Dear Friend,

After a year of working at the Taxpayers' Union, the time has come for me to return home to the UK and take the next steps in my career.

Since moving to New Zealand to become the Taxpayers' Union's Investigations Co-ordinator early last year – it's been my job to investigate (and expose!) wasteful spending in government and at local councils.

While you may not have received any weekly newsletter updates from me, regular readers will recognise some of the stories the interns and I have uncovered. Highlights (or lowlights?) include:

• Revealing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is spending $5 million a year on paying to send wealthy diplomats' kids to private schools, an issue I spoke about with Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB.
• Exposing the Māori Health Authority for spending $1 million on a 'wellbeing' website and the shocking truth that the bureaucrats couldn't even tell us where $700,000 of that money went!
• Unearthing the staggering $417,000 cost of the Human Rights Commission's new website that changed virtually nothing except the colour scheme. 🤦‍♂️
• Uncovering that Wellington's ratepayer-funded 'economic development' agency spent $130,000 on a giant computer escape key that was destroyed after just seven hours of use!

I loved every moment in your beautiful country, and before I took off, Callum asked me to share some of my experiences with you, as a supporter who makes the work of the Taxpayers' Union possible.

One of the best things about this organisation is meeting the thousands of supporters, from every walk of life, who back our vision for a more prosperous New Zealand.

That was particularly so during last year's 'Stop Central Planning Committees' roadshow, the 10-year anniversary gala with Lord Hannan, the pre-election electorate debates, and visiting the dozens of A&P shows.

My friends at home would never quite believe the things we were doing until I showed them photos. The highlight (at least in terms of hilarity) was literally chasing Grant Robertson and Chris Hipkins between election rallies in a moving van for our fictional moving company to highlight how many Kiwis were voting with their feet: Robbo's Removals.

Click here to watch the video from the day we launched "Robbo's Removals"

And, of course, there's that Debt Clock: seeing the numbers tick up thousands of dollars a second in real time is something else

I also had the honour (?!) of co-hosting last year's Jonesies, our annual awards celebrating the 'best of the worst' in government waste.

Watch the 2023 Jonesies presented in Parliament.

It surprises many that staff here at the Taxpayers' Union hold a diverse set of political views. But let me assure you, they are all united in their desire to see taxpayers' money spent more effectively, along with improving transparency and democratic accountability to you, the taxpayer. 

I would hate to think about how much waste would be occurring if politicians and bureaucrats weren't receiving constant reminders that the Taxpayers' Union is looking over their shoulder. 

So, thank you, Friend.

To the donors and supporters like you, who have made this experience possible, I'd like to say a big thank you.

I am indebted too, to the incredible interns I've had the pleasure of working with. A role not often appreciated is the degree to which the Taxpayers' Union are helping the next generation of political and policy leaders – something I'm particularly passionate about.

Whether it be towing the debt clock around the country to grassroots events, helping research and shining the light into backroom wasteful bureaucracy, the internship programme sees Wellington's best and brightest get out of the university group think 'safe space' for Marxism, and introduce them to the real world of politics and good public policy.

If you value the work of the Taxpayers' Union in exposing waste in Government and your local council, I would encourage you to consider supporting our student internship programme with a monthly donation.

Without you, and the support of grassroots financial supporters, the last year would not have been possible.

Thanks again for the opportunity.

Ollie Bryan Investigations Co-ordinator (now former) New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union www.taxpayers.org.nz

ps. The Taxpayers' Union is always on the lookout for bright and enthusiastic young people to join as a student intern. But to continue to offer internships, the Taxpayers' Union relies on your generous financial support. Click here to set up a monthly donation.