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 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."

The Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Government to scrap its $170 million EV charger programme, after revelations that no chargers have been installed and the expected environmental benefits are minuscule.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf, said:

“The Government has allocated $170 million for EV chargers and has absolutely nothing to show for it. A year on, not a single charger has been installed. This is a masterclass in waste.”

“Even if it were delivered tomorrow the emissions savings don't even meet the Government’s own threshold for significance, not to mention that under the Emissions Trading Scheme this programme won’t reduce New Zealand’s net emissions by even a gram.”

“There is a fundamental misunderstanding of the ETS by the government. Because of the ETS, any reduction in transport emissions here simply frees up carbon credits for other emitters to emit more. So even if the scheme removed transport emissions entirely, it would still be a waste of money as net emissions would be identical.”

“In other words, the EV chargers are an expensive token gesture. Kiwis can’t afford to throw good money after bad, especially in a cost-of-living crisis.”

“When money is tight, every dollar needs to go towards things that actually make a difference. This programme clearly doesn’t.”

“The Government should cut its losses and scrap the EV charger scheme immediately.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is urging the Government to fast-track legislation to cap council rate hikes, following new figures from Stats NZ showing runaway local government spendingand the risk of even higher rates next year if action isn’t taken now.

Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager, said:

“Council spending is out of control and ratepayers are picking up the bill. This new data shows exactly why we need a rates cap now, not later.”

"Total council spending rose 7.6 percent to $18.41 billion compared to March 2024, yet employee costs have jumped 9.9 percent and interest payments soared 16.3 percent. It’s clear councils aren’t exercising financial discipline."

“More than 25,000 Kiwis have backed our petition to cap rates to inflation. The public gets it – and the Government is starting to as well.”

“The PM backed a rates cap on Newstalk ZB this morning, but the current timeline delays legislation until at least 2026, meaning councils can raise rates unchecked for another full year."

"Let's remember, the previous Local Government Minister, Simeon Brown, resolved to pass rates capping into legislation this year."

“Any later is too late. Councils are locking in bloated budgets right now. If we wait, ratepayers will keep getting hammered and blame will lie at the feet of councils and the Government.”

"The Government must act to Cap Rates Now and stop the spiral.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the Prime Minister’s intervention to rule out the Inland Revenue Department’s proposal to apply Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) to all utes worth $80,000 or more and other work vehicles — a plan directed by Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.

In response to media comment issued by the Prime Minister's Office last night, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“Simon Watts was pushing a new Ute Tax, without his Cabinet colleagues or the public even knowing. Had it gone ahead, farmers and tradies would have been slammed with thousands of dollars in additional tax each year – not just once like Labour’s Ute Tax, but every year.”

“The documents are crystal clear. IRD was instructed by Minister Watts to proceed with and consult with the tax industry on the implementation of a new FBT regime that would capture work vehicles, regardless of how they’re actually used. This was a massive tax hike by stealth.”

"As far as we can tell, the Revenue Minister didn't consult with any taxpayer, business, or farming groups, despite work having been done on this for nearly a year. Had he bothered to engage, the unfairness and political risk would have been obvious. That lapse saw the Government facing backlash because it was tax boffins who blew the whistle and it took everyone by surprise. Minister Watts should learn the lesson."

“Within hours of our campaign launch yesterday, the National Party was in damage control. Within six hours, the PM’s team overruled Watts and confirmed the policy would not proceed.”

The Taxpayers’ Union yesterday revealed documents showing that IRD had been working on changes to remove the logbook exemption for work vehicles and impose FBT on the assumed private use of double cab utes. According to IRD’s own estimates, the tax grab would have cost farmers, tradies and other ute owners $100 million per year.

“We give credit to the Prime Minister and his office for stepping in quickly and pulling the handbreak.” says Mr Williams.

“This is a clear win for taxpayers and proof that grassroots pressure works. We thank the thousands of Kiwis who used our online tool to email National MPs and demand the Ute Tax 2.0 be scrapped."

ENDS

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the National Party's leadership to rule out Simon Watts' proposed changes to the Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) regime that amount to a new, harsher version of Labour’s infamous “Ute Tax”.

Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “National campaigned against Labour’s Ute Tax. More than 38,000 ute owners signed our petition to scrap it. Now, astonishingly, the National Party’s own Climate Change Minister has been caught out instructing IRD officials to bring in a ute tax of his own — and it’s even worse than Labour's.”

According to Inland Revenue Ministerial briefing documents obtained by the Taxpayers' Union, Minister Simon Watts has instructed officials to develop new FBT rules that would result in ute-owning farmers and tradies being taxed annually — not just once, as under Labour’s version.

“Labour’s Ute Tax maxed out at a one-off $5,175 when buying a new ute. Simon Watts’ proposal would see some work vehicle owners stung with more than $8,000 in tax every single year,” says Williams.

“Under current rules, if a ute is used almost entirely for work, a logbook can be kept to ensure FBT doesn’t apply. But Minister Watts wants to abolish that option and instead slap a flat tax on every work vehicle worth $80,000 or more — even if it barely leaves the farm.”

Williams continued, “Let’s be clear: this is not about fairness or simplification. This is a calculated, $100 million-a-year tax grab that targets the very people who keep our economy running — farmers, tradies, and rural New Zealanders. It’s Labour’s Ute Tax, but this time it’s blue.”

“National MPs were just at Fieldays bragging about scrapping Labour’s Ute Tax. Either they’re being sneaky or they have no idea what their own Minister is doing behind the scenes. If this change proceeds, we will not be pulling punches in calling out the betrayal.”

“The National Party must rule out this outrageous tax on work vehicles. New Zealanders didn’t vote for this. It's essential the National Party leadership overrules the Climate Change Minister.”

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming Local Government Minister Simon Watts’ commitment to rates capping made last night in Wellington but is urging him to expedite the policy. The Union warns that continued delays will undermine public confidence and emboldening opponents of reform such as Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).

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

“More than 25,000 New Zealanders have already signed the Taxpayers’ Union’s Cap Rates Now petition. It’s time for Watts to listen – now, not later.”

“Only opening for consultation at the end of this year is simply not good enough. Polling shows that Kiwis are losing trust in National to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and with this slow response, we can see why. A primary driver of the cost of living is out of control rates, which have increased on average by more than a third since 2022.”

“The timeframe announced by Watts also means that voters are going into the local elections in October blind to what rates could or could not be, undermining local democracy. LGNZ know this, which is why they have been throwing sand in the gears to try and delay the policy.”

“Minister Watts is complicating what should be a straightforward fix. The policy work can and should be done within months, not dragged out to suit the bureaucrats and lobby groups like LGNZ who benefit from the status quo.”