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Hi Friend,

The politicians might still be sitting under their Pohutukawa trees eating ice creams, but like rust, government waste never takes a day off.

It's only week two of 2025, but here's what we've found so far...

MBIE's New Year's Resolution: The Ministry of Silly Walks Sitting up Straight 🪑

Some say that bureaucrats spend too long on their backsides. Well, hold on to your seats for this one, because we can reveal that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment have spent $500,012 to learn how to sit at their desks correctly <[link removed]>. 

MBIE has spent half a million dollars on coaching staff on how to sit up straight! 💸

That's right – half a million dollars over the last two-and-a-half years teaching bureaucrats how to sit.



As I put it to my comments to the media:

"The public service can posture all it likes about their being no fat to be trimmed, but when MBIE’s happy to chuck hundreds of thousands away on posture training it’s taxpayers who are left bent out of shape."

Sacking back-office consultants is one thing, but how about the Government sack these back-alignment consultants too?

You can read more (including MBIE's official advice about setting up a workstation) by heading over to our website. <[link removed]>

Speaking of sitting at a desk... officials caught accessing p*rn  from work machines 👀

Turns out, sitting incorrectly isn't the biggest blunder public servants have made recently.

In just six months, the Ministry of Māori Development has recorded 217 instances of explicit content being accessed on the clock <[link removed]>. 

Just to hammer home that these aren't just some flukey Google accidents, over the same period the Ministry of Women recorded only one incident. 



Time is money, so when bureaucrats sit watching *ahem* entertainment in the office maybe they lack enough to do? <[link removed]>

But is it racist to call out bureaucrats watching p*rn at work?

, calling out public officials for using taxpayer computers to access adult material is far from our most important or valued work. We asked a number of government agencies mostly because wanted to know whether the Government is implementing the sorts of internet filters and security that are standard in the private sector.

Other than some anecdotal feedback giggles from our friends in the media, the story wasn't covered by any of the mainstream outlets.

But then, we got an out of the blue request from Māori Television. They wanted to know whether we had targeted the Ministry of Māori Development and whether we'd asked other departments about their computer use...

Of course when it comes to snuffing out government waste we take an equal opportunities approach – but it raises the question about fourth estate priorities when an agency is embarrassed, the media are more interested in 'why are you asking this', or even seeming to imply a racial motive, rather than holding a taxpayer funded agency to account...

As the media become so agenda-driving, is it any wonder so many New Zealanders support the Taxpayers' Union <[link removed]>?

Police dogs chasing criminals, but biting taxpayers 🐕👮

Call us old fashioned, but if you get yourself injured whilst breaking the law we don't think taxpayers should be on the hook for patching you up again. 

The Taxpayers' Union can reveal that ACC has paid out $217,674 for 255 claims for police dog bites over the last four years.


And even they recognise that the figures are likely be an under-estimate! It only includes claims where "Police Dog" was voluntarily mentioned – so the real bill is likely to be even higher.



This is at the same time as those of us with (non-criminal) jobs are facing 16 percent hikes in our ACC levies over the next three years, and drivers have another 24 percent tax hike coming over the same period.

We say, that if you put yourself in harm's way, and are caught breaking the law, 'accident compensation' costs should be on you not the taxpayer. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. 

Unelected Iwi council reps 'call out' elected councillors (for daring to disagree) 🙅‍♂️🗳️

Unelected reps sitting on the Taranaki Regional Council got themselves into a tizz last week when the elected councillors rejected spending ratepayers' money on taking an Official Council Position and submitting on ACT's Treaty Principles Bill.

Here at the Taxpayers' Union, we say that council should stick to their knitting. Spending ratepayer money on lobbying (especially on matters not directly related to core services) is compelled speech. Why should Joe-and-Jill-ratepayer be forced to pay rates money to lobby for things they may not agree with.

Well, you'd think the sky had caved in. After the Council decided to remain impartial, the six (yes, six) unelected appointees formally lodged complaints and declared "no confidence" in the elected council members being an 'impartial governing body'. <[link removed]>
<[link removed]>

Someone needs to sit these reps down and explain to them how democracy works. The Council specifically rejected taking a view on a contentious piece of national legislation. Sounds pretty 'impartial' to us!

Here at the Taxpayers' Union, we say that unelected, undemocratic appointees have no business trying to ram through political campaigns unrelated to the council's core job. Whether it's Iwi reps or the kids with voting powers in Hastings, they also need to learn democracy comes first.

Like what we do? Why not join the team? 🫵🥸

If you like bureaucrats buying you drinks, we don't suggest becoming an intern or researcher at the Taxpayers' Union. But if you're looking for a role that mixes public policy, economics, politics, communications and advocacy, we have a deal for you! We are looking for talented additions to our team.



So if you've got a passion for keeping more money in taxpayers' pockets, and fighting for more transparency and accountability within government, drop us a line <mailto:[email protected]>.

Have a great week.


James Ross
Policy and Public Affairs Manager
New Zealand Taxpayers' Union

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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