The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming a new report from The New Zealand Initiative calling for Cabinet reform, saying the bloated system of portfolios and departments wastes money and dodges accountability.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“This report must be a wakeup call to the Government. New Zealand has 81 portfolios, 28 ministers, and 43 departments. That’s three times as many portfolios as comparable countries. Taxpayers are footing the bill while accountability vanishes.”

“When a ministry like MBIE answers to 20 different ministers, no one is clearly in charge. That means delays, excuses, and wasted money.”

“Countries like Ireland and Singapore prove you can govern effectively with 15–20 ministers. It’s time for New Zealand to cut Cabinet down to size and make responsibility clear.”

“If the Government is serious about delivering for New Zealanders, it must take this report as a blueprint: set a clear target to cut Cabinet down to size, publish a timeline, and start the job of rebuilding accountability.”

“This Government has shown no pathway back to surplus. Getting the bureaucratic beast under control is the only way they’ll cut costs”

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