Dear Friend,

Following the Stop Three Waters roadshow earlier this year, the staff at the Taxpayers’ Union have been working non-stop to identify, work with, develop, and promote the candidates who committed to doing everything possible to Stop Three Waters, and put an end to outrageously high council tax hikes.

And it worked! For ratepayers, the results of the local body elections over the weekend could not have been better.

Up and down New Zealand, councillors who stood on platforms of stopping Nanaia Mahuta’s Three Waters and reigning back out-of-control council spending were elected in droves.

I’m emailing to ask for your support so we can ensure the newly elected councillors and mayors actually follow through and Stop Three Waters.

With the exception of Wellington, just about everywhere swung against mayors and councillors who support the Government and Three Waters.

For the first time, the Auckland Super City has a centre-right Mayor – and with a majority centre-right council to support him, Wayne Brown has no excuse if he does not deliver.

Seeing the writing on the wall, the worst of the bureaucrats are already falling on their swords. Auckland Transport Chair – who has lead the charge ploughing money into bikeways rather than roads – resigned yesterday.

In Dunedin – support for Three Waters has seen the Mayor leaving office – the city’s first one-term mayor in more than 50 years! Meanwhile in places like Hawke’s Bay (where the local leaders are staunchly against Three Waters), the incumbents stay in place.

This didn’t happen by accident, Friend. The Taxpayers’ Union made sure voters knew who was on their side – and who wasn’t using our nationwide signage campaign and “How to Vote” website promoted via online advertising.

But while it is extremely satisfying to see that the efforts have paid off – we can’t let this opportunity go to waste.

Friend, will you top up our Three Waters fighting fund, so we can make sure those elected at the weekend actually follow through?

So often in politics, and particularly local body politics, we elect politicians who stand for one thing, but do another.  Your support of the Taxpayers’ Union is effectively an insurance policy: We will hold to account those politicians who are all talk and no trousers.

We cannot let this opportunity go to waste – that’s why I’m asking you to join me in financially supporting the Taxpayers’ Union today.

Thank you for your support.

Peter Williams Board Member New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union