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  2. Waste Watch: Transpower spend $1.2million on a cafe and reception

    What's the difference between a 'cafe-style space' and a cafe?Not a lot, but according to the government-owned monopoly Transpower, a $1.2million 'cafe-style space' is value for money unlike asking staff to visit the dozen cafes within a few hundred metres of its Wellington office building.In 2012, the taxpayer owned...

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  3. Friday the last day to get entries in for Auckland rates competition

    Entries close tomorrow for our competition for the householder who can provide evidence of the highest percentage increase in Auckland Council rates and user-charges.  The prize is a lawnmower - just perfect for mowing those berms.At the same time the Auckland Council is reducing services, a quick flick through the...

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  4. Update: Auckland Council finally responds to allegations of lying about Mayoral trip to China

    Well it's taken a few weeks, but Auckland Council has finally responded to the Taxpayers' Union 'please explain' letter regarding a reported instruction by the Mayor's Chief of Staff, Phil Wilson, to refer all enquires about a secret January 2013 Mayoral trip to China to his office, and appears to be a...

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  5. Taxpayers' Union on MP's pay rise

    AUDIO: Politicians "don't deserve" payrise RadioLIVE - 22/11/2013Politicians' pay rises and more on way DominionPost - 22/11/2013Jordan Williams, executive director of the Taxpayers' Union, said MPs were getting a "Christmas bonus" at a time when the Government was borrowing millions of dollars a day to cover its spending.He said Errington's...

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  7. Living Wage - higher costs, less diversity, job losses?

    We've been looking into the claims by Auckland Council politicians relating to promises of a 'living wage' for Auckland Council employees.An Auckland Council internal report obtained by the Taxpayers’ Union raises questions about the potential for job losses and casts the $3.75m price-tag for the policy into doubt. The Council’s report...

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  8. Len Brown's Hong Kong trip confirmed

    Len Brown's Hong Kong trip confirmed New Zealand Herald - 12/11/2013The Taxpayers' Union was also upset about the release of details about Mr Brown's trip to Hong Kong.Union executive director Jordan Williams said it appeared from LGOIMA requests to the council on the matter that council officers "deliberately misled''...

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  10. Secret parliamentary mortgage payments an entitlement too far

    The Taxpayers’ Union has today welcomed the New Zealand Herald’s investigation revealing six MPs claiming $78,000 per year in taxpayer-funded subsidies for their investment properties.The Taxpayers' Union believes that taxpayers are entitled to know what personal benefits and remuneration MPs receive.The Herald reports that Simon Bridges was ‘given clear advice’ from Dame Margaret Bazley to...

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  12. Taxpayers' Union offers prize to Aucklander with largest percentage rates increase

    The Taxpayers’ Union this afternoon announced that it is offering a lawn mower to the householder who can provide evidence of the highest Auckland Council percentage increase in rates and user-charges.We understand that some Auckland residents have suffered cumulative rate increases of over 30 per cent in the last few...

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  13. Nearly $3m for NZTA to treat drivers like children

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that the New Zealand Transport Authority's 'Drive Social' campaign cost taxpayers $1,492,395 on advertising, $985,019 on communications and advertising consultancy fees and $301,872 in other related costs.  This website alone cost $186,142.The 'Drive Social' campaign was organised by NZTA to educate road-users that they “share...

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  14. The Nation on the Taxpayers' Union

    Union not a party in the making The Nation - 2/11/2013Union not a party in the making The National Business Review - 2/11/2013The country’s newest union will never become a political party, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union co-founder.Jordan Williams, who co-founded the union with Kiwiblog’s David Farrar, said it...

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  15. Council website 'astronomical' cost

    The Marlborough Express covers the figures on website spending released by the Taxpayers' Unionshowing that Marlborough District Council spend three times as much as Nelson / Tasman / West Coast combined.Council website 'astronomical' cost 'Marlborough Express - 31/10/2013Council website 'astronomical' costThe Marlborough District Council has spent more than $400,000 on website redevelopment over the past...

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  18. Taxpayers’ Union welcomes Labour Party pledge

    The Taxpayers’ Union has welcomed Labour MP Jacinda Ardern’s announcement that if elected, Labour will scrap the Families Commission quango.Government funding for an organisation churning out reports such as ‘Eating Together at Mealtimes’, is better spent on the frontline. We support Labour’s stance.The Families Commission was only ever a result...

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  20. Taxi chits probably cheaper than visiting Marlborough Council website

    Since July 2011, the Marlborough District Council has paid $410,550 for website design maintenance and development costs.  In comparison Dunedin City Council spent only $35,520 over the same time period.“The only council that spent more on web design than Marlborough was Auckland Council” says Jordan Williams, Executive Director...

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  22. No to corporate welfare

    Over the coming months we'll be exposing corporate and union welfare we think is wasteful or unfair on Kiwi taxpayers.  If you have an example you think our researchers or members should look into, please let us know via our online tip line. 

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