Louis Houlbrooke, Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

August 7, 2020 at 12:39 AM

This is a $90,000 email

NationBuilder Dear Friend, The Government is borrowing $1,125 every second. So by the time you read to the bottom of this email, another $90,000 will be added to our national mortgage. This debt will continue to grow until at least 2024, when it is forecast to total $200 billion …

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

August 4, 2020 at 10:54 PM

Taxpayer Update: Damning report | Green manifesto | Debt Monster selfie

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Damning report on Provincial Growth Fund confirms pork barrelling, conflicts, and worse A damning new report from the Auditor-General has confirmed what your humble Taxpayers' Union has been saying about the Provincial Growth Fund all along. He …

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

July 24, 2020 at 12:32 AM

Taxpayer Update: He’s green, he’s hairy, and he’s coming for your kids

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, He’s green, he’s hairy, and he’s coming for your kids This week we introduced a new character to New Zealand politics – the Debt Monster. The Debt Monster is stalking politicians of all stripes as they campaign across the country. He loves it wh…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

July 15, 2020 at 4:21 AM

Here's who won a "Jonesie" for wasting your money

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, We've had a big day hosting our third annual Jonesie Awards, celebrating the best of the worst of government waste from the last 12 months. --> Click here to watch the full ceremony <-- If you just want to know who won, scroll down. Behind the…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

July 14, 2020 at 11:04 PM

LIVE from Parliament, the 2020 Jonesie Awards for Government Waste

NationBuilder Dear Friend, The team are about to kick-off the annual Jonesie Awards for government waste at Parliament. The Jonesie Awards match the spirit of the annual entertainment awards season – complete with golden swine trophies – to recognise the best of the worst of gove…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

July 8, 2020 at 10:11 PM

Taxpayer Update: Rio Tinto | Posters | Envy tax

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Pay back the money, Rio Tinto This morning it was announced that Rio Tinto plans to close operations at its Tiwai Point smelter near Invercargill. This comes after Rio Tinto received a $30 million bailout from taxpayers in 2013 to “future proof…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

June 29, 2020 at 3:32 AM

The Green Party just put taxpayers in the firing line

NationBuilder Dear Friend, I am seriously concerned about this year's election. The Green Party have just received fawning media coverage for their newest policy package: a new tax on wealth, higher income taxes, and massive hikes to benefits. At the very time we need to get New…

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  Louis Houlbrooke, Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

June 29, 2020 at 12:02 AM

Nominations are now open

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, The invites have been sent, the red carpet booked, pig trophies polished, and Porky's tux is back from the dry cleaner. All that's needed now is your nominations for the 2020 Jonesies. The Jonesies are our golden glitz and glamour Oscars-style award …

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

June 24, 2020 at 7:30 PM

Taxpayer Update: Ihumātao | Sack Dr Clark | Posters investigated

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Will Winston put the kibosh on the Ihumātao deal? After months of delays, it's been reported again that the Government is on the verge of purchasing the land at Ihumātao using $30 million of taxpayer money. This would be a disgraceful capitulati…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

June 18, 2020 at 1:15 AM

Trevor Mallard won't like this.

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Last year, Parliament's Speaker Trevor Mallard announced the opening of an "architecturally-designed" playground on Parliament's front lawn. Until just recently, the Taxpayers' Union were the only ones asking questions about the cost. We had a s…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

June 12, 2020 at 10:14 PM

Taxpayer Update: Statue madness | Taxpayer-funded propaganda | $4000 for tea

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Statue controversy is pathetic We are currently facing the economic fallout of a literal pandemic. But our country's media and politicians have decided the biggest issue affecting New Zealanders is whether or not our statues are racist. On Thurs…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

June 10, 2020 at 10:06 PM

There are 100 days left

NationBuilder Dear Friend, There are now just 100 days until New Zealanders vote on 19 September. The result of the election will determine whether politicians like Jacinda Ardern, Winston Peters, and the Greens will be in charge of managing terrifying amounts of government deb…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

May 29, 2020 at 11:06 PM

Taxpayer Update: Race-based hospital waiting lists | Chch rates U-turn | Public health follies

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, DHB prioritises patients according to race We were amazed to find out this week that Wellington's DHB now has a policy which moves Māori and Pacific patients to the front of their elective surgery queues. We all pay tax into the health system wi…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

May 22, 2020 at 3:32 AM

Taxpayer Update: What will PM Muller do | Race-based funding | Pork 🐷

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, The National Party has a new Leader This afternoon, Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller successfully challenged Simon Bridges for the National Party Leadership. While we don't endorse political parties, we watch National very closely as a party of 'lim…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

May 18, 2020 at 9:59 PM

Taxpayer Update: Debt clock launched | Tram shelved | Rock bottom journalism

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Watch Government debt tick up in real time Following the Budget’s eye-wateringly high debt forecast, the team have been thinking about how to best illustrate what it looks like to borrow $200.8 billion by 2024 (or $109,700 …

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

May 14, 2020 at 2:55 AM

Budget 2020: What taxpayers need to know

NationBuilder Dear Friend, As I write this, Grant Robertson is unveiling Budget 2020 in Parliament. Two members of our team have just emerged from the pre-Budget briefing. Below, our Consulting Economist Joe Ascroft summarises the contents of the Budget and what it will mean fo…

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  David Farrar · [email protected]

May 13, 2020 at 7:46 PM

Special interest groups are profiting from COVID-19

NationBuilder Dear Friend, Today is Budget Day, and frankly I'm expecting bad news for taxpayers. Special interest groups are successfully exploiting the COVID-19 crisis to spend your money on their pet projects. First it was cycleways and "Māori businesses". Now it's horse racin…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

May 12, 2020 at 3:37 AM

Taxpayer Update: What to look for on Thursday | 18 days of reading about rock lobster

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, This will be a big week for taxpayers. Thursday is Budget Day, when Grant Robertson will decide how to spend around $100 billion of your money. As usual, we're sending staff to the Budget Day lock-up briefing. This event gives economists, sector …

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  Jordan Williams, Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

May 1, 2020 at 10:58 PM

Taxpayer Update: More pay cut victories | Business loan bonanza | Where's Heather? | Where's David?

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, State Services Commissioner throws his weight behind our pay cut campaign! 🎉 We've had another major win in our campaign for the public sector to share the financial burden of COVID-19. Last month, we wrote to the State Services Commissioner an…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

April 21, 2020 at 11:08 PM

Taxpayer Update: Public sector pay | Winston's failure | Message for the left

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, The 'public sector pay cut' needs to go much, much further A week ago, we welcomed the Prime Minister's six-month 20% pay cut for government ministers and public sector CEOs. However, the announcement came with fine print: the CEO pay cut only a…

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  Barrie Saunders · [email protected]

April 15, 2020 at 8:30 PM

Now is the time to join with others

NationBuilder Dear Friend, The economy is in free fall, taxpayers are losing their jobs, and we have Labour/Green/NZ First Government with a ready made excuse to spend more and load debt onto the next generation. Never before has a voice for fiscal restraint and value-for-money b…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

April 15, 2020 at 1:57 AM

Policy victory! PM announces 20% pay cut for Ministers & Government CEOs

NationBuilder Dear Friend, We did it!! Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has just announced a six-month 20% pay cut for all central government CEOs and Ministers. This is the result of people power Just like the wins we clocked up with councils committing to freezing rates across the…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

April 11, 2020 at 12:01 AM

It's time for public sector pay cuts

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Happy Easter. As you'll see in the media summary at the bottom of this email, we've been busy all week with our rates freeze campaign. Slowly but surely, our efforts are resulting in more and more councils commit to freezing rates. But before we …

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

April 2, 2020 at 12:53 AM

We're on the cusp of a rates freeze revolution

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, The campaign for a nationwide rates freeze is moving along quickly. Find out where your council stands on a rates freeze With new reports coming from across the country daily, we've set up a dashboard to keep track of which councils are signaling…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

March 27, 2020 at 1:23 AM

Taxpayer Update: New podcast | Rates freeze update | Arts bailout

NationBuilder Dear Friend, Day two in isolation – we hope that you and your family are safe and comfortable in our new albeit temporary 'way of life'. It's time to pull together, apart. The Taxpayers' Union team is fortunate. We can work from home, and had already been triall…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

March 20, 2020 at 12:35 AM

Will you join us in calling for a nationwide freeze on council taxes?

NationBuilder Dear Friend, As we enter a deep recession as a result of COVID-19, Kiwi families and business owners are struggling to work out how they'll cover existing costs, let alone new ones. Now is the worst possible time for rates to go up. But, incredibly, most council…

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  Jordan Williams, Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

March 17, 2020 at 4:01 AM

BREAKING: COVID-19 - Government's package a mixed bag

NationBuilder Apologies for the second email. Correction to a figure below. Thanks for those who picked up on it. Dear Friend, The team have spent the afternoon working through the Government’s COVID-19 response package. A couple of the staff are in self-isolation, so we’ve w…

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  Jordan Williams, Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

March 17, 2020 at 3:25 AM

BREAKING: COVID-19 - Government's package a mixed bag

NationBuilder Dear Friend, The team have spent the afternoon working through the Government’s COVID-19 response package. A couple of the staff are in self-isolation, so we’ve well and truly rehearsed using the virtual technology in preparing this note and our media commentary…

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  Jordan Williams, Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

March 16, 2020 at 2:11 AM

Emergency Measures: Eight Economic Responses to COVID-19 in New Zealand

NationBuilder Dear Friend, This is the newsletter I never thought I would write, but in a paper just released the Taxpayers' Union we are calling on the Government to massively increase expenditure. This is to combat what may be the largest economic shock to New Zealand in my…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

March 11, 2020 at 3:18 AM

Taxpayer Update: Quit Group rort | Greens flying hypocrisy | Napier golden handshake

NationBuilder Dear Friend, Louis is on leave this week, but as you'll see the team in Wellington is still knocking out wins for the taxpayer! Taxpayers’ Union expose the Quit Group greed – hoarding millions of taxpayer funds 💸 On Monday we went public with information we obt…

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  Louis Houlbrooke, Campaigns Manager · [email protected]

March 2, 2020 at 7:30 PM

200 days

NationBuilder Dear Friend, There are now just 200 days until the general election Jacinda Ardern has called for 19 September. And things could not be closer.  According to the polls, just one or two percent is the difference between a change of government, and a Labour-Green …

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

February 29, 2020 at 3:08 AM

Taxpayer Update: Fire service is burning your money | Benefits inflate | Council wants voting age lowered

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, EXPOSED: Record-high $6.2 million Fire Service rebranding This week we exposed the $6.2 million cost of rebranding New Zealand’s fire services. It's just another indictment on the merger of rural and urban services, which was meant to save taxpa…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

February 21, 2020 at 1:10 AM

Taxpayer Update: Adrian Orr begs | Handouts for big biz | Homeopathy

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Adrian Orr begs for more taxpayer money Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr wants a funding increase of up to 30 percent to cover exploding staff costs at his department. In one financial year, he has increased staff numbers by 19, and he wants mor…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

February 14, 2020 at 12:49 AM

Taxpayer Update: Ghost school | Golden handshake | Valentine's message

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Revealed: Chris Hipkins forces school to open with a roll of zero 🚸 Taxpayers' Union road trip: the school with no children This week we revealed that Tuturumuri School in the Wairarapa is currently open and employing four staff – despite having …

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

February 5, 2020 at 9:06 PM

Taxpayer Update: Embassy ignores virus | 'Aotearoa' name change | SkyPath blowout

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Today's the day, but no update on Ihumātao We wouldn't usually send an update on a public holiday, but the team held this back expecting an Ihumātao announcement which failed to materialise.   Last week, the Prime Minister indicated that an annou…

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  David Farrar · [email protected]

January 28, 2020 at 9:54 PM

RE: Election be held on September 19

NationBuilder , I know in our rush yesterday there was a mistake in my email subject.  I’m sorry.  But make no mistake, the team at the Taxpayers’ Union are ready and waiting to hold Jacinda Ardern to account for how her Government wastes your taxpayer money. We just need your support…

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  David Farrar, Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

January 28, 2020 at 2:08 AM

Election be held on September 19

NationBuilder Dear Friend, Jacinda Ardern has just announced that the 2020 General Election will happen on 19 September. In effect, that means the campaign starts right now. All signs suggest we are looking at the most competitive election for a first-term Government in a generation. …

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

January 23, 2020 at 9:46 PM

Taxpayer Update: Ardern refuses scrutiny | Taxpayer funded astrology | Beehive art

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Ardern slams the door on scrutiny At the Labour Party's annual retreat yesterday, Jacinda Ardern announced to waiting media that her Party would uphold “fiscal transparency” during this year’s election. She then let slip that she has scrapped her …

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

January 15, 2020 at 9:36 PM

Taxpayer Update: Climate propaganda | Catering | Motel windfall

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, I hope you've enjoyed a good summer break. Government waste doesn't rest, so we've been busy. First things first... This week we've been working through the Government's new climate change syllabus. We've found that, rather than focusing on the sc…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

December 20, 2019 at 1:06 AM

The Tax on Christmas 🎄💰

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, For most of us, Christmas is about giving. For the Tax Man, it’s all about taking. Islay wraps up the year with a special episode of Taxpayer TV, revealing the incredible reach of the “Tax on Christmas”. --> Click here to watch. <-- I encour…

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  Tabitha Lorck · [email protected]

December 16, 2019 at 8:27 PM

My three years at the Taxpayers' Union

NationBuilder 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 organisa…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

December 13, 2019 at 1:46 AM

Taxpayer Update: The "Rich List" of public sector CEOs

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Revealed: The “Rich List” of public sector CEOs Yesterday we released the "Rich List" of taxpayer-funded CEOs. The Rich List ranks all the core Crown CEOs by salary. Together, these 140 individuals cost taxpayers $62 million in the last year. And 5…

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  David Farrar · [email protected]

December 11, 2019 at 1:24 AM

Labour’s election strategy: bribing voters with your money

NationBuilder Dear Friend, According to the latest polls, next year’s election is on a knife edge. But Labour has a plan to win. At today’s Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update, Grant Robertson just announced the Government will run up borrowing with a $900 million deficit as par…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

December 2, 2019 at 1:53 AM

Taxpayer Update: Spend-up | Rubbish tax | Slide

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Labour's conference announcements costly for taxpayers The theme of the weekend's Labour Party conference: borrow and spend. Finance Minister Grant Robertson has abandoned his party's pre-election "Budget Responsibility Rules" and signaled he is r…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

November 20, 2019 at 12:20 AM

Taxpayer Update: Ihumātao loan | Chinese propaganda | NZ First scandal

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Taxpayer-funded intervention at Ihumātao looms Yesterday it was reported that the Government is negotiating a scheme involving a loan to Auckland Council, which would buy the disputed land at Ihumātao. This land is currently owned privately, by Fle…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

November 8, 2019 at 1:01 AM

Taxpayer Update: Zero Carbon betrayal | Nanaia Mahuta | Stephen Colbert

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Has National betrayed taxpayers with its support for Zero Carbon Bill? The Government's Zero Carbon Bill is likely to lead to higher taxes on fuel, energy, and businesses – all of which will flow through to family budgets. In a move that surprised…

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  David Farrar · [email protected]

October 27, 2019 at 8:06 PM

Use this Labour Day to hold the Government to account

NationBuilder Hi Friend, Did you know Jacinda Ardern’s government is sitting on a surplus of $7.5 billion dollars – roughly $4,000 in extra tax per household? The economy is facing headwinds. Business confidence is diminishing. The Reserve Bank Governor is even discussing negativ…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

October 25, 2019 at 2:05 AM

Taxpayer Update: Siri in Te Reo | Jones vs Jetstar | Tiwai Pt bailout

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Another busy week fighting for lower taxes, less waste, and more transparency on your behalf. Revealed: Shane Jones’ hypocrisy over regional Jetstar services Last month, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones claimed he was “incredibly…

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  Joe Ascroft · [email protected]

October 18, 2019 at 2:25 AM

Taxpayer Update: Local Body Elections | Clinton Foundation win | Tax relief to boost economy

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Jordan’s up in Auckland this week, and Louis is down with a stomach bug today, so I’m filling in for this week's newsletter. Should National be running in local elections? Despite pockets of success for ratepayers around the country, the signal fr…

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  Barrie Saunders · [email protected]

October 14, 2019 at 11:33 PM

How are we doing? Let us know in our annual supporter survey

NationBuilder Dear Friend, As a supporter of New Zealand's best "union", we'd like to invite you to participate in our annual supporter survey - your chance to tell us what we're doing well, what we're doing wrong, and where we should focus our attention in the next 12 months. Cl…

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