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Dear
Friend,
Our
supporters have spoken, and we have listened!
I
am delighted to announce that the official Election
Bribe-O-Meter is back for 2026!
The short
point is the Government has
no money.
Deficits
remain.
That means
every extra dollar of
political promises represents new borrowing (or a new tax!).
And, to be
frank, the parties are at it again. Some politicians are
playing fast-and-loose with their costings...
For
example, as exposed on Monday, the Greens' so-called "KiwiMart"
costings are a joke. They're saying they can do it for $2.8
billion.
Our boffins
estimate Chlöe Swarbrick has underestimated the true cost by $1.9
billion!
So, after
being retired back in 2017, we've had to dust off the old
girl.
James, Ray,
and Levi have been burning the midnight oil to research, clarify, and
cost all the political campaign spending promises announced up to
Sunday night.
It's been a
huge job!
And
every week up until 7 November, James and his team will be updating
you (and the media) on how much each party's new bribes promises will
reach deeper into taxpayers' pockets.
The Bribe-O-Meter,
the most comprehensive independent policy costing project in New
Zealand.
It's all
about transparency.
Friend, here's the numbers so far based on the promises each
party has announced (in 2026 dollars) over the next four years (the
usual Government Budget "forecast period").
As you can see, the big spenders so far are the Greens
and Opportunity, and it's not even close!
So much for the Opportunity claims of being
'sensible centrists' 👀
Some of the Greens' 'gimmes' are:
KiwiMart supermarket
buyout — $4.68 billion, i.e. $2,259 per household
Student loan write-off
— $16.2 billion ($7,829 per household).
Extend ACC to all injuries,
disability and illness — $96 billion ($46,332 per
household!!). 🤨
But all of those promises are dwarfed by The
Opportunity's Party policy to put all kiwis on the benefit of what they
call a 'Citizens' Income' – a universal handout.
At least though, Opportunity want to cut other spending,
which brings their net spending figure to sit just below the Greens
(read
more, and see The Opportunity Party's manifesto cost breakdown,
here).
In the lead-up to the 2014 and 2017 elections, the
Bribe-O-Meter's policy costings incentivised parties to publicly
correct and clarify policy details. As with then, we will be delighted
for the politicians to engage with our experts and improve both the
Bribe-O-Meter and voters' understanding of the policies that November's
election is all about.
As always, thank you for backing this work. Someone has
to keep score, and we are delighted you make it possible.
Thank you
for your support,
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Jordan
Williams
Executive
Director
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union
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