New petition calls on Toyota to repay
secret $391,000 grant to Palmerston North
ratepayers
The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union has
launched a petition calling on Toyota New Zealand to pay
back the $391,000 grant secretly given by Palmerston North
City Council, for which the Council and Toyota refuse to
explain.
Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director
Jordan Williams says, “This kind of corporate welfare is
wasteful and unnecessary. With profits of 22 billion USD,
Toyota should not be getting free handouts from Palmerston
North ratepayers.”
“The Council and Toyota
refuse to explain why or how this decision was made. That
says it all. If the grant was above board, why was it kept
secret?”
“We encourage Palmerston North
ratepayers, Toyota customers, and concerned New Zealanders
to sign the petition at www.taxpayers.org.nz/toyota.”
“Toyota needs to apologise and explain that its
opportunistic grab of public funds was just a blip in an
otherwise solid record of serving New Zealanders. The first
step is to pay the money
back.”
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