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New Zealand Taxpayers' Union - Latest News [Page 5]
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 >>
Reserve Bank’s ‘Funding Cut’ Is Actually A Massive Increase
Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 12:54 pm | Taxpayers' Union
Slapping the Reserve Bank’s ludicrous $1 billion funding request down to $775.6 million isn’t restraint — it’s just stopping them coming back for seconds. More >>
Tauranga Council’s $125m Office Fit For Wall Street, Not Main Street
Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 12:51 pm | Taxpayers' Union
Council staff already enjoy perks like $100,000 life insurance, bonus annual leave, and subsidised bus cards. Now they’re adding $470,000 in coffee machines and a Wall Street-style fit-out on the ratepayer tab. More >>
The Rates Freeze Reset Wellington Desperately Needs
Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 9:51 am | Taxpayers' Union
Ray Chung is putting a stake in the ground and saying the Council should live within its means. Ratepayers aren’t an ATM, and Wellington’s had enough of being shaken down to fund consultants and vanity projects. More >>
$5.2 Million Consultant Spend Unacceptable As Cost Blowouts Grow
Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 10:52 am | Taxpayers' Union
Every dollar spent needs to stand up to scrutiny and, right now, local ratepayers simply cannot afford these kinds of white elephants. More >>
Big Council Doesn’t Always Mean Better Council: Amalgamation On The Cards
Tuesday, 15 April 2025, 9:49 am | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Sam Warren, Local Government Campaigns Manager for the Taxpayers’ Union, said: “Better collaboration between councils to find efficiencies for both service and infrastructure delivery is certainly encouraged, so long as they reduce the burden ... More >>
REVEALED: Department Of The Prime Minister And Cabinet Caught With Its Tabs Down
Monday, 14 April 2025, 1:39 pm | Taxpayers' Union
The response confirms the incidents occurred across multiple months in 2024, with a particularly high concentration in May (5), June (4), and July (7) — suggesting a consistent pattern of misuse rather than one-off mistakes. More >>
Dunedin Council Tight-Lipped On Salary For Missing Deputy Chief
Monday, 14 April 2025, 12:28 pm | Taxpayers' Union
Concerns for privacy has a legitimate place, but right now it looks more like an excuse than a reason. Council must prove otherwise and stop treating public accountability as an optional extra. More >>
End Of Term For Kāhui Ako – Time To Expel This Failed Scheme
Monday, 14 April 2025, 12:27 pm | Taxpayers' Union
In 2023, just 22 percent of Year 8 students met the expected standard in Maths, and only 47 percent in Reading. If Kāhui Ako were a student, it’d be repeating the year. More >>
REVEALED: Scootergate – Defence's $32,800 Joyride On The Taxpayer Dime
Thursday, 10 April 2025, 3:51 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
“The Defence Force has just been handed a $12 billion funding plan. If this is the starting point, taxpayers should buckle up — it’s going to be a rough ride.” More >>
No-Show Nick” – Gisborne Councillor Misses More Than Half His Meetings
Thursday, 10 April 2025, 3:49 pm | New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
“His absence highlights a massive problem with standing orders. If the Local Government Act doesn’t effectively address a councillor’s truancy, it needs to change.” More >>
