The Taxpayers’ Union Takes on LGNZ

They’re not pleased, not pleased at all! In fact, yesterday, 16 July 2025, the Taxpayers’ Union lead a protest event outside the Christchurch Convention Centre, where Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) was holding its “Annual General Meeting”.

Protesting what, you ask? Well, according to the Union’s press release, the 82% percent of LGNZ members that “voted to mount a ratepayer-funded campaign against the Government and the Taxpayers Union's efforts for rates capping legislation”.

Some people say the Taxpayers’ Union are a bunch of busybodies trying to deprive hardworking grifters, city councillors and profligate council CEOs of their next Tesla or ivy backscratcher. Others say, “the rates are too damn high!” Now, clearly that’s ridiculous—Teslas are fast becoming out of fashion with the crowd LGNZ attracts, and they’d never get the backscratchers through customs!

So, does the Taxpayers' Union’s lead busybody himself, Executive Director Jordan Williams have anything to say? Of course—like many a yenta before him, he’s happy to spill-the-beans. Williams says:

"LGNZ are gaslighting ratepayers. So desperate to defend rates having gone up by more than 34 percent over the last three years – two and a half times the level of inflation – they now plan to spend ratepayer money to fight ratepayers."

"This is a middle finger from LGNZ, not just toward ratepayers, but towards Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for trying to get the cost of living under control."

"LGNZ is nothing but a left-wing Labour Party political campaign. Any pretence of political neutrality or moral authority has vanished with this vote."

Minister of Local Government Simon Watts was in attendance and spoke at the Cap Rates Now protest event, saying:

“I think it’s pretty clear that everyone’s pretty annoyed at this point, around the fact that rates across the country are increasing well in above of inflation. Too many examples of nonsense projects going on—and at the end of the day this is your money, it’s ratepayers money.”

Minister Watts went on to assure listeners that, alongside his officials and the Government’s coalition partners, his team was “working at pace” to have the details of future rates-capping-legislation sorted out “before Christmas”.