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New Zealand Taxpayers' Union - Latest News [Page 104]
Utilisation figures on Wellington-Canberra route revealed
Friday, 26 January 2018, 1:49 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that only 60% of seats were filled on the ratepayer subsidised Wellington-Canberra flight route, compared to an average of nearly 80% for all flights in and out of Australia. Taxpayers’ Union Economist, ... More >>
Hawke’s Bay DHB manager should pay the money back
Friday, 26 January 2018, 12:12 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says Hawke’s Bay taxpayers who funded dental treatment for DHB staff and illegitimate ‘koha’ payments deserve a refund. Responding to reports that a Hawke's Bay DHB manager has resigned after she was found to have ... More >>
Taxpayers' Union responds to The Spinoff
Thursday, 25 January 2018, 3:06 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Today an article was published about the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union in The Spinoff , a small, publicly-funded, Auckland-based millennial website specialising in television listicles, ‘pop-culture’, and fake news . More >>
Singapore Airlines’ ratepayer subsidy proven total failure
Wednesday, 24 January 2018, 5:07 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says the failure of Singapore Airlines' Wellington-Canberra route shows what an utter waste the route’s multi-million dollar subsidy has been. Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “The Wellington-Canberra ... More >>
Winter Energy Payment change costs taxpayer $70 million
Wednesday, 24 January 2018, 12:52 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The Government’s decision to automatically enroll superannuitants in their Winter Fuel Policy, rather than require them to opt in, comes at cost of nearly $70 million, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. More >>
Waikato DHB must demand refund from recruitment agency
Tuesday, 23 January 2018, 7:19 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
23 JANUARY 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says it is a disgrace that Waikato DHB paid a recruitment agency $106,000 to scout Nigel Murray, who went on to abuse taxpayer money and was forced to resign. Responding ... More >>
Parliamentary Services is a Kingdom of Waste
Tuesday, 23 January 2018, 5:11 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that Parliamentary Services purchased hundreds of copies of an animal-inspired self-help book, apparently “packed full” of tips. More >>
Iwi assets swollen by tax loophole
Tuesday, 23 January 2018, 3:33 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says the rapid growth of iwi assets is driven by special tax treatment. Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “The corporate tax rate for Maori Authorities is 17.5%, compared to 28% for other ... More >>
Media interest in Turei’s benefit fraud is justified
Tuesday, 23 January 2018, 12:28 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says it is deeply concerning that Green MP Marama Davidson fails to understand the ongoing public interest in Metiria Turei’s benefit fraud investigation. Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, ... More >>
Taxpayers’ Union joins congratulations for PM
Friday, 19 January 2018, 1:02 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
19 JANUARY 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has joined New Zealanders in congratulating the Prime Minister on today’s news. Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said, “We wish the Prime Minister the ... More >>
Re-renaming children’s ministry is political vanity
Thursday, 18 January 2018, 12:00 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
18 JANUARY 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Taxpayers’ Union is accusing both National and the new Government of vanity for yet again renaming the Ministry for Children. Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, “National and New Zealand ... More >>
Government has worsened a rental market nightmare
Thursday, 18 January 2018, 12:00 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
18 JANUARY 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE When the Government increased student living costs and allowances, it was inevitable that rental costs would be driven up says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. A series of stories this week have highlighted ... More >>
Bureaucrats party with drag queens on taxpayer dollar
Wednesday, 17 January 2018, 6:55 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
17 JANUARY 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Taxpayers’ Union can reveal that a small government agency spent over $300,000 on ‘entertainment’ in 2015/16 – including a drag queen dinner and show for staff. More >>
Handouts for electric vehicles = corporate welfare
Wednesday, 17 January 2018, 12:01 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
17 JANUARY 2018 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Taxpayers’ Union is slamming today’s announcement of $3.7 million in taxpayer dollars being given to private businesses to buy electric vehicles. Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says, ... More >>
Hands off motorists’ piggy bank, Phil
Tuesday, 16 January 2018, 11:52 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
The Government must keep its hands off motorists’ piggy bank, says the Taxpayers’ Union after the Transport Minister reportedly told stakeholders he’s considering using New Zealand’s roading fund for non-roading projects. Taxpayers’ Union Executive ... More >>
International report says Kiwi voters lack electoral freedom
Monday, 15 January 2018, 12:22 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
New Zealand’s mediocre ranking in a new index of electoral freedoms is embarrassing and shows the need for electoral reform, says constitutional lawyer and electoral reform campaigner Jordan Williams, who is now the Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ ... More >>
New Year’s tobacco tax hike means pain
Sunday, 31 December 2017, 11:27 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
A new report by the Taxpayers’ Union shows the ineffectiveness of tobacco tax hikes as a tool to reduce smoking rates, and reveals the unintended consequences of the policy: direct financial harm to smokers and their families, and crime towards ... More >>
Waipa District Council clings to inefficient water services
Thursday, 21 December 2017, 3:14 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams is denouncing Waipa District Council’s refusal to pool water management services with neighbouring Hamilton City. More >>
Manurewa West School’s Silence on Spending Disgraceful
Thursday, 21 December 2017, 10:37 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
A Manurewa school’s refusal to front media over its funding of the principal’s home expenses, a ‘stress-relief’ weekend and more is a disgrace to parents and taxpayers, says the Taxpayers’ Union. “It’s disgraceful that the chairperson, ... More >>
Problems at Waikato DHB seemingly unlimited
Wednesday, 20 December 2017, 3:58 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
A new inquiry by the Deputy Auditor-General into Waikato DHB’s procurement of IT services from California-based company HealthTap suggests the time has come for the Minister of Health to sack the board at Waikato DHB and appoint commissioners, says ... More >>
