Posted in NEWS by NZTU Media | January 22, 2025
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that Landcare Research gave $4,027,020 on the Oranga (Wellbeing) Project - including treating Kauri dieback with potions made from Whale-oil and music from whale song (yes, seriously) as part of the MBIE-administered National Science Challenges.Research methods...
Read more about REVEALED: $4 million to subsidise whale-oil is outrageousPosted in NEWS by Connor Molloy | February 29, 2024
Reacting to news that Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) still has almost all of it’s staff on the payroll as a zombie bureaucracy, despite the project being killed months ago, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “It is no wonder that LGWM has...
Read more about Taxpayers’ Union slams Let’s Get Wellington Moving Zombie BureaucracyPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | February 8, 2024
Responding to Hamilton City Council's proposed increase of 25.5% for the 2024/25 financial year, and subsequent 14.1% rate hikes for the following four years, Taxpayers’ Union Head of Campaigns, Callum Purves, said:“While Hamilton City Council might be trying hard to sell the idea that...
Read more about Hamilton City Council’s Never-Ending Rate Hikes are UnjustifiablePosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | February 8, 2024
Wellington City councillors have been given advice recommending they alter the district plan to prevent housing intensification across huge swathes of the city.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said:“Wellington is deep in a housing crisis, and whether you’re...
Read more about Red Tape Won’t Keep Rooves over Wellingtonians’ HeadsPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | February 1, 2024
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Selwyn District Council for proposing a 16% rate hike in the first stage of a cumulative 45.89% rates hike over three years.“Yet again we are seeing a council completely fail to be prudent with its spending proposals, and is...
Read more about Double-Digit Rate Hikes Across Councils Cannot Become the NormPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | February 1, 2024
Commenting on the news that Nicola Willis’ office failed to respond to a joint letter from accomodation providers requesting an urgent meeting over plans to introduce an App Tax from April this year, Taxpayers’ Union Policy Adviser, James Ross, said:“A bit of backbone from the National...
Read more about National Party U-Turn Robbing Kiwis of a Summer HolidayPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | January 26, 2024
Reacting to the Government’s announcement that they are withdrawing a bill from the previous Government that would have lowered the voting age for local body elections to 16, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“Changes to the rules of the game in any democracy...
Read more about Taxpayers’ Union Welcomes Withdrawal of Voting Age BillPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | January 26, 2024
The Taxpayers’ Union is throwing its weight behind calls for the powers of Tauranga’s unelected Commissioners to be curtailed in the run-up to the return of democracy to the city, and urges Local Government Minister Simeon Brown to step in.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union...
Read more about Return to Democracy in Tauranga Cannot be Put in DangerPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | January 25, 2024
Commenting on Christchurch City Council’s plans to bid to host the Commonwealth Games, Taxpayers’ Union Policy Adviser, James Ross, said: “Mayor Phil Mauger wants to show the world that Christchurch is back on its feet. But he’d be better off proving this to Christchurch...
Read more about Mayor Mauger’s Christchurch Commonwealth Games Plan a Swing and a MisPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | January 18, 2024
The Taxpayers’ Union is astounded at the failure of Kāinga Ora to deliver for Kiwis with reports of more than 1000 empty new homes sitting empty for four months last year.Commenting on Kainga Ora’s vacant properties, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said:“At a time when tens of...
Read more about Kāinga Ora failings on display once again with thousands of vacant properties