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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  David Farrar · [email protected]

October 7, 2019 at 10:18 PM

Is holding the politicians to account worth a cup of coffee?

NationBuilder Dear Friend, It’s been another fantastic couple of weeks for the Taxpayers’ Union, with another victory today regarding the news that the Government is to stop using taxpayer money to fund the controversial Clinton Foundation, despite previously agreeing to continue…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

October 4, 2019 at 1:55 AM

Taxpayer Update: Jonesies | Wannabe despot | Sister cities

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, 2019 Jonesie Awards: we highlight the best of the worst in Government waste Yesterday, we hosted our second annual Oscars-style awards ceremony at Parliament. The "Jonesies" celebrate the best of the worst of government waste at both the local and…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

October 2, 2019 at 10:04 PM

LIVE from Parliament, the 2019 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]

September 20, 2019 at 2:04 AM

Taxpayer Update: Council numpties | Frank the Crayfish | Fees-free failure

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, New league tables push ratepayer issues into the news Released on Wednesday, our 2019 Ratepayers' Report has already made an impact in the media. Here's what Heather du-Plessis Allan had to say: You know the problem with councils? The problem with…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

September 17, 2019 at 9:00 PM

2019 Ratepayers' Report league tables now available

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, The 2019 Ratepayers' Report is now live! We've just pressed 'publish' on the 2019 edition of our local government league tables, produced in partnership with our sister group, the?Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance. Ratepayers' Report?ranks local councils for…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

September 9, 2019 at 12:56 AM

Revealed: Taxpayer funding for Ihumātao campaign activists

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, You're funding a left-wing Ihumātao campaign group... whether you like it or not! I almost can't believe I'm writing this. After a tip-off and an official information request, we can now reveal that ActionStation, a left-wing campaign group with clo…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

September 3, 2019 at 12:39 AM

Taxpayer Update: Zero Carbon | Wristbands | Police 10-5

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, Shadbolt's wristbands: ratepayer-funded electioneering? Stuff and Newshub last week reported on our discovery (thanks to a supporter using our confidential tipline) that Invercargill City Council has been using ratepayer money (about $3,000) to pr…

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  Jordan Williams · [email protected]

August 28, 2019 at 10:24 PM

Nominations are now open

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, It’s almost time for our second annual Jonesie Awards, celebrating the 'best of the worst' of wasteful spending across central and local government. The Jonesies are our golden glitz and glamour Oscars-style award ceremony held at Parliament where th…

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  Louis Houlbrooke · [email protected]

August 23, 2019 at 4:17 AM

Taxpayer Update: Fiscal watchdog | Waste at DHBs | Bunker oil

NationBuilder Dear Supporter, As you'll see, it has been a busy week. We can't cover everything in this newsletter, but scroll to the bottom of this email to see all our recent media appearances. Government adopts our idea for independent election policy costing agency It's no…

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  Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

August 16, 2019 at 2:48 PM

Thank you for joining

Dear Friend -- Thank you for joining the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union! As you know, our work holding government to account relies on people like you contributing — so we really appreciate having you on board. Thanks again Friend. -=-=- This email was sent to [email protected]. To stop receiving …

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  Taxpayers' Union · [email protected]

August 16, 2019 at 2:48 PM

Thank you for joining

Dear Friend -- Thank you for joining the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union! As you know, our work holding government to account relies on people like you contributing — so we really appreciate having you on board. Thanks again Friend. -=-=- This email was sent to [email protected]. To stop receiving …

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