Taxpayer Update: NZ on Air’s $500k encore 🎸 | TWO Taxpayer Heroes this week 🦸‍♂️ – NZ Political Email Archive

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Taxpayer Update: NZ on Air’s $500k encore 🎸 | TWO Taxpayer Heroes this week 🦸‍♂️

Party: Taxpayers’ Union

Sender: Tory Relf <[email protected]>

Date Received: 2025-08-23 16:06

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Happy Saturday Friend,

It's been another busy week. Let's get into it.

**Common sense prevails: TWO Taxpayer Heroes in one week! 🦸‍♂️💥**

Firstly, in a move designed to make us fall out of our chairs, someone in the Wellington bubble made a good decision this week.

Taxpayer Hero Brooke van Velden has stopped Internal Affairs from blowing money on yet another pointless rebrand. Instead of wasting taxpayer cash on consultants and design agencies, Brooke made sure the job was done quickly and cheaply. She reckons it's cost $740, instead of a whopping $50,000.

It’s a big win for taxpayers – and exactly the kind of common sense we need more of in Wellington.

Brooke, you know where to find us if you want more cost-cutting ideas.

Mary, Queen of Cost Cutting 👑

And, in a total 10/10 Taxpayer Hero move, we found out about a council CEO actually refusing a pay increase!

We did give Mary a little shout out last week for cutting the CEO salary when she replaced Dawn Baxdendale as CEO of Christchurch City Council.

What we didn’t know was that in her annual review, Mary was offered – and DECLINED – a pay increase at her annual review. In her own words, Mary said “it’s important to acknowledge the realities our community is facing, especially the financial pressures many residents are currently experiencing.”

Now, we’ll call that Taxpayer Hero behaviour 👏

e-RUC: Smarter System or Big Brother? 🚗👁️

Last week the Government announced changes to Road User Charges, including the option of “e-RUC” – a digital system that could mean vehicles are tracked in real time. It will mean cheaper gas at the pump, but new e-RUCs even for petrol vehicles.

Supporters say it’s a smarter, more efficient way to manage charges. And if you're a boatie, you'll feel some relief at the pump.

But others worry about privacy, especially if NZTA’s data security isn’t rock solid. If agencies can’t guarantee protection (remember the IRD leak?), is constant tracking a risk worth taking?

We want to know what you think: 👉 Share your view in our quick poll.

NZ On Air’s $500K encore (that Kiwis didn’t ask for) 🎸

NZ On Air think taxpayers are made of money. They’ve just set aside $500,000 for a “pilot tour fund” – but only for artists who’ve already had their big taxpayer-funded break and a headline tour.

So instead of giving new talent a shot, we’re all being forced to cough up for an encore no one asked for. Half a million bucks — poof.

Friend, most of us are just trying to afford our own weekend plans. Maybe a trip to the supermarket, maybe a night at the movies. Sadly, none of us get to send the receipt to NZ On Air.

Taxpayer money should help fresh voices be heard — not fund second encores for the already-famous and successful.

West Coast is drowning in paperwork (and it’s all your fault, apparently) 📝

So the West Coast Regional Council is having a bit of a moan. Turns out they got 39 official information requests last quarter. Thirty-nine. That’s not even one a day, but apparently it’s enough to send staff into meltdown mode.

Nine of those requests were about the Taylorville Resource Park consent (because, surprise, people actually care about what’s happening in their backyard). A couple of deadlines were missed, an apology was issued, and some answers got redacted under the usual “commercial sensitivity, privacy, legal privilege” bingo.

The chief exec’s line is basically that people are wasting their own money with “vexatious” requests. And yes, democracy can be slow and sometimes messy. Transparency takes time.

But when councils start acting like 39 emails is the end of the world, maybe the problem isn’t the questions, it’s who is giving the answers. And with a 65.57% rates hike, it's a bit rich that they still complain about giving you answers.

As for the financial requests (such as those from your humble Taxpayers' Union)? Easy solution: West Coast Regional Council could save people having to ask by adopting a UK-style 'armchair audit' open data regime where all expenditure over $500 is put online. That would save a lot of time (and money...).

Kāpiti Council Sends CEO to Harvard 🎓

Finally, the Kāpiti Council CEO story is the gift that keeps on giving (to the CEO, that is).

The story broke last week that Kāpiti Coast District Council splashed nearly $43,000 on a six-day Harvard Business School course for its CEO, which is shocking enough as it is.

But, Friend, it gets worse. It turns out that the Council didn't even bother to ensure the CEO sticks around so that ratepayers get the benifits. No bond, no payback clause, no strings attached. This is not how $40k professional development works in the private sector.

So while homes on the Coast are tightening belts, council money’s flying first class – to Harvard. It’s one thing to develop leadership. It’s quite another to let the CEO walk off with free training while ratepayers pick up the tab.

Have a great weekend.

Tory Relf
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

PS. I'm all for paying less at the petrol pump, but I still can't decide whether I'm okay with the Government - or their private partners - tracking my car. Let me know what you think using our poll.

In the Media:

Waikato Times ‘I get paid well, but I add value’: Council boss on $445k salary

NZ Herald The economy isn’t riding to the Government’s rescue – Thomas Coughlan

RNZ Coalition hopes for a winter thaw after OCR cut

The Platform Peter Williams On Why He Left Auckland For The South Island

Stuff Binding poll on Māori ward needs buy-in

The Platform Michael Laws On The Greatest Threat To Democracy Is The Wellington Bureaucracy

The Platform Jordan Williams On The Rise Of Government Spending Under National

RNZ Bay of Plenty councils slam 'misleading' council CEO Rich List

RNZ Morning Rural News for Friday 22 August 2025

The Standard Fight Like You Mean It: Why Message Discipline Matters

NZ Herald Reserve Bank and polls give Luxon a reprieve - Matthew Hooton

Waikato Times Council big boss pay packet gets even bigger

The Press Rangiora’s ‘gold-plated’ stadium more than just a gym, CEO says

Cambridge News Regional council’s conference cost

Bassett, Brash & Hide BRUCE COTTERILL: New Zealand’s perfect political storm approaches

The Press ECan boss got a 9.3% pay rise

RNZ The Wednesday Politics Panel for 20 August 2025

Newstalk ZB The Huddle: Should Nicola Willis be worries?

Newstalk ZB Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast, 20 August 2025

Otago Daily Times Accusation of high salaries taken out of context: Mayor

RNZ 'Today is a good day': Government celebrates Reserve Bank's OCR cut

Stuff 'Can you lend us some money?': Finance minister's mission abroad to secure more cash

BusinessDesk Business of Government: Paying monkeys, the price of diplomacy and more

The Southland Times Southern council CEO salaries revealed

Newstalk ZB Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast, 19 August 2025

Waatea News Tuhi-Ao Bailey | Te Taiao wānanga at Owae marae

Greymouth Star Minister ‘cuts through bureaucracy’

Centrist Hipkins’ COVID inquiry snub: Why it’s a PR disaster waiting to happen

NZ Herald Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says Hipkins is trying to ‘gaslight’ NZ on Covid-19 inquiry no-show

Taranaki Daily News Ballot box bites: A roll call, a costly absence and a surprise pass thanks

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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Happy Saturday Friend,
It's been another busy week. Let's get into it.
Common sense prevails: TWO Taxpayer Heroes in one week! 🦸‍♂️💥
Firstly, in a move designed to make us fall out of our chairs, someone in the Wellington bubble made a good decision this week.
Taxpayer Hero Brooke van Velden has stopped Internal Affairs from blowing money on yet another pointless rebrand. Instead of wasting taxpayer cash on consultants and design agencies, Brooke made sure the job was done quickly and cheaply. She reckons it's cost $740, instead of a whopping $50,000.
It’s a big win for taxpayers – and exactly the kind of common sense we need more of in Wellington.
Brooke, you know where to find us if you want more cost-cutting ideas.
Mary, Queen of Cost Cutting 👑
And, in a total 10/10 Taxpayer Hero move, we found out about a council CEO actually refusing a pay increase!
We did give Mary a little shout out last week for cutting the CEO salary when she replaced Dawn Baxdendale as CEO of Christchurch City Council.
What we didn’t know was that in her annual review, Mary was offered – and DECLINED – a pay increase at her annual review. In her own words, Mary said “it’s important to acknowledge the realities our community is facing, especially the financial pressures many residents are currently experiencing.”
Now, we’ll call that Taxpayer Hero behaviour 👏
e-RUC: Smarter System or Big Brother? 🚗👁️
<https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/survey_rucs>
Last week the Government announced changes to Road User Charges, including the option of “e-RUC” – a digital system that could mean vehicles are tracked in real time. It will mean cheaper gas at the pump, but new e-RUCs even for petrol vehicles.
Supporters say it’s a smarter, more efficient way to manage charges. And if you're a boatie, you'll feel some relief at the pump.
But others worry about privacy, especially if NZTA’s data security isn’t rock solid. If agencies can’t guarantee protection (remember the IRD leak?), is constant tracking a risk worth taking?
We want to know what you think: 👉 Share your view in our quick poll. <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/survey_rucs>
NZ On Air’s $500K encore (that Kiwis didn’t ask for) 🎸
NZ On Air think taxpayers are made of money. They’ve just set aside $500,000 for a “pilot tour fund” – but only for artists who’ve already had their big taxpayer-funded break and a headline tour.
So instead of giving new talent a shot, we’re all being forced to cough up for an encore no one asked for. Half a million bucks — poof.
Friend, most of us are just trying to afford our own weekend plans. Maybe a trip to the supermarket, maybe a night at the movies. Sadly, none of us get to send the receipt to NZ On Air.
Taxpayer money should help fresh voices be heard — not fund second encores for the already-famous and successful.
West Coast is drowning in paperwork (and it’s all your fault, apparently) 📝
So the West Coast Regional Council is having a bit of a moan. Turns out they got 39 official information requests last quarter. Thirty-nine. That’s not even one a day, but apparently it’s enough to send staff into meltdown mode.
Nine of those requests were about the Taylorville Resource Park consent (because, surprise, people actually care about what’s happening in their backyard). A couple of deadlines were missed, an apology was issued, and some answers got redacted under the usual “commercial sensitivity, privacy, legal privilege” bingo.
The chief exec’s line is basically that people are wasting their own money with “vexatious” requests. And yes, democracy can be slow and sometimes messy. Transparency takes time.
But when councils start acting like 39 emails is the end of the world, maybe the problem isn’t the questions, it’s who is giving the answers. And with a 65.57% rates hike, it's a bit rich that they still complain about giving you answers.
As for the financial requests (such as those from your humble Taxpayers' Union)? Easy solution: West Coast Regional Council could save people having to ask by adopting a UK-style 'armchair audit' open data regime where all expenditure over $500 is put online. That would save a lot of time (and money...).
Kāpiti Council Sends CEO to Harvard 🎓
Finally, the Kāpiti Council CEO story is the gift that keeps on giving (to the CEO, that is).
The story broke last week that Kāpiti Coast District Council splashed nearly $43,000 on a six-day Harvard Business School course <https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/investigations/kapiti-council-spends-43k-on-ceo-harvard-course-amid-rates-pressure> for its CEO, which is shocking enough as it is.
But, Friend, it gets worse. It turns out that the Council didn't even bother to ensure the CEO sticks around so that ratepayers get the benifits. No bond, no payback clause, no strings attached. This is not how $40k professional development works in the private sector.
So while homes on the Coast are tightening belts, council money’s flying first class – to Harvard. It’s one thing to develop leadership. It’s quite another to let the CEO walk off with free training while ratepayers pick up the tab.
<https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/donate a great weekend.
Tory Relf
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union
PS. I'm all for paying less at the petrol pump, but I still can't decide whether I'm okay with the Government - or their private partners - tracking my car. Let me know what you think using our poll <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/survey_rucs>.
In the Media:
Waikato Times‘I get paid well, but I add value’: Council boss on $445k salary <https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360799045/i-get-paid-well-i-add-value-council-boss-445k-salary>
NZ HeraldThe economy isn’t riding to the Government’s rescue – Thomas Coughlan <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/the-economy-isnt-riding-to-the-governments-rescue-thomas-coughlan/KOH6FG4VRVFCJKPKTQV4YHWOPM/>
RNZCoalition hopes for a winter thaw after OCR cut <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/focusonpolitics/audio/2019001088/coalition-hopes-for-a-winter-thaw-after-ocr-cut>
The PlatformPeter Williams On Why He Left Auckland For The South Island <https://www.youtube.com/watch
StuffBinding poll on Māori ward needs buy-in <https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360799896/binding-poll-maori-ward-needs-buy>
The PlatformMichael Laws On The Greatest Threat To Democracy Is The Wellington Bureaucracy <https://www.youtube.com/watch
The PlatformJordan Williams On The Rise Of Government Spending Under National <https://www.youtube.com/watch
RNZBay of Plenty councils slam 'misleading' council CEO Rich List <https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/570735/bay-of-plenty-councils-slam-misleading-council-ceo-rich-list>
RNZMorning Rural News for Friday 22 August 2025 <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/ruralnews/audio/2019000982/morning-rural-news-for-friday-22-august-2025>
The StandardFight Like You Mean It: Why Message Discipline Matters <https://thestandard.org.nz/fight-like-you-mean-it-why-message-discipline-matters/>
NZ HeraldReserve Bank and polls give Luxon a reprieve - Matthew Hooton <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/economy/reserve-bank-and-polls-give-luxon-a-reprieve-matthew-hooton/FKF262ROVFGSTAGWC4IKMZV4IM/>
Waikato TimesCouncil big boss pay packet gets even bigger <https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360794849/council-big-boss-pay-packet-gets-even-bigger>
The PressRangiora’s ‘gold-plated’ stadium more than just a gym, CEO says <https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360798828/rangioras-gold-plated-stadium-more-just-gym-ceo-says>
Cambridge NewsRegional council’s conference cost <https://www.cambridgenews.nz/2025/08/regional-councils-conference-cost/>
Bassett, Brash & HideBRUCE COTTERILL: New Zealand’s perfect political storm approaches <https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/bruce-cotterill-new-zealand-s-perfect-political-storm-approaches>
The PressECan boss got a 9.3% pay rise <https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360796927/ecan-boss-got-93-pay-rise>
RNZThe Wednesday Politics Panel for 20 August 2025 <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/2019000783/the-wednesday-politics-panel-for-20-august-2025>
Newstalk ZBThe Huddle: Should Nicola Willis be worries? <https://omny.fm/shows/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/the-huddle-should-nicola-willis-be-worried>
Newstalk ZBHeather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast, 20 August 2025 <https://omny.fm/shows/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/full-show-podcast-20-august-2025>
Otago Daily TimesAccusation of high salaries taken out of context: Mayor <https://www.odt.co.nz/southland/the-ensign/accusation-high-salaries-taken-out-context-mayor>
RNZ'Today is a good day': Government celebrates Reserve Bank's OCR cut <https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/570560/today-is-a-good-day-government-celebrates-reserve-bank-s-ocr-cut>
Stuff'Can you lend us some money?': Finance minister's mission abroad to secure more cash <https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360796799/can-you-lend-us-some-money-finance-ministers-mission-abroad-secure-more-cash>
BusinessDeskBusiness of Government: Paying monkeys, the price of diplomacy and more <https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/public-sector/business-of-government-paying-monkeys-the-price-of-diplomacy-and-more>
The Southland TimesSouthern council CEO salaries revealed <https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360794604/southern-ceo-salaries-revealed>
Newstalk ZBHeather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast, 19 August 2025 <https://omny.fm/shows/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/full-show-podcast-19-august-2025>
Waatea NewsTuhi-Ao Bailey | Te Taiao wānanga at Owae marae <https://waateanews.com/2025/08/19/tuhi-ao-bailey-climate-justice-taranaki-spokesperson/>
Greymouth Star Minister ‘cuts through bureaucracy’
CentristHipkins’ COVID inquiry snub: Why it’s a PR disaster waiting to happen <https://centrist.nz/hipkins-covid-inquiry-snub-why-its-a-pr-disaster-waiting-to-happen/>
NZ HeraldPrime Minister Christopher Luxon says Hipkins is trying to ‘gaslight’ NZ on Covid-19 inquiry no-show <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-on-mike-hosking-after-popularity-poll-plunge-netanyahu-criticism/EMRDNKTGC5D55K4KYFEBUAMZMA/>
Taranaki Daily NewsBallot box bites: A roll call, a costly absence and a surprise pass thanks <https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360790790/ballot-box-bites-roll-call-costly-absence-and-surprise-pass-thanks>
New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
This email was sent to [Email]. To change your email preferences, click here <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/unsubscribe>.
Authorised by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union, Level 4, 117 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011.