📌 View Online <[link removed]> | 🚀 Share on Facebook <[link removed]>

Hi Friend,

We had an amazing week on the road with our mayoral debates. I loved getting to meet so many supporters, from Hamilton to Dunedin, and visiting new parts of the country that I've not seen before.

Voting is Open: Who’s standing with ratepayers? 🗳️

Local body voting is officially underway – ballots are out, and we have until 11 October to make our voices heard.



Still on the fence? Our Ratepayer Voting Guide makes it simple. We’ve pulled together every candidate who signed our Ratepayer Protection Pledge (thanks to the many supporters who helped us get answers from local contenders!) and laid it all out so you can see exactly who stands with ratepayers on rates, transparency, and accountability.

Check whether your local candidates have signed the pledge <[link removed]>.

Catch up on our mayoral debates 📺📢

What a week it’s been! As well as launching the Ratepayer Voting Guide, our team travelled much of the country, hosting mayoral debates. We hit the road with debates in Hastings, Dunedin, Queenstown, New Plymouth, and Hamilton – as well as our debate last month in Wellington – putting the tough questions to candidates on rates, spending, and transparency in local government.

<[link removed]>

Jordan took the moderator’s podium in Hastings, Peter Williams fronted Queenstown, and James kept New Plymouth’s candidates honest. In Dunedin and Hamilton, the next generation of taxpayer champions from our campus movement, Generation Screwed, ran the show. Once again, I was like a proud mum watching the Generation Screwed volunteers. They’re fantastic.

Couldn’t make it on the night? Every debate was filmed and is now up on YouTube. We’ve also cut together shorter highlight reels so you can get the best bits in just a few minutes.

👉 Watch the debates here. <[link removed]>

Rusty fire trucks, while chief execs cash in🔥

Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) raked in a whopping $712 million from the fire levy last year. But, while frontline volunteers are sent out in rust-bucket trucks, Wellington executives are laughing all the way to the bank.



Under the Official Information Act, <[link removed]> our investigations team can reveal the Chief Executive is paid $503,000 a year, with the seven deputy Chief Executives splitting $2.37 million between them. 

It doesn't stop there, though, with more than 800 back office staff on the payroll, yet across the country, over 1 in 4 fire trucks are more than 25 years old. 

So while staff and unpaid volunteers risk their lives in vehicles older than some of their crew, the suits at HQ are cashing in.

Friend, if FENZ can afford more than $500,000 for its CEO and millions more for his deputies, they can certainly afford safe trucks for our communities. Instead, taxpayers are being fleeced while frontline firefighters are left stranded.

Ratepayer Heroes: Ruapehu Council balances the books without hiking rates ⛷️

Ruapehu District Council has just pulled off something we rarely see in local government: fixing a $700,000 budget hole without whacking ratepayers with higher bills.



Faced with a massive overspend in its Community and Recreational Services, the Council didn’t go for the easy option of hiking rates or piling on debt. <[link removed]> Instead, it tightened its belt, trimming back on operations, consultancy, maintenance, and finance costs until the gap was closed.

It’s not glamorous, but it’s exactly what responsible councils should do. When mistakes happen, you fix them yourself - you don’t send the invoice to ratepayers. Ruapehu has shown that fiscal discipline is possible, and other councils should take note.

The $44K taxpayer funded TikTok chopper ride  🚁

I was in Queenstown last week for the debate, and the place is stunning. If I ever get the chance, I’d jump at a helicopter ride over the mountains too.



But, I wouldn’t be letting the taxpayer foot the bill.

Last week, Christopher Luxon thought it was a good idea to spend $44,000 of taxpayer money on a helicopter joyride over Queenstown with Australia’s Anthony Albanese. <[link removed]> The excuse? To “show off New Zealand’s scenery”.

I also understand the argument for a bit of soft diplomacy. But in reality, it simply turned into a slick TikTok and Instagram reel for the PM’s comms team.

No media were invited along, so the only real audience was Luxon’s social media followers. That makes this less about promoting New Zealand tourism and more about taxpayer-funded PR.

With families struggling under the cost of living, it’s an insult to expect taxpayers to foot the bill for a vanity flight.

NEW Taxpayer Talk with Peter Williams and Nick Stewart 🎙️



This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter Williams sits down with financial advisor and Stewart Group founder Nick Stewart to tackle a question too many councils would rather avoid: are skyrocketing rates making inflation worse?

Nick explains how council spending flows through to households and businesses, pushing up the cost of living just as families are already struggling. Rates might look like a local issue, but the ripple effects are felt nationwide.

If you’ve ever wondered why your bills feel higher every time the council votes through another rates hike, this episode is a must-listen.

Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. <[link removed]>

Friend, I loved being out last week meeting supporters and seeing the impact the Taxpayers’ Union can have on local and national politics. 

Have a great week,


Tory Relf
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union
Ps. Thanks again to all of our generous supporters who contributed to our Local Government Fighting Fund. We couldn’t have done our Ratepayer Voting Guide or the mayoral debates without you. If you haven’t chipped in yet, now’s the time – every dollar helps us hold councils to account and keep rates under control <[link removed]>. Thank you.

In the Media:

The KākāVoters & business leaders now blaming Govt for economic malaise <[link removed]>

NZ HeraldHow Christchurch became the most liveable city in NZ <[link removed]>

RNZCouncil elections the 'big race', Auckland mayor Wayne Brown says <[link removed]>

Otago Daily TimesOver 70% undecided: poll <[link removed]>

The PostBrough backed as Bublitz bites at Ratepayers’ Alliance meeting <[link removed]>

The PostWith election about a year off, Coalition jostling begins <[link removed]>

Marlborough Express Claws out at election event

Waikato TimesWhere and when you can see Hamilton's mayoral and council candidates <[link removed]>

CruxLewers under pressure at NZ Taxpayers Union debate <[link removed]>

The PlatformDavid Seymour On Tākuta Ferris' Unhinged Behaviour <[link removed]>

InterestFinancial executives feel the Coalition Government is unlikely to deliver the reforms needed to boost business growth and fix tax policy problems <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBHeather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast, 10 September 2025 <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBThe Re-Wrap: With Friends Like These… <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBMike’s Minute: The issue Hipkins has with the Māori Party <[link removed]>

Whanganui Chronicle Why rolling a PM is far harder than it sounds

Newstalk ZBThe Huddle: Does the Advertising Standards Authority have a point? <[link removed]>

The PlatformShane Jones On The NZ First Conference <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBHeather du Plessis-Allan Drive: Full Show Podcast, 9 September 2025 <[link removed]>

Hawke’s Bay TodayPoll suggests Marcus Buddo leads Hastings mayoral race, 28% undecided <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBThe Re-Wrap: Just a Little Accountability, Please <[link removed]>

NewsroomVan Velden ventures out to meet the people <[link removed]>

Newstalk ZBNews Fix: Afternoon Edition, 8 September 2025 <[link removed]>

Otago Daily TimesLetters to the Editor: Ratepayer Pledge, Health, Language <[link removed]>

MSNCoalition loses power in new political poll <[link removed]>

RNZPM says country 'thinking and praying' for shot police officer <[link removed]>

Chris Lynch MediaPoll shows National gain but coalition numbers slip <[link removed]>

RNZCoalition loses power in new political poll <[link removed]>

RNZPolitical commentators Morten and Jones <[link removed]>

The PostLatest poll suggests left bloc could form a Government <[link removed]>

StuffNew Taxpayers’ Union poll sees coalition ousted - but there’s good news for Luxon <[link removed]>

RNZNew Zealand First AGM about projecting unity, stability, common sense <[link removed]>

NZ HeraldNew poll: Left-wing parties could form Government, but close race predicted <[link removed]>

Eastern TimesNew political poll shows National up, but unable to form Government <[link removed]>

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
This email was sent to [email protected]. To change your email preferences, click here <[link removed]>.
Authorised by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union, Level 4, 117 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011.