RIP Jim Bolger

From all of us at the Taxpayers' Union we express our condolences to Joan and the rest of Jim's family.

Our chair Ruth Richardson, who was Minister of Finance in the Bolger Government, has paid tribute to Jim across the media in recent days.

You can read her tribute here in Stuff Our economic reform was brave and saved NZ. Bolger and I did it together, says Ruth Richardson. <[link removed]>, or listen to her interview with RNZ'sMorning Report here. <[link removed]>

📌 View Online <[link removed]> | 🚀 Share on Facebook <[link removed]>

Hi Friend,

Despite the sad news about the passing of Jim Bolger this week, it's still been very busy. As more of the final council election results come through, one message is clear: this was the Revenge of the Ratepayer.

Local election results: Revenge of the Ratepayer 🗳️



A clear pattern has emerged from the local body election results: mayors who treated ratepayers with disdain have been thrown out of office, while those who showed fiscal restraint have been rewarded.

Of the ten councils with the biggest annual rates hikes (12.6 percent and above), only one mayor — in Grey District — held on. Of the top 20 highest increases (9.9 percent and above), just five mayors kept their jobs.

In contrast, of the ten councils with the smallest rate hikes (5.8 percent and below), seven mayors were re-elected. Among the bottom 20, 13 mayors retained office.

Friend, communities across New Zealand have sent a message loud and clear to stop using ratepayers as a money tree. This election proves what we’ve said all along: voters don’t want endless rate hikes,they want councils to live within their means.

Putting promises into practice 💪 



It’s been great to see some real wins coming out of our Ratepayer Protection Pledge campaign <[link removed]>.

An incredible 108 candidates who signed our Pledge have been elected, including seven mayors (that’s about 10 percent of all mayors in New Zealand) and 101 councillors spread across 47 councils.

That’s 108 voices around the table reminding their colleagues that every dollar spent comes from someone’s pocket. It’s a solid start – a sign that voters want change, and that some of their representatives are ready to deliver it.

To everyone who chipped in, put up signage, or otherwise supported our efforts over recent months - thank you for making it possible.

From Mayor to Chair: have a job on your way out... 😳



Just because we’ve got a new crop of councillors doesn’t mean we’ve finished exposing the old ones yet.

There have been some real shenanigans going on as mayors and councillors seek to secure themselves a cushy job for their post-council selves.

Take Neil Holdom – former Mayor of New Plymouth District Council – who, in a closed-door meeting the day before the election closed, was appointed chair of his Council’s new Water Services Council Controlled Organisation <[link removed]>.

The new Mayor, Max Brough, is not impressed. He’s instructed lawyers to investigate how it all unfolded. More to come on this, it seems...

No longer the Mayor, but still a picture of waste: Tory’s portrait problems 👩‍🎨



Neil Holdom wasn’t the only mayor securing a legacy on the way out. In Wellington, outgoing mayor Tory Whanau managed to leave behind something rather... artistic.

Thanks to what the Wellington City Council called a “mistake,” Wellington ratepayers have forked out $7,000 for a painted portrait of the outgoing mayor <[link removed]>. The painting reportedly shows what Whanau herself described as “Mana serving Diva” (their words, not ours). 👀

For context, the last painted mayoral portrait was of Kerry Prendergast back in 2011. Since then, mayors have sensibly opted for photographs instead. Celia Wade-Brown’s photo cost $2,000 - hardly cheap, but still a bargain compared to Tory’s canvas.

Celebrating the Government’s good news: Smaller bureaucracy, better books ⚡️



This week brought two bits of good news for taxpayers (and the Government): the Government’s books look a little healthier sorry, less sick than expected, and the ballooning public service has actually started to shrink. And not a moment too soon!

The latest figures now show the public service has shrunk by 1,568 full-time roles since the election, from 64,222 to 62,654. It’s not a revolution, but it’s the first real movement in the right direction since the Government was elected.

Not even after the cuts, there are still 15,000 more bureaucrats than when Ardern was elected in 2017. And, as we all know, most of those roles are buried in policy shops and back offices that do little to improve frontline public services.

Meanwhile, the 2025 audited financial statements show the government itself is doing a bit better than forecast in terms of cutting fat. Core Crown spending has fallen as a share of the economy, and a few one-off blowouts from 2023/24 haven’t been repeated. Finally, some good news.

But let’s not break out the bubbly just yet. Government spending is still much higher than when the current Government came into office, and the return to surplus will take more discipline and a steady refusal to let the bureaucracy bloat back up.

Getting the Government's boot off the neck of the productive economy is the only way to boost growth, productivity and living standards.

More of this please, Nicola Willis! 👏👏👏

$2.8 million youth survey comes with $7,500 of brownies 🍫💸



Your humble Taxpayers' Union has sniffed out a baker's dozen of waste stories over the years arising from the Ministry of Social Development, and this one takes the biscuit.

MSD has spent $2.8 million on a "youth wellbeing survey" – amounting to more than $350 per survey response!

And as if that wasn't enough, the hungry bureaucrats decided the best way to get schools to take part was by sending them $7,544 worth of brownies.

Under the Official Information Act, Investigations Coordinator Rhys uncovered that MSD’s research contractor, Ipsos, sent brownie boxes to 184 schools and kura at $41 a pop. <[link removed]>The perfect staffroom treat!

While families across the country are tightening their belts, bureaucrats are literally sweetening the deal to get people to [checks notes] fill in surveys. Questions include whether young people consider whether there is "value in connecting between groups".

And, just in case you worried that the survey was good value for money, check out the mumbo jumbo reports that the last one was used to create. This is what having 15,000 too many bureaucrats looks like... <[link removed]>

Should the Government get out of the landlord business? 🧐🏡



Our friends over at the NZ Initiative have released a new report asking a simple question: why does the government still own more than 77,000 houses when it’s proven to be such a poor landlord?

The report, with the short and snappy title Owning less to achieve more: Refocusing Kāinga Ora, argues that helping people with housing doesn’t require the state to own the houses. Government ownership has been costly and inefficient. Kāinga Ora’s costs are roughly double those of private landlords, and it struggles with rent arrears and disruptive tenants.

The report suggests selling state houses to community housing providers, iwi, private landlords, or current tenants. He also recommends housing vouchers to give tenants more choice and selling off Kāinga Ora’s unused land to boost supply.

The takeaway: both tenants and taxpayers could be better off if the government stopped trying to be a landlord and focused on ensuring real housing options that actually work.

👉 Read the full report here <[link removed]>

Taxpayer Talk: Cameron Luxton on the Gene Technology Bill 🎙️



This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams is joined by ACT MP Cameron Luxton for a wide-ranging discussion on the Government’s new Gene Technology Bill and what it means for innovation and regulation in New Zealand.

Cameron shares his perspective on the Bill’s Māori advisory committee and how ACT approached its position.

Peter and Cameron also discuss the Bill he has drafted to improve transparency and accountability in local government by banning unelected voting members on council committees - we'll definitely be keeping an eye on this!

You can listen here, or wherever you get your podcasts. <[link removed]>

Another long newsletter Friend, after another busy week for the team. I'll let them sleep one day.

Enjoy your weekend!


Tory Relf
Head of Comms
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union


Ps. Thank you to everyone who supported our Local Government Campaign Fund. We've had great success - including seven mayors who signed the Ratepayer Protection Pledge - it couldn't have happened without your support.

In the Media:

Stuff Our economic reform was brave and saved NZ. Bolger and I did it together, says Ruth Richardson <[link removed]>

Waikato Times Peter Revell gets a big tick in Thames Coromandel <[link removed]>

Waikato Times Is the BSA going too far - or just going its job? <[link removed]>

Gone by Lunchtime Meltdown in Te Pāti Māori <[link removed]>

The Press National’s Christopher Luxon problem is now impossible to ignore <[link removed]>

Stuff Another political poll has National slipping into 20s, left bloc holding power <[link removed]>

Waikato Times The Post/Freshwater Strategy Poll: The Coalition clings, but National is bleeding seats <>

Waikato Times School's out - Mike Pettit's in <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZB News Fix: Afternoon Edition, 14 October 2025 <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZB Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast, 14 October 2025 <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZB Catherine Delahunty: former Green MP on the new data showing 1 in 7 Kiwis believe violence may be needed to fix the nation <[link removed]>

The PlatformJordan Williams on Co-Governance in the Gene Technology Bill <[link removed]>

RNZA wrap of Tuesday’s politics with RNZ’s Craig McCulloch <[link removed]>

RNZControversial New Plymouth cycleway 'Tim Tam Alley' could be on the way out under new mayor <[link removed]>

The PostOne in seven New Zealanders say violence may be needed to ‘get country back on track’ – poll <[link removed]>

Otago Daily TimesVoter approval drops significantly for both Luxon and Hipkins <[link removed]>

RNZVoters approval for leaders of National and Labour dropping significantly - poll <[link removed]>

The PostNational steady, Labour dips as economy shrinks <[link removed]>

Chris LynchMedia Approval ratings for Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins drop in new political poll <[link removed]>

NZ HeraldApproval ratings for Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins drop in new political poll <[link removed]>

Bassett, Brash and HideJORDAN WILLIAMS: National embedding more co-governance <[link removed]>

RNZPolitical commentators Lianne Dalziel and Tim Hurdle <[link removed]>

The ListenerPM Christopher Luxon seemingly transmutes political gold into sh*t <[link removed]>

NZ HeraldLuxon blames low election turnout on weak candidates, defends methane move <[link removed]>

The Northern AdvocateLocal elections 2025: Landslide re-election for Moko Tepania as Far North Mayor confirms priorities <[link removed]>

RNZMāori wards, candidates voted down across Taranaki <[link removed]>

The PressThe headline makers of the week <[link removed]>

Waikato TimesWhy Winston is running the smartest race <[link removed]>

The ListenerDuncan Garner: Timid and weak govt is handing the election to ‘do nothing and say nothing’ Labour <[link removed]>

NZ HeraldTe Pāti Māori: Back on track or on another collision course? – Adam Pearse <[link removed]>

The PostThe centre-right now has a problem - and it is not small <[link removed]>

Three Gals, One BeehiveTough love nits and lies. <[link removed]>

NZ HeraldWards to watch, candidate quips and where’s our Māori wards referendum? – Love this City election wrap <[link removed]>

The PlatformFree Speech Fridays #131 - Muriel Newman & Bob McCoskrie <[link removed]>

Newsroom‘Some people don’t even know an election is on’ <[link removed]>

The PlatformTaxpayers' Union's Jordan Williams On Adrian Orr's $416,000 Payout <[link removed]>

One News Breakfast Political panel: Paul Goldsmith and Ginny Andersen, 9 October 2025

RNZTe Pāti Māori to unveil its so-called reset on Thursday <[link removed]>

RNZMayoral shakeup in line for New Plymouth in elections <[link removed]>

RNZFirst Up - The Podcast, Thursday 9 October <[link removed]>

The PressThe mysterious unravelling of a high-profile transparency project <[link removed]>

The PressWhy Mr 29% will be banking on yesterday’s 0.5% rate cut <[link removed]>

Greymouth Star Nats fall below 30%, left could govern: poll

Newstalk ZBThe Huddle: Does the latest poll result mean trouble for National? <[link removed]>

RNZThe Whip for 8 October <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBNews Fix: Afternoon Edition: 08 October 2025 <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBHeather du Plessis-Allan Drive, Full Show Podcast: 08 October 2025 <[link removed]>

StuffReserve Bank opts for more aggressive cut as OCR falls to 2.5% <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBBen Thomas: former National Party staffer on National dropping below 30 percent in new poll <[link removed]>

RNZThe Panel with Kathryn Graham and Phil O'Reilly Part 1 <[link removed]>

The PostNicola Willis finds a new gear as National stares the 30% line in the face <[link removed]>

RNZNational falls behind, left bloc can form government in latest poll <[link removed]>

StuffGreens and NZ First gain in latest poll, while Labour and National slide <[link removed]>

Chris Lynch MediaNational and Labour slide, NZ First and Greens surge in latest poll <[link removed]>

The PostNew poll has National below 30, left bloc in power <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBNational dives into 20s in latest poll as NZ First climbs into double digits <[link removed]>

Eastern TimesNational, Labour both fall in new political poll <[link removed]>

The PostTransport sector says forget 20% tax write-off on new vehicles - we need 100% <[link removed]>

RNZNational falls below 30% in latest Curia poll, left bloc could form government <[link removed]>

The PressNew poll has National below 30, left bloc in power <[link removed]>

Waikato TimesNew poll has National below 30, left bloc in power <[link removed]>

NZ HeraldNew poll: National dives into the 20s, NZ First climbs into double digits, centre-left bloc can govern <[link removed]>



New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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