Posted in NEWS by NZTU Media | October 14, 2026
The Green Party’s proposal to give councils the power to impose a bed levy is a nasty and unnecessary new tax on New Zealanders’ holidays, says Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Jordan Williams.“New Zealanders are already being mugged by their council rates. Local authority rates and...
Read more about Green’s ‘holiday tax’ nasty and unnecessaryPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | September 29, 2026
The Taxpayers’ Union says Auckland Council’s decision to move away from postal voting strengthens the case for putting local elections in the hands of the Electoral Commission.Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Rhys Hurley, said:“After the voting ‘irregularities’ in Papatoetoe, Auckland Council was right that the current postal...
Read more about Time to Put Local Elections Under the Electoral CommissionPosted in NEWS by Tory Relf | September 21, 2026
Jordan Williams sits down with Simon Watts, Minister of Local Government, for a frank conversation on the Government’s local government reforms. From scrapping Three Waters and introducing rates caps to co-governance in water entities, councillor access to information, unelected committee members, and council...
Read more about Taxpayer Talk: “You’re not special!” - Simon Watts on the local government reforms failing ratepayersPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | September 17, 2026
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the Government for passing the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill, saying it fails to fix the problems it was meant to address.Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:“Either the Government has been run over by officials who opposed fixing...
Read more about Watts’ Bill fails to fix local governmentPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | September 15, 2026
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the Government’s move to strip unelected Independent Māori Statutory Board members of voting powers, but says its latest Amendment Paper will kill off councillors’ ability to govern effectively.Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:“Council voting rights should belong to people...
Read more about Watts makes bad Local Government Bill worsePosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | September 10, 2026
The Taxpayers’ Union says Wellington ratepayers deserve their money back after Deloittecharged $435,000 for a report containing major errors.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tyler Groenewald said:“Charging $435,000 for a report, getting the numbers wrong, then refusing to commit to a refund is quite the business model.“Deloitte...
Read more about Deloitte recycled our homework - ratepayers must get a refundPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | September 3, 2026
The Taxpayers’ Union is questioning Horowhenua District Council’s decision to give iwi and hapū first right of refusal over six council-owned Oxford Street properties.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tyler Groenewald said:“These properties were bought using $2 million of taxpayer-funded Better Off grants. When they are sold, the council’s...
Read more about Ratepayers deserve maximum value from $2m property purchasePosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | August 26, 2026
The Taxpayers’ Union is calling out Local Government New Zealand for misleading ratepayers about how much they stand to save under a rates cap.Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Jordan Williams said:“LGNZ claims the average household would save just $34 a year under a four-percent rates cap....
Read more about LGNZ caught using dodgy maths to downplay rates cap savingsPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | August 25, 2026
Responding to today’s announcement of rates cap legislation, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said the next step is stopping council waste at the source.“Capping rates is a major victory for ratepayers nationwide, who cannot afford another term of 34 percent rates hikes. But limiting...
Read more about Next step is getting councils back to basicsPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | August 25, 2026
The Taxpayers’ Union is celebrating a major policy victory after the Government announced council rates increases will be capped from 1 July 2029.Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:“This is a huge win for ratepayers. More than 31,000 New Zealanders backed our Cap Rates Now campaign, and...
Read more about Government’s rates cap a campaign win for ratepayers