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New Zealand Taxpayers' Union - Latest News [Page 1]
Spending $7 Million On New Ministerial Offices Completely Out Of Touch
Wednesday, 28 August 2024, 4:43 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
When even senior Ministers who would be using the offices are criticising the spending, it’s clear that the government needs to take a moment of reflection on their priorities. More >>
Labour’s Envy Tax Would Ruin New Zealand's Economic Prosperity
Wednesday, 28 August 2024, 4:37 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the Labour Party following reports that the party is actively considering adopting a capital gains tax or wealth tax policy. Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Envy taxes like these ... More >>
Government Must Work Quickly To Protect Freedom To Contract Following Uber Ruling
Monday, 26 August 2024, 5:28 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Responding to the Court of Appeal ruling that four Uber drivers are employees rather than contractors, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Forcing strict and inflexible employment conditions onto the gig economy ... More >>
Councillors Split On Local Government Announcements
Monday, 26 August 2024, 2:52 pm | Taxpayers' Union
The survey asked elected officials whether they supported or opposed each of the four main policy announcements from the Prime Minister at last week’s LGNZ conference. More >>
New Wellington Road Tax The Straw That Will Break The Camel’s Back
Monday, 26 August 2024, 10:11 am | Taxpayers' Union
Congestion charges can be a useful tool to manage demand, but that’s not what this is. There’d be no need to manage demand if the Council weren’t spending millions ripping up roads and car parks to replace them with cycleways. More >>
Taxpayers’ Union Launches Council CEO Rich List
Friday, 23 August 2024, 8:13 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The Taxpayers’ Union has today launched its Council Chief Executive Rich List – ranking CEOs 2023 pay packets from highest to lowest. Ratepayers have a right to know how much they’re forking out to keep the top brass living in luxury, and ... More >>
Taxpayers’ Union Welcomes Rejection Of Further Space Industry Corporate Welfare
Friday, 23 August 2024, 12:35 pm | Taxpayers' Union
If the Government wants to support the space industry, they should focus on cutting the red tape that makes it so challenging to launch a rocket into space in the first place, and encouraging councils to do the same. More >>
Government Needs To Take Its Own Advice After Funding $1.5 Million Dance Competition
Thursday, 22 August 2024, 1:45 pm | Taxpayers' Union
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming the Government for teaming up with Auckland Council to spend $1.5 million ($750,000 each) on funding a dancing competition less than 24 hours after hounding the local government sector for wasting money on nice-to-haves ... More >>
Has Luxon Just Delivered The Best Speech On Local Government In A Generation?
Wednesday, 21 August 2024, 7:34 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The Prime Minister’s speech at the Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) conference this afternoon is arguably ‘the best speech on local government in a generation’ says the Taxpayers’ Union. Speaking from the conference, Taxpayers’ Union Executive ... More >>
Taxpayers’ Union Launches Campaign To Cap Rates Hikes
Wednesday, 21 August 2024, 10:41 am | Taxpayers' Union
The Taxpayer’s Union last night launched a campaign calling for a cap on annual rates hikes. This would limit annual rates increases to 3% annually, unless councils seek approval from residents for a larger increase through a referendum. More >>
Seymour Needs To Lead The Charge On Public Sector Waste
Wednesday, 21 August 2024, 10:04 am | Taxpayers' Union
“The Ministry of Regulation is Seymour’s credibility test, and we’re still a long way off slinging out the 18,000 extra bureaucrats hired since 2017. Seymour needs to lead by example, and has now set himself a tough task to demonstrate value ... More >>
Kiwibank Must Be Sold
Tuesday, 20 August 2024, 1:34 pm | Taxpayers' Union
The way to make Kiwibank a ‘maverick’ that has the drive to make the banking sector more competitive is to sell it to private shareholders, says Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager. More >>
Pay-TV: What’s The Point In Still Owning TVNZ?
Friday, 16 August 2024, 11:06 am | Taxpayers' Union
“It’s time for the Government to make the call and sell TVNZ while it’s still worth something. Perhaps a commercial operator can turn it into something people actually want to watch.” More >>
Seymour Needs To Get On Top Of Ministry For Regulation Spin Doctors
Thursday, 15 August 2024, 3:09 pm | Taxpayers' Union
This Government, but particularly ACT, was elected to slash waste, but recruiting five communications staff at what should be our leanest Ministry tells another story. More >>
Up To The Public: Referendum Required If Council Merger Proceeds
Thursday, 15 August 2024, 12:22 pm | Taxpayers' Union
Mayor Rob Scott claims the amalgamation could see savings of $10m each year by improving cost efficiencies and reducing duplication across neighbouring councils. More >>
Government Must Slash Waste After OCR Cut
Wednesday, 14 August 2024, 8:02 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Responding to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s decision to reduce the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 5.25%, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: “Adrian Orr is betting that the next inflation announcement will see ... More >>
Unused $84k Wellington Bike Rack Shows Need To Hit The Breaks On Waste
Wednesday, 14 August 2024, 11:18 am | Taxpayers' Union
The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Wellington City Council for blowing $84,208 on a bike rack that sees an average of just 2.7 bikes per week. More >>
Luxon Needs To Rule Out New Road Tax
Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 11:06 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
“Congestion charges are an effective way of controlling demand, but only if they’re not used as a way to wring revenue out of motorists. Luxon needs to definitively rule out congestion charges becoming the latest money grab. More >>
Government Wasted $2.2 Million On Ministry Of Education’s EV Chargers, Needs Lessons In Climate Policy
Friday, 9 August 2024, 11:57 am | Taxpayers' Union
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that the Ministry of Education and EECA have spent $2,159,815.62 (including GST) installing 297 electric vehicle charging points on Ministry of Education sites since 2022. More >>
Government Wasted $2.2 Million On Ministry Of Education’s EV Chargers, Needs Lessons In Climate Policy
Friday, 9 August 2024, 11:57 am | Taxpayers' Union
The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act request that the Ministry of Education and EECA have spent $2,159,815.62 (including GST) installing 297 electric vehicle charging points on Ministry of Education sites since 2022. More >>
