Taxpayer Update: New poll puts Centre-Left ahead 📊 | 2025 Mayoral Debates 🗳️ | Labour wants to spend your money… on themselves 🚨 – NZ Political Email Archive

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Taxpayer Update: New poll puts Centre-Left ahead 📊 | 2025 Mayoral Debates 🗳️ | Labour wants to spend your money… on themselves 🚨

Party: Taxpayers’ Union

Sender: Tory Relf <[email protected]>

Date Received: 2025-09-08 12:34

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Hi [Name],

NEW POLL: National up, ACT down, centre-left could form Govt 📊

Our latest Taxpayers’ Union–Curia Poll is out, and it’s mixed news for the centre-right. While Christopher Luxon's personal numbers are up, overall, it's bad news for the Government.

Labour hold on to its spot as the largest party, up 0.2 points from last month to 33.8 percent. National gained 1.3 points to 33.1 percent.

The Greens gain 0.9 points to 10.7 percent, while New Zealand First gains 0.3 points to 8.1 percent. ACT drop 1.9 points to 6.7 percent, while Te Pāti Māori gains 1.1 point to 4.3 percent.

On these numbers, the centre-left bloc would hold 61 seats – just enough to form a government – while the centre-right is out of Government dropping to 60 seats. Labour and National are now deadlocked on 42 seats each after ACT drop three seats.

With this close result, and last month's poll showing a hung Parliament, the only takeaway can be: next year's election is going to be a nail-biter.

As for the issues, the cost of living remains voters’ top concern, climbing 3.1 points to 27.5 percent. The broader economy follows on 16.1 percent, with health, employment, and taxes rounding out the top five.

More information about the poll, including preferred PM numbers, are available here.

2025 Mayoral Debates: Coming to a town hall near you 🗳️🎤

After the success of the Wellington Mayoral Debate, hosted by our student leaders at Generation Screwed, we're now undertaking a series ratepayer debates across the country.

Come along and hear your mayoral candidates grilled on rates, spending, accountability, and questions from local Taxpayers' Union supporters.

The Hastings Mayoral Debate kicks off tonight at 7 pm (at the Havelock North Community Centre), and we'll be in Dunedin this Wednesday (the 10th), Queenstown Thursday (the 11th - hosted by Peter Williams), New Plymouth on the same night (Thursday 11th - in conjunction with our sister-group, the New Plymouth Ratepayers' Alliance), and Hamilton this Friday (the 12th) hosted by Waikato University's branch of Generation Screwed.

The events are free – just register online or turn up on the night (details here).

Jordan will be moderating in Hastings, Peter Williams in Queenstown, and in both places, we’ll be releasing exclusive polling. Dunedin and Hamilton are hosted by our youth group, Generation Screwed, while New Plymouth is in partnership with the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Alliance.

These aren’t boring meet-and-greets – expect sharp questions and straight answers. If you care about what your next mayor plans to do with your rates bill, don’t miss it.

👉 Full event details and registration here.

End the Ministerial Maze: Time to Cut Cabinet Down to Size ✂️🏛️

A new report from our friends at the New Zealand Initiative think tank has laid bare just how bloated Cabinet has become – and why it’s costing taxpayers dearly.

New Zealand currently has 81 portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments. That’s about three times as many portfolios as comparable countries like Ireland or Singapore, which manage to govern effectively with far fewer ministers.

The real problem is accountability. When a giant ministry like MBIE answers to 20 different ministers, no one is clearly responsible. That means delays, finger-pointing, and wasted money while taxpayers pick up the bill.

The boffins at the NZ Initiative say their report is a blueprint for reform. They say the Government should be setting a clear target to reduce the size of Cabinet, publishing a timeline, and making ministers properly accountable again. Until it does, New Zealanders will keep paying for a system where everyone is in charge of something, but no one is in charge of anything.

Right now, the Government has no real pathway back to surplus. And according to the Public Service Commission are more bureaucrats now than there were at the last election (Nicola Willis says otherwise, but she uses March-to-March numbers to make things look better than they actually are). 🙄

The only way to cut costs and rebuild accountability is to rein in the ministerial maze and get the bureaucratic beast under control.

Labour Party finally announce a policy! Handouts for their funders 🤦‍♂️

Friend, as the results from the by-election over the weekend showed, Labour are playing their cards close to their chest in terms of policy announcements.

But what little we've had shows where its loyalties lie – and it’s not with taxpayers.

The Labour has endorced a Council of Trade Union policy that would see a taxpayer-funded agency set up to train Labour Party fundraisers and activists union delegates.

In other words, Chris Hipkins is shamelessly trying to funnel taxpayer money straight into the pockets of the very unions that bankroll his political campaigns.

It's taxpayer funding of the Labour Party by another name.

We’ve seen this playbook before. Last year, we revealed that MBIE staff were being paid at least $871,000 a year to do union work on taxpayer time. Now Labour is doubling down with a plan to create a new agency to run training for unions, further blurring the line between government resources and party political interests.

But it doesn’t stop there, Friend. The Public Service Administration’s recent antics – contacting foreign embassies in a clumsy attempt to smear New Zealand’s meat inspection standards – show just how much damage these unions can cause. Rather than holding them to account, Labour wants to reward them.

This is a clear conflict of interest. Instead of putting taxpayers first, Labour is prioritising its big union backers and expecting taxpayers to foot the bill.

It’s wasteful, politically sleazy, and self-serving. It must be stopped.

No Labour-Party taxpayer funded subsidies here: How a real union does it 🧢🪧

Unlike our "friends" at the Council of Trade Unions, the Taxpayers' Union merchandise doesn't want a cent of taxpayer funded subsidies.

Alongside classics, we’ve just added Cap Rates Now merch so you can demonstrate your support for ratepayers loud and clear.

From "I'm not a mug, I'm a taxpayer" tea cups, T-shirts, yard signs, and banners, every purchase fuels the fight for more accountable government – including against wasteful councils and higher rates.

➡️ Check out the full range here ⬅️

How to vote - and how to vote guide: keep an eye on your mailbox, and your inbox 📨

We've had hundreds of mayoral and council candidates sign the 2025 Ratepayer Protection Pledge – and they are still flying in.

Our team are putting the final touches on the official Ratepayers' How to Vote Guide.

Keep an eye on your inbox this week – we'll let you know as soon as it's ready...

British politics update: Taxpayer Talk with the UK’s TaxPayers’ Alliance 🎙️🇬🇧

This week on the podcast, our Chief Policy Nerd James sits down with John O’Connell, Chief Executive of our British sister-group, the TaxPayers’ Alliance.

James and John dig into some big issues: rates caps, the so-called death tax, and of course, the infamous Westminster MPs’ expenses scandal – the one that forced every British MP and peer to open their expense reports to public scrutiny, after six of them went to jail and hundreds more were caught out.

What’s surprising is that nothing similar has happened in New Zealand. Despite the lessons from overseas, our politicians still aren’t required to open their books in the same way. It’s yet another reason why our Open the Books campaign remains so important.

👉 Listen to the full conversation here or wherever good podcasts are shared.

Have a great week - hopefully I'll see you at one of the Mayoral debates!

Tory Relf
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Ps. Our debate series is only possible thanks to the generous support of our donors like you. Support our debates and the Local Government Fighting Fund. Every dollar goes towards the fight for lower rates and more accountability.

In the Media:

The Spinoff A rough weekend for Labour as smaller parties muscle in

Manawatu Standard Rates capping proposal draws mixed views from regional mayoral candidates

The Press A TOP dog, or is The Opportunities Party forever doomed to ‘zombie’ status?

Waikato Times NZ’s wealthiest will be able enjoy their fortunes in greater privacy once again

Kiwiblog Rates capping is very popular

The Press NZ First and Stuart Nash want to make Labour's life harder

The Post Auckland cannot tax itself into prosperity

Stuff Why premiership of Luxon is floundering while Wayne Brown’s sailing back into office

Waikato Times Does the rates cap fit?

The Press Does the public service need reform? How - and why - it could be done

Hawke's Bay Today Mayoral debate

Crux Mayoral candidate phone poll mystery solved

The Post Inside the attack campaign testing Nicola Willis’ standing

The Platform Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich on Dunedin Rates the Worst for ED Wait Times

The Platform Michael Laws on the Taxpayers’ Union Rates Pledge Campaign

The Press ‘Cats are the bane of my life’: Claws out at candidate event

Newstalk ZB The Huddle: What can we learn from the Amazon saga?

Gone by Lunchtime Pulse check, pub quiz & predictions: live from WORD Christchurch

Newstalk ZB Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast 3 September 2025

Newsroom NZ First wouldn’t have returned to Parliament without Labour voters

Greymouth Star Police leave council abuse

RNZ The Panel with Verity Johnson and [Name] Phelps

NZ Herald Blindfolding the IRD? Government to axe info-gathering power used to shed light on tax paid by the rich

The Southland Tribune Rates capping, good or bad? Mayoral candidates have a say

Greymouth Star Rates anger boilover

Newstalk ZB Crime data: Reduction in overall violent crime victims, but uptick in victims of sexual assault

Kiwiblog 2025 Local Govt CEO Salaries

Wakato Times On board the Peters train, heading back to the past

The Bradbury Group Chris Hipkins - Can Labour Win in 2026? | Panel - Arena Williams, John Tamihere, Craig Renney | Bradbury Group

Otago Daily Times Reserve Bank chair resigns with immediate effect

Croaking Cassandra Weak minister, weak institutions

NZ Herald Covid inquiry legal advice for Dame Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Grant Robertson, Ayesha Verrall cost taxpayer $70k

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.
Authorised by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union, Level 4, 117 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011.

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Hi [Name],
NEW POLL: National up, ACT down, centre-left could form Govt 📊
Our latest Taxpayers’ Union–Curia Poll is out, and it’s mixed news for the centre-right. While Christopher Luxon's personal numbers are up, overall, it's bad news for the Government.
Labour hold on to its spot as the largest party, up 0.2 points from last month to 33.8 percent. National gained 1.3 points to 33.1 percent.
The Greens gain 0.9 points to 10.7 percent, while New Zealand First gains 0.3 points to 8.1 percent. ACT drop 1.9 points to 6.7 percent, while Te Pāti Māori gains 1.1 point to 4.3 percent.
On these numbers, the centre-left bloc would hold 61 seats – just enough to form a government – while the centre-right is out of Government dropping to 60 seats. Labour and National are now deadlocked on 42 seats each after ACT drop three seats.
With this close result, and last month's poll showing a hung Parliament, the only takeaway can be: next year's election is going to be a nail-biter.
As for the issues, the cost of living remains voters’ top concern, climbing 3.1 points to 27.5 percent. The broader economy follows on 16.1 percent, with health, employment, and taxes rounding out the top five.
More information about the poll, including preferred PM numbers, are available here. <http://www.taxpayers.org.nz/augpoll2025_250808>
2025 Mayoral Debates: Coming to a town hall near you 🗳️🎤
After the success of the Wellington Mayoral Debate, hosted by our student leaders at Generation Screwed, <https://www.youtube.com/watch we're now undertaking a series ratepayer debates across the country.
Come along and hear your mayoral candidates grilled on rates, spending, accountability, and questions from local Taxpayers' Union supporters.
The Hastings Mayoral Debate kicks off tonight at 7 pm (at the Havelock North Community Centre), and we'll be in Dunedin this Wednesday (the 10th), Queenstown Thursday (the 11th - hosted by Peter Williams), New Plymouth on the same night (Thursday 11th - in conjunction with our sister-group, the New Plymouth Ratepayers' Alliance <https://www.npratepayers.nz/>), and Hamilton this Friday (the 12th) hosted by Waikato University's branch of Generation Screwed.
The events are free – just register online or turn up on the night (details here). <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/mayoral_debates_2025>
Jordan will be moderating in Hastings, Peter Williams in Queenstown, and in both places, we’ll be releasing exclusive polling. Dunedin and Hamilton are hosted by our youth group, Generation Screwed, while New Plymouth is in partnership with the New Plymouth Ratepayers’ Alliance.
These aren’t boring meet-and-greets – expect sharp questions and straight answers. If you care about what your next mayor plans to do with your rates bill, don’t miss it.
👉 Full event details and registration here <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/mayoral_debates_2025>.
End the Ministerial Maze: Time to Cut Cabinet Down to Size ✂️🏛️
A new report from our friends at the New Zealand Initiative think tank has laid bare just how bloated Cabinet has become – and why it’s costing taxpayers dearly.
New Zealand currently has 81 portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments. That’s about three times as many portfolios as comparable countries like Ireland or Singapore, which manage to govern effectively with far fewer ministers.
The real problem is accountability. When a giant ministry like MBIE answers to 20 different ministers, no one is clearly responsible. That means delays, finger-pointing, and wasted money while taxpayers pick up the bill.
The boffins at the NZ Initiative say their report is a blueprint for reform. They say the Government should be setting a clear target to reduce the size of Cabinet, publishing a timeline, and making ministers properly accountable again. Until it does, New Zealanders will keep paying for a system where everyone is in charge of something, but no one is in charge of anything.
Right now, the Government has no real pathway back to surplus. And according to the Public Service Commission are more bureaucrats now than there were at the last election (Nicola Willis says otherwise, but she uses March-to-March numbers to make things look better than they actually are <https://www.thepress.co.nz/politics/360812272/inside-attack-campaign-testing-nicola-willis-standing>). 🙄
The only way to cut costs and rebuild accountability is to rein in the ministerial maze and get the bureaucratic beast under control.
Labour Party finally announce a policy! Handouts for their funders 🤦‍♂️
Friend, as the results from the by-election over the weekend showed, Labour are playing their cards close to their chest in terms of policy announcements.
But what little we've had shows where its loyalties lie – and it’s not with taxpayers.
The Labour has endorced a Council of Trade Union policy that would see a taxpayer-funded agency set up to train Labour Party fundraisers and activists union delegates.
In other words, Chris Hipkins is shamelessly trying to funnel taxpayer money straight into the pockets of the very unions that bankroll his political campaigns.
It's taxpayer funding of the Labour Party by another name.
We’ve seen this playbook before. Last year, we revealed that MBIE staff were being paid at least $871,000 a year to do union work on taxpayer time. Now Labour is doubling down with a plan to create a new agency to run training for unions, further blurring the line between government resources and party political interests.
But it doesn’t stop there, Friend. The Public Service Administration’s recent antics – contacting foreign embassies in a clumsy attempt to smear New Zealand’s meat inspection standards – show just how much damage these unions can cause. Rather than holding them to account, Labour wants to reward them.
This is a clear conflict of interest. Instead of putting taxpayers first, Labour is prioritising its big union backers and expecting taxpayers to foot the bill.
It’s wasteful, politically sleazy, and self-serving. It must be stopped.
No Labour-Party taxpayer funded subsidies here: How a real union does it 🧢🪧
Unlike our "friends" at the Council of Trade Unions, the Taxpayers' Union merchandise doesn't want a cent of taxpayer funded subsidies.
Alongside classics, we’ve just added Cap Rates Now merch so you can demonstrate your support for ratepayers loud and clear.
From "I'm not a mug, I'm a taxpayer" tea cups, T-shirts, yard signs, and banners, every purchase fuels the fight for more accountable government – including against wasteful councils and higher rates.
➡️ Check out the full range here <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/shop> ⬅️
How to vote - and how to vote guide: keep an eye on your mailbox, and your inbox 📨
We've had hundreds of mayoral and council candidates sign the 2025 Ratepayer Protection Pledge – and they are still flying in. <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/taxpayers_union_releases_the_ratepayer_protection_pledge>
Our team are putting the final touches on the official Ratepayers' How to Vote Guide.
Keep an eye on your inbox this week – we'll let you know as soon as it's ready...
British politics update: Taxpayer Talk with the UK’s TaxPayers’ Alliance 🎙️🇬🇧
This week on the podcast, our Chief Policy Nerd James sits down with John O’Connell, Chief Executive of our British sister-group, the TaxPayers’ Alliance <https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/>.
James and John dig into some big issues: rates caps, the so-called death tax, and of course, the infamous Westminster MPs’ expenses scandal – the one that forced every British MP and peer to open their expense reports to public scrutiny, after six of them went to jail and hundreds more were caught out.
What’s surprising is that nothing similar has happened in New Zealand. Despite the lessons from overseas, our politicians still aren’t required to open their books in the same way. It’s yet another reason why our Open the Books campaign remains so important.
👉 Listen to the full conversation here <https://www.buzzsprout.com/944017/episodes/17792084-taxpayer-talk-john-o-connell-on-rates-caps-death-tax-and-the-mps-expenses-scandal> or wherever good podcasts are shared.
Have a great week - hopefully I'll see you at one of the Mayoral debates!
Tory Relf
New Zealand Taxpayers’ UnionPs. Our debate series is only possible thanks to the generous support of our donors like you. Support our debates and the Local Government Fighting Fund <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/donate_local_government>. Every dollar goes towards the fight for lower rates and more accountability.
In the Media:
The Spinoff A rough weekend for Labour as smaller parties muscle in <https://thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin/08-09-2025/a-rough-weekend-for-labour-as-smaller-parties-muscle-in>
Manawatu Standard Rates capping proposal draws mixed views from regional mayoral candidates <https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360811392/rates-capping-proposal-draws-mixed-views-regional-mayoral-candidates>
The Press A TOP dog, or is The Opportunities Party forever doomed to ‘zombie’ status? <https://www.thepress.co.nz/politics/360810776/top-dog-or-opportunities-party-forever-doomed-zombie-status>
Waikato Times NZ’s wealthiest will be able enjoy their fortunes in greater privacy once again <https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/business/360813125/nzs-wealthiest-will-be-able-enjoy-their-fortunes-greater-privacy-once-again>
Kiwiblog Rates capping is very popular <https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2025/09/rates_capping_is_very_popular.html#google_vignette>
The Press NZ First and Stuart Nash want to make Labour's life harder <https://www.thepress.co.nz/politics/360815536/nz-first-and-stuart-nash-want-make-labours-life-harder>
The Post Auckland cannot tax itself into prosperity <https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360794857/auckland-cannot-tax-itself-prosperity>
Stuff Why premiership of Luxon is floundering while Wayne Brown’s sailing back into office <https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360812838/why-premiership-luxon-floundering-while-wayne-browns-sailing-back-office>
Waikato Times Does the rates cap fit? <https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360814953/does-rates-cap-fit>
The Press Does the public service need reform? How - and why - it could be done <https://www.thepress.co.nz/politics/360811510/does-public-service-need-reform-how-and-why-it-could-be-done>
Hawke's Bay Today Mayoral debate
Crux Mayoral candidate phone poll mystery solved <https://crux.org.nz/crux-news/mayoral-candidate-phone-poll-mystery-solved/>
ThePostInside the attack campaign testing Nicola Willis’ standing <https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360812272/inside-attack-campaign-testing-nicola-willis-standing>
The PlatformDunedin Mayor Jules Radich on Dunedin Rates the Worst for ED Wait Times <https://www.youtube.com/watch
The PlatformMichael Laws on the Taxpayers’ Union Rates Pledge Campaign <https://www.youtube.com/watch
The Press ‘Cats are the bane of my life’: Claws out at candidate event <https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360813207/bane-my-life-marlborough-sounds-candidates-cat-control>
Newstalk ZBThe Huddle: What can we learn from the Amazon saga? <https://omny.fm/shows/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/the-huddle-what-can-we-learn-from-the-amazon-saga>
Gone by Lunchtime Pulse check, pub quiz & predictions: live from WORD Christchurch <https://podtail.com/podcast/gone-by-lunchtime/pulse-check-pub-quiz-predictions-live-from-word-ch/>
Newstalk ZBHeather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast 3 September 2025 <https://omny.fm/shows/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/full-show-podcast-03-september-2025>
Newsroom NZ First wouldn’t have returned to Parliament without Labour voters <https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/03/nz-first-wouldnt-have-returned-to-parliament-without-labour-voters/>
Greymouth Star Police leave council abuse
RNZ The Panel with Verity Johnson and [Name] Phelps <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/2019002558/the-panel-with-verity-johnson-and-patrick-phelps-part-1>
NZ Herald Blindfolding the IRD? Government to axe info-gathering power used to shed light on tax paid by the rich <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/blindfolding-the-ird-government-to-axe-info-gathering-power-used-to-shed-light-on-tax-paid-by-the-rich/V3QVVNVYDFBY7C6NXNCAGAUUK4/>
The Southland Tribune Rates capping, good or bad? Mayoral candidates have a say <https://southlandtribune.substack.com/p/rates-capping-good-or-bad-mayoral>
Greymouth Star Rates anger boilover
Newstalk ZB Crime data: Reduction in overall violent crime victims, but uptick in victims of sexual assault <https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/crime-data-reduction-in-overall-violent-crime-victims-but-uptick-in-victims-of-sexual-assault/>
Kiwiblog2025 Local Govt CEO Salaries <https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2025/08/2025_local_govt_ceo_salaries.html>
Wakato TimesOn board the Peters train, heading back to the past <https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/360807176/board-peters-train-heading-back-past>
The Bradbury GroupChris Hipkins - Can Labour Win in 2026? | Panel - Arena Williams, John Tamihere, Craig Renney | Bradbury Group <https://omny.fm/shows/the-bradbury-group/chris-hipkins-can-labour-win-in-2026-panel-arena-williams-john-tamihere-craig-renney-bradbury-group>
Otago Daily TimesReserve Bank chair resigns with immediate effect <https://www.odt.co.nz/business/reserve-bank-chair-resigns-immediate-effect-rnz>
Croaking CassandraWeak minister, weak institutions <https://croakingcassandra.com/2025/08/29/weak-minister-weak-institutions/>
NZ Herald Covid 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/>
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.