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Holiday update: Debbie Ngarewa-Packer's postcard from Hawaii

You'll recall a few weeks back, we raised concerns about Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer taking time off Parliament for a holiday to the Cook Islands to celebrate a wedding anniversary.



But, unlike Ministers, MPs aren't covered by the Official Information Act <[link removed]> – there's therefore no ability to clarify whether this, errr, holiday was put on the work (i.e. taxpayer) expense card.

We asked our supporters to email Parliament's Speaker Gerry Brownlee, and I'm glad to report that more than 3,800 did so, asking for the Speaker to front up.

We're delighted to report that a few days ago Mr Speaker messaged us to confirm no taxpayer funds were used for the Cook Islands trip. Fantastic!

No to the Cooks, but it seems taxpayers did stump-up for Hawaii... 🏄

But it now raises a new question: if the Speaker can confirm no taxpayer money was used for the Cook Islands trip, why couldn't he do this when we (and the media) asked the same questions back in November when Debbie Ngarewa-Packer took the Hawaii trip (and the completely coincidental $39,000 flight expenses <[link removed]>)?

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It's possible that our email campaign prompted Parliamentary Services (or the Speaker) to reject the Cook Islands trip as work-related. Again, because of the carve out MPs have from the Official Information Act, we just have no way of knowing.

And Te Pāti Māori aren't exactly known for fronting up to answer questions: they literally just ignore us when we email their press team. 

So if you've not already, please take 30 seconds to sign the petition to make sure MPs can't dodge accountability and are forced to be as transparent as Ministers on how taxpayers' money is spent. <[link removed]>

School lunches feeding pet pigs instead of kids 🐷🥪

School lunches have recently been hitting the trough – quite literally. 1News reported on a rural school in Nuhaka feeding 50 percent of their school lunches not to hungry kids, but to a hungry pig called 'Crackles' instead <[link removed]>.

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No one wants kids going hungry, but according to our parenting guide books, hungry kids don't tend to throw away food. So maaaaaaybe this programme is missing the mark?

And there was the other very obvious question 1News wouldn't dare ask: if Nuhaka school is throwing away half of the lunches it receives every day, why haven't they, well, reduced the order?!

But then, if the media asked these questions the stunt by the teachers' unions wouldn't have really worked.

Luxon says: "Go make a Marmite Sandwich" 🥪

It's taken him a year, but it seems Mr Luxon has found some common sense telling the media that if the taxpayer funded lunches aren't tasty enough, maybe it's time for a marmite sandwich... <[link removed]> Predictably, the pearl clutchers at Radio NZ were SHOCKED <[link removed]>.

But the real shocking thing on this story is that it's exposed, we think, the only person in New Zealand who doesn't appear to know how to make a Marmite Sandwich.

As a number of our supporters on social media have pointed out, poor Alex (our Comms Officer who came to us from our friends at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation <[link removed]>) struggled. The comments on the video are painfully honest, but go and review his effort for yourself... <[link removed]> 🤢

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Te Whatu Ora's finances aren't looking too healthy 🚑🚨

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From the 'the media didn't give this report nearly enough attention because it was dumped on a Friday' file, a report by Deloitte has become public revealing the state of Health New Zealand's financial meltdown.

It turns out, following the last Government's botched effort to merge the former District Health Boards, they were left with no financial controls, no regard for budgets, and massive spending blowouts across the whole system. <[link removed]>

$28 billion of spending being tracked on a single Excel spreadsheet 📈💰

To remove any doubt that the Deloitte report was too harsh, get this: Health New Zealand is tracking their entire $28 billion budget with just a single excel spreadsheet! <[link removed]>

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You really couldn't make this up. No wonder Christopher Luxon called in the Government's 'Mr Fix-it' to sort it out. <[link removed]>

High Court puts infrastructure on ice for creepy crawlies ⚠️🐌

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Right as Luxon was courting foreign investors for major infrastructure and roading projects <[link removed]> the High Court released a decision that effectively bans road building where wildlife might need to be relocated or disturbed. 

Who needs roads anyway? 🤷🚗

In blowing a hole in the Government's infrastructure plans the High Court ruled that the permit which allows NZTA to inadvertently kill bats, kiwi and other native fauna while clearing vegetation for the Mt Messenger Bypass was unlawful. <[link removed]>

And the precedent applies to other projects where, God forbid, spiders and slugs could be disturbed.


Yes, seriously.

SAVE THE SPIDERS! (And the slugs) 🪧

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New Zealand's 'bang-for-buck' on infrastructure projects (i.e. productivity) is already near the bottom of the OECD <[link removed]>. An added helping of red green tape means New Zealanders already get less roads at a higher cost.

The Government needs to act fast and overturn this bizarre ruling.

If they don't, our exposé of the Transport Agency spending $85,000 on a gecko wild goose chase in Taranaki will just be the start. <[link removed]>

Duncan Garner on the whale music for kauri trees legal fight

It’s not every day that a journalist complements the Taxpayers' Union, but we were humbled by Duncan Garner's comments on the legal threats being made against us relating to the Whale Song for Kauri Trees.

Watch on YouTube here <[link removed]>

As Duncan points out, with the mainstream media afraid to go after waste stories for fear of being cancelled, called racist, or face legal threats, groups like the Taxpayers' Union have never been more important. 

Thank you to all of those who responded to Jordan's request for support <[link removed]>.

But we're better than this, ... 😐

Finally this week, Jordan has asked me to pass on that while we really appreciate the support to stand up to the legal threats, it's very disappointing to learn of someone sending threatening messages via social media/messenger apps to to the co-director of the "bio heritage" programme Oranga (Wellbeing) Project. 

We understand the frustration over this wasteful spending, but attacking or harassing the individual involved hurts our cause and our approach of playing the issue, not attacking the person. Bullying, threats and ad hominem attacks are not accountability. Nor does it persuade the politicians (and the public) we ultimately need on board to put an end to this type of wasteful spending.

It's also not what the Taxpayers' Union is all about, and we know 99.9% of our supporters won't condone it. Please don't be the exception.

Enjoy the rest of your week,


James Ross
Policy & Public Affairs Manager
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

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In the Media:

StuffPoll shows Labour ahead of National <[link removed]>

RNZChris Hipkins overtakes Christopher Luxon <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBLabour passes National, Hipkins pips Luxon in latest bad poll for Government <[link removed]>

Otago Daily TimesHipkins preferred PM in latest poll <[link removed]>

Chris LynchChris Hipkins overtakes Christopher Luxon as preferred Prime Minister in latest poll <[link removed]>

StuffThe PM needs his political radar to flick on - urgently <[link removed]>

The SpinoffBad poll fuels flickers of doubt about Luxon’s future <[link removed]>

NZ HeraldTaxpayer’s Union mayor approval ranking: Waikato’s top-ranked leaders revealed <[link removed]>

Hawkes Bay Today‘Inedible’ Nūhaka school lunches given to a pig called Crackles <[link removed]>

RNZThe Panel with Anna Dean and David Farrar <[link removed]>

The PlatformMayor Of New Plymouth District Neil Holdom On Rate Capping <[link removed]>

The PostSome advice for the PM: tell it straight and show some depth <[link removed]>

Duncan GarnerSLAM DUNC: Did Taxpayers Just Fund 'Whale Music Magic?' <[link removed]>

The PostWhy Christopher Luxon isn’t about to be rolled (yet) <[link removed]>

KiwiblogAn expensive trial <[link removed]>

RNZMedia question PM’s position, integrity initiative for media <[link removed]>

BASSETT, BRASH & HIDEPETER WILLIAMS: Taxpayers' Union boss sued for defamation <[link removed]>

The PlatformRhys Hurley On The $1.3 Billion Bus Ticketing Cost Controversy <[link removed]>





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