The anti-democrats NZ tea party

82 comments on “The anti-democrats NZ tea party ”

• Comments are now closed

1. Sable 1

   30 October 2013 at 10:31 am

   Hang on, haven’t we already had a referendum on MMP. Sorry if I’m missing something here….
   • karol 1.1

     30 October 2013 at 10:40 am

     Yes, that article about campaigning against MMP was from 2011. It was related to the MMP review. The reason for mentioning it is that it was the same people involved in the anti-MMP campaign as in this “Union of taxpayers” announced today. I’ll add the 2011 date to that part of the post to avoid confusion.
     • Olivier Jutel 1.1.1

       30 October 2013 at 10:49 am

       Hi Karol,
       I host ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ on Radio One in Dunedin. Its Friday mornings 10-12. I’d love to have you on to talk about this “union”. DO you want to flick me an e-mail? Cheers, Olivier
       • karol 1.1.1.1

         30 October 2013 at 11:01 am

         Thanks, Olivier, but I’m not that keen on doing voice interviews.
         • McFlock 1.1.1.1.1

           30 October 2013 at 4:32 pm

           Looks like the revolution won’t be FM broadcast, either 🙂
     • Sable 1.1.2

       31 October 2013 at 2:01 pm

       Thanks Karol.
2. wyndham 2

   30 October 2013 at 10:46 am

   I thought we currently have the Association of Consumers and TAXPAYERS. Have they now become a “Union”?
   • Draco T Bastard 2.1

     30 October 2013 at 2:23 pm

     ACT is dying so I suppose that they’re trying to morph into something new that they hope people will vote for.
     • Augustus 2.1.1

       30 October 2013 at 2:35 pm

       ACT voters pay tax?
       • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.1

         30 October 2013 at 3:50 pm

         Not if they can help it but they’ll say that they do.
3. vto 3

   30 October 2013 at 10:46 am

   It’s just Act again isn’t it? Wasn’t that political party also called similar “Association of Consumers and Taxpayers”?

   What a bunch of silly billys
4. Tat Loo (CV) 4

   30 October 2013 at 10:54 am

   I think we might be going about this the wrong way, Karol. Let’s all join up and take over the bloody thing.

   Let’s get 10,000 CTU affiliate members onboard.

   If its a union then its got a democratic constitution, right?

   So let’s see it! 🙂
   • Chris 4.1

     30 October 2013 at 11:03 am

     I would imagine the fees set to belong to this unholy union will be exorbitant, shutting out 95% of taxpayers and ratepayers.
     • karol 4.1.1

       30 October 2013 at 11:08 am

       No it’s just $5.00 but donations encouraged.
   • karol 4.2

     30 October 2013 at 11:07 am

     Heh. Good point, Tat. Looking at their website “about” pages – looks more like a corporate entity which is governed by a “Board”., with executive director etc. Nothing about them having been democratically elected to these positions – very top down. Modeled on the UK taxpayers alliance and that is modeled on campaign in the US and elsewhere.

     Basically they are more lobbyists than a “union”.
   • SpaceMonkey 4.3

     30 October 2013 at 11:27 am

     Ah!… ye olde culture hack… nice idea CV! I reckon this “union” is going to get quite a bit of MSM coverage as though it is talking for the people… we can see it’s the ACT party on steroids. They fooled me once… never again!
5. Penny Bright 5

   30 October 2013 at 11:08 am

   FYI

   The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union (and any other group / organisation / political party) is welcome to help help themselves to any of the following:

   http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/ANTI-CORRUPTION-WHITE-COLLAR-CRIME-CORPORATE-WELFARE-ACTION-PLAN-Ak-Mayoral-campaign-19-July-2013-2.pdf

   Some of us have been ‘blowing the whistle’ long and hard for some time on these issues.

   http://www.pennybright4epsom.org.nz
   http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
   http://www.stopthesupercity.org.nz

   I guess that the Auckland Council Mayoral result has proved that increasing numbers of the voting public are ‘getting it’, regarding the lack of transparency and democratic accountability, particularly in the Auckland region?

   In my considered opinion, in some cases the legislation is already there, but it is simply not being implemented.

   eg: the Public Records Act 2005

   http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345729.html

   Part 2
   Recordkeeping requirements
   Subpart 1—Key duties

   17 Requirement to create and maintain records

   (1) Every public office and local authority must create and maintain full and accurate records of its affairs, in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, including the records of any matter that is contracted out to an independent contractor.

   (2) Every public office must maintain in an accessible form, so as to be able to be used for subsequent reference, all public records that are in its control, until their disposal is authorised by or under this Act or required by or under another Act.

   (3) Every local authority must maintain in an accessible form, so as to be able to be used for subsequent reference, all protected records that are in its control, until their disposal is authorised by or under this Act.

   http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345536.html

   3 Purposes of Act
   The purposes of this Act are—

   (a) to provide for the continuation of the repository of public archives called the National Archives with the name Archives New Zealand (Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga); and

   (b) to provide for the role of the Chief Archivist in developing and supporting government recordkeeping, including making independent determinations on the disposal of public records and certain local authority archives; and

   (c) to enable the Government to be held accountable by—

   (i)ensuring that full and accurate records of the affairs of central and local government are created
   and maintained; and
   (ii)providing for the preservation of, and public access to, records of long-term value; and

   (d) to enhance public confidence in the integrity of public records and local authority records; and

   (e) to provide an appropriate framework within which public offices and local authorities create and maintain public records and local authority records, as the case may be; and

   (f) through the systematic creation and preservation of public archives and local authority archives, to enhance the accessibility of records that are relevant to the historical and cultural heritage of New Zealand and to New Zealanders’ sense of their national identity; and

   (g) to encourage the spirit of partnership and goodwill envisaged by the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi), as provided for by section 7; and

   (h)to support the safekeeping of private records.
   _____________________________________________________________________________

   http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2005/0040/latest/DLM345537.html

   public office—

   (a) means the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Government of New Zealand; and
   (b) means the agencies or instruments of those branches of government; and
   (c) includes (without limiting the agencies or instruments)—

   (i) departments as defined in section 2 of the State Sector Act 1988; and
   (ii) Offices of Parliament as defined in section 2(1) of the Public Finance Act 1989; and
   (iii) State enterprises as defined in section 2 of the State-Owned Enterprises Act 1986; and
   (iv) Crown entities as defined in section 7(1) of the Crown Entities Act 2004; and
   (v ) the Parliamentary Counsel Office; and
   (vi) the Parliamentary Service; and
   (vii) the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives; and
   (viii) the New Zealand Police; and
   (ix) the New Zealand Defence Force; and
   (x) the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service; and
   (xi) any person or class of persons declared by an Order in Council made under section 5(1)(a)(i) to
   be a public office for the purposes of this Act

   public record—

   (a) means a record or a class of records, in any form, in whole or in part, created or received (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) by a public office in the conduct of its affairs; and

   (b) includes—

   (i) a record or a class of records declared under section 5(1)(a)(ii) to be a public record for the
   purposes of this Act; and
   (ii)estray records; but

   (c)does not include—
   (i) a special collection; or
   (ii) records created by the academic staff or students of a tertiary education institution, unless the
   records have become part of the records of that institution

   record means information, whether in its original form or otherwise, including (without limitation) a document, a signature, a seal, text, images, sound, speech, or data compiled, recorded, or stored, as the case may be,—

   (a)in written form on any material; or
   (b)on film, negative, tape, or other medium so as to be capable of being reproduced; or
   (c)by means of any recording device or process, computer, or other electronic device or process

   _____________________________________________________________________________

   How can you have transparency without proper written records?

   Why aren’t citizens and ratepayers, and taxpayers being given the ‘devilish detail’ and been shown EXACTLY where public monies are being spent on consultants and private contractors?

   ie: The NAMES of the consultants/contractors; the SCOPE; TERM and VALUE of these private contracts?

   (The next issue is the ‘cost-effectiveness’ of the privatisation of public services which were once provided ‘in-house’ at central and local government….. )

   Kind regards,

   Penny Bright
   ‘Anti-corruption /anti-privatisation campaigner’

   2013 Auckland Mayoral candidate
   • karol 5.1

     30 October 2013 at 11:47 am

     Why aren’t citizens and ratepayers, and taxpayers being given the ‘devilish detail’ and been shown EXACTLY where public monies are being spent on consultants and private contractors?

     Penny, I think you are doing good work providing relevant details. But for “citizens and ratepayers” to be informed about it, it needs to be in a more accessible format.
6. Sosoo 6

   30 October 2013 at 11:26 am

   Looks like the Village Idiots’ Union to me.
7. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7

   30 October 2013 at 11:29 am

   “An NBR article by Farrar now announces a union for the selfish and greedy ”taxpayers” …”

   Careful, these are the people providing all the free stuff you are demanding. I know it is not within you to be grateful, but perhaps being openly hostile is not in your best interests.
   • karol 7.1

     30 October 2013 at 11:36 am

     these are the people providing all the free stuff you are demanding.

     Say what? Citations needed.
   • Sosoo 7.2

     30 October 2013 at 11:36 am

     This country gave them the opportunities they have in return for paying tax if they made it good. If they don’t like that, they are free to leave, but they never do.

     Farrar is nothing more than a buffoon and a shill.
   • One Anonymous Knucklehead 7.3

     30 October 2013 at 11:38 am

     ACT, the margin of error party? What worth have they ever added to anything with their ideology addled bullshit? The Anti-Midas couldn’t destroy more wealth.
   • miravox 7.4

     30 October 2013 at 11:38 am

     “Careful, these are the people providing all the free stuff you are demanding”
     Some big assumptions in there, Gormless:

     1. that Lusk, Farrar and co pay any tax at all
     2. that Karol doesn’t pay tax
     3. that taxpayers, in a sort of group think, prefer people to be ‘grateful’ rather than civic-minded.

     Of course you wouldn’t be using any of this ‘free stuff’ at all, would you?
   • Sosoo 7.5

     30 October 2013 at 11:42 am

     Farrar earns much more than someone who wipes old people’s bums for a living, but guess who creates more social utility…

     Go on, guess…
   • captain hook 7.6

     30 October 2013 at 1:38 pm

     tripe.
     we are all in this together.
     no one group or cabal has any greater claim to everything than anyone else.
     get over yourself.
     • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.6.1

       30 October 2013 at 1:52 pm

       If we are all in this together, maybe we shouldn’t go around calling the people who provide all the largesse “selfish and greedy”.
       • Draco T Bastard 7.6.1.1

         30 October 2013 at 2:32 pm

         But that’s just it, they don’t provide anything – just take from the rest of us.
   • Draco T Bastard 7.7

     30 October 2013 at 2:29 pm

     Careful, these are the people providing all the free stuff you are demanding.

     No it’s not. The people who provide these things are the underpaid workers. What this group represents is the greedy, overpaid, bludging rich.
     • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.7.1

       30 October 2013 at 3:38 pm

       By definition, all of the benefits are paid out of money received from taxpayers. Yet you rarely thank them, Draco.
       • Pascal's bookie 7.7.1.1

         30 October 2013 at 4:07 pm

         Nonsense.

         Some of it is paid from dividends from SOE’s, just by way of example.
         • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.7.1.1.1

           30 October 2013 at 4:18 pm

           You advocating more indirect revenue gathering, PB? Colour me surprised.
           • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.7.1.1.1.1

             30 October 2013 at 4:25 pm

             But you are right of course. Only 91.2% of Crown income comes from taxation. I looked it up.

             I’ll take 91.2% gratitude.
             • chris73 …

               30 October 2013 at 6:32 pm

               “Gratitude”

               – You won’t get gratitude from here, you might get told to pay more though
               • One Anonymous Knucklehead …

                 30 October 2013 at 6:49 pm

                 Or on the other hand you might get told to stop being such a minging cry-baby, quit complaining about having to pay your taxes and drop the idiotic notion that doing so is the exclusive preserve of wingnut fuckwits like you.

                 But whatever you get told, you won’t be able to muster a substantive argument in response, and will simply regurgitate more feeble shite.
           • Pascal's bookie 7.7.1.1.1.2

             30 October 2013 at 4:37 pm

             Nope, just saying it’s not ‘by definition’.
   • You_Fool 7.8

     31 October 2013 at 8:23 am

     Gormless I am grateful to myself for all the taxes I pay to ensure that NZ society has what it needs to function.

     Now Since I am a taxpayer, and thus this new “union” represents me and since it is a union I don’t need to join to get the benefit then I demand that certain spending by the government gets stopped.

     1) Spending money on selling assets (esp those which provide a high rate of return)
     2) Less spending on spying on NZ citizens and residents
     3) Less spending on sending armed forces overseas for pointless “wars”
     4) increase upper tax rate (my tax rate) to ensure revenue is increased – less borrowing -> less costs
     • Francis 7.8.1

       31 October 2013 at 1:19 pm

       Add to that stop paying the top management in the public sector ridiculously large amounts of money. I find it incredibly wasteful that management in the public sector are being paid in excess of $200,000 a year, when that money could be going into more useful areas.
   • Rogue Trooper 7.9

     31 October 2013 at 2:01 pm

     well, it’s a challenge to imagine that the suspects likely to join this union have the interests of those receiving income support in mind.
8. Rosie 8

   30 October 2013 at 11:32 am

   Dear oh dear!

   Just saw the article on Scoop earlier and thought oh wow, a NZ Tea Party, that is some crazy craze, then popped over here to see if anyone was talking about it. So thanks for the additional info karol, as always. You’ve truly exposed the nutbars for who they are.

   Someone needs to remind these er, people, that they are in fact citizens and benefit everyday from the taxes they pay, the taxes they feel so deeply attached too. So deeply attached and misguided about the purpose of tax that it’s verging on the pathological. Ugh!

   Seriously for a moment though, their use of the term union is hugely offensive and an insult to the history of the Trade Union movement in NZ, and to the ongoing struggles for Union members now. And yes, although the term union broadly refers to a collective of people with a common goal, I reckon they’ve used the term to take the piss and steal the evocative image of what a Union can represent, at the same time.
9. Pete 9

   30 October 2013 at 11:41 am

   I had a look on the societies register. The society was incorporated on 11 March, so it’s been in the works for a while, which is interesting in itself. Its address for service is Stephen Franks’ law firm.
   • Rosie 9.1

     30 October 2013 at 2:56 pm

     That is indeed interesting Pete………..
10. Magnus McManus 10

    30 October 2013 at 12:14 pm

    Karol, you can’t be serious?
    Williams is a buffoon with the behavioral characteristics of Peter Griffins brain damaged Horse. No one, takes this moron seriously, least of all his own side.
    James Sleep? Please, the kid hasn’t has an original thought since the age of four
    • karol 10.1

      30 October 2013 at 12:55 pm

      Well, Magnus, there’s certainly fun to be had with this on Twitter:

      James Macbeth Dann ‏@edmuzik

      The Taxpayer’s Union; cos apparently David Farrar needs another outlet for lobbying and influencing the National Party

      Danyl Mclauchlan ‏@danylmc

      @LewSOS @GraemeEdgeler Seems like they’re basically ACT people who support the Nats because the grifting is more lucrative there.

      Danyl Mclauchlan ‏@danylmc

      @GraemeEdgeler How many no-bid contracts with Parliamentary Services go to board members of the Taxpayers Union? #CallTheTaxpayersUnion!

      Danyl Mclauchlan ‏@danylmc

      How many founding members of the ‘Taxpayers Union’ just got taxpayer funded interest free loans for Meridian shares? http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/10/the_new_zealand_taxpayers_union.html …

      JJW ‏@_jjw_

      @edmuzik Society of Hedonistic Ideologue Taxpaying Home-owning Educated Affluent Dedicated Scallywags. (AGMs are always pirate themed)

      Undead Alessi ‏@AndreAlessi

      @_jjw_ @edmuzik Foundation of Underwriters, Consultants, Keysenian Objectivists, Farmers and Freemen.

      James Macbeth Dann ‏@edmuzik

      They had to call it the Taxpayer’s Union because http://gravytrain.co.nz was already taken

      Morgan Godfery ‏@MorganGodfery
      

      Will the Taxpayers Union oppose tax rebates for film companies?
      • joe90 10.1.1

        30 October 2013 at 1:01 pm

        Marvellous.
        • Rogue Trooper 10.1.1.1

          31 October 2013 at 2:12 pm

          I think so too.
11. phil 11

    30 October 2013 at 12:54 pm

    What about a union for the non, or very, low almost non existant taxpayers? Oh forgot that’s Fed Farmers, and Big Business. It’s the low paid and salaried that get walloped by tax. It’s paradoxical that bizness always bleats for lower wages and taxes. Never fear, latest report rates NZ as third easiest to start a bizness. What’s the problem then JK?
12. emergency mike 12

    30 October 2013 at 1:24 pm

    This reminds me of the Koch brother’s “Citizens United”. Same kind of spin.
    • Murray Olsen 12.1

      30 October 2013 at 7:50 pm

      That’s the thing about the right in Aotearoa – they never have an original idea. It’s all a pile of imported festering crap. With Key, the leader is imported as well.
13. captain hook 13

    30 October 2013 at 1:36 pm

    the tea party is just a whole lot of creeps who have an overwhelming need to control others and are using the sexual instinct to shame people and confuse them.
    open brethren, seventh day adventists, bar-hi’s.
    I would hate to see what some of them get up to when no one is looking.
    Golden showers anyone?
    The so-called christains have a bad record wehn it comes to personal behaviour.
    they have two sets of rules.
    one for themselves and another for the people who they enlist by spurious promise to reform the world.
    they should start with themselves.
14. RRM 14

    30 October 2013 at 1:40 pm

    “Someone needs to remind these er, people, that they are in fact citizens and benefit everyday from the taxes they pay, the taxes they feel so deeply attached too. So deeply attached and misguided about the purpose of tax that it’s verging on the pathological. Ugh!”

    If their attachment to their own money is so “misguided” as you say, how about a poll tax?

    Take the cost of running the government for one year, divide it by the number of New Zealanders aged 18 and over, and send everyone a bill for that amount. Your own tax burden may well increase as a result, but hey, remember you benefit from it every day.

    Surely those on lower incomes equally need to be “reminded that they are in fact citizens and benefit everyday from the taxes they pay, the taxes they feel so deeply attached too.”… whaddya reckon?

    Or are you “pathologically attached to” the taxes YOU pay too, Rosie?
    • Rosie 14.1

      30 October 2013 at 2:54 pm

      No, not a poll tax silly, that won’t do anything to educate these NZ Tea Party folks(or as has been pointed out, ACT on steroids) about their responsibilities in an equitable and fair society.

      What makes you think I’d be attached to the taxes I pay, after what I’ve just said? I see paying income tax as part of life, and don’t give it a thought. Unlike these Tea baggers that fret and whinge about “their” money. It’s just so brat like. I think they think they’re living in feudal England or something, they’re that far off the mark.
15. Draco T Bastard 15

    30 October 2013 at 2:21 pm

    union for the selfish and greedy ”taxpayers”

    IMO, One thing that will come out of such a “union” will be lobbying for only “net taxpayers” to be able to vote.
16. Mary 16

    30 October 2013 at 2:31 pm

    Well, that’s a formidable team of “frontman” Jordan Williams with “strategist” David Farrar. I think we all need to start seriously thinking about filling our pants.
17. Mary 17

    30 October 2013 at 2:34 pm

    Jordie Boy is on The Panel this afternoon. Perhaps we could get Hardball Jim to ask him what it’s all about?
    • karol 17.1

      30 October 2013 at 2:36 pm

      I’m sure he will tell people anyway – can’t be a coincidence that he’s on the panel the day this initiative is launched.
      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 17.1.1

        30 October 2013 at 5:41 pm

        Probably not. So what?
      • Paul 17.1.2

        31 October 2013 at 6:13 am

        Doesn’t Mora invite the nicest people to his show?
        Doesn’t Williams work for that ACT lawyer Stephen Franks, who also gets invited regularly onto that awful show the Panel?
        • Mary 17.1.2.1

          31 October 2013 at 2:14 pm

          Yes. Williams really is quite a git. I love the way he tries to use standard phrases that a lot of lawyers like to use that’ve come out of court decisions, phrases like “I’ve never turned my mind to it” and “there’s no bright line”. He just ain’t got the credibility or sincerity to be able to pull talking like this off. It’s really funny. He’s so obviously full of ideology and bereft of analysis. I always make sure I tune in when he’s on. He’s fantastic to listen to.
        • Mary 17.1.2.2

          31 October 2013 at 2:27 pm

          I really like the photo above, too, with Lusk. It says to me that Williams feels he needs to be into hunting and killing animals because doing that is embracing the law of the jungle that it’s all about survival of the fittest, like the economy and society, “that’s me, too, just like those guys I love so much like Cam and Si!”. Just a pity he’s wearing black and blue coloured clothing – probably the most visible colours in the bush you can wear. And it’s not about safety, just look at what Lusk’s wearing. Williams strikes me as someone who’s easily led, doesn’t really know himself, a bit lost, a bit empty, craves fame but has never had an original thought in his life. Poor bugger.
18. richard 18

    30 October 2013 at 3:33 pm

    And so the misinformation begins…
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1310/S00286/taxi-chits-probably-cheaper-than-marlborough-council-website.htm

    For a microsoft based site, it isn’t too bad – as is usual for a microsoft site, it fails WCAG (accessibility guidelines) but it they have done a nice responsive layout (should work in phones, tablets). It is on the high side for a website but I’ve no idea what they started with and what is included in the price – and I’d reckon that would be the same case for the idiots who wrote the press release.
    • Francis 18.1

      31 October 2013 at 1:25 pm

      Are they proposing that the government switches away from Microsoft-run technologies within the public sector? We could save billions if we moved to free-software alternatives…

      Of course, I doubt they’re actually trying to find solutions. Just complaining about the problems 0_o
      • Tat Loo (CV) 18.1.1

        31 October 2013 at 1:36 pm

        Unfortunately Trevor Mallard signed a long term deal with Microsoft, dunno how long exactly but the 22nd Century might be in an option clause.
        • richard 18.1.1.1

          31 October 2013 at 2:40 pm

          Nope, it was Chris Tremain that inked the deal.
          See http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/microsofts-secret-government-deal-ck-121427
          and for the “good news” press story see
          http://www.computerworld.co.nz/article/491195/dia_estimates_savings_up_55_percent_microsoft_deal/
19. mickysavage 19

    30 October 2013 at 4:16 pm

    Guess who is on Jim Mora’s afternoon show talking about the Taxpayer’s Union and being the recipient of all sorts of free advertising …

    None other than Jordan Williams …

    And guess who was on yesterday …

    None other than chair John Bishop …

    And the Standard got a mention but Williams never reads it …

    What I would like to know is what do you have to do to be the recipient of such advertising and institutional largesse.
    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 19.1

      30 October 2013 at 5:03 pm

      That’s right, Micky, because you’ll hardly ever hear a left wing voice on Natrad.
    • Paul 19.2

      31 October 2013 at 6:23 am

      Know a guy called Griffin…..
20. Lou 20

    30 October 2013 at 4:58 pm

    Jim Mora’s daily panels are getting more and more right-wing orientated as time passes, IMO. I personally can’t stand listening to David Farrar, so turn it off. I used to be a regular listener to the Panel, but find it less and less appealing.
    • tc 20.1

      30 October 2013 at 8:06 pm

      Mora is a twat, I gave up on RNZ years ago after way too many patsy interviews on morning report.
      Kim is good if shes interested, mary wilson is great but the likes of Ryan, and that god awful Noele pretty much show how nice a job Griffin is doing for his mates.
      • Paul 20.1.1

        31 October 2013 at 6:16 am

        Far more right wingers on the Panel nowadays
        Boag
        Farrar
        Silo
        Williams
        Franks
        + many more
      • Paul 20.1.2

        31 October 2013 at 6:16 am

        Far more right wingers on the Panel nowadays
        Boag
        Farrar
        Williams
        Franks
        Bishop
        Bell
        Anderson
        Gibson
        + many more
      • framu 20.1.3

        31 October 2013 at 7:31 am

        sorry – but i think mary wilson is one of the worst interviewers theyve got.

        even when its someone im happy to see put on the spot i end up screaming “youve already asked that question 10 times mary” at the radio

        9 times out of 10 her interviews go absolutely nowhere
21. PI 21

    30 October 2013 at 6:24 pm

    The Rules of New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Incorporated make for interesting reading.

    Cl 6.7 “Only the Board has the power to appoint new and reappoint members of the Board”.
    • karol 21.1

      30 October 2013 at 6:51 pm

      Heh. Yes, hardly a democratic structure. It’s politics corporate style. And the focus on “taxpayers” identifies people totally in financial terms. A heartless approach to arrangements impacting on the lives of human beings.
      • PI 21.1.1

        30 October 2013 at 7:02 pm

        To be fair, even corporates provide for shareholder democracy – with 1 vote per share. An entrenched Board with no member input on governance is something else altogether.
        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 21.1.1.1

          30 October 2013 at 7:04 pm

          Pay no mind to that, it’s just a tacit acknowledgement that they’re unelectable.
          • You_Fool 21.1.1.1.1

            31 October 2013 at 11:33 am

            That rule is probably there to ensure that actual tax payers can’t take over the union so that these completely representative and civic minded individuals who are representing tax payers are able to enact their vision for the future
22. lolita bother 22

    30 October 2013 at 8:24 pm

    I see that taxpayers are ‘selfish and greedy’.
    You people just can’t help yourselves can you.
    So lets get better people and stop paying tax shall we .
    • karol 22.1

      30 October 2013 at 8:32 pm

      Eh? I’m happy to be a taxpayer. Who isn’t a tax payer?

      It’s the people who think they can exist without contributing to the infrastructure – the infrastructure that enables us all to survive and participate in society – that are greedy & selfish i.e. it’s the people who DON’T want to pay their fair share of taxes who are greedy & selfish – won’t more for themselves and no sense of social responsibility or caring.

      Stop paying taxes and see what sort of society you end up living in.

      “Taxpayers’ Union”? Don’t make me laugh – it’s an undemocratic entity for those who want to siphon off as much of society’s wealth for themselves as possible and pay as little tax as they can get away with.
      • Rhinocrates 22.1.1

        30 October 2013 at 9:55 pm

        Who isn’t a tax payer?

        A tax evader of course; someone who hires amoral lawyers and accountants to find loopholes – though they like to call it “tax avoidance”. It’s all fair if you can get away with it, you see.
    • QoT 22.2

      30 October 2013 at 9:00 pm

      So lets get better people and stop paying tax shall we .

      The kinds of people who would start a “taxpayers’ union” already have, LB, that’s the point. If you look about 50-60 metres behind you, you may find where it landed after sailing over your head.
    • millsy 22.3

      30 October 2013 at 11:03 pm

      Well they are selfish and greedy. Quite a few of them it would seem. They seem to be quite happy to wreck our health system so they could pay less tax. Would love you to go to a hospital ward and complain about your tax burden.

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS