed out to study how dating apps are used, whether it’s ‘benevolently sexist’ to think men should protect women, and even the history of Spanish bullfighting. Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to fund this nonsense while households are struggling with the cost of living.”
“In the past, we have highlighted dozens of similar examples, from projects exploring Pacific climate change storytelling to finding out how religion affects inequality – in Fiji. While academics may enjoy this kind of work, taxpayers rightly expect research dollars to deliver tangible benefits here in New Zealand.”
“Tightening the tap on wasteful research spending is exactly what taxpayers expect. The Government should keep going until every dollar is focused on projects with real-world outcomes that benefit New Zealanders.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is applauding Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden for rejecting costly bureaucratic delay tactics and changing the Department of Internal Affairs/Te Tari Taiwhenua logo and name at minimal cost.
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Rhys Hurley said:
“Brooke deserves full credit for cutting through the Wellington blob. This is what leadership looks like: clear, simple, and grounded in the affordability the public actually wants.”
“Wellington bureaucrats wanted expensive rebranding exercises and endless consultation. Brooke said no, and just got on with it."
"She’s a hero for telling the bureaucracy she could do it herself for no cost if they wouldn't.”
“For any other Minister looking to implement the change we’ll do the job for free. No consultants, no branding agencies, no bureaucratic waffle and delays, just a clean, free fix."
Former Wellington Chief Executive Barbara McKerrow will act as interim Chief Executive for Whanganui Council in what has been described as an ‘exciting new adventure’ by McKerrow and a ‘terrifying new chapter’ for Whanganui ratepayers.
Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, Sam Warren, said:
“Our thoughts are with the people of Whanganui during these uncertain times.”
“McKerrow brings with her a track record, just not the kind you’d want to flaunt. Under her clerkship, Wellington experienced phenomenal disfunction and rates rises – we can only hope Whanganui doesn’t have a town hall that needs upgrading, or pipes to fix.”
“While in Wellington, McKerrow’s $553,356 pay packet raised some eyebrows when compared to her performance. The latest Taxpayers’ Union Council CEO Rich List ranked her as the second-highest paid individual council CEO. For the sake of Whanganui ratepayers, let’s hope McKerrow brings more bang for buck this time round.“
“With McKerrow should come a warning not to repeat the same mistakes. For McKerrow, we wish her ‘bon voyage’. For Whanganui locals, we wish you ‘good luck – she’s your problem now’”.
With recent reports that New Zealand’s total private and public borrowing will soon pass one trillion dollars, how much of this is being racked up by the Government? The Government’s gross debt has passed $281 billion (see DebtClock.nz).
“New Zealanders are already drowning in debt, from record mortgages to council and business borrowing. Together, we’re closing in on a trillion dollars. Instead of easing the load, the Government is piling on hundreds of billions more.”
“Total Government borrowing is now nearing $140,000 per household. That’s not just numbers on a spreadsheet; it’s a massive mortgage hanging over every Kiwi family, one they never signed up for.”
“Voters wanted change, but Nicola Willis is marching down the same road as Grant Robertson – only faster. While families tighten their belts, Willis is doing the opposite and borrowing more recklessly than Labour ever did.”
“Nicola Willis promised discipline, but she’s proven to be just as reckless as her predecessor. All we’ve got is more borrowing, more waste, and a bigger bill for the next generation.”
For live updates on the Government debt burden, visit DebtClock.nz.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling for RNZ to be privatised, with the reported audience numbers declining sharply and its Wellington-centric content failing to resonate across the country.
A recent report reveals:
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Rhys Hurley, said:
“RNZ’s audience is falling and it is falling fast. The time has come to sell RNZ while it still has value, rather than continue to throw taxpayer money at a service that can’t connect with the wider public.”
“RNZ’s audience is falling and it is falling fast. The time has come to sell RNZ while it still has value, rather than continue to throw taxpayer money at a service that can’t connect with the wider public.”
“Wellington-centric programming with Red Radio’s signature political slant is alienating listeners across the country. RNZ’s around $62 million taxpayer funding is being spent without the public getting the return on investment it deserves.”
“If RNZ was a private entity, it would be forced to adapt or fail. Instead, the public is being asked to fund an increasingly irrelevant broadcaster in an already competitive market.”
“RNZ already sees itself internally as a sunset organisation. While it still has an audience left, sell it and reinvest taxpayer funds in services that actually serve the public rather than just a Wellington elite.”
The Taxpayers’ Union has released its annual Council Chief Executive Rich List, revealing the full renumeration received by Council CEOs over the 2023-24 financial year.
Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, said:
“As households across New Zealand have been tightening their belts to pay for massive rates increases, council bosses are taking home an average five and a half times more than the average Kiwi salary.”
“Despite the recession, town clerks are living it up – the average council CEO pocketed a pay hike of 16 grand. While ratepayers are forking out 35 percent more on average than three years ago, there’s no shortage of cash in the CEO households.”
The 5 highest-paying councils are:
Christchurch City Council (Mary Richardson / Dawn Baxendale) - $1,027,696
Gore District Council (Deborah Lascelles / Lornae Straith / Stephen Parry) - $771,558
Auckland Council (Phil Wilson) - $735,935
Rotorua Lakes Council (Andrew Moraes / Gina Rangi / Geoff Williams) - $695,961
Tauranga City Council (Marty Grenfell) - $623,658
"Perhaps the CEO job title should be reverted to Town Clerk to get the pay packets back under control. Town Clerk is more honest. Seldom are they actual 'CEOs' from the private sector - most are just overpaid professional bureaucrats."
“The question needs to be asked, do these Chief Execs really need these massive, ratepayer-funded, pay packets? Very clearly, the spirit of ‘public service’ has left many town halls. While households are cutting back on essentials, these CEOs are cashing in.”
“It’s hypocrisy, plain and simple. Ratepayers are told there’s no money for basic services, but somehow there’s always room in the budget for yet another salary hike at the top.”
“It’s time to return to the spirit of public service, cap rates and force councils learn to live within ratepayers’ means.”
The full list can be found at RichList.nz.
The regional media release can be found at:
Responding to Chris Hipkins’ refusal to rule out capital gains taxes on farms, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:
“Capital gains taxes on family farms, family homes, and family nest-eggs. For all their talk of Kiwi families doing it tough, Hipkins seems very keen to give them another unfair beating.”
“Hipkins won’t front up on his tax policy, just like he won’t front up to the COVID inquiry. Would a bit of honesty with the tax-paying public be too much to ask for?”
“If Hipkins keeps dipping and dodging questions, we can only assume its because he knows Kiwis won’t like the answers.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the decision of the four Covid Cowards – Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson and Ayesha Varrell – to refuse to publicly answer questions at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response.
“Five years ago, the Government spent $66 billion on the most draconian peacetime decisions in New Zealand’s history. Every New Zealander was locked in their homes. Families were split apart. People missed seeing their dying loved ones. One million New Zealanders locked out of the country. Businesses were destroyed,” said Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams.
“Throughout the Western world, key decision makers have fronted publicly at Covid inquiries, taking tough questions in the open and justifying their actions. That’s how democracies hold leaders to account and ensure the public have confidence that even our leaders cannot act arbitrarily. Instead, Ardern, Hipkins, Robertson and Varrell think a behind-closed-doors interview and a letter is enough. It’s not.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Royal Commission to use its powers to compel the four to appear, as any Court would with witnesses.
“In any other context with a witness refusing to give evidence, it is as though they have something to hide. The refusal to face public questioning insults every New Zealander who made sacrifices during lockdowns.”
The Union also took aim at Hipkins claiming appearing before the Royal Commission would ‘set a precedent.’
“Public accountability, in the same way we have open justice, is precisely what we need. For the significant portion of the public who have lost trust in institutions and risk seeing, in their minds, the inquiry as a ‘closed-door stitch up’ by the elite, the lack of public hearings will only play into the conspiracy.”
“Has he not realised telling the team of five million ‘up yours’ like this is exactly why?”
“Front up. Answer the questions. What are you hiding?”
Commenting on news the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) plans to trim 142 roles, including 35 vacant positions, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:
“The Reserve Bank is more than two and a half times the size it was before Adrian Orr. These plans would only take RBNZ back to where it was in June 2023 - more a scratch than a slash.”
“The Bank is locking in the excesses of the last seven years and calling it restraint. We’d need triple the number of layoffs to get RBNZ back to its 2018 size.”
“Taxpayers deserve a central bank focused on price stability, not empire building. Too many cooks have spoiled the broth, and the new Governor needs to take an axe to Orr’s bloated legacy.”
More bad news for the Coalition as a majority of voters say the Government is performing poorly on economic management across all five key issues measured as part of this month’s Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll.
Voters were asked to say whether they thought the Government was doing a “good job" or “bad job" in each area. In no area did the Government receive a net positive result.
Total net result for each category:
Commenting on this, Taxpayers' Union Spokesman James Ross said:
“Poll after poll show the cost of living and the economy are top of voters’ minds. These results suggest they are losing faith in the Government’s economic management. With the Coalition’s numbers on a knife-edge, the link is clear.”
“Willis winging it isn’t working. There’s more bureaucrats now than when Labour left office, Willis is spending more than Labour, and she's borrowing at a faster rate. That’s caused inflation to track back up, and the ‘going for growth’ results are paltry.”
"Nicola Willis talks about responsible fiscal management, but what has she actually done differently from Grant Robertson?"
"The message from the polls is loud and clear: the Government is failing to be bold on the economy or cutting excessive spending. And that failure is costing them."
The Taxpayers’ Union is joining the Auckland Chamber of Commerce in calling for Finance Minister Nicola Willis to deliver tax relief stimulus through an emergency 'mid-year' budget to jolt the economy back to life.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
"Going slow on the 'go for growth' isn't working."
“The economy is stalling. Growth has not been delivered and New Zealanders can’t afford to wait. The economic numbers demonstrate that the country needs urgent action to get the economy back on track. Waiting for yet more OCR cuts won't cut it.”
“Bold action is warranted."
"The Chamber appears to prefer a reduced corporate tax rate, while the Taxpayers' Union prefer full capital expensing. Either way, these are proven pro-growth policies. Done alongside proper savings in government spending, we can stimulate the economy without making the debt problem worse."
"Every day we are seeing numbers in the media demonstrating that only bold action will deliver growth.”
“Businesses need the confidence to invest and hire now, not years down the track - when it's quite possible another Finance Minister will be in charge.”
“The Minister has a choice: move now to get New Zealand moving before next year's election, or preside over more drift, missed opportunities, and more pain for voters.”
Facing a sluggish economy, the Government Coalition sees another bad poll result, as they fall to neck-and-neck with the Centre-Left bloc in this month's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll.
The poll, conducted between 03 and 05 August, shows Labour overtake National as the largest party, gaining 2.0 points to 33.6 percent. National drops 2.1 points to 31.8 percent.
The Greens gain 0.4 points to 9.8 percent, while ACT drops 0.5 points to 8.6 percent. New Zealand First drops 2.0 points to 7.8 percent, while Te Pāti Māori drops 0.3 points to 3.2 percent.
Headline results and more information about the methodology can be found on the Taxpayers' Union's website at www.taxpayers.org.nz/augpoll2025_250808
For the minor parties, TOP is on 2.6 percent (+1.4 points), Outdoors and Freedom is on 1.1 percent (+1.0 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 June 2025, available at www.taxpayers.org.nz/pollnztu_20250710
The combined projected seats for the Centre-Right of 61 is down 4 seats from last month. The combined seats for the Centre-Left is up 4 seats to 61. On these numbers, neither the Centre-Left nor the Centre-Right bloc would have enough seats to form a Government, and there would be a hung Parliament.
Labour gains 4 seats to 43, while National drops 2 to 40. The Greens remain on 12, and ACT remain on 11. New Zealand First is down 2 to 10, while Te Pāti Māori remain unchanged on 6.
Cost of Living is voters' top issue at 24.4 percent (+2.8 points), closely followed by the Economy more generally at 20.7 percent (+1.6 points). Combined, these two issues are the most important for 45.1 percent of voters. Health is the next largest issue on 10.0 percent, followed by Employment on 6.0 percent.
Commenting on the results, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:
"Why have the Government taken a beating in the polls? It's the economy, stupid. This month's results show it's not just Treasury giving the Government a dressing-down over their fiscal inaction."
"As part of this month's poll, the Taxpayers' Union also commissioned Curia to ask voters about the performance of the Government across a list of economic management issues. The results will be released later this week, and appear to indicate why the Government is losing so much support to the opposition parties."
"Cost of living and lack of growth are biting families in the back-pocket. Until the Government starts making the tough calls, they'll be clinging on to power by their fingertips."
Nearly 3000 New Zealanders have emailed Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson urging them to drop the retrospective clauses in the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“The public backlash to this grubby deal has been overwhelming. Over the weekend, thousands of Kiwis have told the Ministers they will not stand by while the Government rewrites the law to let ANZ and ASB off the hook.”
“Retrospective lawmaking is an affront to the rule of law. Courts exist to decide disputes, not to have cases pulled out from under them to protect powerful interests.”
“We know that the CCCFA must be fixed. But if the Government truly believes in fairness and the rule of law, it will strip out the retrospective provisions and let justice take its course.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Health NZ for raking in $22.6 million from hospital parking last year, calling it daylight robbery.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“This isn’t cost recovery, it’s taxing people for the crime of being unwell.”
“Hospitals should be places of care, not cash cows. Instead of helping patients, Health NZ is fleecing them.”
“If you or a loved one are sick enough to be at hospital, the last thing you should be worrying about is how much the parking meter’s eating out of your wallet.”
"The Union is calling on the Government to scrap hospital parking charges and end this tax on the sick."
The Taxpayers’ Union is pushing back on comments from Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has hinted that a capital gains tax might be back on the table despite the economy struggling under the weight of existing taxes.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“Labour is recycling a failed idea that New Zealanders have already rejected. A capital gains tax punishes investment, hits small business owners, and makes it even harder for hardworking Kiwis to get ahead.”
“Capital gains taxes are inherently taxes on savings, investments and the very things New Zealand needs to be able to grow the economy. They are inherently an unfair tax - taxing savings and retirement nest eggs over and over again for politicians like Chris Hipkins to flutter."
“If Chris Hipkins is serious about turning the economy around, he should rule out any new taxes. That’s the bare minimum Kiwis should expect right now.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has today banned minor Wellington mayoral candidate Rob Goulden from all future events hosted by the Union and its affiliated student group, Generation Screwed, following his behaviour at tonight’s sold out Victoria University mayoral debate.
Executive Director Jordan Williams said:
“It’s been reported to me that Mr Goulden was aggressive and rude to our university student coordinators, and treated Taxpayers’ Union staff and volunteers disgustingly. That is totally unacceptable. Thankfully our student volunteers were there to show him the maturity he was lacking."
“We won’t tolerate that kind of behaviour, especially toward young people who care enough to engage in politics. If he tries to attend any of our future events, I have instructed our staff to call the Police” said Williams.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the Green Party’s hypocrisy, after it demanded on-board fishing camera footage from private operators continue to be made public under the Official Information Act while not backing reforms to extend transparency to their own MPs’ expenses.
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Rhys Hurley said:
“The Greens want footage from private property made public, but won’t even support opening their own books. You can’t demand transparency from others while shielding yourself from public scrutiny.”
“The Green Party of the past demanded greater transparency and accountability. Rather than using the OIA to bash those whose lifestyles they don’t agree with, let’s get back to a party which supports the public’s right to know where their money is going.”
“If any Green MPs believe transparency is still a virtue, they should lead by example and support extending the Official Information Act to Parliament. Open the Books for all, not just political targets.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that Creative New Zealand spent more than $21,958 sponsoring and attending Local Government New Zealand’s SuperLocal 2025 conference.
As a “Silver Sponsor” of the event, CNZ spent $15,000 (excl GST) to a panel titled The Role of Local Government in Building Communities, which focused on arts and cultural investment. Creative NZ also sent four staff and two Arts Council members, with travel, tickets, meals, and sector networking costs adding another $6,958.22.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Creative NZ is the latest agency to chuck money at the never-ending bureaucratic conference circuit. New Zealanders are choosing between food on the table or paying the rent, yet their dollars were spent to wine and dine at LGNZ’s event.”
"Creative NZ’s pointless spend-up just won’t end, and this is just one example. Between chucking taxpayers’ cash into the lobbying merry-go-round and channelling money overseas, where’s the oversight?”
“Creative NZ clearly has more money than sense, and its time to cut the funding. Kiwis don’t need Wellington telling them what to watch, and they certainly don’t need Creative NZ telling councillors how to tell them what to watch.”
Only thanks to an anonymous tipper, the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that Oranga Tamariki failed to disclose six additional comms staff at a cost of nearly $765,000.
We had previously revealed through the original OIA response, Oranga Tamariki’s supposed 14-man comms team at a cost of $1.97m. These newly found additional roles bring the total yearly salary bill to $2.74 million.
The six additional staff include:
-Manager, Content and Channels
-Advisor, Design
-Senior Advisor, Design
-Senior Web Advisor
-Senior Events and Engagement Advisor
-Social Media & Web Advisor
-Senior Video Content Producer
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Oranga Tamariki’s spin doctors might’ve fallen for their own spin, but this is more than just bad accounting. Oranga Tamariki told us their comms staff cost $1.97 million, but failed to mention a secret second team costing another three-quarters of a million.”
“These staff all report to the same Director of Communications and Media, with their roles covering social media, video production and event promotion. That’s comms work no matter what way you look at it."
”Apparently the Public Service Act doesn’t count these roles as comms-related because they’re “technical enablers”, so Oranga Tamariki didn’t tell us. If that’s the case, and official figures don’t count whole teams, does anyone actually know how many government spin doctors there are?”
“If you’re creating content, managing comms channels, or handling social media you’re working in PR. And if you’re doing it with taxpayers’ money the public has a right to know.”
“If even the OIA can’t get the full truth out of the Wellington Blob, who’s really running the show?”
The Taxpayers’ Union is criticising the National Party’s newly-announced ‘foreign visitor charge’ for popular Department of Conservation sites, calling it a distraction from the real economic challenges facing the country.
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“We were expecting a real economic announcement at the conference, a plan to get the country moving. Instead, the Prime Minister’s big idea is to charge backpackers more to visit Mt Cook.”
“It’s just another example of National shifting deckchairs: symbolic, superficial, and totally disconnected from the scale of the economic challenges we’re facing."
“If Labour had proposed this, National would be tearing it to shreds. Instead, they’ve slapped a fresh label on an old idea which won’t fix DOC’s ballooning overheads or inefficient spending .”
“We already have an International Visitor Levy to fund tourism and conservation. Doubling up makes New Zealand look tourist-hostile and it opens the door to charging Kiwis next.”
“The Government should be cutting DOC waste, not taxing trampers at the trailhead.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the failed $18 million aquifer project in Kaitaia as just the latest example of big budgets, poor planning, and even worse delivery. A pattern confirmed by the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, which has found the country is spending more than comparable nations while achieving less.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Whether it’s a billion-dollar tunnel or a rural water pipe, the story is always the same: we’re spending too much, and getting far too little.”
“In Kaitaia, locals were promised water resilience. What they got was a failed bore, blown budgets, and a council that never even checked if the plan would work before breaking ground.”
"The Infrastructure Commission’s findings back what taxpayers already know: it’s never been a funding problem, it’s a delivery problem."
“There’s no shortage of money. The shortage is in competence and accountability. Until councils and departments are forced to plan properly and deliver efficiently, we’re going to keep getting stitched up.”
"We need clear infrastructure records of what we own and its condition, enforced cost transparency, and consequences for councils and departments that fail to deliver value."
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union has today welcomed Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe's call for rates capping to be introduced in the future.
Taxpayers' Union Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said:
“We’re pleased to see more Mayors coming on board with rates capping, especially as the Cap Rates Now the petition has reached more than 30,000 signatures, calling for an end to excessive rates increases.”
“Achieving the lowest average rates increase, even below inflation, was the result of hard work and careful spending decisions. Mayor Tripe’s efforts set an example for every other mayor in the country.”
“Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger also voiced his support for a cap on rates rises, who last month joined the Taxpayers’ Union and its supporters outside the LGNZ conference, where its membered councils discussed how they could fight such laws.”
“Well done, Mayor Tripe. Ratepayers across have had a gutsful of soaring rates from their councils, and are looking for leadership on the issue. As the Government presses closer with rates capping laws, we expect to see more mayors get onside with protecting ratepayers.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has today launched a major campaign targeting Scott Simpson's Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill, which includes retrospective provisions that would extinguish a live class action brought by tens of thousands of bank customers against ANZ and ASB banks.
The campaign has been launched with National Party’s annual conference attendees being delivered love letters from the Big Banks to recognise their special relationship and bank bailout.
In the coming days, a digital advertising, billboard, and grassroots mobilisation campaign demanding that Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Minister of Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson drop the retrospective clauses from the Bill will be launched.
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:
“This is a disgraceful case of retrospective lawmaking that undermines the rule of law and destroys trust in New Zealand as a stable place to do business."
"Last month the NZ Herald reported that the Bill is a result of backroom discussions between the Government and the Aussie-owned big banks which excluded the consumer-side parties of the very class action litigation the Bill is intended to extinguish."
"Across the Tasman, the Aussie banks were hauled over the coals for misconduct and dishonest practises. But in Wellington, they are doing deals with the Beehive to be bailed out and 'protected' from consumer class actions. It's perverting the course of justice for tens of thousands."
"Not only does the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Amendment Bill run roughshod over the rule of law, it is specifically designed to bail out the powerful at the expense of ordinary Kiwis.”
“Tens of thousands of Kiwis are part of a live class action over alleged unfair fees. Instead of letting the courts do their job, Nicola Willis and Scott Simpson are stepping in to shut it down with the stroke of a pen. That’s not justice — that’s Parliament playing defence for its mates.”
The Union says the Bill makes a mockery of the Government’s own rhetoric about restoring New Zealand’s reputation as a safe, rules-based place to invest and do business.
“The same Ministers pushing the so-called Regulatory Standards Bill – which rightly warns against retrospective legislation – are now ramming through a bill that does exactly that. That's usually called hypocrisy.”
“When governments change the rules mid-litigation to protect the well connected, it sends a chilling message to investors, consumers, and taxpayers alike: the law in New Zealand is only as stable as the political connections of the people you're up against.”
Williams concluded:
“This campaign isn’t just focused at the Government. It’s to hold to account and expose the disgraceful behaviour of ANZ and ASB banks to undermine their own customers’ rights. This is about not just honesty and integrity and customer disclosures, but New Zealanders having the ability to enforce consumer protection law against the big end of town.”
“Either the Government walks the talk on stable, principled lawmaking, or they admit they’re no better than the last lot. Kiwis deserve better than this grubby stitch-up.”
The social media, digital and advertising campaign launches next week along with some more creative plans to ensure this bill gets the public scrutiny it deserves.
“Watch this space.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal in response to an Official Information Act request that KiwiRail and the Minister of Rail have refused to so much as share the name of a Kiwirail briefing about underperforming rail lines.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Transparency is dying, with more and more obstruction and avoidance of true public scrutiny. If the public can’t even know what a document is called, we have a broken freedom of information regime.”
“When the public funds the rail network, they deserve to know what they’re getting for their money. Some redactions might rarely be needed, sure, but that doesn’t justify agencies cold-shouldering taxpayers just to make their own lives easier.”
"The refusal is part of a broader pattern of government agencies increasingly hiding behind vague legal exemptions, while offering no meaningful public interest justification."
“This proves what we’ve been saying for years: the Official Information Act has become a shield, not a window. We need reform and the Ombudsman to put agencies' feet to the fire, to ensure that public scrutiny isn’t treated as optional.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is urging Taupō District Council to reject a proposed cogovernance agreement with Ngāti Tūwharetoa over Lake Taupō and the Upper Waikato River, warning it hands control of major public resources to unelected decision-makers
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“This is more than a consultation framework, it gives real authority over water management to a small group without public oversight. That’s a dangerous precedent.”
“Ratepayers are being signed up to a long-term deal with unknown costs, unclear governance structures, and no opportunity to vote on it.”“Iwi involvement should not come at the expense of democracy. Decisions about public water must remain accountable to the public, not locked away behind closed doors.”
“Taupō‘s councillors need to slow this process down, demand transparency, and consult the public before locking in a deal that changes who’s really in charge of our waterways.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling for full disclosure of the agreement’s terms, independent legal advice, and public consultation before any vote is taken.
The Taxpayers’ Union has today welcomed Minister Simon Watt’s release of local government performance metrics, enabling greater transparency for council performance.
Taxpayers' Union Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said:
“The release of these metrics has been widely anticipated. More transparency is essential in reining in council decision making.”
“The difficulty for ratepayers to get the full picture on how councils behave has always been a challenge, and many councils have enjoyed hiding behind layers of bureaucracy to prevent better scrutiny from ratepayers.”
“Without better scrutiny, councils have run roughshod particularly in recent years, spending money wastefully, and hiking rates excessively. For too long they’ve pushed their luck, which is why we’re seeing these performance metrics, as well as policies like rates capping on the agenda.”
“While there work to be done and no shortage of areas to reform, today’s release is a step forward in holding councils to account.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the Department of Conservation for introducing paid parking at Punakaiki’s iconic Pancake Rocks, saying the trial is not 'user pays', but gouging domestic travellers to visit our national parks.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“We already have a tourism levy that’s supposed to fund these exact places, plus additional taxpayer funding on top. So why are Kiwis now being hit with another charge just to park their car?”
“This isn’t about conservation, it’s about treating New Zealanders like walking wallets in their own country. DOC is double-dipping and locals are getting stung.”
"If DOC needs more money, it should look at how it spends its existing revenue. Their headcount exploded by 37 percent between 2017 and 2023, so is punishing families for stopping to admire a view the best option?”
"Scrap the parking charges, cut the backroom bureaucracy and stop punishing people for visiting when they’ve already paid for it."
Former Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier told to the governance select committee that creating a new department for local government would solve many issues facing councils.
“Boshier is right in his assessment, that local government is not working well enough, but creating more bureaucracy is certainly not the solution.” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.
“The role of the Ombudsman is to make sure things run smoothly by empowering elected officials in charge, which most will agree has not been done effectively in recent years.”
“As the sector anticipates reforms through the Minister’s ‘Systems Improvements Bill’, there’s real concern that it does not go far enough to see meaningful outcomes.”
“As the Bill takes shape, now is the time to get stuck in and make sure it’s everything it needs to be. Until then, calls from the former Chief Ombudsman to solve a problem with another problem should be seen for what they are; unhelpful.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Hon. Stuart Nash and Dr John Harman. Their combined expertise strengthens the organisation’s leadership as it continues to champion lower taxes, less waste, and more accountability.
Stuart Nash, a former Cabinet Minister of Revenue and Member of Parliament, brings deep experience in public policy and governance. His insights from inside government will add valuable perspective to the Taxpayers’ Union’s advocacy for efficient public spending.
Dr John Harman, a seasoned business leader and healthcare expert, joins the board with decades of experience in management, innovation, and public health. He brings a strong commitment to transparency and performance-driven systems to further the Taxpayers’ Union’s mission.
Ruth Richardson, Chair of the Taxpayers’ Union, said:
"We are thrilled to welcome Stuart and John to the board, giving us a broader mix of representation as well as fresh activism. Their combined expertise in business and government will be instrumental in advancing our mission to give taxpayers a voice and hold decision-makers accountable."
Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, added:
“We’re delighted to have Stuart and John on our board. They each bring significant experience and fresh insight to our board, strengthening our fight for accountable government and better value for every taxpayer dollar.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal reveal through an Official Information request that the Department of Internal Affairs' Keep It Real Online campaign has cost taxpayers more than $4.3 million (excl. GST) since 2020. Despite the spending, there's little evidence of any measurable real-world impact.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“This is a classic bureaucrat fire-and-forget; spend millions on a slick campaign, then walk away without measuring whether it actually achieved anything.”
“People might remember the ads, but what they don’t know is what the Government spent making them and that they didn’t bother measuring the long-term impact.”
“We’re told the ads reached ‘two-thirds of parents’, but so could Lotto ads. Reach means nothing without results.”
“Government campaigns need clearly defined, auditable targets and measurable outcomes before launch not vague vibes and video views. If ACC can spend millions on a ‘Have a Hmmm’ campaign without showing it changed anything, it’s clear the whole public campaigns system needs a reset."
"When departments can’t show results, Ministers need to pull their funding and heads need to roll.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is accusing the Government of putting politics ahead of principle after they once again side with big banks, leaving ordinary New Zealanders and small businesses out in the cold.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“This Government is dodging the hard decisions and instead opting for cosmetic fixes that fail to address the real issues facing New Zealand. Whether it’s butter, bank fees or broken lending laws, Nicola Willis seems more interested in media-friendly headlines than making the tough, lasting changes Kiwis actually need.”
“Take the surcharges ban. It sounds good on paper, but it’s just another patch-up job. It doesn’t lower costs; it just pushes them on to small businesses and takes away their agency.”
“Or look at the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act changes. Instead of holding ANZ and ASB accountable for breaking the law, Willis changed the law retrospectively. While changes to the CCCFA were overdue, letting big banks off scot-free after breaking the law is not leadership, it’s cover for corporate wrongdoing.”
“Willis talks about economic responsibility, but where’s the action that actually shifts the dial? New Zealanders need a government focused on real, long-term change, not one fiddling at the edges while the big players get a free pass.”
“Who is standing up for the family-run dairy, the sole trader, or the mum at the checkout? Right now, it certainly isn’t Nicola Willis.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal can reveal through an Official Information request that Stats NZ has spent $338,200 (exc. GST) over the past three years on branded giveaways and incentives such as gift cards, rewarding people for not responding to government surveys the first time.
The items handed out by field staff during household visits include:
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Statistics NZ have built a rewards scheme for being difficult. Say no to a survey the first time and you get a mug, magnet, or even gift cards.”
“This isn’t Stats NZ’s first time doling out more presents than Santa, with Warriors tickets, fuel vouchers, and food cards in the line-up for the 2023 census."
"This rort for people too lazy to fill out a form or answer the phone is an insult to those New Zealanders doing the right thing.”
“Their job is to collect data, not hand out freebies to people who won’t play ball. Refusing to co-operate with basic legal duties should come with a beefed-up fine, not a swag bag of treats and goodies.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Finance Minister Nicola Willis for failing to deliver a leaner, more efficient public service, with new figures revealing that the public service is now larger than it was at the 2023 election, despite months of so-called ‘cuts’.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“With a structural deficit still baked into the Government’s books, taxpayers can’t afford a bloated bureaucracy and empty promises.”
“After months of announcements and rhetoric, the public deserves more than just headlines. There are more public servants now than at the 2023 election. Where are the actual reductions? Where are the savings? This isn’t fiscal discipline, it’s business as usual dressed up as reform.”
“If the Government is serious about delivering value for money, it needs to stop spinning and start shrinking the bureaucracy.”
“Nicola Willis was tasked by Christopher Luxon with ‘going for growth’ - but the only thing she’s growing is the very thing she promised to get on top of: the bureaucracy.”
The decision to withhold the list of invitees at a $40,000 private cocktail party, organised by Tauranga City Council to farewell its appointed commissioners, has been found unreasonable by the Chief Ombudsman.
Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, Sam Warren, said:
“At the end of the day, it’s about transparency, and there was none. Its a disgrace.”
“Strategically leaning on vague excuses to withhold information continues to be a big problem with councils, and much more needs to be done to improve access to information in thais space.”
“Ironically, the whole event was a $40,000 knees-up to celebrate former Tauranga commissioner Anne Tolley, who is now the chair of Transparency International – which receives funding from taxpayers. If we’re talking about transparency, how about we look at the financial aid the government throws at these so-called independent institutions?”
"It's a terrible look for Tauranga and its former commissioners. Those days were nothing to celebrate – and trying to keep the list from locals is incredibly crooked."
“Transparency shouldn’t have to be wrestled out of the Council – and now that the commissioners are long-gone, the public deserves much more accountability from the Chief Executive.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the Department of Conservation’s latest staffing changes as another weak attempt to dodge real savings, saying the bureaucracy remains overstaffed and under-accountable.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf, said:
“After months of dragging their feet DOC has finally confirmed some actual job losses, but let’s not kid ourselves.”
“We said it in May and we’ll say it again: this is optics over substance. DOC’s headcount exploded by 37 percent between 2017 and 2023, so they’re barely scratching the surface with these latest changes.”
“This isn’t bold reform, it’s damage control. Taxpayers were promised savings, not press releases and token trims. Every dollar spent propping up bloated departments is a dollar not spent on frontline conservation work or returning money to the pockets of hardworking New Zealanders.”
“The Government can’t fix the books with PR spin and half-measures. It needs to show some backbone and start cutting where it counts, and that means tackling the bloated back-office beasts like DOC head-on.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling for the resignation of Reserve Bank Chair Neil Quigley, saying his position is now untenable following revelations in the last 24 hours that he misled the public over Adrian Orr’s departure as Governor.
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:
"This has gone beyond questions about the credibility of the Reserve Bank. It’s now a matter of honesty. Neil Quigley told New Zealanders that Adrian Orr’s departure was purely a personal decision. It now looks clear that was false - it was a negotiated exit in the context of appear to be serious allegations. Dr Quigley knew full well there was a catalogue of behavioural concerns, including some raised by the Minister of Finance, and yet he chose to hide that truth in false statements to the media."
”Documents now show that Quigley was involved in drafting a formal ‘Statement of Concerns’ about the Governor's conduct in late February. Despite this, he continued to brief the media and public in a manner that appear designed to mislead, saying it was “just a personal decision” by Mr Orr to resign.
“Employment law may justify some discretion in what can be disclosed publicly, but it can never justify dishonesty. Dr Quigley appears to have knowingly misled both the media and Parliament. That’s indefensible,” said Williams.
“And the Bank’s hiding behind ‘privacy’ in the context of this matter relating to one of the most important public offices in New Zealand is totally self-serving. Public interest clearly trumps the private interest concerns. And Quigley’s public comments that suggest OIA responses are being prepared by the bank on the basis of what the Dr Quigley “feel[s] the public needed to know” demonstrates a contempt for freedom of information law.
The Taxpayers’ Union says that this mess is also a test for the Public Services Commissioner.
"This goes to the heart of integrity in the public sector and holding public office holders and chairs of public boards to a standard of basic honesty and transparency. If those responsibilities are to mean anything, then it must apply here. Labour should be holding the Minister out to dry.”
“Mr Quigley has failed the most basic test of public leadership: telling the truth. His continued presence at the helm of the Reserve Bank Board undermines public trust. He must resign – or be removed by the Minister.”
For the first time since June 2024, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger takes the top spot as the country's most popular metropolitan mayor, after a 19-point surge this quarter.
Commenting on this, Taxpayers' Union spokesman James Ross said:
"Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger backed rates capping, and in that same period surged 19 points to become the most popular big-city mayor. If that's not an endorsement of rates capping, I don't know what is."
"Local body elections are less than three months away. Any candidates looking to boost their appeal might do well to follow Mayor Mauger's example by putting ratepayers' needs front-and-centre."
"Mayor Brown remains steadily well-liked, no doubt thanks to the fourth-lowest rates hikes in the country over the last three years. And even Tory Whanau has seen a boost since announcing she'd step aside - all in all, everyone's a winner this poll."
The latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll ranks New Zealand's three metro mayors by their net approval, and tracks their approval over time.
The results are based on a series of monthly polls across New Zealand. Because the sample sizes for Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington are larger, trends are able to be deduced over time.
The full results can be found at www.taxpayers.org.nz/mayors_0725
| Mayor | Council | Net Approval (July 2025) |
| Wayne Brown | Auckland | +16 |
| Phil Mauger | Christchurch | +19 |
| Tory Whanau | Wellington City | -18 |
The Taxpayers’ Union is endorsing the Wellington Green Party local candidates’ and independent Wellington Mayoral candidate Alex Baker’s policy to shift local government rates to be solely based on land and not tax capital improvement as part of rates.
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:
“The Greens are right on this one. Taxing land, rather than housing and development on land, creates the right incentive of avoiding land banking or not putting land to its most productive use, such as housing."
“The current rates regime employed by most councils sees rates as a tax on housing and the very developments that make cities great places to live.”
“The government is currently proposing a series of improvements to local government – including adopting the Taxpayers’ Union’s call for capping rates. Local Government Minister Simon Watts should reach over the aisle and grab this phenomenal policy to realign rates as a tax on land for services provided to a property, rather than operating as a tax on improvement.”
“It is sad to see Ray Chung further disgrace himself by coming out against this policy. We’d urge him to reconsider and put policy ahead of partisanship.”
An external review into New Plymouth District Council has revealed a lack of financial reporting knowledge as the cause of its recent rates blunder. Mayor Neil Holdom says he has taken ‘full responsibility’ for the error, but still has no plans to resign.
Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, said:
“As far as mistakes go, it’s about as serious as it gets. The mayor taking responsibility is only an empty gesture of faux martyrdom. What it means is that no one will be held accountable for such an expensive blunder.”
“The question needs to be asked, what does it take to be fired in this circus? We deserve better, and ratepayers shouldn’t be on the hook for what seems to be pure ineptitude by council.”
“As councillors sit down to try find more than $3 million in their budget, ratepayers will be asking why more effort wasn’t made to find savings in the first place and reduce the burden of potentially double-digit rates increase. Now is the time for rates capping, not later.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through Official Information request that seven government departments and councils have spent $218,012 developing their own separate Māori language and cultural training apps despite the existence of a national Māori Language Commission and multiple taxpayer-funded training programmes already in place.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“We’ve got a Māori Language Commission, we’ve got staff training programmes, we’ve got online learning tools - so why is every agency now building its own apps?”
“This is a perfect example of bureaucratic duplication. Every department wants its own badge, its own brand, its own slice of the cultural competency pie, all funded by the public purse.”
“Some of these apps cost more than $35,000 and reached fewer than 2,000 people. Waikato Regional Council knew other apps already existed before building its own. That’s not helping Māori, it’s just self-indulgence.”
"With this many apps found via tips alone, imagine how many more exist. A centralised, shared platform for the public service instead of this wasteful agency-by-agency approach is needed."
"We don’t need seven apps, we just need one that works."
Responding to Statistics New Zealand’s announcement that annual inflation has climbed to 2.7 percent, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:
“Councils are driving a cost-of-living crisis. The latest figures show annual inflation hitting 2.7 percent, and more inflation pain is on the way next quarter as the latest round of rates hikes kick in.”
“We saw this last year when Statistics NZ confirmed that more than half of the Q3 inflation spike came from council rates alone. That clearly wasn’t a one-off, as ratepayers have been hammered with a 34 percent average rates increase over the past three years.”
“This is a vicious cycle. Councils hike rates, that drives up inflation, which delays interest rate cuts, and households get squeezed from both ends.”
“The message is clear: councils won’t stop unless they’re made to. Capping rates is no longer just a nice idea, it’s essential if we want to get inflation down and take pressure off Kiwi households.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is responding to news the $1.4 billion National Ticketing Solution provider Cubic has had its credit rating dropped, in addition to falling behind targets due to technical complications with the project.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“How many more red flags does the Government need? Instead of choosing proven, off-the-shelf systems already working in cities across Australia and the world, they handed the job to a defence contractor to build something custom.”
“Off-the-shelf systems that accept contactless payments and mobile wallets are already up and running in dozens of cities. They’re cheaper, faster to roll out, and more reliable. There’s no reason we can’t have that here while keeping existing discount cards for students, seniors, and others.”
“Despite plans to throw more than a billion dollars at this white elephant, commuters are still stuck waiting for basic features like tapping on with a bank card. Meanwhile, bureaucrats and consultants continue to cash in.”
“The Government needs to cut its losses. Stop pretending we’re building something world-leading. Keep the discount system, but switch to technology that already works and that people already use every day.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that some New Plymouth District councillors have missed dozens of official meetings. Released attendance records show multiple councillors regularly giving no apology at all for absences, despite being paid to represent ratepayers.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Wagging work wouldn’t fly in the private sector, and it shouldn’t when ratepayers are forking out tens of thousands for councillors who don’t even show the respect of apologising for not turning up."
“Local government isn’t just a side-hustle for the lucky few, and the bare minimum ratepayers expect of their elected officials is to show up. If councillors can’t - or won’t - attend the meetings, then they shouldn’t take the pay.”
“This needs to be a wake-up call for restoring basic expectations in local government. Ratepayers need recall elections so they’re not stuck waiting three full years to sling out councillors who won’t do the job they’re paid for.”
Responding to news that the Government is extending childcare subsidies to families earning up to $229,100 a year, the Taxpayers’ Union is calling the move completely out of touch.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“If you're pulling in nearly double the average household income, you do not need a handout from other working taxpayers to help pay for daycare. The average household income is around $120,000.”
“It’s not often we find ourselves agreeing with the CTU and Craig Renney, but they’re absolutely right to call this out. The Government should be focusing support on families genuinely doing it tough, not those who are objectively well-off by any national measure.”
“The whole point of FamilyBoost was to ease pressure on low- and middle-income families. Creep the threshold high enough and suddenly it’s just free cash for the comfortable.”
“If the Government thinks someone on $229,000 needs help with childcare, maybe they should spend a day living on the median household income instead. When you're earning more than $200k, taxpayers don’t need to be picking up the bill.”
A significant blunder in New Plymouth’s annual plan, described as a ‘typo’, could see ratepayers pay more than $100 this year than initially indicated.
Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, said:
“It’s hard to understate how much of a cock-up this is. Ratepayers deserve far better attention to detail as they face even higher rates than already forced on them.”
“Released earlier this week, the Rates Dashboard showed an average increase this year of 8.39 percent across the country for the year. New Plymouth’s mistake could push that average up to 8.79 percent, depending on how the council reacts.”
“Rather than add costs on top of their already high rates, Council needs to do right by their ratepayers and search for the savings in the budget. How can the council expect ratepayers to budget when they can't do it themselves?"
"This whole bungle is why we need to Cap Rates Now and get Councils focused on the bottom line. More than 29,000 Kiwis have signed the petition, demanding big change in how our councils are run."
Commenting on ACT leader David Seymour’s remarks that rates caps should wait until local government costs are under control, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:
“Spiralling rates are one of the biggest drivers of the cost-of-living crisis, with the average bill ballooning 34 percent in just three years. Ratepayers can’t afford to sit around waiting for councils to fix themselves.”
“Local government won’t rein in its own spending until it’s made to. The fact LGNZ is planning a ratepayer-funded campaign to block rates caps tells you everything you need to know.”
“If the Government wants to get costs under control, it should scrap councils’ power of general competence at the same time and get them back to doing the basics well. It’s as simple as that, no excuses needed.”
“Ratepayers are behind Local Government Minister Simon Watts and his plans to have caps in place before Christmas. Over 29,000 New Zealanders have already signed the petition, now is the time to cap rates.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling out Crown Regional Holdings (formerly the Provincial Growth Fund) after a new report revealed more than 54 percent of its $257 million loan book is at risk of default or impairment and three more recipients have gone into liquidation since the report was finalised.
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman Rhys Hurley said:
“This isn’t economic development, it’s taxpayer roulette. When more than 54 percent of your loan book is at significant risk, you’re not investing, you’re gambling with taxpayers money.”
“If the chair of this group says that no bank would go near these projects, why is the Government stepping in with its chequebook drawn? The PGF was always about pork barrel politics, picking winners for political convenience, not economic merit.”
“The days of pork barrel politics have gone on too long, it’s time to shut the casino down.”
Responding outside the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ)'s Annual General Meeting this morning, where 82 percent of members voted to mount a ratepayer-funded campaign against the Government and the Taxpayers Union's efforts for rates capping legislation, Taxpayers' Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said:
"LGNZ are gaslighting ratepayers. So desperate to defend rates having gone up by more than 34 percent over the last three years – two and a half times the level of inflation – they now plan to spend ratepayer money to fight ratepayers."
"This is a middle finger from LGNZ, not just toward ratepayers, but towards Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for trying to get the cost of living under control."
"LGNZ is nothing but a left-wing Labour Party political campaign. Any pretence of political neutrality or moral authority has vanished with this vote."
"Tens of thousands of Kiwis have signed the petition to Cap Rates Now."
"At 11am this morning local ratepayers will be protesting LGNZ's decisions outside the Christchurch Convention Centre. Minister for Local Government Simon Watts will be invited to address the crowd."
The Minister for Local Government has today announced plans to refocus councils through the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill to Parliament.
Sam Warren, Campaigns Manager for Local Government at the Taxpayers’ Union, said:
“The announcement is a welcome the course of travel to improve a desperately broken sector. But the devil is in the details and until we see what’s under the hood, it’s impossible to know how far the Bill actually goes.”
“It’s important the Bill sufficiently reins in councils to focus on just the basics, and make sure that future rates increases are kept as low as possible for households.”
“Inspiration can be found in the Building Better Councils briefing paper, which sets the bar for true council reform. Policies like rates capping and the removal of general competence from councils are non-negotiable in bringing in effective change to Local Government.”
"Rates are out of control, and Councils have been exposed in the Rates Dashboard that shows how dire the situation is for struggling Kiwis."
“We cannot afford half-measures when rates have soared by more than two-and-a-half times the rate of inflation in just three years. More than 28,000 Kiwis have signed the Cap Rates Now petition in response to these excessive increases, and are demanding to see change in local government."
The Taxpayers’ Union has today launched the 2025 New Zealand Rates Dashboard at RatesDashboard.nz
The Rates Dashboard is for ratepayers to track and compare their council's annual and cumulative rates increases with councils across New Zealand. It shows the average cumulative rates increase over the current three-year council term is an astonishing 34.4 percent – more than two and a half times inflation over the same period. The average for 2025 alone is 8.39 percent.
Local Government Campaigns Manager, Sam Warren, said:
"The dashboard shows that the average Kiwi household now faces a rates bill more than a third higher than just three years ago. Over the same timeframe, inflation has been just 13.7 percent.”
"This year alone, the average rates increase is 7.4 percent - that’s still nearly three times the current 2.5 percent inflation rate."
"Ratepayers can see how their council compares at RatesDashboard.nz."
“These numbers represent real pain being felt by ratepayers, including reports of ratepayers being forced out of their homes. They show why UK or Australian-style rates capping is so urgently needed. Councils should be forced to keep rates under the level of inflation unless approved by local referenda.”
“More than 28,000 Kiwis have signed the Cap Rates Now petition and looking at the Rates Dashboard, it's no wonder ratepayers are angry and LGNZ know it's in trouble."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Taxpayers' Union 2025 Rates Dashboard can be found at RatesDashboard.nz
The top ten highest cumulative rates increases over the current three-year electoral term are:
The top ten highest rates increases for 2025 are:
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal, through a Official Information Act request, that Oranga Tamariki is burning through $1.97 million a year on salaries for a 14-person communications team.
Every single one of these staff earn over $100,000.
The team includes media advisors, senior comms managers, and a organisational communications manager.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Oranga Tamariki is drowning in PR while kids fall through the cracks. Nearly $2 million on spin doctors, each on over $100k, is funding not going to social workers, caregivers, or kids in crisis.”
“This isn’t about informing the public, it’s about controlling the narrative. Taxpayers aren’t funding care, they’re funding damage control.”
“A bloated comms team paid at least 30 percent more each than the median wage would be bad enough in a company, but in a government agency meant to protect vulnerable children, it’s obscene.”
“A return to 2017 public service numbers is the only way to stop the Wellington bloat. It was good enough for John Key and Bill English, it’s time for Luxon and Willis to follow their lead.”
Good news for the Coalition as they extend their lead over the Centre-Left bloc this month, with National taking back the top spot from Labour in this month's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll.
For the first time in a Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll, New Zealand are the third most supported party, leapfrogging both the Greens and ACT.
The poll, conducted between 02 and 06 July 2025, shows National gain 0.4 points to 33.9 percent, whilst Labour drop 3.2 points to 31.6 percent.
New Zealand First gain 3.7 percent to 9.8 percent, whilst ACT remain unchanged on 9.1 percent. The Greens gain 1.2 points to 9.4 percent, while Te Pāti Māori gain 0.2 points to 3.5 percent.
Headline results and more information about the methodology can be found on the Taxpayers' Union's website at www.taxpayers.org.nz/pollnztu_20250710
For the minor parties, TOP is on 1.2 percent (-0.6 points), New Conservatives on 0.5 percent (-0.2 points), and Outdoors and Freedom is on 0.1 percent (-1.0 points).
This month's results are compared to the last Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll conducted in June 2025, available here at www.taxpayers.org.nz/2025ju_polldatanztu
The combined projected seats for the Centre-Right of 65 is up 3 seats from last month. The combined seats for the Centre-Left is down 3 seats to 57. On these numbers, the Centre-Right bloc could still form a Government.
National remains on 42 seats again this month, while Labour drops 5 seats to 39. New Zealand First gain 4 seats to 12, while the Greens gain 2 to 12. ACT drops 1 to 11, while Te Pāti Māori remain unchanged on 6 seats.
Cost of Living overtakes the Economy more generally as voters' top issue, rising 3.5 points to 21.6 percent. Economy drops 1.1 points to 19.1 percent and Health is in third place on 13.3 percent (+1.4 points).
Commenting on the results, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:
“Cost of living is voters’ single biggest concern, and housing costs – particularly council rates – are the biggest contributor to that pressure.”
“With councils slapping ratepayers with, on average, another 8.71 percent rates hike, Shane Jones’ call to scrap regional councils is clearly cutting through. National Ministers backing rates capping appears to also be shoring up a boost in the centre-right bloc.”
Rates are soaring, transparency is declining, and too many councils are distracted from their core tasks. Whether it’s funding vanity projects, hiring communications staff instead of fixing potholes, or embarking on ideological crusades, councils are too often putting their own agendas ahead of the ratepayers they are supposed to serve.
The numbers speak for themselves. Council debt has ballooned in the last decade, and last year alone, average residential rates increased by almost 15 percent across the country. And despite all their spending, public satisfaction with council performance is falling. Infrastructure is failing, planning processes are sluggish. As a result, voter turnout in local elections continues to decline.
New Zealanders deserve better.
The proposed solutions in this paper are not radical, but are intended to reduce waste and improve performance across the sector. Local government should be lean, transparent, and focused. It should deliver high-quality services at a reasonable cost and be held accountable when it doesn’t.
These reforms are a roadmap to achieving that. This is how we build better councils.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale for pushing amalgamation across the Bay of Plenty, as combining councils means less local control and higher costs, not more efficiency.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Amalgamation is always sold as a cost-saving silver bullet but the Auckland Super City resulted in the opposite. Bureaucracy grew, accountability reduced, and ratepayers now pay more for less.”
“Local control gets replaced by centralised committees, local voices get drowned out, and local residents lose the ability to hold the ease of holding their representatives accountable. It’s not reform it’s consolidation dressed up as progress.”
"Tauranga residents already face a Crown-appointed commission with no democratic control. Bigger bureaucracies don’t deliver better outcomes, they just get better at wasting money.”
"The real solution is cutting waste, a greater use of shared services and capping rates, not stripping local communities of their say."
The Taxpayers’ Union has praised Waikato Regional Council for its decision to withdraw its membership to Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) citing costs, relevance, and left-leaning politicalisation.
Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, said:“Councils have woken up to how disconnected LGNZ are from reality. Their six-figure memberships provide no value to ratepayers and, despite ongoing denial, the organisation has turned out to be little more than a mouthpiece for left-wing politics and activism.”
“Last week the Taxpayers’ Union uncovered secret plans from LGNZ to mount a campaign against rates capping - and to pay for it with ratepayer funds. Attacking locals with their own money isn’t just dirty, it’s morally bankrupt.”
"LGNZ's attacks have only sparked more urgency to Cap Rates Now, which has gained more than 28,000 signatures from Kiwis wanting to see councils reined in."
“Waikato Regional is now the eighth council to pull out of LGNZ - and rumours are swirling that more are to come. As the dominos fall, we only ask that the last council to cut its membership with LGNZ remembers to turn off the lights.”
Commenting on the Reserve Bank’s decision to hold the Official Cash Rate at 3.25 percent, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:
“Housing is the biggest driver of the cost-of-living crisis, and runaway rates bills are making it worse. Just weeks after councils pushed through hikes averaging 8.71 percent, households are at breaking point.”
“Interest rates are already dragging down economic growth, but the Reserve Bank has little choice but to keep doing damage while rising council rates continue to fuel inflation in the background.”
“This pause in the OCR should be a wake-up call. If the Government is serious about easing cost-of-living pressures it has to cap rates hikes to inflation, starting now.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling out the public service after the release of the 2025 Public Service Census, which reveals widespread dissatisfaction among government workers, despite enjoying average salaries of $101,700 - around 30 percent more than the average Kiwi.
According to the census:
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“This is what life in the Wellington bubble looks like - being vastly overpaid and still complaining taxpayers aren’t giving you enough. Ordinary New Zealanders are battling the cost of living while the public service is bloated, overpaid, and still thinks it’s hard done by.”
“Add in the fact less than half believe their colleagues earned their jobs through merit and the Public Service Census should terrify anyone who believes in a capable, cost-effective public service. With still more than 15,000 extra bureaucrats since 2017, Ministers need to dig deep into this census and root out the hangers-on who don’t deserve their bloated salaries.”
“The public service exists to serve the public, not be a plush make-work scheme. Tying bureaucrats’ wages to their performance would finally deliver some value for money, and be a much-needed wake-up call for the Wellington blob.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger’s support for the campaign to cap annual council rates increases, and labelling him a 'ratepayer hero'.
Taxpayers’ Union, Investigation Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Councils have been using ratepayers as a bottomless ATM. It’s refreshing to see a mayor finally admit that the current model is broken and something needs to change.”
“Christchurch’s rates have gone up nearly 25% over the past three years far outpacing inflation. Ratepayers aren’t getting 25% more value. They’re getting bloated budgets, pet projects, and everything else no one asked for.”
"Mayor Mauger’s suggestion of a 5% rates cap is a welcome step, but anything above inflation is still a pay cut for ratepayers."
“Councils won’t make tough choices until they’re made to. Rate Caps Now does exactly that.”
"But at a time when LGNZ is planning a sneaky campaign to use ratepayer money to lobby against and undermine Simon Watts' proposal to cap rates, it's refreshing to see that the local government sector still has true leaders who stand on the side of fiscal prudence and affordable rates. A ratepayer hero in the Garden City."
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has come out in opposition to rates capping, despite rates bills soaring 43.69 percent since 2022.
Responding to this, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:
“As if trying to rob local control through Three Waters wasn’t bad enough, now Labour are taking another stab at ratepayers by trying to force them to swallow year after year of massive rate hikes. Labour’s obsession with big government and bigger bills clearly hasn’t gone away.”
“Despite years of people doing it tough through a cost-of-living crisis, Hipkins thinks stopping councils from bleeding families dry is a bad idea. But with 28,000 people already backing the Cap Rates Now petition, ratepayers clearly disagree.”
“Rates caps mean councils getting back to doing the basics well: roads, pipes, rubbish. Wasting ratepayers’ hard-earned cash on vanity projects and spin doctors has to stop, and rates caps are the answer.”
Information revealed by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand shows staff are cashing in on generous perks, with some out of the office for nearly 100 days a year while taxpayers foot the bill.
New figures reveal 70 percent of staff work from home at least one day a week. Employees get five weeks’ annual leave, can buy three more at two percent of their salary, and receive 15 days of wellness leave.
In the last year alone, the Bank spent $535,000 on wellness perks like gym memberships, $58,000 on home office subsidies, and close to $20,000 on morning teas.
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said:
“No wonder staff numbers have blown out 2.5 times since 2018. When they’re barely in the office, racking up perks, and getting nearly 100 days off a year, who wouldn’t want to join the gravy train?”
“The numbers speak for themselves. While staff are off-site, taxpayers are footing the bill for gym memberships, morning teas, and extended holidays.”
“The Reserve Bank has a job to do, and it can’t do that whilst it’s roleplaying as a wellness retreat. It’s no great surprise RBNZ’s failures have seen the economy hit a brick wall.”
“The Government put their foot down in September last year, telling Wellington it’s time to get back to work. RBNZ need to get the memo or find new jobs.”
The Taxpayers’ Union has uncovered previously secret plans from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) to mount a full-scale public campaign against rates capping —paid for with ratepayers’ own money.
“It’s shameless stuff from LGNZ, attacking ratepayers with their own money,” said Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union.
“Documents provided to the Taxpayers' Union expose that LGNZ is seeking support from councils to fund a nationwide political campaign against rates capping, despite years of excessive rates hikes and overwhelming public support for the measure to limit rate hikes to inflation unless public local referenda are held.”
“A handful of councils have already withdrawn from their expensive memberships due to LGNZ’s politicalisation, and this should be a wakeup call to the rest."
“And just like their actions during the last Government's push for Three Waters, what we’ve found shows their true colours. It’s getting harder to shrug off accusations that LGNZ is anything more than a ratepayer-funded activist group – which LGNZ have called a ‘misconception’."
“More than 27,500 Kiwis have signed the Cap Rates Now petition, and LGNZ are clearly panicked. Kiwis want rates capped, not hijacked to fund yet-more LGNZ self-interested political campaigning."
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling for urgent reform after the Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE), a government-backed gaming grant scheme, has received millions in public funding.
Despite being started by MBIE and Dunedin City Council, CODE is structured as a limited liability company, meaning it doesn't have to comply with Official Information Act requests.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Rhys Hurley, said:
“Taxpayers have every right to ask where their money is going and whether it’s delivering real value for New Zealand.”
“When millions are being handed out to game developers, that’s money that’s not going to police, teachers, or nurses. We should be backing our frontline services, not speculative projects with little to show for it.”
“This isn’t just about waste, it’s about oversight. CODE is free to operate in the shadows, free from public transparency laws. That means no clear reporting, no independent assessment, and no way for taxpayers to hold them to account.”
“This is exactly why we need full OIA coverage for all publicly funded bodies. If taxpayer money is involved, Kiwis deserve the right to know how it’s being spent.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling for immediate legislative reform to bring all 75% taxpayer-funded organisations, including Whānau Ora commissioning agencies, under the Official Information Act (OIA), following a New Zealand Herald investigation into Pasifika Futures and potential conflicts of interest in the distribution of public funds.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“It’s completely unacceptable that taxpayer-funded bodies like Pasifika Futures can distribute millions of dollars with so little public oversight. The people writing the cheques are the same ones setting the rules and the public is locked out of the room.”
“When taxpayers’ money is handed out behind closed doors to organisations run by friends and family, the least we should expect is the right to ask: why, how, and who made the decision?”
“If you’re spending public money, you must be accountable to the public. That starts with full transparency through being subject to the Official Information Act.”
“If these agencies are confident in their processes, they should have nothing to fear from public scrutiny.”
“It is time for the Government to amend the Official Information Act to cover all organisations receiving substantial public funds and finally bring accountability to the wider public sector.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on all New Zealanders to “check their local lost and found” after the Environmental Defense Fund's taxpayer funded, $29 million dollar satellite had been deemed lost.
Taxpayers’ Union Communications Officer, Alex Emes, said:
“While it is true that the Government misplaces taxpayer money every minute, the fact that $29 million dollars of taxpayer money has just disappeared from the sky is a scary reality of the horrors New Zealand taxpayers face.
“The fact that the purpose of this project was to monitor carbon emissions is truly ironic. After this latest event, the EDF needs to ask themselves how many emissions they have created from putting a satellite in the sky only to have suddenly lost it.
“This proves it’s time for the Government to admit failure and stop funding space pet projects that are of no benefit to New Zealanders.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is today calling on the Government to privatise State‑Owned Enterprises (SOEs) following Treasury analysis revealing alarming disconnects between executive pay and corporate performance.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“Simeon Brown is right to call out underperforming SOEs, but strongly worded letters won’t fix a broken model. He needs to start selling them.”
“Landcorp’s profits have nearly halved, yet its CEO scored a $927,000 pay day. If that happened in the private sector, there’d be consequences, not $167,000 pay rise.”
“Taxpayers are funding gold-plated salaries for bottom-of-the-table results. It’s indefensible.”
“Even Treasury says partially privatised companies do better because private owners demand accountability. The answer isn’t tighter pay bands – it’s ownership reform.”
“If Minister Brown wants real results, he should stop subsidising failure and start selling these dud SOEs.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal, through an Official Information Act request, that the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has already spent $293,024 (exc. GST) investigating the grounding of the Aratere ferry.
The interim report alone cost $34,958 to prepare, including payments to external engineers, psychologists, and advisors. TAIC staff logged 534 hours just to the end of October 2024 with the final report not expected until 2026.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:
“This is turning into a fiscal shipwreck, with nearly $300,000 already gone and a rudderless aim to keep investigation costs below $450,000 before we even get a final report.”
“Rust-bucket Cook Strait ferries drifting into rocks doesn’t seem to happen in the private sector, and even if it does we’re not stuck with the tab. What will it take for the Government to admit bureaucrats shouldn’t be in charge of these boats.”
“With more and more money overboard keeping Interislander afloat, how long are kiwis expected to keep footing the bill? Minister Peters tinkering with part-privatisation isn’t enough - it’s time to sell the lot before the next disaster lands in taxpayers’ laps.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling out Tasman District Council for treating family pets like major infrastructure projects, after a local dog owner was slapped with a jaw-dropping $1,400 fee for a resource consent just to keep three dogs on his property.
“In Tasman, puppies now need planning permission,” says Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson, Tory Relf.
“Since when did the council decide dogs are a consenting activity? What’s next – building consent for a kennel? LIM reports on Labradors?”
"According to RNZ, the owner was shocked to learn that having more than two dogs on her lifestyle block required a process usually reserved for housing developments or sewage treatment plants."
“We love dogs, but this policy’s gone walkies. A council that thinks someone needs to file paperwork and fork out over a grand just to give a home to a pup needs to have its head checked, preferably by a vet.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is urging Tasman District Council to roll over on this ridiculous regulation.
The Taxpayers’ Union welcomes the Government’s openness to part-privatising the Interislander ferry service, but says it doesn’t go far enough to reduce the burden on taxpayers or help address New Zealand’s growing public debt.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“The Interislander project has become an expensive fiasco. Costs have ballooned, no ferries have been delivered, and taxpayers are left footing the bill. People are rightly asking: how much more will they be forced to pay before the Government seriously considers alternatives?”
“The whole project should be sold, to prevent another disaster like the scrapped iRex project. Private sector investment would not only inject much-needed capital but also impose commercial discipline. These are multi-billion-dollar decisions – they should be made by commercial operators who have skin in the game, not government officials.”
“With total Crown debt now exceeding $277 billion, New Zealand simply cannot afford to keep borrowing to fund every vanity project. Continuing to do so means higher interest payments, more pressure on public services, and higher taxes down the line.”
“Exploring private sector involvement is a welcome step, but it’s only a first step. To protect taxpayers and restore fiscal responsibility, the Government needs to go further, and fast.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal under Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that Invercargill City Council spent $7,334,394 on consultants and legal services in just three years.
The spending includes fees for everything from strategy consultants and cultural engagement advisers to legal firms and planning experts.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, says:
“Ratepayers are forking out over $7 million to consultants while basic council services remain under pressure. When you need a consultant to tell you how to build a playground or put up signage, something has gone very wrong.”
“This is exactly the sort of out-of-control spending that’s driving up rates and leaving residents worse off. Too often, councils hide this under the vague label of 'expert advice' but the rates bill ends up in the letterbox of every ratepayer.”
“Consultants don’t come cheap but Invercargill ratepayers shouldn’t be treated like an ATM every time council wants to outsource its thinking. The Council needs to be forced to focus on core services through rates capping now."
Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Local Government Campaigns Manager Sam Warren said:
“There’s no doubt at all we need rates cap, but clearly we can’t afford to wait for another year of double-digit rates hikes.”
“Months and years of dysfunction have come to a crescendo. It’s a crushing decision while locals continue to suffer the heavy cost of poor decisions and planning by out-of-touch councillors.”
“$2.3 million on a light-up toilet block, hundreds of millions on cycleways and the not-so-Golden Mile, and a $563,000 bike rack outside the Mayor’s office have lead to rates soaring 47 percent in just three years.”
“There’s a good reason Tory Whanau received a ‘Lifetime Achievement in Waste’ Award at the annual Taxpayers’ Union Jonesie Awards earlier this year, and at this rate she’s on for a second one.”
“Wellington City Council cannot bring itself to prioritise ratepayers. It’s time to change the law now and force their hand.”
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Clifton Community Board today to reject a proposal to spend $113,850 ($99,000 plus GST) of ratepayer money on two “Welcome to Urenui” signs placed next to existing NZTA signage. This will be decided by the board during a vote at 4pm today.
Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Coordinator, Rhys Hurley, says:
"Ratepayers shouldn’t be spending more than $100,000 on signage that duplicates what’s already there. These signs are already in front of two existing NZTA town signs, meaning you get welcomed not once, not twice, but three times."
“Public money should be going into core council services, not vanity signage and arts funding disguised as relationship building.”
"Yet this time there’s still the chance for Clifton's locally elected members to do the right thing and vote no."
"There’s still time for Cliftons locally elected members to do the right thing for ratepayers; vote no to $113,850 vanity arts projects and yes to common sense.”
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Government to urgently raise the age of superannuation eligibility in light of a newly released Treasury briefing warning of deep cuts to core services like health and education unless major spending reforms are undertaken.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:
“Kicking the can down the road is not an option. Treasury’s warning is clear – unless we make tough but fair decisions now, future generations will be stuck with worse public services, higher taxes, and an economy strangled by debt.”
"Government expenditure outside superannuation and health is already excessive. Stronger fiscal consolidation is needed immediately. Minister Willis’ target of core Crown expenditure not exceeding thirty percent of GDP not only looks unachievable under current policies, it is insufficient."
“The Taxpayers’ Union is urging the Government to begin incrementally lifting the eligibility age to 67 over the coming decade, in line with moves already adopted by comparable nations such as Australia, the UK, and the USA.”
“Raising the super age is one of the most obvious and responsible steps we can take. We are living longer, healthier lives, yet we continue to pay billions more each year in superannuation without any adjustment. It’s unaffordable.”
“It’s time for political courage and long-term thinking. The sooner we act, the fairer and smoother the transition will be. Pretending there isn’t a problem only makes the eventual fix more painful.”
The Taxpayers’ Union has acknowledge the passing of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp and offer condolences to those close to her.
Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, said:
“We extend our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp. Her passing is a huge loss to all those who knew and worked alongside her.”
"Ms Kemp's family will be in our thoughts."
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