Taxpayer Talk

Barbara Edmonds is the MP for Mana and a homegrown Kiwi success story. In this episode, Max and Barbara discuss working for Judith and Jacinda, her attitude to tax, and what she wants to get done in parliament. Support the show

Brooke van Velden is the deputy leader of the ACT party and was a critical part of the End of Life Choice campaign. In this episode of MPs in Depth Max and Brooke have a ranging discussion about motivations, euthanasia, and the housing crisis. Support the show

Taxpayers' Union researcher Max Salmon is joined by Senior Economist Brad Olsen for a discussion about the concerning prospect of rent controls under this Labour government. Support the show

At $50,000 per dwelling, is a big taxpayer handout to Councils the right medicine for a housing shortage? Jordan sits down with the Executive Director of the New Zealand Initiative, Oliver Hartwich for a friendly natter on the merits of National's latest housing policy. Support the show

Mark Cameron is one of ACT's nine new MPs, in this episode of MPs in Depth Louis sits down with Mark for an educational and energetic conversation on the plight of farming, the urban and rural divide, and why he chose ACT. Support the show

Louis sits down with new Act MP Nicole McKee for a ranging discussion from her passion for firearms and hunting, to dealing with the public spotlight, and the spirit of the new ACT party. Support the show

From cleaning up Agent Orange, to being deported from Fiji, new ACT MP and self-described 'radical environmentalist' Simon Court shares his background on our MPs in Depth podcast series. Support the show

As part of our MP's in Depth series, Louis sits down with new Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds for a wide-ranging discussion on her career and electorate. Support the show

Louis sits down with Damien Grant for a discussion about the growth in size and role of the government, such as new tax changes on housing and the potential for rent control.  Support the show

Louis sits down with Kathryn Marshall of Williams Corporation, a residential property developer, to find out whether an extended bright line test and the removal of interest deductibility will lead to more affordable housing. Kathryn makes the case that the real solution is in tackling consenting processes at local councils. Support the show

Jordan Williams gets 30 minutes with the Climate Change Commission's Chair, Dr Roderick Carr at their offices.  He is joined by Matt Burguss, the Senior Economist at the New Zealand Initiative think tank to put to Dr Curr many of the criticisms of the report. Support the show

Jordan is joined by Ian Harrison, Principal at Tailrisk Economics for a discussion on the Climate Change Commission, the benefits of an ETS and why the commission is wrong about Electric Vehicles.  Read Ian's submission here: http://www.tailrisk.co.nz/documents/ClimateChangeCommission-13march.pdf Support the show

The Climate Change Commission plans to up-end our economy with a highly political, centrally-planned regulatory agenda. Jordan is joined by Oliver Hartwich, Executive Director at the New Zealand Initiative, to untangle this mess. Support the show

In preparation for 2021 the Taxpayers' Union is sitting down with new kids on the block, and getting to know the fresh faces of the 53rd Parliament of New Zealand. In this episode, Taxpayers' Union Analyst Neil Miller talks to National MP Simon Watts. Support the show

In preparation for 2021 the Taxpayers' Union is sitting down with new kids on the block, and getting to know the fresh faces of the 53rd Parliament of New Zealand. A second addition to David Seymour's merry band, Damien Smith became acquainted with the ACT party in a Belgium bar in Auckland, and things moved fast from there. With a background in finance and banking, a belief in small gov...

In preparation for 2021 the Taxpayers' Union is sitting down with new kids on the block, and getting to know the fresh faces of the 53rd Parliament of New Zealand. Dr. James McDowall is one of the nine new ACT MPs who will be joining David Seymour in Parliament for the next three years. An ACT supporter since 2005  (a year before he could vote) Dr. McDowall has interest in a number of the iss...

Tim Hazledine, Professor of Economics at the University of Auckland, sits down with Islay to discuss his ideas for a viable path to economic recovery – including a temporary reduction in GST. Support the show

In this episode, Islay Aitchison talks to ACT leader David Seymour about his party's proposed tax cuts, public debt and cutting red tape. Support the show

In this episode of Taxpayer Talk, Taxpayers' Union Research Officer Islay Aitchison interviews Tauranga City Councillor Kelvin Clout on dysfunctional Council culture and recall elections. They discuss the COVID-19 Government assistance Tauranga Council is hoping to receive for future infrastructure projects. Support the show

This week's Pre-election Fiscal Update revealed a dire projection of increasing Government debt. Islay is joined by economist Joe Ascroft to discuss the looming Debt Monster. Support the show

Immediately after Labour announced its policy for a new higher tax rate on income over $180,000, Louis sat down with Islay and Joe to record a podcast examining the politics and economics of the tax in more detail. Support the show

Despite our closed borders, Tourism NZ is spending $10 million on a new campaign meant to bring overseas travellers to New Zealand. The campaign is supposed to bolster New Zealand’s international brand of “kaitiaki, manaakitanga, and integrity”. In the latest episode of Taxpayer Talk, Louis questions Tourism NZ CEO Stephen England-Hall on whether this will deliver value for taxpayers. Support the...

In this episode of Taxpayer Talk, Taxpayers' Union Research Officer Islay Aitchison interviews economist Michael Reddell on monetary and fiscal policy. Michael Reddell's blog, Croaking Cassandra, can be found here .  Support the show

Auckland’s water crisis has been in the media over recent weeks, and the 2020 drought reminds us a lot of the water restrictions in 1994.  Auckland’s population is now 50% larger than 1994, has water infrastructure kept up?  Just how vulnerable are we to dry years?  Is the Waikato river the solution?  Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, and Auckland Ratepayers’ Alliance Founder Jordan Williams si...

Taxpayers’ Union’s Jordan Williams, and Neil Miller, sit down with political commentator and Stuff columnist Damian Grant discuss the runners and riders of the sudden National Party leadership race. Support the show