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Hi Friend,

This week your humble Taxpayers' Union exposed more taxpayer funded anti-government environmental lobbyists, and the $94,000 vanity project for Rotorua's Mayor.  

EXPOSED: Department of Conservation funding eco-lobbyists to... fight the Government? 🌳✊

A few months ago, our Investigations Coordinator, Rhys, emailed supporters to expose the funding received from the Ministry for the Environment to eco-activist organisations like the Environmental Defence Society and Forest & Bird. 

It turns out MfE isn't the only Government agency funding the Environmental Defence Society, they have also received $157,000 from the Department of Conservation — on top of the $377,743 of taxpayer funding it already raked in from the Ministry for the Environment <[link removed]>

That’s more than half a million dollars in taxpayer cash for a group whose main output is lobbying and legal action against government policy.

How is it that you pay your taxes, for government bureaucrats to use, to give activist groups to lobby the government? It's not on.

If the Environment Defence Society had genuine public backing, it wouldn’t need taxpayer funding.



This isn’t conservation — it’s backdoor political activism funded by taxpayers. And with 2,533 staff at DOC, why are they also paying activist groups?

And let's be frank, reports churned out by groups like EDS can’t be treated as impartial when they’re funded by the same agencies that they also hold to account. It’s an echo chamber activism love-in, paid for by the taxpayer.

We say it's time to stop taxpayer funding for political lobbyists — left, right, or green.

Rotorua’s $94,000 Mayoral Vanity Project 🛁🍇

From taxpayer funded lobbyists to ratepayer funded adverts of 'influencers' self-promoting politicians. This week, our team uncovered that Rotorua ratepayers just copped a bill for a $94,000 TV ad starring [checks notes] their Mayor Tania Tapsell.

The so-called ‘Robe Trip’ campaign, to encourage tourists to wear their robes while visiting Rotorua's hot pools, cost $42,784 to produce and another $51,201 to air through the Council's tourism arm, RotoruaNZ.



While the Council claims “no general rates” were used, the reality is grim: the cost was via targeted rates (somehow that makes it better 🙄). We can see from the documents that it went through 15 rounds of meetings just to get Mayor Tapsell some airtime.

Infrastructure is crumbling. Crime is rising. But Rotorua’s leadership thinks undressing the Mayor — complete with robes and slow-mo — to put her on the telly should be the focus.

Call us prudes, but here at the Taxpayers' Union we think politicians should always keep their clothes on...

This campaign might be dressed in a robe, but it’s ratepayer exploitation, plain and simple.

Taxpayer Hero - Minister Brown on State-Owned Enterprises! 🔥

This week, Minister Simeon Brown asked the tough questions about underperforming State-Owned Enterprises like NZ Post and Pāmu (what Landcorp is now calling itself). 

The Minister for State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) told several of the SOEs that the Government was “disappointed and concerned” by their lack of performance. <[link removed]>

That this is even news shows how far we've come in accepting dumb, rudderless, underperformance in Wellington.

Friend, if a household owned a bunch of money-draining assets, they’d rightly ask whether it’s time to improve them or sell. Those who insist on the Government holding on to commercial duds that can’t turn a profit should put their money where their mouth is.

Take, for example, NZ Post. During the COVID lockdowns, logistics and courier company profits skyrocketed <[link removed]> – while NZ Post needed bailouts <[link removed]>!! Something is wrong here...

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Over on X (formerly twitter), our Communications Officer Alex shared our excitement on the Minister's comments.  <[link removed]>

Each Kiwi household's $275,000 share of government assets costs us money, instead of making a profit. That’s more than $570 billion in state-owned assets failing to pull their weight.

Past asset sales worked: better services, less debt, and stronger performance. It’s time to stop subsidising failure. 

Minister Brown’s words are a good start. Now let’s see some action. Sell the dead weight, keep the performing enterprises, and get taxpayers a return on what they own.

Why We’ve Given the National Debt Clock a Serious Tune-Up ⚙️

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Big news: our New Zealand Debt Clock just got a makeover, and no, it’s not Botox, it’s Total Crown Borrowings.

The traditional measure of government debt – known as "Core Crown Debt" – is starting to paint a misleading picture due to more and more debt being allowed to incur in the non-core Crown balance sheet.

Our economic boffins have laid out all the reasoning here. <[link removed]>

Cutting through the smoke and mirrors 🔪

The new measure more closely links to what the Government actually pays in interest, and it means every dollar of government debt, no matter which branch racks it up, is now front and centre for all to see.

And what a number it is. Treasury’s Budget 2025 papers project debt rising from $250.9 billion this year to $354.2 billion by 2029. That’s more than $100 billion more or $49,160 per household. You’ll need a pretty generous Afterpay plan to cover that.

This change isn’t just cosmetic – it’s critical. Interest doesn’t care who borrowed the money. Whether it’s a Minister or a Housing Agency doing the borrowing, you’re still footing the bill.

It may sting, but it’s the truth. And frankly, it’s about time someone gave the numbers a little interest.

Tick Tock, Tock Tock… <[link removed]> ⏰

Taxpayers' Union @ National Fieldays - come and meet the team! 🐮🚜

Are you heading to National Fieldays at Mystery Creek this year, Friend? We'll be in the rural living marquee (RM52), come and say hello and meet the team!



If you can't make it to Fieldays and want to see what we get up to, we'll be keeping our social media updated all week. <[link removed]>

Taxpayer Talk: Hon Casey Costello on her first 18 months in Parliament

Former Taxpayers' Union Chair - and current Minister and New Zealand First MP - Casey Costello joins me to discuss her experience as a new MP, her ministerial briefs on health, organised crime and anti-smoking), and why it's important for New Zealanders to look beyond the headlines.




You can listen to the episode on our website <[link removed]>, or on Apple Podcasts, <[link removed]>Spotify <[link removed]>, iHeart Radio <[link removed]> and all other good podcast apps.

One more thing, ...

Unlike the most pressure groups – like the so-called Environmental Defence Society 👀 – the Taxpayers' Union doesn't take funding from the Government/taxpayers.

We remain 100 percent independent with our work reliant on supporters like you chipping-in to keep the lights on.

If you agree with our mission of Lower Taxes, Less Waste, More Transparency, please consider joining as a member (from just $25) <[link removed]> or making a secure and confidential donation. <[link removed]>

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Thanks for making the work possible, Friend.


Jordan Williams
Executive Director
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. 





























In the Media:

RNZACT leader David Seymour sparks debate over bot comments <[link removed]>

RNZThe David Seymour ‘bots’ debate: DO online submission tools help or hurt democracy? <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBHeather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast 5 June 2025 <[link removed]>

The Westport NewsMayors baulk at call for rates cap <[link removed]>

Chris LynchWaimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon announces re-election bid <[link removed]>

The PostDesley Simpson rules out mayoral bid <[link removed]>

Star NewsDan Gordon running for mayor again <[link removed]>

The PostLabour and National locked in a race to irrelevance <[link removed]>

StuffTwo polls, two different outcomes – which one is right? <[link removed]>

ThreeNews6pm News, Wednesday 4 June <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBDavid Farrar: Curia Market Research Owner on how political polls work <[link removed]>

RNZ30 with Guyon Espiner: David Seymour <[link removed]>

StuffNational, Labour both lose support, ACT and NZ First tied in latest poll <[link removed]>

Chris LynchREVEALED: Council used children’s feedback to guide planning decisions <[link removed]>

The PostPolitician, conservationist, and busy volunteer honoured <[link removed]>

Waikato TimesShould the Government sell its 51% stake in Air New Zealand <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBHeather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast 30 May 2025 <[link removed]>

The PlatformMichael Laws: Peter Williams, You Want Change? Stand for Council Yourself <[link removed]>

Stuffhttps://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360706887/government-cuts-kiwisaver-contribution-mps-get-generous-superannuation-subsidy

Newstalk ZBThe Huddle: Should we stop contributing so much to MPs’ KiwiSavers? <[link removed]>



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