New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union - Latest News [Page 5]

Canterbury Bridge Blowing Out $13.5 Million Budget With Nothing To Show For It

Sunday, 15 September 2024, 11:02 pm | Taxpayers' Union

Despite Kaikōura District Council’s project to rebuild the Waiau Toa/Clarence River Glen Alton bridge after the Kaikōura earthquake being eight years deep, the Council have still not even managed to gain the appropriate resource consents or ... More >>

Taxpayers’ Union comment on passing of founding Chair, former TVNZ Political Editor, remarkable New Zealander

Sunday, 15 September 2024, 3:36 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

John was a remarkable New Zealander. On behalf of the whole organisation, we express our deepest sympathies to Rosemary, Eleanor, Christopher and the wider family. More >>

Government Needs To Cut The Cost Of Getting From A To B

Sunday, 15 September 2024, 12:37 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

If you use a road, you should pay for that road. Moving towards a user-pays model by shifting petrol cars onto the RUC would be a step in the right direction. More >>

Kiwi Households Paying Almost Double In Rates Compared To OECD Average

Sunday, 15 September 2024, 12:33 am | Taxpayers' Union

An IRD report has today confirmed what many ratepayers have long suspected; New Zealand households are paying almost double the amount of rates, or similar land tax equivalents, than the average of its OECD neighbours. More >>

TVNZ’s $85 Million Loss Proves Why They Need To Be Sold

Sunday, 15 September 2024, 12:30 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

TVNZ’s abysmal $85 million loss, falling program quality and failure to return a dividend in 9 of the last 12 years demonstrate why the Government needs to cut their losses and sell the failing broadcaster. More >>

Taxpayer Victory: Health Research Council To Actually Research Health

Saturday, 14 September 2024, 11:46 pm | Taxpayers' Union

Health research isn’t a game. Lives depend on medical advancements, and every cent spent on frivalous pet projects is money that can’t go towards improving outcomes for Kiwis. More >>

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 >>