Dear Friend,

After nearly three years, I'm moving on from the Taxpayers' Union to begin my career in law — and I couldn't be more proud, or more grateful. 

Louis asked me whether I'd be willing to share some of my experiences with you, as a supporter of the organisation and the reason I have been able to do such important work. 

To be honest, I wasn’t a natural supporter of the Union or a fiscal conservative so my invitation to join the internship programme came as a bit of a surprise. Now, my colleagues always like to rib me for having voted for Jacinda Ardern!

While it was unexpected, I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to learn about and fight against government waste. Now, my ears prick up when I hear whispers of officials, ministers or elected members taking taxpayer money for granted.

Will you continue to support the Union's fight against waste?

After my internship, I became a Researcher. I held to account councils and departments who wouldn't answer my questions (who'd have thought a question on catering costs would be so difficult to answer?), often having to appeal to the Ombudsman. 

Recently one of the team came across correspondence within a council labelling me as a "Friday afternoon grenade" for asking questions at an inconvenient time. But asking the questions is what our supporters expect of us.

I also exposed corporate welfare, like the $391,000 corporate welfare from Palmerston North City Council paid to Toyota. As part of that campaign, I hit the streets of Palmy to collect donations from locals (funnily enough, most people wouldn't voluntarily give a multinational their hard-earned money!) and put the questions to Toyota in person. 

Of course, there was also the Jonesies — you might have come along, or seen it on TV. I've co-hosted the awards for 'the best of the worst' in government waste for two years. Now, politicians regularly say they don't want to end up with a Jonesie on their desk!

But so much of what the team and I have achieved isn't what gets picked up by the media, but what hangs over politicians and officials when they make decisions, knowing they'll be held to account for their spending. For every story we get in the media, there are dozens of information requests we have made. Every single one of them reminds officials that there is a watchdog group looking over their shoulder.

Without you, and our financial supporters, the last three years would not have been possible. Thank you for the opportunity.

Tabitha Lorck Researcher (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 its student intern programme. But to do that, it relies on your financial support. Click here to set up a monthly donation.