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 

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