Taxpayers Union Annual Review 2025/26

ANNUAL REVIEW 2025/26

The Campaign Plan for 2026 2025/26 Annual Review

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National’s backbenchers have called us the

“Government’s conscience”

by keeping ministers accountable and taxpayers front of mind.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

About the Taxpayers’ Union The Taxpayers’ Union, established in 2013 by David Farrar and Jordan Williams, is a not-for-profit citizens’ group dedicated to Lower Taxes, Less Waste, and More Accountability.

With the support of 204,000 registered members and supporters – that’s about one-in-fourteen New Zealand voters – we proudly stand as the most widely embraced centre-right pressure group in New Zealand. In fact, our union has more subscribed supporters per capita than any taxpayer group in the Englishspeaking world.

NEW ZEALAND TAXPAYERS’ UNION

The Mission: Lower Taxes, Less Waste, More Accountability The Vision: A prosperous, low-tax New Zealand with efficient, transparent and democratically accountable government

Our mission resonates with the public, and our creative grassroots-style campaigning has tangible impact on public policy.

taxpayer’s perspective is out there to balance all the special interests calling on politicians to spend evermore of your money.

Nestled just a stone’s throw from Parliament on Wellington’s Lambton Quay, our headquarters serve as the heartbeat of our campaign operations.

We also have a presence in Auckland, where our fundraising and development teams primarily work.

Moreover, our representatives champion taxpayers’ rights through speaking engagements, presentations to government bodies, meetings with politicians, and the organisation of petition drives, events and campaigns.

We maintain a constant presence in the media landscape, fielding interviews, and responding to requests for comment – always ensuring the

AUCKLAND RATEPAYERS’ ALLIANCE

Every New Zealand taxpayer who shares our vision is encouraged to join us as a supporter, at no cost.

WELLINGTON RATEPAYERS’ ALLIANCE

04 495 7914

09 281 5172

Team@wellingtonratepayers.nz

team@taxpayers.org.nz

team@ratepayers.nz

www.wellingtonratepayers.nz

www.taxpayers.org.nz

www.ratepayers.nz

Facebook.com/wellingtonratepayers

Facebook.com/TaxpayersUnion

Facebook.com/ratepayersalliance

@Wgtnratepayers

@TaxpayersUnion

@Akldratepayers

Wellington Office Level 4, 117 Lambton Quay Wellington 6011

PO Box 10518, Wellington 6011

PO Box 133099 Eastridge, Auckland 1146

PO Box 10518, Wellington 6011 Auckland Office Unit 6, 143 Quay Street, Auckland 1010 HOW TO DONATE

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is a member of World Taxpayers Associations – the global network of more than 60 taxpayer protection groups working together for lower taxes, limited and accountable government, and taxpayer rights all over the world.

Please scan the QR code to make a donation by credit card.

INTERNET BANKING:

NZ Taxpayers’ Union Inc 03-0539-0390321-00

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The Taxpayers’ Union is the most effective political group outside of Parliament. Our pressure-group model, combined with our enormous subscriber base, allows us to shape public opinion and compel decision-makers to act.

Jordan and I founded the Taxpayers’ Union in 2013 to stand up for hardworking New Zealanders by fighting for better value for their tax dollars. A core part of that mission is exposing government waste and the team is in the media doing exactly that, almost every day of the year.

We believe co-governance, and other unelected appointments replacing democratically accountable decisionmakers, is incompatible with a prosperous society. So, alongside protecting New Zealand’s economic standing, we deliberately committed to defending our status as a first-world liberal democracy.

This document highlights the work of the Taxpayers’ Union over the past 12 A prime example is the successful Stop months and sets out our campaign plans Three Waters campaign. At the time, as we head toward the 2026 election. few were willing to challenge it due to the fear of being smeared for opposing co-governance. I am proud that the Unique pressure Taxpayers’ Union not only took up the group model fight but did so with intellectual integrity Like all pressure groups, the Taxpayers’ leading with economic arguments (‘higher water costs’) and democratic Union seeks to change public policy by accountability rather than opposing winning the hearts and minds of New race-based provisions outright. We won Zealanders, which in turn influences politicians. We are not a think tank we comprehensively, without relying on rely on the research of traditional think media allies. tanks and industry groups, but our strength is translating those ideas for a The road ahead and 2026 broad, engaged audience.

As a political “battle tank,” our value lies in shaping the public debate and ensuring politicians respond. Our focus isn’t Wellington’s intellectual elite we aim to reach the talkback audience.

We continue to enjoy stronger grassroots support than any other centre-right cause in New Zealand.

On a per capita basis, the Taxpayers’ Union has the largest email subscriber list of any taxpayer association in the English-speaking world. One in fourteen voters receives our weekly Taxpayer Update emails.

As trust in traditional media erodes, the Taxpayers’ Union’s role in keeping the public informed and engaged is growing. Sometimes, we even step into the role of the “fourth estate.”

What we stand for In 2023, we updated our mission from Lower Taxes, Less Waste, More Transparency to Lower Taxes, Less Waste, More Accountability, in response to the then-Government’s increasing push for so-called co-governance.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

opportunities

A change in government alone has not been enough to correct course. National and its coalition partners still face resistance from the public service, much of the media, taxpayer-funded quangos, and a consultancy industry entrenched in Wellington.

That is why the Taxpayers’ Union will continue to hold whoever is in power to account.

A centre-right Government, however, creates opportunities. Rather than just opposing bad policies, we can champion good ones and push for their adoption.

We are already seeing results, and we expect that influence to grow as the 2026 election approaches.

The existence of the Taxpayers’ Union is never guaranteed. Like advocacy not-for-profits worldwide, we rarely have more than a few months’ funding in the bank. Our work depends entirely on supporters like you, who understand the importance of defending a prosperous, low-tax New Zealand with efficient, transparent, and democratically accountable government.

Thank you for making it possible.

David Farrar Co-founder

Unless pushed, it’s clear the Luxon Government won’t spend the political capital needed to secure New Zealand’s long-term prosperity. Our job is to push them and we will.

Unless New Zealand changes course, our kids won’t have the opportunities previous generations took for granted.

Our best and brightest will leave and not come back. That fear drove David and me to found the Taxpayers’ Union twelve years ago and it remains our motivation today.

Decades of underwhelming economic performance, stagnating productivity, worsening social outcomes and, more recently, a push toward race-based policies are a serious threat to New Zealand’s future. But the Taxpayers’ Union is making a difference. We successfully fought back on the worst of the Ardern-era policies, axing the capital gains tax initiative and stopping Three Waters, but with next year’s election looking close, our work is as important as ever.

Fiscal dangers: New Zealand is living beyond its means Our economy is fragile and the public finances are under strain. This fiscal year, Wellington has borrowed a million dollars every hour, faster than under Grant Robertson, despite what the media would have you believe about public service cuts.

This is a pivotal moment. Tough decisions on fiscal responsibility must be made now or the same mistakes of debt and stagnant growth will continue.

The stakes are too high to allow inaction.

The only true tax cut comes from cutting government spending and the Taxpayers’ Union’s role is to remind the public just how poorly government handles other people’s money.

Even with fiscal restraint, per capita economic growth must be restored or New Zealand risks becoming Australia’s poor cousin. History shows meaningful reform never happens on its own. It requires a strong, relentless voice outside Parliament to hold those in power accountable.

The fight to keep New Zealand on track for 2026 The political landscape is crowded with special interests. Without independent voices on the centre-right, the Government risks being swayed and losing focus on the path that ensures a prosperous and democratic New Zealand. Our mission is not only to undo the worst of the past but to push bold, practical reforms that resonate with everyday New Zealanders.

True progress demands vision, credibility and public trust, which is exactly where the Taxpayers’ Union adds value. With the 2026 election less than a year away, the clock is ticking. Every day of inaction makes reform harder.

The inertia of office, political pressures and entrenched policies threaten to derail the transformative changes New Zealand needs.

The media often leans left, increasing our responsibility to balance the debate and ensure taxpayers’ voices are heard. With one in fourteen voters receiving our Taxpayer Update emails, the Taxpayers’ Union is a crucial counterweight, reaching New Zealanders directly and cutting through the noise.

every voting bloc – even Green Party supporters – support capping council rates! It’s this sort of opportunity – good policy and good politics – that the Taxpayers’ Union sets out to create.

As we gear up for 2026, our pledge to supporters is clear. We will keep the Government on track, push for the reforms New Zealand desperately needs and do everything in our power to ensure that Labour does not return to office. We are the voice of reason, the champions of accountability and the guardians of fiscal discipline, working to secure a stronger, fairer and truly prosperous future for all New Zealanders. .

Local government matters too. Costs continue to spiral, oversight is weak and we remain the only organisation relentlessly advocating for accountability and fiscal responsibility in councils, where every dollar saved makes a Jordan Williams difference.

Co-founder Our successful Cap Rates Now campaign has driven a useful election year wedge between National and Labour. While Chris Hipkins is on the side of councils hike rates at many times the level of inflation, Christopher Luxon can demonstrate he’s on the side of ratepayers.

Thanks to the campaigning by the Taxpayers’ Union, polling shows that

2025/26 Annual Review

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Our Grassroots Advocacy and Persuasion Model

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SOLID RESEARCH

Tip Line Our anonymous online tip line enables anyone to blow the whistle on government waste. Members of the public can send us examples they have seen of wasteful spending, and government insiders and bureaucrats can also expose questionable expenditure. Through official channels, we confirm all stories that come to us via tip-offs. before revealing them to the public.

Official Information Act We file more requests under the Official Information Act and Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act than any other organisation in New Zealand. While only a small proportion of our requests result in a media story, each and every one reminds officials that there is someone looking over their shoulder at what they spend your money on.

Expert Advisers We work with economists, industry and outside experts to ensure our work is accurate, authentic, and hard hitting. In addition to our in-house economist, researchers, and research fellow, our external advisors include numerous former senior Treasury, Inland Revenue, and Reserve Bank officials.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Research Papers We produce reports on taxation and other areas of public policy based on original research and literature reviews with detailed analysis. These briefing papers provide the evidence basis and lay the foundations for our campaigns.

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STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

24-hour media operation Journalists know that they can get a comment from us at any time of day or night when a story breaks. We issue several reactive press releases every day to ensure that the perspective of the hardworking taxpayer is never forgotten.

Radio & TV Our spokespeople appear on national radio and TV news bulletins on a weekly basis. We maintain a loud presence on a wide range of media channels including Newstalk ZB and RNZ.

Polling We commission monthly polling from Curia on the state of the political parties and particular policies. This allows us to demonstrate that our positions are not only good public policy, but garner widespread public support too.

Digital Campaigning Our social media presence is designed to recruit support with ‘calls to action’ such as petitions and submission tools that build our support base, spread the message and allow Kiwis to make their voices heard.

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SUSTAINED CAMPAIGNING

Lobbying Parliament Our regular engagement with MPs, ministers and government officials seeks to build support for improvements to public policy. We also make submissions to our select committees and develop tools to make it easier for our supporters to do so too.

Building Coalitions No one has a monopoly on good ideas. We often work with other groups from across the political spectrum from both here and overseas to build broader support for our policy objectives.

Organising Activists Our volunteers across the country are key to our effective volunteer effort, delivering petition cards, hosting yard signs, and amplifying our messages.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Grassroots Engagement We take our messages out to people across New Zealand through our regular attendance at Fieldays and agricultural shows as well as our nationwide roadshow tours for our large-scale campaigns.

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POLICY VICTORIES

IRD sharing sensitive taxpayer information with social media companies

Nosey Parker

Give elected councillors the rights to access information about their councils

Stop Three Waters

Reintroduction of referenda on Māori wards

Auckland Transport returned to Auckland Council

Our team

Board

Our approach to recruitment

Hon Ruth Richardson Chair

The Taxpayers’ Union might seem like an organisation of contrasts. Our staff tend to be young, while our volunteer Board embodies the Union’s campaign style of being both fun and thoughtful.

It’s no secret that many former staff and Board members have gone on to senior roles within Government. A former Taxpayers’ Union Chair is now a Cabinet Minister, and nearly a dozen of our alumni hold positions across the Beehive and Parliament.

Hon John Boscowan

In fact, a Chief of Staff from one of the governing parties recently described the Taxpayers’ Union as “the nursery of talent” for future policy, political, campaigning, and communications experts on the centre-right.

Board Member

The left has student politics and trade unions to develop their next generation. We are proud that, even though our student internship programme is less than a decade old, New Zealand is already seeing the benefits of equipping the next generation of centre-right leaders.

We thank all of those who have invested in the Taxpayers’ Union and made the work to date possible.

Chris Milne Board Member

Hon Ruth Richardson

Minister of Finance (1990-1993)

Dr. John Harman Board Member

Co-founders

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

David Farrar

Jordan Williams

Co-founder

Co-founder & Executive Director

Staff James Ross

Tory Relf

Head of Policy and Legislative Affairs

Head of Communications

Michelle van der Veer

Amber Tatton

Sara Leckie

Development Manager

Grassroots Fundraising Coordinator

Office & Finance Manager

Ray Deacon

Matthew Larsen

Sandra Conroy

Economist

Graphic Designer

Executive Assistant to Jordan Williams

Rhys Hurley

Austin Ellingham-Banks

Levi Gibbs

Investigations Coordinator

Policy Analyst

Senior Researcher

Ella Dickson

Tyler Groenewald

Rafe Beaman

Communications Officer

Communications Officer and Generation Screwed Coordinator

Intern

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Campaign Priority 1: Promoting the good

Promoting the good Cap Rates Now New Zealanders have had enough of double-digit rate hikes and councils crying poor while splashing out on vanity projects. Our campaign to Cap Rates - like Australia’s inflation-based cap - remains a core priority for 2026.

The message is simple: ratepayers deserve protection from town halls that constantly increase rates. The Taxpayers’ Union will keep the pressure on the Local Government Minister to deliver on the Prime Minister’s promises to bring in a rates caps before the election.

Fixing Local Government Too many councils are bloated, bureaucratic, and barely accountable.

From Auckland to Invercargill, ratepayers are fed up. The Taxpayers’ Union will continue to lead the charge for reform, backing measures that slim down local bureaucracies, bringing in universal accounting policies (making like-for-like comparisons and benchmarking easier), and giving councillors the powers to access information necessary for effective and responsible governance. We’ll also continue to fight from our local Ratepayers’ Alliances to ensure grassroots voices are heard loud and clear.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Going for Growth New Zealand’s economy won’t thrive on subsidies, working groups, or red tape. We’ll push for policies that lift productivity, attract global capital, and cut regulatory drag - particularly through meaningful RMA reform and a competitive tax system.

Backing businesses with full capital expensing

Full capital expensing is a proven, progrowth reform that rewards investment and productivity. It means businesses can immediately deduct the full cost of new assets -machinery, tools, tech - rather than depreciating them over years. That’s not just tax fairness; it’s Reform for FIF Rules how you supercharge growth and jobs.

In 2025, the Government introduced New Zealand’s Foreign Investment Fund partial capital expensing and now the (FIF) rules are punishing global Kiwis, Taxpayers’ Union will be pushing the entrepreneurs, and investors for daring Government to increase the percentage to look beyond our borders. The system and make this a permanent solution to taxes unrealised gains on overseas growth. investments and the Government’s new “Revenue Account Method” doesn’t Championing sensible go far enough to attract talent. The spending Taxpayers’ Union will continue to lead the charge for genuine tax reform.

With interest payments now among the fastest-growing line items in the Budget, every dollar wasted on bureaucracy is a dollar not spent on frontline services. Through the War on Waste, our campaigns will remind Kiwis that fiscal discipline isn’t cruel - it’s ensuring tomorrow’s generations aren’t stuck paying off our debt.

Campaign Priority 2: Pointing out the bad

Pointing out the bad Holding the Government to their mandate When National, ACT, and NZ First were elected, New Zealanders were promised a change in direction. But fiscal restraint has so far been more talk than action.

The bureaucracy continues to be bloated, Wellington is still awash with consultants, and the structural deficit hasn’t been tackled.

Nicola Willis’ borrowing Finance Minister Nicola Willis talks a tough game on spending discipline, but borrowing continues at Grant Robertson–era levels. Budget 2024 and 2025 increased spending with limited cuts. Her path back to surplus relies on heroic assumptions about future growth and is relying on a new accounting measure. The Taxpayers’ Union will continue to be the fiscal conscience of this Government cheering the good decisions, calling out the bad, and educating the electorate on the tough choices that are needed.

The bureaucratic bloat Despite promising to cut the bureaucracy, the public service remains far larger than 2017 levels. Since the 2023 election, staff numbers have fallen slightly, from 64,222 in September 2023 to 62,654, but that still leaves more than 15,000 extra workers compared to pre-Labour levels. The Taxpayers’ Union will continue to keep the pressure on for genuine lasting reductions that deliver real savings.

Campaign Priority 3: Stopping the ugly Election 2026 Everything achieved so far is at risk if Labour, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori take power in 2026. If Hipkins’ is elected, he would be reliant on the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori and New Zealand cannot afford another Labour Government. Together, they’d form New Zealand’s most radical and divisive government. The Taxpayers’ Union will be front and centre reminding voters what happened last time Labour were in charge.

Reminding voters of Labour’s record

Guarding against a Wealth Tax and Capital Gains Tax

The electorate’s memory is short, but ours isn’t. Under Labour, taxpayers endured runaway inflation, skyrocketing grocery and energy costs, and ideological regulation that crippled business. From Three Waters to the oil and gas ban, Kiwis saw what happens when ideology trumps economics. As we did in 2023 (with ads that even got under Chris Hipkins’ skin) we’ll make sure voters remember exactly what a Labour-led government means for their wallets.

Labour and the Greens are openly calling for wealth and capital gains taxes, while Te Pāti Māori wants to go even further. These are not taxes on the rich - they’re taxes on aspiration, hard work, and success. The Taxpayers’ Union will lead the charge against these envy taxes, defending Kiwi savers, homeowners, and small business owners from another cash grab dressed up as “fairness”.

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Exposing the risks of a Labour/Green/TPM Government Our campaign to keep Labour out in 2026 is our focus for the year ahead.

While Labour tries to rewrite history, we show the public that last time they were in charge, families, businesses, and the economy paid the price for wasteful spending, broken promises, and mismanagement.

Our Role: Exposing the Risks of Labour Returning The greatest threat in 2026 is allowing Labour back into Government. Their last term was defined by extravagant spending, policy failures, and rising debt leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. The current Government certainly has issues, but it is delivering better outcomes for New Zealanders, and the contrast could not be clearer.

Our role is to translate complex failures into plain language and relatable examples, making it easy for the public to see what’s at stake in 2026.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Stopping Labour’s tax grab

Labour’s (or their Green coalition partners) plans to introduce a capital gains or wealth tax would hit ordinary New Zealanders, families, and small investors - while doing little to solve the Government’s structural spending problems.

One more election, and Kiwis could see their savings, homes, and investments taxed at higher rates. We will be at the forefront of stopping these plans, showing the public exactly who would pay the price if Labour returned to power. Protecting wealth and investment is protecting Kiwi families and that’s what our 2026 campaign is all about.

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Fighting the War on Waste The War on Waste is at the heart of everything we do. It shows New Zealanders that they manage their money far more responsibly than many politicians and bureaucrats.

Even as the media claims the Government is being “cut to the bone,” the War on Waste proves that there is still plenty of taxpayer money being squandered, and that the Government could achieve more if it simply stopped wasting it.

We rely on insiders to help uncover government waste and unnecessary extravagance through our confidential tip line. Many of our most impactful stories come from people within government, including officials frustrated by inefficiency and careless spending.

This year we have exposed: •

$4 million to play whale songs to kauri trees in an attempt to cure the trees from kauri dieback

•

$134 million on ACC prevention campaigns that prevented just 246 injuries

•

$1.2 million Christmas tree in Auckland

•

Councils spend $1.3m on international flights after declaring a climate emergency

•

A $5 million playground in Tauranga

•

Department of Conservation spending $411,875 on housing snails

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

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Tackling Local Government The case for capping rates Rates caps: Holding government to its word The average rates bill increased 8.39 percent in 2025, with a three year average increase of 34.52 percent.

Councils often justify this by pointing to infrastructure needs, but the reality is most growth has been in operational spending, not capital projects.

The Taxpayers’ Union is pushing for rates caps similar to policies in Australia (tying rates increases to inflation) or the UK (capping hikes at four percent), without requiring referenda. Ratepayers deserve certainty and accountability, and we will hold the government’s feet to the fire to make sure these promises are delivered.

decade. These reforms aim to restrict councils’ spending scope and better equip elected officials to govern what are now large and complex organisations.

A simple but crucial reform is requiring councils to adopt a shared set of accounting policies and expense We have long argued that councillors classifications. When councils use should have access to information different accounting treatments, likecomparable to company directors. Good for-like comparisons are impossible, governance depends on elected officials and ratepayers lose transparency. being able to see the information they A standardised accounting policy is need not just what CEOs or council staff an easy fix that allows meaningful choose to show them. The government comparisons and exposes inefficiency. has indicated openness to ideas on benchmarking and accountability, and Recall elections we will continue to press them to follow through.

New Zealand remains an outlier with

Benchmarking: Ratepayers’ report league tables

Tackling local government and Since 2014, the Taxpayers’ Union has published league tables comparing reform The Taxpayers’ Union remains the only permanent presence shining a light on local government. 2025 is shaping up to be a year where we turn long-standing ideas into real policy victories, strengthening governance and protecting ratepayers from wasteful spending.

In a recent speech to Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ), Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced reforms that echo the policies the Taxpayers’ Union has championed for over a

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Adoption of universal accounting policy

council finances on a per-household basis. Our ratepayers’ report methodology was adopted by Stats NZ for rates calculations in the CPI, and councils themselves use the data for benchmarking. This transparency allows ratepayers to see how their council stacks up and pressures councils to improve efficiency.

no mechanism for voters to remove wayward councillors or mayors. Rather than relying on government-appointed commissioners, we advocate for recall elections so local communities can hold elected officials directly accountable.

Local voices: Ratepayers’ Alliance We operate two distinct Ratepayers’ Alliance brands in Auckland and Wellington. Like the Taxpayers’ Union parent organisation, the Ratepayers’ Alliance exposes waste and champions smarter spending, while also reaching audiences more focused on local issues than national campaigns.

When Local Government New Zealand held their annual conference in Christchurch, we made sure that Rates Capping was front of mind.

Our truck, plastered with the faces of the mayors responsible for the ten highest rates rises in the country, was impossible to miss.

The stunt forced the issue into the spotlight. Simon Watts, the Local Government Minister, even climbed onto the back of our ute and promised rate capping to the crowd of concerned supporters.

R A T E P AY E R PROTECTION PLEDGE standing for

I Pledge that I will:

(tick all that apply)

Oppose any measures that will see the total burden of rates, levies, and additional council charges, exceed the level of inflation and population growth.

By taking local government accountability directly to the streets, we reminded everyone that unchecked rate hikes are no longer acceptable.

The 2025 Ratepayer Protection Pledge was signed by more than 400 candidates across the country.

Of those who signed the pledge, 6 mayors and 101 councillors were elected.

Support initiatives that 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 or regulatory powers.

Signature

Date

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Lasting prosperity for New Zealand New Zealand’s future demands more than short-term solutions and reactive policy changes; it calls for a bold vision where growth consistently exceeds three percent.

Our themes for policy reform promotion through the next 12 months are: Repairing the foundations and going for growth New Zealand faces a choice. On one hand, decades of warnings about an aging population, ballooning health and superannuation costs, and a shrinking workforce have been ignored by successive governments. On the other, there is an opportunity to rebuild, grow, and set the country on a path to longterm prosperity.

Tackling the structural deficit The Treasury’s advice could not be clearer: New Zealand is running a large structural deficit. Without meaningful reform, deficits will continue even when the economy recovers. The status quo is unsustainable. Borrowing is accelerating, operational spending is ballooning, and heroic assumptions about future growth and stealthy tax increases are being relied on to balance the books.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Our role is to act as the fiscal canary in the mine. While the media convinces itself all is well, the public must understand the urgency: the government must take difficult decisions now to control debt, ensure spending is sustainable, and protect the future of Kiwi households. We translate complex fiscal realities into accessible, perhousehold figures, using tools like the National Debt Clock and Debt Monster to make the issue clear. Tackling the structural deficit is not just sound policy it’s a commitment to a stable, prosperous future.

Going for growth: Policy changes for lasting prosperity Economic growth is not a luxury—it is a necessity. New Zealand is still in the longest per-capita recession in recorded history, held back by structural weaknesses that stifle productivity, discourage investment, and undermine competitiveness. Short-term fixes and redistributive policies, such as capital gains or wealth taxes, will only divide the pie rather than grow it.

Our reform priorities over the next 12 months focus on the foundations of a stronger economy:

1. Boosting productivity through capital investment Capital investment drives productivity.

Many sectors remain low-investment and low-productivity. Policies must enable businesses to access the tools, technology, and infrastructure needed to compete globally and unlock the workforce’s full potential.

4. Reforming infrastructure procurement, planning, and health and safety regulation Simply spending more does not guarantee better infrastructure.

Current rules drive up costs and reduce efficiency. Real reform will deliver ‘bang for buck’, unlock affordable projects, and improve competitiveness.

Each of these focuses is about more than policy they are about laying the groundwork for a strong, resilient economy. Real prosperity is built, not handed down. New Zealand deserves a government committed to growth, accountability, and long-term success.

2. Cutting the RMA tax

5. Realigning employment The Resource Management Act remains relations for excellence New Zealand’s largest regulatory tax, blocking housing supply and large projects. We will hold the government to delivering a genuine, long-term RMA replacement rooted in property rights and a can-do approach. If successful, this will be one of the largest de facto tax cuts in a generation.

Employment law currently protects the status quo, making it difficult for employers to address underperformance or implement transformative visions. Reforms should prioritize accountability, productivity, and performance, empowering organisations to drive success.

3. A competitive tax system to attract global capital Our tax system currently discourages wealth creation and investment. Reform must focus on eliminating barriers that drive capital offshore and instead attract global investors who create jobs, innovation, and growth.

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Investing in the next generation The left have student politics, and the trade-union movement to develop their leaders. The Taxpayers’ Union ensures the right can go toe-to-toe developing the next generation of policy, communication, and political leaders.

GENERATION SCREWED On Campus: Generation Screwed It’s no surprise that the left dominate university campuses – the centre right barely turn up, and young people are simply not exposed to the ideas of freedom, classical liberal economics and self-responsibility.

Based on the successful efforts of our sister-group, the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation, 2025 saw the full scale launch of our on-campus brand, Generation Screwed.

GenScrewed is to counter the ideas of the left that capitalism has robed young people of their future. In fact, free markets, free trade, and capitalism have enabled the current generation to enjoy economic prosperity. The risks (i.e. “You’re Screwed!”) is due to unaffordable housing (caused by overregulation of land supply) unfunded and unaffordable entitlements for an aging population, and ultimately a burden of government, and government debt that put New Zealand’s prosperity at risk.

In Canada, GenScrewed is now the most popular on-campus club in Quebec! If it can be done in the hotbed of French-speaking North American socialism, we can make our own mark on New Zealand campuses!

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

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STUDENT INTERNSHIPS:

Sowing the seeds of fiscal restraint in tomorrow’s leaders With New Zealand’s universities dominated by the left, we are often approached by enthusiastic, like-minded university students wanting help to develop their public policy, advocacy, and research skills.

If you would like to sponsor an intern, or make a legacy gift towards developing the leaders of tomorrow, please contact our Development Manager, Michelle van der Veer, on 027 226 0868.

You can ensure the next generation of young leaders are properly armed to take on those trained by the student and industrial unions.

RECENT INTERNSHIP GRADUATES Austin EllinghamBanks

Intern (Former)

Austin is a former research intern, recently promoted to become a Policy Analyst in our research team. He is currently in his third year at Victoria University, undertaking a Bachelor of Law. As well as helping with day-to-day investigations into government waste – including breaking the whale songs for Kauri trees story in early 2025 – Austin undertakes research projects on topics such as Capital Gains Tax and the Greens’ proposed fiscal policies.

Phoenix Dingle Intern (Former) Phoenix was a former research intern who joined the team in 2024 and recently left to work overseas.

While at the Taxpayers’ Union, she worked on day-to-day investigations into government waste, compiling extensive Official Information Act responses and also worked behind the scenes on the Taxpayer Talk podcast.

Porky the Waste Hater

Friendly Mascot

Ella Dickson Intern (Former)

Ella began as an intern while studying for a Bachelor of Arts in History of Art at Victoria University. She has recently been promoted to Communications Officer. She works to highlight the research and investigations undertaken by the rest of the team, producing content for social media, traditional media, and our weekly newsletter.

Is this you (or someone you know)?

We are always on the lookout for great additions to our team. Do you enjoy politics and want to be part of a growing movement? Do you agree with the objectives of the Taxpayers’ Union?

Our ability to hire staff depends on our success in fundraising, the support from members, and our current workload. A background in politics, communications, law, accounting, economics, or finance is an advantage but not necessary. If this sounds like you: Please send your CV and cover letter to email team@taxpayers.org.nz

Porky is our highly visual mascot and Chief WasteHater. Porky’s role is to expose those politicians and public servants who waste money and act as a warning to the others that Porky is watching them.

2025/26 Annual Review

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Annual Jonesie Waste Awards Recognising the very best – of the worst – in government waste with an awards ceremony hosted at Parliament.

The Jonesies serve as a reminder to anyone handling public money: Rein in wasteful spending, or prepare to see your name on the big screen at our next awards show.

Each year we hold an Oscars-style award ceremony at Parliament to celebrate the most wasteful spenders of taxpayer money from the last 12 months.

Behind the scenes, politicians and bureaucrats are busy splurging your hard-earned money on a whole array of bizarre vanity projects with seemingly no consequences.

This year Minister Andrew Hoggard, publicly commented that “I will do my utmost to never be a nominee for these awards.”

Local Government Winner

Central Government Winner

Hastings District Council

Dr Ayesha Verrall

The Hastings District Council decided to put the kids in charge. They handed decision-making powers, including votes on budgetary measures, to the 14 and 15 year old members of their very own unelected youth council.

Dr Ayesha Verrall approved $4 million of taxpayer money to “cure” kauri dieback by playing whale song. MBIE entrusted Landcare Research to reunite whales and kauri trees, based on the Māori legend that they were once brothers, and that whale melodies would heal the trees from Kauri Dieback.

The very same council spent $1 million on an earthquake prone heritage building, before realising repairs were too expensive. They then sold it for $150,000, less than a sixth of the price paid.

Congratulations Hastings District Council, our worthy Local Government winner for... putting the kids in charge.

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

The project involved whale oil, prayer and playing whale songs to dying trees in the hope it would cure them.

Well done Dr Ayesha Verrall for spending $4 million on playing whale song to trees

We were lucky that a Hastings District Councillor was available to collect the award herself.

Thank you Councillor Zoe!

Lifetime Achievement Award in Government Waste Tory Whanau Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau is the winner of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Jonesie Award.

In 2024, she told Newstalk ZB that she had to sell her car “to help pay the bills,” but her office later claimed it was so she could walk to work. Meanwhile, Wellington ratepayers have been left footing the bill for a string of eye-watering projects: a $4,000-per-

household town hall, a $180 million convention centre, a proposed $30 million waterfront fence costing $5,000 per metre, the $140 million Golden Mile nobody asked for, a $43 million blunder on Thorndon Quay, and… the infamous $550,000 bike rack right outside the mayor’s office.

Congratulations, Mayor Whanau, on a truly golden performance.

2025/26 Annual Review

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Year in numbers 2,565 Media Mentions

Key Statistics November 2024 - October 2025 INCOME Industry membership and donations

2%

43

42%

The Hīkoi for Balanced Budgets

200,000+ of our podcast, Taxpayer Talk

Admin and overheads

10 Published 18,772 donations reports from grassroots supporters

64 Waste Watch stories revealed

16.6m

Facebook views

15

Major policy victories New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

Technology

7%

5%

Video views across all platforms

Views on X (Twitter)

54%

OPERATING EXPENSES

5.1m

4.5m

Small dollar*

* Small dollar is defined as donations and membership dues from individuals who have given less than $1,000 in the previous 12 months.

15 Episodes

that’s one-in-14 voters receiving our emailed updates!

1%

Taxpayer caucus

Debt Clock stops

Subscribed Supporters

Other Revenue

Campaigns Fundraising

21%

53%

Research and Policy Work

14%

2026 revenue target $2.7 million Full financial accounts are available and are filed annually with the Registrar of Incorporated Societies (Companies Office).

26 Submissions on legislation and government consultations.

6 Mayors 101 Councillors elected who signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge

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S R CAUCU

E TAXPAY

Ruth Richardson

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Lower Taxes Less Waste More Accountability www.taxpayers.org.nz

New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union