Hi Hedley, Day-in, day-out, the Taxpayers' Union is exposing government waste. Last week it was the Film Commission's $145,000 French Riviera bonanza. This week it was Health NZ bosses chowing down $60k of fine dining, including $32-per-canape. And there's more to come. But we all know where the real waste is: the dark corners where the public isn't allowed to look. The parts of Government spending that happen in secret. Parliament is the main culprit. Not many people know this, Hedley, but MPs' expenses are not publicly available, except when they are illegally leaked. In fact, while Ministerial expenses are free for all to see, what is "non Ministerial" and every expense applicable to opposition MPs, government backbenchers (so their staff/offices) is protected by a special carve out of freedom of information law.  We want to change that. But we need your support to force Parliament to 'Open the Books'. Wasting bucket loads on bubbly, Bali, and birdhouses? But you're not allowed to look?! 😵 Back in 2009, the UK had what became known as the "MP expense scandal". Armed with a CD Rom of transactions, the TaxPayers' Alliance (our UK-sister group) exposed UK Members of Parliament for truly outrageous 'expense claims'. They included: An ornate duck house for a pond ($3500 NZD) Moat cleaning ($4720 NZD) - yes, seriously! Hedge clipping of helipad  ($1200 NZD) Treating dry rot at a second home ($48300 NZD) Furniture, homeware and electric goods, including three food mixers and two microwaves for just one MP ($35,000 NZD) TIP OF THE ICEBERG EXPOSED: MPs taking the Mickey (with our money) 💰 Hedley, last month we got a wee glimpse into how New Zealand's MPs are being just as reckless with the money they are entrusted with to run their offices and constituency work. Te Pāti Māori MP Debbie Ngarewa-Packer managed to spend $39,209 on flights over just three months! And, thanks to some social media investigation work, it was evident that rather than flying to Hamilton, Ms Ngarewa-Packer had been serving constituents holidaying in Hawaii on your dollar. We asked for more details – it's taxpayer money after all – BUT were told by Parliamentary Services to get lost! You see, while Government Ministers are covered by freedom of information laws, non ministerial spending is still completely secret.  That means that other than knowing the total amount spent by an MP on travel, or on their 'office expenses', we are none the wiser about what it's actually going towards.  Remember former Minister, Tuku Morgan's $300 taxpayer-funded underpants? The public only learned about those because he put it on his Ministerial card, not his MP one. How many other MPs are doing the same thing, but we just don't know it? There's also what are called the "Parliamentary Leader's Budgets" (applicable to every political party in Parliament with some in the millions of dollars). Last month Chris Hipkins took his partner to the UK and Europe using some of this money – but the costs are a state secret. How is that fair? We say, if taxpayers pay for these 'leader's budgets', taxpayers ought to know what they are being used for. That's why I'm asking for your support to force the Government to change the law and "Open the Books" on Parliament. Bill before Parliament is the opportunity taxpayers have been waiting for... 🙌 But for the first time, we have a real opportunity to fix their loophole. Right now before Parliament is a Bill that changes how Parliament operates and MPs are funded. As it stands, it actually removes what very few safeguards are around MP's expenditure (for example, MPs won't need to get their Party Leader's permission to head off overseas). But with one small change – to remove the carve-out Parliamentary Service's financial information from the Official Information Act – we could blow the books wide open. Will you back us in this effort so we can publicise the issue, and ensure the Bill gets the public attention it deserves? New Zealand prides itself in being open and transparent. But most of the western world's politicians made their expenses transparent decades ago. It's time we caught up. Mounting a campaign like this means we're up against every political party in Parliament! But we can still win. A tough campaign like this means we need big resources to give MPs no other option but to open the books. If MPs are allowed to continue to hide behind blanket figures, the door will remain open for abuse of expenses, just as we saw in the UK. Hedley, we're tired of asking Parliament nicely. Now's the time to shine a light on MPs' spending and blow open the books. We can't let this opportunity pass. Make a secure donation ↩️ Thank you for your support. Jordan Williams Executive Director New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union    New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand This email was sent to twitips@xtra.co.nz. To change your email preferences, click here. Authorised by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union, Level 4, 117 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6011. http://email.nationbuilder.com/wf/open?upn=u001.H-2F4uuhIl2UY5wYtf1jlm38yfLmVFTc8Ek1yds6z61LSuACd-2B3rN6ciLILzfDku2m9RbbFvLKOEfQwH1O-2BlDBaD7uGarkHzSRrtEC2fcmD1QFa-2B6hRdPv4NFCgdSM0v-2BB-2FUv-2F9gXnDJpySY9P7ulZMz6jeh9RUYc4MNC5rNo3oWuV0VFVCrj-2FE2Aao6IMwd-2FGQummbyTHvQEBdHU7U5PmufHjxJepzbYRDbt5Lm-2FcruNHWpQBrfV8bI7Tsi-2FJHxwMKE5yIusRD6tghrgzH8j7KJSY7pDqn8d-2ByQmbnESzdpS3q1h-2BbSSjGi1u2blFt0CIt-2F0S0dR54EXkg9cWcwnKDXnlpUqgSoYsZ7so-2BpQUI-2F-2FUMaQtXtfc0z7Kj4sUVapp17yzVCqy5o-2FanbB43QNa8w-3D-3D

Probably not 🤔

Well here's hoping Avondale invests THEIR money elsewhere.  Perhaps with a club that has done a lot with limited resources.

Whoops should have gone to Specsavers DSD is in at Ashburton 

Was a genuine tribute to great guy , a tough watch all the same . Kudos to those that he worked very closely with in Frazer Auret and Bevan Sweeney , both had heartfelt and caring words and are obviously doing it tough . My biggest consolation from it was knowing that Jonathan had organized what he wanted of the funeral which told me he was at peace with his decision which should give everyone some solace in a tough time . I hope it is not long till he is riding G1 winners in his paradise . R.I.P. skins .

You would think that someone who lives north of Auckland would know that , but can you really call it a city track ???

Trained by Peter Eurton, Stay Hot has won four stakes on turf, the best record of the seven entered in the Twilight Derby (G2T).View the full article

Be good to see Michael and Lisa Allpress back at the races  

I suspect the form comments are done by ai, not by a human that watches relevant race replays or reads the stipes reports. A horse can be taken out by bad interference and recover well but the form will just read where it finished and how many lengths behind the winner. 

Some people may not be aware that Pukekohe is actually part of Auckland. So there will be two Auckland tracks when Avondale closes.

Now you know how it feels  

Great to see such a huge turnout for the special talent and an even more special human being that was Jonathan Parkes...All to a tee mentioned the same themes about him I for one never really knew him but he obviously touched so so many people even though he was suffering himself...the world has really lost a great human being...may you forever RIP now Jonathan.

Thank You..and may you rest in peace forever.  

Interesting Don't Stop Dreaming is not in at Ashburton assume maybe going to Kaikoura . Astute trainers so maybe goes better kept on the fresh side 

Its a wonder no complaints have come through . They should just keep their advertising on the TAB website

Yep their disclaimer is that stupid " I'm giving it rest today "

Cold Chisel is a 3 year old isn't he ? If so that's really strange I thought they would have put him in the 3 year old race worth $50,000 , which he may have won with a good draw . The race he is in is only worth $60,000 and he would only be racing for 2nd prize as well . I was gutted to see Better Knuckle Up draw the outside but Zac is on and I think he is the forgotten 3 year old . He would have at least run second to Chase a Dream if he hadn't of galloped . Both of us being drivers know how good a horse must be to pick himself up after that 

Most of your good 3 year olds fighting for a Velocity spot are in on Monday. Ashburton in the Sophomore Classic. I like Harrison John in that. He's from Heaven not won a Group race yet Charlie , so is only a runner's chance. 5th in the Victoria Derby is as close as he's got to date.  But  Northern Derby winner Cold Chisel is going around against the FFAers in the Ashburton Flying stakes?? a strange decision ? against stablemate Merlin and Co. that might flatten him a bit before the big prizes of Velocity and NZ Derby coming up ?  

Are they going to stop racing on it?

Ellerslie has a trainng facility PUKEKOHE