Taxpayers' Union Board:
Jordan Williams – Executive Director & Co-founder
- Email: [email protected]
- Twitter: Follow @JordNZ
- DDI: (04) 282 0301
- Bio: Our Executive Director is Jordan Williams. Jordan is a constitutional and commercial lawyer who manages the day-to-day operations of the Union. His background is in law and accounting and in 2011 he was spokesperson for Vote for Change, a lobby group that campaigned against the retention of the MMP electoral system. In 2019 Jordan was elected onto the Board of World Taxpayers Associations – the global network of taxpayers groups working together for lower taxes, limited and accountable government, and taxpayer rights all over the world.
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"There are thousands of groups, often taxpayer funded, that argue for more money to be taken from Kiwis to fund pet projects. The Taxpayers' Union balances the debate. We argue that value for money is more sensible than tax, spend, and hope policies dreamed up by politicians."
Laurence Kubiak – Chair
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: Laurence has an extensive background in business and governance. He is a former CEO of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, former Chair of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Trustees Executors Ltd, and Director of Northpower.
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"Government spending needs to create value for the New Zealand taxpayer, and robust, independent scrutiny is of vital importance in any healthy democracy. The work of the Union will never be more important than in the years ahead."
Hon. Ruth Richardson – Board member
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: Ruth was Minister of Finance in the fourth National Government, has been Chairman and Director of a range of private and public companies as well as the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, and coaches sovereign states seeking to transform their prospects.
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"Governments make spending and regulatory choices, but not in an accountability vacuum. The Taxpayers’ Union gives well researched and often noisy voice on behalf of we who pay and suffer the consequences of ill-designed public policy. As a lifetime activist in these causes being a Director of the Taxpayers’ Union sits well with my DNA."
Chris Milne – Board member
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: Chris is a councillor at Hutt City Council, a trustee and former chair of the Nikau Foundation (Wellington's community foundation), a trustee of the Nga Manu Nature Reserve, and a part owner and director of the boutique small goods manufacturer Martinez Ltd. He is a former ACT Party Parliamentary Chief of Staff.
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"The Taxpayers' Union's focus on waste, efficiency and transparency occupies an important public niche and the organisation offers a constant reminder to both local and central government that they cannot spend money that they have not first taxed from productive workers and businesses, so the quality of their spending really matters for a prosperous New Zealand.”
Hon. John Boscawen – Board member
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: John is a businessman and former ACT MP and Minister of Consumer Affairs and Associate Minister of Commerce in the John Key Government.
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“The Taxpayers’ Union does extremely valuable work in exposing government waste and excesses and standing up for the ordinary, hard-working New Zealander who is forced to pay far too much to the Government. I am very much looking forward to playing my part in helping the organization continue to go from strength to strength.”
Taxpayers' Union Adviser:
Jim Rose – Research Fellow
- Twitter: Follow @Jim Rose
- Blog: www.utopiayouarestandinginit.com
- Bio: Jim Rose has worked at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Social Development, and the New Zealand Treasury, and in Canberra for the Productivity Commission, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Department of Finance. Jim has Masters degrees in economics and in public policy from the Australian National University and from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo respectively.
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"A lot of money would be saved by taxpayers if bureaucrats always had to put forward "Lilley’s option" – the option of doing nothing – whenever there is a problem or a crisis."
Taxpayers' Union Staff:
Callum Purves – Chief Operating Officer and Head of Campaigns
- Email: [email protected]
- DDI: (04) 495 7913
- Bio: Callum manages the day-to-day operations of the Taxpayers' Union including our campaigns, communications, research and grassroots engagement. He has a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of St. Andrews and previously worked as a Regional Campaign Manager and Head of Field Operations for the Conservative and Unionist Party in Scotland and Northern Ireland. He also served for five years as a councillor on Perth and Kinross Council in Scotland and in research and advisory roles in the Scottish Parliament.
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“Politicians and unelected officials are far too quick to spend your money. They often seem to live in a bubble detached from the everyday lives of the people that they are meant to represent and serve. At the Taxpayers’ Union, we shine a light on government waste, champion lower taxes and fight for greater transparency and accountability in the democratic process.”
Michelle van der Veer– Funding and External Relationships Manager
- Email: [email protected]
- DDI: 027 226 0868
- Bio: Michelle is our Funding and External Relationships Manager. She has spent over 20 years in the manufacturing, import and distribution space including as a Director of her own company for 14 years and in general management of the family business. More recently Michelle has worked for a national residential group builder gaining insight into construction process, subdivision and multi-unit development. Having formerly worked for the New Zealand Opera company, Michelle brings a broad range of business development and professional experience to our organisation.
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“My firmly held view is that a Governments role is to provide accessible operational infrastructure, such that any aspirational New Zealander, regardless of their circumstance, can better their position if they so choose. Given the hard work and sacrifice of those that have gone before in order to provide us these freedoms, it is critical we hold Government to account to ensure we preserve our democracy so future generations can benefit from the same.
Sara Leckie – Office Manager & Development Officer
- Email: [email protected]
- DDI: 04 495 7914
- Bio: Sara is our full-time Office Manager & Development Officer. She has extensive experience in all the corporate services fields. Sara deals with all our office administration and assists the Board with donor engagement and fundraising.
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“I have worked in both the government and private sector – working at the Taxpayers’ Union has been a very different experience and one I am really enjoying. It is a great team environment with enthusiastic, committed individuals working hard to further the mission of the Taxpayers’ Union.”
Ray Deacon – Economist
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: After a career in public and private sectors, including seven years as New Zealand's Regulatory Affairs Manager at Rio Tinto, Ray was looking for a role that combined his enjoyment for advocacy and analysis. The Union fitted the bill perfectly. Ray has undergraduate degrees in science and economics, a diploma in business and a master's degree in economics.
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“If a government justifies an investment as strategic – it's a safe bet it's not economic.”
Connor Molloy – Deputy National Campaigns Manager
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: Connor is our Deputy National Campaigns Manager. He is currently in his final year at Victoria University studying a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Public Policy. He researches issues of tax, government waste and accountability.
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“I find it frustrating when successive governments tell voters that somehow we will be better off if we have less money in our pockets. No one is as careful with someone else’s money as they are with their own and government wastage is a perfect example of this. I’m here to advocate for value for money on all government spending and a greater level of accountability for taxpayers.”
Oliver Bryan – Investigations Co-ordinator
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: Oliver is our Investigations Coordinator, leading our 'bread and butter' work of finding examples of outrageous spending and waste. With his experience working in the European Parliament, as a campaign manager for a British Cabinet Minister, and most recently as a political advisor for a Conservative Party (UK) politician, Oliver is the perfect gamekeeper turned poacher.
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"Democracy thrives when accountability reigns and government waste is curtailed. With a firsthand understanding of the inner workings of government and the alarming misuse of public funds, joining the Taxpayers' Union was a natural and necessary progression for me. I could hardly turn down the opportunity to join one of the best taxpayer advocacy groups in the world. It provides a platform to expose excessive spending and wasteful practices, strengthen accountability and ensure politicians remain on their toes. Plus, it's quite good fun."
James Ross – Policy Adviser
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: James is our full-time policy adviser, having joined us from the UK’s Conservative Party. He brings a wealth of political experience to the role from his time managing political campaigns for Cabinet Ministers, MPs, and Council Groups, as well as prior research experience from an MScEcon in Public Policy from Cardiff University.
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- “I’ve always believed that people know how to live their own lives and spend their own money far better than faceless government committees do. Having spent my career so far fighting for government transparency and value-for-money, I’ve yet to find a stronger champion than the Taxpayers’ Union.”
Alex Murphy – Research Intern
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: Alex is one of our part-time research interns. He is in his third year at Victoria University where he currently studies a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Economics and Political Science.
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“Since working at the TU, I’ve been blown away by the lack of respect government departments have for taxpayers’ money. I aim to promote responsible spending as well as greater transparency and accountability within all government entities where the needs of the taxpayer are always valued and prioritized.”
Dan Merry – Research Intern
- Email: [email protected]
- Bio: Dan is one of our student research interns. He is currently undertaking a BA in Philosophy, Politics and International Relations. His roles include following up on the tip-line, social media, and policy research.
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"I'm super passionate about politics and civic engagement. Working at the Taxpayers' Union provides me with a place to apply the skills I'm passionate about, and an equally passionate team of people with whom to discuss things. With my research, I'm able to better understand the finer points of government policy and spending and use that insight to help ensure our leaders are accountable."
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