“The rainy day has come. We believe it is crucial that the Government cut debt now.” 

Those words from Taxpayer’s Union researcher Levi Gibbs talking about his new paper “A Path to Surplus” released just a few days before Budget 2025.

Levi Gibbs joined host Peter Williams on a special edition of the Taxpayer Talk podcast to discuss the in-depth paper which analyses both the debt and the annual budget deficit, and offers solutions to reduce both.

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This week Peter Williams is joined by social media sensation, David Baker, from Rapid QS. David is a quantity surveyor by trade, specialising in pricing residential buildings—and has spent the last year blowing the whistle on why so many public housing and infrastructure projects cost so much.

But price is just the start—David also raising growing concern with agencies being unable to explain why the costs are so high, and has stated a wide-ranging social media campaign to expose these costs and inefficiencies within the industry.

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This week on Taxpayer Talk, Peter sat down with Ruth Richardson, Minister of Finance during the National-Bolger Government, and catalyst of major economic reforms during the 90s.

One of New Zealand's most respected Ministers of Finance, Ruth remains a deep thinker on the country’s dangerous fiscal position and how we can extract ourselves from it.

With this year’s Budget only a few weeks away, she sets a path back to fiscal sustainability and tackles universal superannuation, the health system and the corporate tax rate.

You can listen to the episode on our website, or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and other good podcast apps. 

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The Taxpayer’s Union popular podcast Taxpayer Talk returns with host Peter Williams and the Taxpayer’s Union Climate and Fiscal Policy analyst Levi Gibbs talking about New Zealand’s commitments (or lack of them) under the Paris Accord and how the Government can close the forecast 17 billion dollar budget deficit.

Hear Levi explain why the Treasury forecast of New Zealand’s $20 billion plus commitment to buy carbon credits may not come to pass. Then he suggests ways to better manage the New Zealand Government’s asset schedule to reduce the huge budget black hole. 

But are the suggestions politically possible?

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This week on Taxpayer Talk  Jordan sat down with the NZ Initiative's Chief Economist, Dr Eric Crampton on Nicola Willis' announcement on Sunday about possible splitting up of the super market industry.

In the podcast, we unpack what's on the table, the risks, and what Dr Crampton argues is the real reason New Zealand lacks competition at the checkout. 

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On this week's episode of Taxpayer Talk, Jordan sat down to talk with current Nelson Mayor and former National Party Minister, Nick Smith.

First elected as a Member of Parliament in 1990, Nick Smith would remain an MP for over three decades. Nick would serve across a number of portfolios, including as Minister of Education, Local Government, and Housing. He was elected as Nelson's Mayor in 2022, and now chairs LGNZ's Electoral Reform Group.

With Wellington and Hastings councils in the news over the last few weeks, and the local elections looming next year, Nick joins us to talk local government.

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On this week's Taxpayer Talk, ACT MP Simon Court -  Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure and Minister Responsible for RMA reform - joins Jordan Williams to talk about the Government's plans for RMA reform.

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Ewen McQueen, author of One Sun in the Sky, joins us on Taxpayer Talk to discuss the Treaty of Waitangi, including questions around the ceding of sovereignty by Maori, interpretations of the treaty, and the politics now surrounding the treaty today. 

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If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, feel free to email [email protected] 

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This week on Taxpayer Talk is another episode in our MPs in Depth podcast series where we get to know Parliament's new MPs. In this episode, we sat down with National Party MP, Suze Redmayne.

Suze was elected as the MP for Rangitikei at the 2023 General Election. Suze and her husband run an award winning farm and sell their lamb under their own brands. Suze shares her life story, what drew her to politics and what she hopes to achieve during her time in Parliament. Also discussed is a number of member's bill ideas Suze is considering and what the role of government should be in the economy.

Suze's maiden speech can be watched here. Follow Suze on Facebook here.

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If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, feel free to email [email protected] 

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 David Buckingham is a Queenstown-based employment relations consultant. He was the supporter who first uncovered the extraordinary behaviour of IRD leaking personal information to social media companies. Jordan sat down with him to talk about what he found, how, and what it means for your data.

To support Taxpayer Talk, click here.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, feel free to email [email protected] 

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