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
May 05, 2021•20 min
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
May 02, 2021•27 min
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
Apr 29, 2021•19 min
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
Apr 20, 2021•27 min
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
Apr 19, 2021•18 min
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
Apr 19, 2021•21 min
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
Apr 13, 2021•22 min
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
Apr 12, 2021•27 min
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
Apr 08, 2021•28 min
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
Mar 30, 2021•17 min
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
Mar 26, 2021•38 min
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
Mar 24, 2021•22 min
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
Mar 21, 2021•49 min
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
Jan 06, 2021•19 min
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 government and an Irish brogue, Damien is gearing up for three years of promoting the ACT party's messages and va...
Dec 29, 2020•24 min
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 issues that will be key for the Government over the next Parliamentary term. We'll be releasing more intervie...
Dec 25, 2020•16 min
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
Oct 06, 2020•18 min
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
Oct 05, 2020•21 min
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
Sep 22, 2020•18 min
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
Sep 16, 2020•15 min
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
Sep 09, 2020•17 min
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 show
Aug 19, 2020•26 min
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
Aug 17, 2020•35 min
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 sits down with the CEO of Water Care Raveen Jaduram for a deep dive into Water Care - its business model, ...
Jul 22, 2020•53 min
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
Jul 14, 2020•25 min
In our newest episode of Taxpayer Talk, Jordan sits down (in-person!) with Helensville MP Chris Penk who has written a book investigating the claim that the Government had "gone early and hard" in its fight against COVID-19. Flattening the Country is available at https://chrispenk.national.org.nz/flattening_the_country . Support the show
Jun 25, 2020•16 min
We're giving taxpayers the opportunity to get to know their MPs beyond photo-ops and party-line speeches. In this episode, Islay Aitchison interviews Melissa Lee MP. Support the show
Jun 08, 2020•21 min
By many measures, socialist ideas are more popular than ever, with academics and increasingly hip activists unashamedly promoting the collective ownership of wealth and centralised government-led decision making. Louis has a discussion with Dr Kristian Niemietz from the Institute of Economic Affairs, who has written a book named 'Socialism: The Failed Idea that Never Dies' . Support the show...
May 28, 2020•32 min
The Taxpayers' Union sat down with Todd Muller for a podcast interview just a few days before he announced his leadership bid. He described himself as "broadly socially conservative, and from an economic perspective reasonably liberal", and discussed his upbringing, career, and the political challenges of bridging the urban-rural divide. Support the show...
May 20, 2020•31 min
We're giving taxpayers the opportunity to get to know their MPs beyond photo-ops and party-line speeches. In this episode, Islay Aitchison interviews Simon O'Connor MP. Support the show
May 17, 2020•31 min