Posted in NEWS by NZTU Media | June 5, 2025
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act response that the Environmental Defence Society (EDS) received $157,000 from the Department of Conservation in the 2023/24 financial year to produce two reports at $560.71 per page.This follows earlier revelations that payment to the EDS had...
Read more about REVEALED: DOC’s $157,000 Payout to EDS Eco-LobbyistsPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | 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...
Read more about REVEALED: Lights, Camera, Waste: Rotorua’s $94k Mayoral AdPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | 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...
Read more about EXPOSED: Council mixes feedback from children and adultsPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | April 22, 2025
On the news Health NZ paid for outgoing Chief Executive Margie Apa to attend a governance course — after she’d already resigned.Taxpayers’ Union Investigations Co-ordinator, Rhys Hurley, said:“Margie Apa was already one of the highest-paid public servants in the country — pocketing $895,000 this year, nearly $400,000...
Read more about Health CEO Paid More Than the PM — Then Got a Golden HandshakePosted 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 propertiesPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | December 20, 2023
The release of today’s Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update confirms the worst kept secret in Wellington; the fiscal challenges ahead are much worse than the public were told about prior to the election. From the Treasury lock-up, Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union,...
Read more about Not since Mike Moore have New Zealanders been lied to like this – Grant Robertson should apologisePosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | December 20, 2023
Waitaki District Council has approved the $32 million Network Waitaki Events Centre in Oamaru, despite lacking a sound funding plan.The Council has pledged $15 million to the project, which when combined with the input of some outsider funding, still leaves a $2.7 million shortfall...
Read more about Waitaki Ratepayers Left Holding the Bag for Oamaru Vanity ProjectPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | December 20, 2023
Figures released show that there are currently 60,000 people who have been waiting for more than four months to be seen for a first appointment with a health specialist. This is up from 36,000 from just last year.Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ Union Policy Adviser,...
Read more about Hiring Mandarins Not Medics Sees Te Whatu Ora Failing Most Vulnerable KiwisPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | December 15, 2023
Waipā District Council has set the hands of fiscal irresponsibility spinning with the historic town clock refurbishment in Cambridge. Originally budgeted at a modest $450,000, this project has wound up to an astounding $721,000.Investigations Coordinator at the Taxpayers’ Union, Oliver Bryan, said, “The Council...
Read more about Waipā Council 'Clock-Up': A Huge Budget BlowoutPosted in NEWS by NZTU Media | December 15, 2023
The Taxpayers’ Union expresses deep concern over revelations that Department of Conservation (DoC) spent $5,159 on retirement gifts for its former director-general, Lou Sanson.Oliver Bryan, Investigations Coordinator at the Taxpayers’ Union, said, “Whatever happened to the usual whip-round of the staff? The cost of...
Read more about DoC's Grand Goodbye For Outgoing Boss: A Whale of a Farewell Gift Spree!