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Dear Friend,

Thank you for all the kind messages this week welcoming me to New Zealand. I'm excited to be joining the team fighting on your behalf for lower taxes, less waste and more transparency.

In the last few minutes, the Government has released the Select Committee Report and proposed changes to Nanaia Mahuta's Three Waters legislation. We are literally still working through it (we will put an update on our website in the next few hours) but given the arrogance of the Government MPs not even bothering to have officials read and summarise the 68,661 submissions from our supporters, we are not at all confident in the Minister's claim that the Government has 'listened'.  Jordan rightly took them task on the shambles the Select Committee process has been during our oral submission.

NEW POLL: Centre-Right remain just ahead as New Zealand First creeps towards 5% threshold

Exclusive to supporters like you, this month's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll shows that National and ACT are still on track to form the next government. But only just.

National's support has dropped marginally by one point from October to 38% while Labour has increased by one point to 35%. Both ACT and the Greens are up one point each to 10% and 8% respectively. 

NZ First is up 1.7 points to 3.8% and getting closer to the 5% threshold to enter Parliament while TOP is on 2.1%, the Māori Party sits 1.6% and New Conservatives have 0.9%.

This means that Centre-Right could still govern alone although have dropped back 1 seat from last month to 62 seats. The Centre-Left is up 2 seats from 54 to 56.

Visit our website for more information and details on how to get access to the full polling report.

Who took home the bacon? Jonesie Waste Awards 2022

On Wednesday, we put on our tuxes and headed down to the Beehive to present the annual Jonesie Awards for Government Waste. Each year, we recognize the most outrageous and audacious ways in which central and local government spend your hard-earned taxes. 

Our judges had a hard time picking the winners as there were so many worthy contenders to choose from. If you missed the awards and want to find out who was honoured with the award of a golden pig, you can catch up now by clicking on the video below.

Water Users' Group: Success as appeal can go ahead

Last week, we updated all of those who have put their name to the "Stop Three Waters!" petition about the legal efforts of the Water Users' Group whom the Taxpayers’ Union has supported as part of the Stop Three Waters! campaign. They had already successfully made the case that a summary of the legal advice presented to cabinet on Three Waters should remain in the public domain, but the judge did not agree that it should be published in full.

I am happy to report that the Water Users’ Group have been granted leave to ask the Court of Appeal to order the disclosure of Crown Law’s advice to the Minister. Remember, Nanaia Mahuta used the legal advice to justify the requirement for the governance arrangements (i.e. co-governance) in her Three Waters proposal. Given its far reaching implications, we say that it is only right that all New Zealanders should be able to see what the advice says.

We will keep you updated on progress. 

Jordan's Guide to How the Government Spends Your Money

Did you know that Government spending makes up a staggering 42 per cent of the whole New Zealand economy? It's perhaps not surprising given that the tax take is at an all-time high, but are taxpayers really getting good value for money?

For the new Common Room website, Jordan gives us a quick rundown of the four different ways to spend money. He explains why the easiest way is to spending someone else’s money on someone else, which leads to much wasteful spending.

This week on Taxpayer Talk with Peter Williams

Peter Williams is back to host this week's Taxpayer Talk podcast, interviewing one the He Puapua report's authors, Auckland University's Dr Claire Charters. Dr Charters's research has focused on indigenous peoples’ rights in international and constitutional law, including how the Treaty of Waitangi should interact with our legal system.

They discuss the Government's controversial He Puapua report that, among other things, recommends a separate  Māori court system, health system and parliament. Peter and Claire discuss what path New Zealand's constitution should be taking and whether co-governance has a place within New Zealand. 

Also this week, Peter discusses some of the correspondence sent through to him by the listeners.

Listen to the episode | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio

One more thing

The generous support of our members and supporters like you is what makes our our work holding the Government and councils to account possible. To back our shared mission of Lower Taxes, Less Waste, and More Transparency, click here to donate via our secure website.

Thank you for your continued support.

Yours aye,

Callum Purves Campaigns Manager New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Media coverage:

NZ Herald Politics and money: Poll gives a bit fat no to taxpayers funding political parties instead of donations

Newstalk ZB The Huddle: The best way to donate, influencers escaping Iran, and Kanye West losing his brand deal 

Newsroom Govt advised to lower voting age after poor local election turnout

Stuff Shakeup for local government proposes widespread change

Newstalk ZB Auckland Ratepayers' Alliance spokesperson calls for resignations from Auckland Council's executive team

Newstalk ZB The Huddle: Solutions to profiteering and COP27 headlines

Capital NZ Wellington City Council takes home golden pig award for wasteful expenditure