Serious concerns over democratic fairness have erupted on the West Coast following the decision by the Taxpayers’ Union, a private corporate entity, to exclude candidate Sue Grey from speaking at its upcoming Greymouth candidate debate despite her ongoing highly respected work for communities throughout the West Coast and Tasman.
“The meeting is supposed to profile West Coast -Tasman candidates, not the same jaded and heavily whipped parties who have failed us for decades.” Says Grey
Despite the event being broadly promoted as a local “Meet the Candidates” forum and set to be broadcast nationwide via NZME livestreams, organisers have refused Grey a podium. The exclusion is being enforced under a 5% party vote threshold rule, effectively blocking the single candidate in the West Coast-Tasman field with previous parliamentary campaign experience, while giving exclusive airtime to first-time establishment candidates.
Sam Carter from Little Wanganui said “I am appalled at the Tax Payer Union hearing that they had excluded Sue from the debate. I have notified Tax Payer Union that I am withdrawing my funding from them, I thought they were for free speech in NZ “
Critics point out that the Taxpayers’ Union is not an independent election authority, but a private limited company and lobby group registered under corporate ownership.
“Voters in West Coast-Tasman deserve a genuine, open debate, not a curated broadcast pre-approved by a privately owned lobby firm,” says Aly Cook . “Using an arbitrary national threshold to shut down local electorate representation on a national NZME stream is censorship, plain and simple.”
The West Coast-Tasman electorate is one of the largest and most independent-minded in New Zealand. Advocates argue that excluding non-establishment and independent candidates deprives local voters of hearing genuine alternatives on key issues including regional development, primary industries, and health freedom.
Supporters are demanding the Taxpayers’ Union immediately drop its restrictive policies and open the Greymouth debate stage to every official candidate on the local ballot paper.
“Democracy fails when corporate hosts pick winners and losers before a single vote is cast. Coast voters are smart enough to weigh up every candidate for themselves.”
“This event is being run by a private company that accepts public donations and publishes polls, yet it is actively limiting public discourse and interfering in the democratic process.” Said Cook
I’m a long time supporter Tax Payers Union but this doesn’t leave a good impression , at all. I thought your focus was tax reform? New parties offer that so why the exclusion?
Agreed, a very bad look for the taxpayers union. Are they compromised? How is any party supposed to reach 5% unless they get a chance to tell voters about themselves?
Exactly. If new parties don’t get a platform how are they ever supposed to get to the 5% theft-hold. No idea what’s behind this poor decision but it raises questions for me too.
All one has to do is to look at who and what is running the ‘Taxpayers Union’…all contain Zionist Policies and are former MSM personalities.
Kinda like ACT taking on Paul Henry…with the frightening thought of the damage that man will do to the country if he ever became PM via default, appointment, or a party coup!
What’s so frightening about Paul Henry? He wants a country where his grandchildren can grow up with the same opportunities he had ~ what’s so wrong with that? I personally he says what a lot of us are thinking
Private companies & Zionist-controlled NGO’s should and will be banned from political interference once two minor parties (NOT Chinese-controlled KPMG T.O.P. either..!) come into Parliament.
These NGO’s are weaponised against civilisation, and are not nor ever will be held accountable for government interference.
Again, a slimy sneaky smirking handful of scamming corporate-weasels prodding buttons behind the scenes in an establishment-agenda boardroom that reeks of slippery evasiveness, fraud, corruption, and lies.
This is adverse to the Spirit of the West Coast West Coasters and their inherent nature
Who are friendly not just because it is raining all the time and they are inside talking
No doubt a contagion deficiency bought in by carpet baggers reflected in their mentality and thinking
Let Sue Grey speak at ironically GREYmouth
Sue is sure to make more sense than all of them put together
After all what are they scared of- a few home truths
Where does Jordan Williams stand on this who has exposed NZ’s number two problem as being MMP being a flawed model and concept
“The people vote ratbags out only for them to sneak back into Parliament as a list MP
It’s time for change.”?
The Taxpayers’ Union has confirmed that co-founder and Executive Director Jordan Williams will be standing down as a result of the Prime Minister’s announcement of a referendum on MMP
Jordan Williams is standing down over MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) due to disagreements within his party regarding electoral strategy and representation
His decision reflects broader tensions about how best to approach electoral reform and party alignment
The Freedom Party should hold a separate event either before, or at the same time and live-stream that. I’m sure there’ll be an available venue in Greymouth.
But they would miss out on national mainstream coverage. Minor parties and the public miss out again.
Not “accused”, but “guilty as”. Name and shame. From AI search.
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union was founded as an incorporated society (New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union Inc.) by Jordan Williams and David Farrar in 2013, rather than being owned by a corporate entity. Previous Status: Operated as an incorporated society funded by members and donors. Recent Change: Voted to transition into a non-profit company structure due to compliance adjustments under the Incorporated Societies Act. Ownership: Controlled by its board and executive leadership (including co-founder Jordan Williams) rather than a parent corporation or “corporate owner.” Founders: Jordan Williams (lawyer/activist) and David Farrar (blogger/pollster). Funding: Relies on small-dollar public donations, major individual donors, and minor corporate supporters (under 3% from regulated industries like alcohol/tobacco). Independence: Claims political independence while operating as a fiscally conservative lobby/pressure group. Board of Directors: Hon. Ruth Richardson – Chair of the Board (former Minister of Finance) – Hon. Stuart Nash – Board member (former Cabinet Minister of Revenue) – Dr. John Harman – Board member (former surgeon and business leader) – Chris Milne – Board member (former ACT Chief of Staff/Councillor) Executive Leadership & Key Staff: Jordan Williams – Executive Director & Co-Founder – James Ross – Head of Policy and Legislative Affairs – Tory Relf – Head of Communications – Rhys Hurley – Investigations Coordinator
I was aware of Farrar (I think its called Kiwiblog?) but this is very interesting indeed. Not sure I’ll be supporting them going forward in spite of the fact they do do, some good work.
Clue is in the name…
Union is a j3wish Marxist term.
J3Wnion
Founded by j3ws to keep the j3ws in power.
You Gew haters need to crawl out from under your slimey rocks and get a life.
Everybody loves Beelzebub Naziyahoo and Iraehell Maggie – didn’t you know?
Maggie has a lot of learning to do !
There does seem to be a lot of these ill informed Jew haters on this site.