The
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has departed on a nationwide
hīkoi calling for the Government to
balance the books and stop borrowing billions from future
generations.
Led by the seven-metre-long Taxpayers’
Union Karaka Nama (Debt Clock), the hīkoi
highlights the Government’s borrowing from
our tamariki and mokopuna.
Taxpayers’ Union
Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said:
“Nicola
Willis is borrowing $47 million a day to fund this year’s
deficit. Despite being elected to cut spending, the
Government is actually spending more now than when Grant
Robertson left office. That’s true in both inflation
adjusted terms and as a percentage of the
economy.”
“On the eve of the hīkoi, the
IMF released its latest global economic report showing
New Zealand has the worst fiscal deficit of any developed
economy.”
“Some in the media would have you believe
Wellington has suffered ‘massive cuts’ — but the numbers
don’t lie. We are spending beyond our means, and unless
tough decisions are made now, a fiscal crisis is
inevitable.”
“The public and media’s perception do
not match the fiscal shtook borne out by the numbers. But
nothing works quite like a hikoi to get the media to take
notice, and we are sure this will be no different over the
coming weeks.”
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“Right now, Core Crown Debt
amounts to more than $92,000 per household — and at
current borrowing, six figures isn’t far
away.”
“Without action, Nicola Willis’s
legacy will be a mountain of debt for every taxpayer’s
tamariki and mokopuna.””
Details about the
Hīkoi path and event times is available at
https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/debt_clock_hikoi
The
Hīkoi for Balanced Budgets is made
possible by hundreds of Taxpayers’ Union supporters who have
donated at www.taxpayers.org.nz/donate_debt_clock_2025
