Pages tagged “Local Government”

  1. Taxpayer Update: Top 10 ways to fix local govt 🔨 | Shock political poll 😮 | Whangārei's $1.6 million patio

    Posted in NEWS by July 10, 2025

    Hi, Bumper newsletter today. It's poll time (and this month's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll is more dramatic than usual...). And the local government file is running red hot. Today's we're publishing our latest local government briefing paper: Building Better Councils. Let's get into it. 💥 Building Better Councils: Ten...

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  2. Building Better Councils

    Posted in PAPERS & BRIEFINGS by July 10, 2025

    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...

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  4. REVEALED: Tauranga Ratepayers Billed Nearly $70,000 for Bus Stop Artwork

    Posted in NEWS by June 25, 2025

    The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that Tauranga City Council has spent a total of $67,739 on decorative artwork for a single bus stop with $50,000 or 73.8 percent of the cost on design alone.Taxpayers’...

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  5. Taxpayers’ Union Backs ACT on Ditching Council Climate Theatratrics

    Posted in NEWS by June 13, 2025

    The Taxpayers’ Union has welcomed ACT’s announcement that its local candidates will oppose council-level emissions policies, calling it a needed step to rein in wasteful spending and refocus councils on core services. Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:“Under the Emissions Trading Scheme, emissions are already...

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  6. REVEALED: Lights, Camera, Waste: Rotorua’s $94k Mayoral Ad

    Posted in NEWS by June 4, 2025

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through a Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act request that Rotorua Lakes Council—via its Council Controlled Organisation, RotoruaNZ—forked out $93,985 on a television campaign featuring Mayor Tania Tapsell.The ‘Robe Trip’ campaign, targeting luxury-seeking Auckland couples, cost $42,784 to produce and...

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  7. Council mega-merger for Wellington still on the cards, play your hand carefully

    Posted in NEWS by June 3, 2025

    A mega-merger between Wellington councils is being considered for a non-binding referendum that would combine the services and functions for the five authorities.“Remember that big council doesn’t mean good council. What we got in Auckland was a cautionary tale; more bureaucracy and empire-building.” said...

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  8. EXPOSED: Council mixes feedback from children and adults

    Posted in NEWS by June 3, 2025

    The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act that submissions collected from schoolchildren were given to Selwyn District Councillors to guide their decisions, as part of Waikirikiri Ki Tua, the Future Selwyn Survey.Officials have acknowledged that some responses...

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  9. “9.9 percent rates increase is not a victory” Taxpayers’ Union slams Tauranga rates shambles

    Posted in NEWS by June 3, 2025

    Tauranga City Council has confirmed a 9.9 percent rates increase. Council has cited savings found that has led to a lower rise than the 12 percent proposed, and the 20 percent originally projected.“9.9 percent is not a victory—and councillors should not be patting themselves...

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  10. Whanganui Leads the Way: Taxpayers’ Union Applauds Country’s Lowest Rates Rise

    Posted in NEWS by May 30, 2025

    The Taxpayers’ Union is congratulating Whanganui District Council for delivering what may be the lowest rates increase in the country — just 2.2 percent for 2025/26 — at a time when most councils are hitting ratepayers with double-digit hikes. “This is what responsible local government...

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