New Zealand Taxpayers' Union - Latest News [Page 2]
Government Borrowing $100 Million For High-Risk Gambling
Tuesday, 13 May 2025, 12:16 pm | Taxpayers' Union
Corporate welfare might make for a good photo op, but $100 million of taxpayers’ cash is a steep price for a splash in the papers, Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said. More >>
Health NZ’s $2.75m Restructure Consultant Fees Just The Tip Of The Iceberg
Monday, 12 May 2025, 11:02 am | Taxpayers' Union
The Taxpayers' Union is calling the latest scandal "just the tip of the iceberg" of the $338 million Health NZ consultant budget this year alone. More >>
Government Must Sell Entire Stake In Air New Zealand
Monday, 12 May 2025, 10:37 am | Taxpayers' Union
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman, James Ross, said it’s a farce for the Government to claim this review will be fair and impartial while it continues to hold a majority share in Air New Zealand. You can’t be both referee and player, it’s a blatant ... More >>
Trump’s Tariff Threat Should Be The Final Scene For Film Subsidies
Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 11:05 am | Taxpayers' Union
Film handouts have soared from $129 million in 2017 to $342 million in 2023. Treasury found nearly $500 million in subsidies delivered just $13.6 million in net benefit — an annual return of less than one percent. You’d get better returns from popcorn ... More >>
Council Distracted By Fizzy Drinks, Not Keeping Rates Down
Monday, 5 May 2025, 10:12 am | Taxpayers' Union
Councillors supporting this charade clearly don’t have enough on their plate. That, or they have become so distracted by non-core business that they think this is a good use of their time. More >>
“A Provocateur For Liberty”: Taxpayers’ Union Mourns The Passing Of Sir Robert Jones
Friday, 2 May 2025, 3:02 pm | Taxpayers' Union
Wellington is full of quirks Sir Bob undertook. From the infamous 'save the krill, kill the whales' billboard, to the “toilet in 100 metres” signs on the roads leading to Parliament. More >>
Tick Tock: Net Core Crown Debt Will Hit $190 Billion Tonight. Now More Than $93k Per Household
Friday, 2 May 2025, 2:02 pm | Taxpayers' Union
Nicola Willis is borrowing nearly $48 million per day to fund her deficit spending. Tonight the total net borrowing ticks over to $190 billion. That's $93,381 debt for every New Zealand household. More >>
“Be Bold, Minister” – Billions Can Be Saved In Labour’s KiwiSaver Subsidies
Thursday, 1 May 2025, 11:24 am | Taxpayers' Union
Willis’ Government was elected to make hard decisions—ending Government funded KiwiSaver subsidies is exactly one of them” said Sam Warren, a spokesman for the Taxpayers’ Union. More >>
“Listen To Locals, Not Councils” Taxpayers’ Union Tells Simon Watts To Commit To Rates Capping Legislation
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 7:11 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
We’ve been pushing for rates capping laws for years. Used in the UK and states of Australia—they’re neither new, nor radical. But they are effective. More >>
“Another Tax” – Taxpayers’ Union Demands Clarity On Congestion Charging, Equivalent RUCs To Be Cut
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 2:11 pm | Taxpayers' Union
“The promise was for this to be revenue neutral, to reduce congestion and improve efficiency. But if the funds can be spent elsewhere, we’ll call it what it is—another tax.” More >>
Cuts? Give Us A Break – New Spending Is Still Going Up
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 12:56 pm | Taxpayers' Union
“New Zealand is now running the worst primary deficit of any advanced economy. Net core Crown debt has exploded from $59 billion in 2017 to a projected $192 billion this year.” More >>
Councils Going After Mortgages For Unpaid Rates, Collecting Millions
Wednesday, 30 April 2025, 10:29 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Councils are so distracted by a massively broadened scope that they have forgotten they work for the ratepayer, who now rightly expects them to focus on the basics; roads, rubbish and pipes. More >>
Taxpayers' Union Launches Nationwide Hīkoi Calling For Balanced Budgets
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 4:29 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Led by the seven-metre-long Taxpayers' Union Karaka Nama (Debt Clock), the hīkoi highlights the Government's borrowing from our tamariki and mokopuna. More >>
Willis Takes A Step — But Taxpayers Need A Sprint
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 10:59 am | Taxpayers' Union
New Zealand is now running the worst primary deficit of any advanced economy, and government debt has exploded from $59 billion in 2017 to a projected $192 billion this year. Every dollar of new spending needs to be matched by savings — not a ... More >>
Ruapehu Council’s $700k Blunder Shows Need For Standardised Council Accounting
Tuesday, 29 April 2025, 10:43 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross said: “If councils are serious about transparency, they must adopt clear, consistent financial reporting standards. Ratepayers deserve better than excuses.” More >>
REVEALED: $310k Spent On Cars For Ex-PMs
Thursday, 24 April 2025, 11:57 am | Taxpayers' Union
The Department of Internal Affairs buys and replaces these cars for ex PMs and/or spouses, with the exception of Chris Hipkins, who wasn’t in the job more than two years, and John Key, who declined the entitlement. More >>
Public Toilet? More Like Public Rip-Off
Thursday, 24 April 2025, 11:37 am | Taxpayers' Union
The final location had to be signed off by both local hapū and Heritage New Zealand, with excavation carried out under the watchful eye of both a cultural monitor and Heritage NZ representatives. More >>
Health CEO Paid More Than The PM — Then Got A Golden Handshake
Tuesday, 22 April 2025, 10:16 am | Taxpayers' Union
While hospitals are under pressure and frontline workers are crying out for resources, the top brass are looking after their own. It’s bureaucratic back-handers at its worst. More >>
REVEALED: South Taranaki District Councils $200k Lost In Radio Static
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 2:11 pm | Taxpayers' Union
“The Council has no reports showing whether these ads actually raise awareness about rates or campaigns—or whether the money is just going down the gurgler.” More >>
Housing Costs Keep Soaring, What Will It Take To Cap Rates?
Thursday, 17 April 2025, 11:56 am | Taxpayers' Union
“Ministers Willis and Watts needs the courage to slash inflationary overspending and cap council rates hikes. That’s the pathway back to a growing economy.” More >>