New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union - Latest News [Page 117]

The Greens Must Be Kidding!

Friday, 17 February 2017, 1:36 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

Coffee was spat out this afternoon at the Taxpayers’ Union when Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei released a media statement labelling the closure of the Cadbury chocolate factory a “tragedy for Dunedin and local manufacturing”. The comments by Ms Turei ... More >>

Little Version of ‘Think Big’ for Gisborne

Friday, 17 February 2017, 1:20 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is slamming Labour Leader Andrew Little’s pledge today to spend $20 million of taxpayers’ money “to enable the construction of a timber prefabrication plant and associated infrastructure in Gisborne” , announced ... More >>

Joyce Talks the Talk, Now Walk the Walk

Thursday, 16 February 2017, 5:27 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is very encouraged by Minister of Finance Steven Joyce’s speech to Massey University and the Auckland Chamber of Commerce earlier today in relation to his role as Minister of Finance and the Government’s commitment ... More >>

Healthy Government Books Show Room for Tax Cuts

Thursday, 16 February 2017, 12:54 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

Responding to today’s release by the Treasury of the Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand, showing higher tax revenue and lower expenses than forecast, Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says: More >>

Yule set to cost ratepayers $100k

Thursday, 16 February 2017, 10:36 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

Ratepayers are on the hook for between $90,000 and $100,000 in by-election costs if Lawrence Yule is elected to Parliament later in the year as the National Party's Tukituki candidate or on the list. The figures were revealed after the taxpayer group ... More >>

Peters too posh for Jetstar?

Wednesday, 15 February 2017, 10:21 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The Taxpayers' Union is disappointed but not surprised the Rt. Hon Winston Peters is upset with a change in Government policy which means politicians will soon be 'roughing it with the people' on Jetstar. Last year the Taxpayers’ Union highlighted ... More >>

Petrol prices are a rort

Thursday, 9 February 2017, 2:25 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The Taxpayers’ Union says that the focus on petrol margins earned by fuel companies, is a classic ‘bait and switch’ by politicians to avoid questions about the enormous taxes they impose at the pump. Responding to Energy and Resources Minister Judith ... More >>

Another Joyce Corporate Welfare Deal Gone Wrong

Wednesday, 8 February 2017, 11:32 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union says the $23 million windfall return to internet billionaire Peter Thiel in a corporate welfare sweetheart deal with the Government-owned New Zealand Venture Investment Fund shows why the Government’s programmes of corporate ... More >>

Treasury Agrees sugar Tax Doesn’t Work

Friday, 3 February 2017, 5:39 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The Treasury’s conclusion that a sugar tax will hurt the very people it is trying to help, is entirely consistent with previous research by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. Responding to today’s release of Treasury’s working papers on the subject ... More >>

Cost Cutting by Justin Lester Welcomed by Taxpayers’ Union

Thursday, 2 February 2017, 11:25 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester’s challenge to Council officers to reduce costs by $8 million in next year’s budget is being welcomed as a ‘good start’ by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. More >>

Ministry of Justice Using ‘Privacy’ to Hide Embarrassment

Wednesday, 1 February 2017, 12:22 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The Ministry of Justice's decision to spend $23,000 on a video for staff to lip-sync a Justin Timberlake song is reason enough to override any privacy concerns the Ministry’s bosses are now hiding behind in refusing to release the video under freedom of information ... More >>

Lack of Risk Management by GWRC "Scary"

Friday, 27 January 2017, 10:38 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

A Greater Wellington Regional Council guarantee to cover $150 million of debt in the event of default by CentrePort has raised serious concerns as the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union reveals correspondence that shows the Council has received no ... More >>

Time to demonstrate ‘philosophical commitment" to tax cuts

Thursday, 26 January 2017, 12:45 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

It’s time for the National Party Government to put the money where their mouth is and commit to meaningful tax cuts following the release of Treasury’s Financial Statements of the Government of New Zealand for the five months ended 30 November ... More >>

Corruption Rankings Difficult to Take Seriously

Wednesday, 25 January 2017, 9:02 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

The Taxpayers’ Union says the recent 227-page reasons for verdict , in the Auckland Transport corruption case, makes it difficult to accept the Amy Adam's claim that New Zealand is in the top tier in terms of corruption perception and enforcement ... More >>

Minimum Wage Increase

Tuesday, 24 January 2017, 1:42 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

Reacting to this afternoon’s announced increase of the minimum wage by more than 8-times the level of inflation, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says: More >>

Opposition politicians having it both ways on student loans

Tuesday, 24 January 2017, 12:58 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

It’s no wonder student loan balances and repayment times have risen over the last six years, when students pay nothing back in interest, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. More >>

Whakatane Council Has Least Amount of Public Art on Display

Thursday, 19 January 2017, 4:54 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

Whakatane District Council ratepayers are limited to view only 0.2% of the Council’s art collection, valued at $8,750,174.00, with the Rotorua Lakes District Council not far behind with only 0.7% of its artwork worth $10,713,675.00 on display for ... More >>