Taxpayers’ Union Slams Waikato Regional Chair For Silencing LGNZ Critics

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Waikato Regional Council after being blocked from speaking at Thursday's meeting on whether the council should resign from Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ).

Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, Rhys Hurley, said:

“Waikato Regional councillors are preparing to vote on whether to keep funding LGNZ, yet they’ve refused to hear from ratepayer advocates calling for withdrawal. That’s not democracy, that’s ducking scrutiny.”

“The Rates Control Team were elected on a manifesto policy promises to leave the group - which has conveniently been scrubbed from their website. Ratepayers shouldn’t be forced to fund a lobby group that's often pushes for more spending and wanted to campaign against the proposed rates cap.”

“It’s deeply concerning that some councillors now appear more worried about protecting their own positions than delivering on commitments to reduce waste. That’s not what voters signed up for and LGNZ is not going to save these members from the upcoming local government reorganisation.”

“If councillors are confident in their decision to stay in LGNZ, they should be willing to front up and hear opposing views. Shutting down debate only strengthens the case that this membership doesn’t stack up.”

“We urge councillors to vote in the interests of ratepayers and fulfil their promise to pull out of LGNZ.”