Dear Supporter,
EXPOSED: Record-high $6.2 million Fire Service rebranding
This week we exposed the $6.2 million cost of rebranding New Zealand’s fire services. It's just another indictment on the merger of rural and urban services, which was meant to save taxpayer money.
The spending figures were berried in a document delivered to a Parliamentary Select Committee and can be found on page seven <[link removed]>. The expense covers signage and uniforms – not the restructuring process itself. The rebrand is ongoing, so figures will increase.
Here's how Fire and Emergency NZ spent so much:
We have consistently opposed government rebrands, which suck resources away from core services. But this one left us stunned – we’ve never seen a rebrand this expensive. This money could have paid a year’s salary for 145 junior firefighters.
It gets worse...
The culture of waste within Fire and Emergency isn’t limited to rebranding. Delving deeper into the Select Committee report reveals further incredible expenses. In the last two years, Fire and Emergency spent:
- $63 million on external contractors.
- $3.8 million on public relations and comms staff.
- $122,731 sponsoring TV Three’s “The Block”.
This absurd level of spending reinforces the findings of our recent research report Cash to Ashes <[link removed]>, which found that Fire and Emergency expenditure is skyrocketing, as it can spend its insurance levies without Budgetary scrutiny. The funding model for Fire and Emergency is simply not fit for purpose. We’re calling on Minister Tracey Martin to scrap the fire levy entirely, and set a reined-in budget for Fire and Emergency through the standard Budget process.
Government hugs beneficiaries, kicks taxpayers
The Government has confirmed that on April, for the first time, benefits will move upwards in line with wages (instead of just inflation / the costs of living). The Government has announced that they'll keep doing this annually from now on.
We say the Government should do the same for taxpayers rather than just beneficiaries. Income tax brackets aren’t even indexed to inflation, let alone wages. The result is that each year, taxpayers move into higher tax brackets meaning they keep less, while beneficiaries get more.
Council lobbies to lower voting age to 16
First, it was "climate emergencies", now it's the voting age.
Christchurch City Council has decided to use its limited resources to lobby the Government <[link removed]> on lowering the voting age to 16.
Of course, the Council didn’t bother consulting with ratepayers before jumping on this issue.
More to the point, Christchurch City Council has better priorities – such as getting its infrastructure up to scratch. We say rates are for services, not for our local councils to lobby central government on constitutional issues.
A taxpayer-funded weather service to compete against...
...a taxpayer-funded weather service
Since 1992, taxpayers have funded MetService to conduct weather forecasting.
But in recent years, our science agency NIWA has been spending money to provide its own set of competing forecasts.
Now a private weather forecaster has accused the Government of running a duopoly <[link removed]>.
It would be funny if it weren't our taxpayer money.
Victory: A dumb tax has been scrapped
Once in a blue moon, when taxpayers make their voices heard, a man named Winston Peters gets the message.
That's what has happened <[link removed]> with the Government's policy to tax ordinary cars and subsidise electric vehicles.
The Tesla subsidy would have penalised tradies and lower-income motorists. In fact, in August we revealed <[link removed]> the policy was written based on flawed advice from the Ministry of Transport (who even admitted it).
We're thankful to New Zealand First for putting the policy on hold.
Meme of the week
Click here to share on Facebook. <[link removed]>
Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
Louis Houlbrooke
Campaigns Manager
New Zealand Taxpayers' Union
Media coverage:
Homepaddock Taxes for public services, not propaganda <[link removed]>
Stuff Indebted farmers offered $6000 to receive financial advice <[link removed]>
Homepaddock False kindness is cruel <[link removed]>
The Press National's Port Hills candidate has 'nothing to hide' after council role left off flyer <[link removed]>
Point of Order Spending monitor seeks better deal for taxpayers but a blogger begs for bigger boost for beneficiaries <[link removed]>
Newshub ACT slams vaping proposals as the 'most damaging public health policy in a generation' <[link removed]>
No Minister Finally Hipkins sees reason! <[link removed]>
Point of Order The RBNZ’s staff numbers surge – but the governor warns he wants more (especially for supervision) <[link removed]>
Kiwiblog Another victory for taxpayers <[link removed]>
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New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. - 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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