Party: Taxpayers’ Union
Sender: Tory Relf <[email protected]>
Date Received: 2025-08-29 16:16
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📌 View Online <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/250828_newsletter> | 🚀 Share on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php Hi [Name], A lot to cover this week, so bear with me. This week, we're celebrating a major Taxpayer Victory, an unexpected Taxpayer Hero, and a young chap who gives us all hope for the future. But first, a bouquet... Credit where credit is due: a 'tax cut' (of sorts) on groceries 👍 Here at the Taxpayers' Union, we've been more than a little critical lately of Finance Minister Nicola Willis. 👀 Sure, she's increased spending since the Government got into office (despite promising to get Grant Robertson's 'addiction' to spending under control); increased the size of the deficit and daily government borrowing <http://www.debtclock.nz>, and even increased the total number of bureaucrats since the last election (it initially dipped a bit, but the latest Public Service Commission figures speak for themselves). So this week's announcement from Nicola Willis of a so-called "express lane" for new supermarkets would have been easy to dismiss. But, we've been taking a look into the details, and credit where credit is due. The changes target the key reason we lack much international competition in the grocery sector: principally the Resource Management Act – which operates as a 'regulatory tax' keeping out competition. Back in May, our friends at the New Zealand Initiative, a Wellington-based economic think tank, published a research note on how to open New Zealand’s markets to more competition, which included specific drafting instructions on a Bill to fix many of the regulatory hurdles that make New Zealand an unattractive place to start a new grocery chain. Often, especially once in Government, politicians turn a blind eye to new or bold ideas. This works for the bureaucracy too - who dislike groups like the NZ Initiative (or the Taxpayers' Union!) having the ear of their Ministers. Clearly, Minister Willis has been willing to go around her officials and talk to experts outside the intellectual contracts of the public sector to adopt new ideas and policies. So well done to Minister Willis, and the NZ Initiative – we like what we see! You can read more about the Government's announcement over on the Beehive website <https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/express-lane-new-supermarkets>, and a summary of the NZ Initiative's policy work here <https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/reports/fast-track-supermarket-entry-and-expansion-omnibus-bill/>. TAXPAYER VICTORY: Nosey Parker IRD information gathering powers scrapped 🎊 We celebrated a MAJOR Taxpayer Victory this week with the announcement that Section 17GB – otherwise known as the Nosey Parker clause – of the delightfully-named Tax Administration Act 1994 is on the chopping block. Back in 2022, David Parker introduced what amounts to a 'snoopers’ charter' for IRD, which was rushed through Parliament. Historically, IRD could only demand information relevant to determining your tax liability. But that wasn't enough for David Parker, who, in an outrageous affront to the rights of taxpayers, gave IRD powers to literally demand (with the threat of jail time) any information IRD officials wanted. And it was even worse. The Minister could (and for the purposes of a particular political project did) instruct officials to conduct 'research' and use those powers however the Minister liked. Well, it took three years, but this week we can finally claim victory! 🎉 Revenue Minister Simon Watts has included in this year's annual tax adjustments bill an amendment to scrap the Nosey Parker clause. First rates capping, now this. Bravo Mr Watts! Speaking of rates capping... Caught on camera: Grey District Councillors literally laugh at those struggling with high rates bills 🎥 It might surprise many, but we can't watch every council meeting every day around the country. So when we saw this headline from 1News, it's fair to say Jordan spat out his coffee. <https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/08/27/grey-mayor-apologises-for-council-laughter-over-rates-pushback/> At a meeting earlier this week, Councillor Timothy Mora asked aloud if there’d been any pushback regarding the Council's proposed 13.7 percent rate increases. The answer was yes. And that's when Grey District Council rather let themselves down. How did they react, Friend? With concern over the increased cost of living? With compassion for the families struggling to make ends meet? No. They laughed. Weirdly, 1News reported on the laughter, but didn't actually publish the recording (weird, right?). Again, your humble Taxpayers' Union is here to help 🙃. We've dug out the actual recording, and published it for all to see. Judge for yourself here. <https://x.com/TaxpayersUnion/status/1960873852096921747> <https://x.com/TaxpayersUnion/status/1960873852096921747> As you can see, the Mayor has apologised. But apologies are cheap. If any of these councillors really are contrite, they ought to be committing to stopping the rates raids on their local community. And thanks to your humble Taxpayers' Union, they can: by signing the Ratepayer Protection Pledge <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/taxpayers_union_releases_the_ratepayer_protection_pledge>. Ratepayer Protection Pledge: Your 2025 Ratepayer Voting Guide 🗳️🛡️ This week, we launched the Ratepayer Protection Pledge <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/taxpayers_union_releases_the_ratepayer_protection_pledge>, drawing a line in the sand between those mayoral and council candidates committed to standing with ratepayers and those who are not. Every candidate standing for mayor or council has been asked for their commitment to ratepayers on three vital issues: - Oppose any measures that will see the total burden of rates, levies and additional council charges exceed the level of inflation and population growth, - Support initiatives that will improve transparency of council expenditure, including the public disclosure of all expenditure items (known as 'armchair audit' and 'open data') - Oppose unelected appointments onto council committees with spending and regulatory powers. Friend, councils are only as good as the people we elect to sit on them. And we’ve seen more than enough evidence to show councils are in bad shape (looking at you, Grey District Council). Every candidate who signs the pledge will be published online, so voters can make an informed decision on who stands for what. Right now, the whole team are working the phones and contacting candidates asking them to sign the pledge. Once we know who is with us (and who isn't) we'll be getting to work to make clear to ratepayers who is – and isn't – on our side. NEW POLL: All ages, regions and parties support capping council rates 🧢 With behaviour like Grey District Council’s, is it any wonder why Kiwis back a rates cap law by 3:1? We published our latest poll results this week, showing a majority of Kiwis – no matter the age, region or party split – backing an introduction of a law to cap council rates. We knew it was popular. You told us you wanted it. And you were bang on. When you’ve got a policy that unites Labour and ACT, National and Te Pati Māori? You know it’s a good one. Read the full results and James’ commentary here <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/poll_rates_cap0825>. Auckland Transport gets schooled by a 20-year-old law student 🏛️ Have you ever felt extraordinarily old, Friend, when someone younger than you does something most of us will never achieve? I did this week, when 20-year-old Auckland University law student Sean O'Loughlin took a case to the High Court at Auckland against Auckland Transport – and won. He tripped AT up at their own game – layers and layers of paperwork – after discovering that AT did not consider whether a raised pedestrian crossing and three speed bumps on The Parade in Bucklands Beach would unduly impede vehicular traffic. Of course, they never admit it, but that's usually Auckland Transport's intention: to impede getting placed in a car... AT were found to have not fulfilled their legal duty drivers and therefore the decision was unlawful. Given they spent a whopping $667,000 on installing the things, you would have thought AT could have paid a bit more attention. Maybe they were distracted by spending more than $147,000 on social media influencers? Either way, it's yet another reminder that AT needs to be stripped back to basics and focus on providing decent service to all Aucklanders, including the ones in cars. Huge, huge congrats to this Taxpayer Hero. You're a legend, Sean. Taxpayer Talk: Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett on building infrastructure, costs, and local government 🎙 <https://www.buzzsprout.com/944017/episodes/17747040> Building anything in New Zealand has no shortage of challenges. Whether it be soaring costs, reels of red tape, or problems with supplying labour, our choked infrastructure pipeline deeply affects this country's economy and quality of life. CEO for Infrastructure New Zealand, Nick Leggett, joins Peter Williams for a deep dive into how we can overcome these challenges so we can build faster, more efficiently, and more affordably. Listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts. <https://www.buzzsprout.com/944017/episodes/17747040> Phew. I warned you it was a long one! <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/donate a great weekend. Tory Relf New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union PS. Holding local government candidates to account – like all our work – is only possible thanks to the generous support of people like you. If you can, please support our Local Government Fighting Fund and the Ratepayer Protection Pledge / Ratepayer Voting Guide <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/donate_local_government>. Every dollar goes to fighting for ratepayers and fixing local councils. In the Media: Croaking Cassandra Weak minister, weak institutions <https://croakingcassandra.com/2025/08/29/weak-minister-weak-institutions/> NZ HeraldCovid inquiry legal advice for Dame Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson, Ayesha Verrall cost taxpayer $70k <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-inquiry-legal-advice-for-dame-jacinda-ardern-chris-hipkins-grant-robertson-ayesha-verrall-cost-taxpayer-70k/CR6EF5NZQ5HBPIQGBHEHMGJCZQ/> The PostPolitical poll offers Government no reprieve <https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360806053/political-poll-offers-government-no-reprieve> King Country News‘Bring back our kiwi’ <https://kingcountrynews.co.nz/news/bring-back-our-kiwi> KiwiblogAuckland Council should let the NZ Super Fund manage their fund <https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2025/08/auckland_council_should_let_the_nz_super_fund_manage_their_fund.html> PolitikBe careful what you wish for <https://www.politik.co.nz/be-careful-what-you-wish-for/> Bay of Plenty Times Councils bridle at salary rich list RNZThe Panel with Kathryn Graham and Mark Knoff-Thomas Part 2 <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/2019001744/the-panel-with-kathryn-graham-and-mark-knoff-thomas-part-2> RNZThe Pre-Panel for 27 August 2025 <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/2019001713/the-pre-panel-for-27-august-2025> Bay of Plenty TimesBay of Plenty councils slam ‘misleading’ council CEO Rich List <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/bay-of-plenty-councils-slam-misleading-council-ceo-rich-list/YYGAF63VKZBXNKR6T36B7TGRCE/> NZ ListenerGrant Robertson: ‘Everybody I see looks better when they stop in politics than they did when they were in it’ <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/politics/grant-robertson-everybody-i-see-looks-better-when-they-stop-in-politics-than-they-did-when-they-were-in-it/GGEOKUSAI5ETZN4YUT5DVMVVXM/> Northern Advocate Retirees face rising living costs RNZRetirees struggle as cost of living in even a paid-off house mounts <https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/570930/retirees-struggle-as-cost-of-living-in-even-a-paid-off-house-mounts> Waikato TimesNo trust, no tax plan, no clear allies: Labour’s long road back <https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360799495/no-trust-no-tax-plan-no-clear-allies-labours-long-road-back> Te Ao NewsWairarapa’s Māori wards ‘too important to lose’ <https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/08/23/wairarapas-maori-wards-too-important-to-lose/> 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 <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/the-economy-isnt-riding-to-the-governments-rescue-thomas-coughlan/KOH6FG4VRVFCJKPKTQV4YHWOPM/> New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand This email was sent to [Email]. 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