Dear Supporter,

New league tables push ratepayer issues into the news

Released on Wednesday, our 2019 Ratepayers' Report <[link removed]> has already made an impact in the media.

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Here's what Heather du-Plessis Allan had to say <[link removed]>:

You know the problem with councils? The problem with councils is twofold. I mean it’s many fold, but two really stick out.

Number one: not sticking to their knitting. Number two: the numpties running for council.

That’s the conclusion you reach when you look at the rates report card the Taxpayers’ Union’s put out today. It’s mind boggling when you realise how much debt some of the councils have around the country.

We couldn't agree more. Here's just one metric tracked in the Report:



--> Log in to the Report here to find out how your council compares. <-- <[link removed]>

Jordan Williams joined Kerre McIvor on Newstalk ZB to discuss the Report in more depth. Listen here <[link removed]>.

The report also made the front page of the Dominion Post, which described Wellington region ratepayers as "Pumped up & over-rated" thanks to fuel prices and rate hikes <[link removed]>.



Meanwhile, local newspapers are poring through the league tables, with reports published in the Bay of Plenty Times, the Timaru Herald, the Taupo Times, the Rotorua Daily Post, and many more on the way.

Thank you to our financial supporters <[link removed]> who make this work possible.

Wellington Regional Council spends $6,000 on a man in crayfish suit

A small but typical example of the culture of waste driving high rates: Wellington Regional Council is spending around $67,000 on its "Frank the Crayfish" education campaign, including $6,000 for the costume and actor.

Frank stars in "quirky" environmental ads, warning against burning treated wood and driving on the beach.

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After we exposed the cost (leading to coverage on Seven Sharp <[link removed]>) one council employee skited to the local newspaper that we had generated publicity for the campaign. Our response: you're welcome!

Taxpayer dollars given to influencers a prime example of waste

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1 News reports <[link removed]> that the Government has spent $8 million on social media influencers since 2012.

This is an eye-watering figure. One person on the average wage would have to pay tax for 853 years to cover the payments to Instagram stars holidaying in New Zealand.

Private businesses can and do spend their own money on advertising to tourists, including with influencers. Then there are industry peak bodies that can promote New Zealand as a whole. The Government’s decision to throw other people's money at influencers stinks of entitlement and a desperate urge to appear hip and relevant.

Why do agencies like Oranga Tamariki (the rebranded child welfare agency) even think advertising is part of their ambit? Oranga Tamariki is meant to be focused on protecting children.

Students enjoying "fees-free" lifestyle are failing their courses



New data shows <[link removed]> that a third of the students who took up the Government's "fees-free" policy failed or withdrew from at least one of their courses last year.

Who's surprised? If you only went to university once it became free, it is not surprising that you weren’t likely to be successful. Heavy subsidies have just encouraged less-committed students to give tertiary study a crack at the taxpayer's expense.

As we argued in our 2017 report,Robin Hood Reversed <[link removed]>, the big winners from fees-free are the students who would have attended university anyway, but now get a big subsidy to their studies. Future doctors, lawyers, and engineers are enjoying a taxpayer-funded university lifestyle at the expense of the young people who went straight from school to productive work.

"The Mayor protects me"

Our sister group, the Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance <[link removed]>, is highlighting stunning arrogance within the local Council. The video below is of Ludo Campbell-Reid, the Mayor's so-called "design champion".

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Click here to watch on Facebook. <[link removed]>

He outlines the council's approach to design: ignore consultation, sneak through changes.

Voting for local elections opens today, and closes on October 12. Our advice to ratepayers: vote out mayors who allow unelected bureaucrats to ignore ratepayers.

Have a great weekend,


Louis Houlbrooke
Communications Officer
New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

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Media coverage: <[link removed]> <[link removed]>

Stuff  Fraser Whineray to replace Christopher Luxon as Business Advisory Council chairman <[link removed]>

Taupo TimesTaupō mayoral hopefuls cast for votes <[link removed]>

Dominion Post  Wellington region's residents paying some of the highest rates in the country <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZB  HDPA: New report proves local councils are being run by numpties <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZB  Jordan Williams and Kerre McIver <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZB  Western Bay of Plenty mayor defends district's high rates <[link removed]>

The Timaru Herald  Mackenzie slips to second lowest average rates in New Zealand <[link removed]>

Rotorua Daily Post  Ratepayers' Report: Partnership funding helping keep Rotorua rates mid-pack <[link removed]>

Bay of Plenty Times  Rates high: Western Bay now has second-highest rates bills in country <[link removed]>

Southland Times  Queenstown Lakes chief executive Mike Theelen's pay increased to $356k <[link removed]>

Seven Sharp  Remarkable case of council spending raising eyebrows in Wellington <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBCrayfish costume revealed to have cost capital $6,000 <[link removed]>

Stuff  Frank the crayfish costs Wellington ratepayers $16k - and counting <[link removed]>

NZ Adviser  KiwiBuild reset is potentially dangerous for taxpayers <[link removed]>

Homepaddock  KiwiBuild failed <[link removed]>

Politik  How Twyford failed with KiwiBuild and how he will now help resuscitate it <[link removed]>





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