Hon David Seymour is the Minister of Regulation and the Associate Minister of Health (Pharmac), Finance, and Education (Partnership Schools). He was first elected to Parliament as MP for Epsom in 2014, at which point he became Leader of the ACT Party. David has degrees from the University of Auckland in electrical engineering and philosophy. Before politics, he worked as an electrical engineer in New Zealand and for private sector think tanks in Canada
Visit David's website for Epsom constituents
Latest Press Releases
10 vaccine questions the Government needs to answer
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister and her COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins need to do what they’ve advertised following Cabinet this afternoon and make very clear when New Zealand will approve use of vaccines, when they will arrive in the country, and...
$100,100 raised for pricks everywhere
09 January, 2023
The signed printout of the Hansard (the official parliamentary record) where Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern labelled ACT Leader David Seymour an “arrogant prick” has been sold. Raising $100,100 for The Prostate Cancer Foundation.
100 Days of Real Change
03 August, 2022
The ACT Party has today announced its plan for the first 100 days of Government.
100 million milestone leaves NZ increasingly isolated
14 June, 2022
“Data collected by Bloomberg shows the milestone of 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine administered worldwide has been passed, leaving big questions for the Government about where New Zealand will stand relative to other countries as the worldwide programme continues,”...
$10m a month wasted on redundant contact tracing
14 June, 2022
“ACT can reveal that taxpayers are footing the bill for pointless contact tracing that should have been scrapped when Omicron made it redundant,” says ACT’s Leader David Seymour....
1500 empty rooms in MIQ shows Government’s poor planning
14 June, 2022
“ACT welcomes the news that migrant families who have been cruelly separated for far too long will be reunited, but 1500 empty MIQ rooms shows there’s no reason both them and desperately needed workers can’t be here now,” says ACT...
24 day isolation rule non-announcement unprofessional and unworkable
14 June, 2022
“New COVID isolation rules for Omicron are unworkable, and the way they were dumped on the Ministry of Health website on a Friday afternoon is unprofessional,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
$44k for Aussie composed RNZ tune
03 August, 2022
“Radio New Zealand has spent $43,677 of taxpayers money on Australian music for its new theme song,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
50,000 Kiwis set to leave permanently
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s cost of living crisis is encouraging Kiwis to flee to greener pastures, causing a brain drain that we can’t afford,” ACT’s Leader David Seymour says....
6,400 jobs lost to minimum wage
14 June, 2022
“MBIE advised the Government to go slower in raising the minimum wage and estimates thousands fewer jobs will be created as a result of its hike”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
$6 million on Reserve Bank website
14 September, 2022
“The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has strayed so far from its purpose that it’s now spending millions of taxpayers’ dollars on a new website amidst a cost of living crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
76 per cent more coal in your stocking this Christmas
14 June, 2022
“Coal imports are up a staggering 76 per cent on this time last year as Labour continues to import dirty coal from Indonesia,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
86 COVID positive cases isolating at home
14 June, 2022
“COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins has today admitted under questioning from ACT that there are 86 COVID positive cases isolating at home, so why can’t COVID negative people isolate?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
A Little honesty shows why offshore Kiwis can’t self-isolate
14 June, 2022
A little honesty from Andrew Little on Q+A this morning shows why Kiwis are stuck offshore waiting for MIQ, with Little saying “we expected to be in this position in probably six weeks to two months’ time."...
A million Kiwis abandoned by Jacinda Ardern
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s announcement today hasn’t even considered the international border, simply saying “soon we will be on a pathway to reopening the border,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
A referendum is a conversation
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party welcomes National Leader Christopher Luxon saying he wants a conversation about co-governance. We put it to him that a referendum is a conversation where ordinary people get a say,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
A simple question for Ardern and Faafoi: Should Troy Bowker be arrested?
14 June, 2022
“The saga surrounding Troy Bowker’s LinkedIn comments raises a simple question for Kris Faafoi and Jacinda Ardern, would he be arrested for his comments under their proposed Hate Speech law?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
A simple question for Ardern on Auckland
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern needs to say what level of vaccination is required to move in two weeks, otherwise she is just making it up as she goes,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
A strangely honest politician
13 December, 2022
“Labour MP Jamie Strange has seen the writing on the wall and shown a level of honesty his colleagues could learn from,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A week is too weak from Hipkins
14 June, 2022
“Reducing the isolation period by three days is weak response that comes far too late,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A week to identify close contacts is too long
14 June, 2022
“Once again the Government has been caught taking a nap as it takes seven long days to identify close contacts of Omicron,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Abundance of caution becomes abundance of costs
05 October, 2022
“The Government’s financial statements for the year to June 30 show Jacinda Ardern’s abundance of caution has become an abundance of costs to New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Accountability needed after school closure flip flop
01 February, 2023
“The Education Minister needs to front and take responsibility for a third of the country’s students being needlessly and offensively messed around,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT announces a better way than SNA
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour has today announced at Fieldays ACT’s alternative to the Significant Natural Areas debacle the Government has overseen....
ACT announces democracy policy
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour has today announced a new Democracy Policy. This includes a new Member’s Bill which would introduce a four year term to Parliament from 2026, if the Government turns control of select committees over to the opposition....
ACT announces Government’s agenda for fishing policy
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party can today release the Government’s agenda when it comes to fishing policy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT announces Teaching Excellence Reward Fund
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour and Education Spokesperson Chris Baillie have today proposed a new $250 million fund which would be allocated to schools to promote teaching excellence....
ACT asks: What’s going up next door?
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is today launching a public awareness campaign about the deal Labour and National have done to allow three three-storey homes on every residential section in New Zealand's five largest cities,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT backs AG’s call for greater accountability of COVID spending
14 June, 2022
“ACT is supporting the Auditor-General’s request for the Government to properly front up to taxpayers about their relentless spending of the COVID-19 slush fund,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT called for survey testing at the start of the pandemic
03 August, 2022
“28 months after ACT called on the Government to begin planned epidemiological studies to understand the true prevalence of COVID-19, the Government has finally announced it will be launched “soon”,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT calls for expulsion of Iranian ambassador
11 October, 2022
“A response from the Iranian Ambassador to a letter from the ACT Party shows he has no place in New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT calls for testing at Parliament
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour has today written to the Parliamentary Service Chief Executive and the Speaker asking for saliva or rapid antigen testing to be widely available to staff and MPs at Parliament....
ACT calls on all parties to renounce UNDRIP
14 June, 2022
“ACT is calling on all parties in Parliament to renounce the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT cancels cancel culture
14 June, 2022
“Pressure from the ACT Party has forced Justice Minister Kris Faafoi to shelve his plans to put cancel culture on steroids,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT celebrates 25-years of fighting for freedom
14 June, 2022
Today marks 25-years of the ACT Party entering parliament, unique in the world for championing personal and economic freedom.
ACT challenges other parties to vote for meaningful tax cuts
14 June, 2022
“The cost of living crisis requires a crisis response and Parliament could start immediately by delivering meaningful tax relief with tax legislation in Parliament today,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT congratulates Ministry of Education for policy change
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is congratulating the Ministry of Education for taking our advice and changing its policy to count school lunches going to waste,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT defends Shakespeare from Creative NZ activists
16 October, 2022
“Ideological activists within Creative New Zealand (CNZ) are trying to cancel Shakespeare’s works in New Zealand because of its alleged “canon of imperialism”. The board that signed this off will be gone under ACT,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT Delivering the Four Year Term Debate
14 June, 2022
“MPs who want to see a four year term have an option to have it debated in parliament immediately by supporting my Constitution (Enabling a 4-Year Term) Amendment Bill,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT ‘disheartened’ by PM’s misleading statement
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister today told her weekly press conference she was “disheartened” the ACT Party doesn’t want to engage with the Government over its proposed hate speech laws, despite ACT writing to the Justice Minister and agreeing for the Caucus...
ACT has some rapid advice for Jacinda
14 June, 2022
“With 12,000 cases in the community and just 19 at the border ACT has all the rapid advice the Prime Minister needs about isolation and MIQ,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT has the four-year term solution
14 June, 2022
“If Justice Minister Kris Faafoi wants a four-year term then he should support my Constitution (Enabling a 4-Year Term) Amendment Bill,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT is the party of sensible law making
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is leading the way in making sensible laws that will improve the lives of New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT launches Real Change Tour
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today hit the road on another tour of New Zealand to hear New Zealanders' concerns and promote ACT's positive policies,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT makes submission on Hate Speech laws
14 June, 2022
“ACT will not stand by while the Government tries to criminalise New Zealanders for free speech,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT meets Christchurch residents fed up with density laws
22 September, 2022
“ACT is tonight holding a public meeting in Christchurch to discuss a better way of building housing infrastructure than Labour/National’s housing deal, which Christchurch City Council has rejected,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT MPs meet with protest representatives
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour and MP Nicole McKee this morning met with representatives of the group protesting outside Parliament at the request of the owner of the Backbencher....
ACT Party wishes Jacinda Ardern well for the future
19 January, 2023
“The ACT Party sends our best wishes to Jacinda Ardern and her family as she announces that she is stepping down from her role as Prime Minister of New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
09 September, 2022
“On behalf of the ACT Party, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the Royal Family for the loss of a true leader and matriarch,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT proposes Auckland inorganic waste collection day
30 January, 2023
“ACT is proposing that Auckland Council organises a special inorganic waste collection day this week, to help the many Aucklanders who are suffering with debris and waste that they can’t dispose of themselves,” says MP for Epsom and ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT proposes COVID Tracer-app lottery to incentivise scanning
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is today proposing a COVID-Tracer app lottery to encourage people to use the app more,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT proposes improvements to housing legislation
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour has written to Labour and National outlining three policies that would significantly improve their joint-housing policy.
ACT proposes law changes following terror attack
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is today proposing three law changes in response to the Lynnmall terror attack,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT proposes referendum on co-governance
14 June, 2022
“This election, ACT will be campaigning for a referendum on co-governance,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT provides certainty around vaccine certificates in the workplace
14 June, 2022
“Uncertainty about whether workplaces can require vaccination certificates under the status quo is creating great anxiety in workplaces. Government needs to deal with this uncertainty by giving clarity on how health and safety, privacy, and discrimination laws interact,” says ACT...
ACT raises more than $80k for Ukraine
19 October, 2022
“ACT has raised over $80,000 for Ukraine, with more than $40,000 raised at our fundraiser on Monday,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT refutes PM’s wasteful spending claim
14 June, 2022
ACT is refuting Jacinda Ardern’s claim that Labour hasn’t wasted taxpayers’ money and is renewing its promise to zero base government....
ACT rejects lowered voting age
21 November, 2022
“ACT rejects calls to lower the voting age to 16 following the Supreme Court’s ruling,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT remains committed to repealing envy tax
23 November, 2022
“As National does a u-turn on repealing the 39 per cent tax rate, ACT can be unequivocal in its position that it needs to be repealed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT requests Auditor-General inquiry into Ihumātao
14 June, 2022
“I have today written to the Auditor-General asking him to investigate the circumstances surrounding the agreement reached by the Government on the future of Ihumātao, announced on December 17,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT’s Budget for the Battlers
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today released our alternative budget, a budget for middle New Zealand, the Kiwis who work hard but are being squeezed from every direction,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT’s plan to reconnect faster, safer
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s announcement about New Zealand’s post-COVID future is a step in the right direction, but New Zealanders will be asking why it has taken so long,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT’s private MIQ would be safer than government MIQ
14 June, 2022
“MIQ is the bottleneck starving the New Zealand economy of the skilled people businesses need to grow and compete,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT’s Protect Free Speech petition reaches 10,000 signatures
14 June, 2022
“ACT’s petition to protect the free speech of New Zealanders and oppose the Government’s proposed hate speech laws has today reached 10,000 signatures,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
ACT’s Real Change Budget
09 August, 2022
“New Zealand is an island nation of pioneers. We’ve travelled further than any people in history to give the next generation a better tomorrow, but modern Budgets don’t reflect the spirit of aspiration that gave birth to our country,” says...
ACT’s risk based COVID approach finally adopted
14 June, 2022
“A risk-based approach for overseas arrivals is what ACT has been calling for since August last year”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT sends best wishes to separated families
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is this week sending our thoughts to the families who have been cruelly separated by the Government’s rigid MIQ booking system,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT sends sympathy to stabbing victims
14 June, 2022
“ACT would like to offer sympathy to the victims of the New Lynn terror attack,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT shifts protest debate in 24 hours
14 June, 2022
“Just days ago Speaker Trevor Mallard’s response to the protest outside Parliament was an immature mix of speakers and sprinklers. We welcome him and the rest of Parliament now taking a more mature approach and following ACT’s lead,” says ACT...
ACT stands against rushed property laws
14 June, 2022
“ACT is the only party in Parliament to have stood against the Government’s rushed and dangerous Commercial Property Laws from the beginning as a matter of principle,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT supports Grounded Kiwis
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today shown our support for ‘Grounded Kiwis’ – the New Zealanders who are stuck overseas and unable to come home to their own country,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT tackles the cost of living crisis
14 June, 2022
“The cost of living for New Zealand families is through the roof. Rents are up, mortgage rates are on the rise, the cost of food is up, petrol is up - but wages aren’t keeping up. It’s time Kiwi battlers...
ACT the only party to support property rights
14 June, 2022
“ACT is the only party in Parliament who truly supports property rights – voting against the Government’s disgraceful changes to commercial property laws,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT unveils Tauranga campaign bus
14 June, 2022
ACT Party Leader David Seymour, Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden and ACT Tauranga candidate Cameron Luxton have today unveiled the party’s campaign bus....
ACT welcome National’s support for ankle bracelets policy
18 November, 2022
“The ACT Party is today welcoming the National Party showing support for our policy of ankle bracelets for youth offenders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT welcomes Covid decision
09 January, 2023
“The ACT Party welcomes the Government’s decision not to impose mandatory testing for arrivals from China,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT welcomes King Charles III as head of state
22 September, 2022
“The ACT Party welcomes the formal accession of His Majesty King Charles III as head of state,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT welcomes Luxon’s support for referendum
14 June, 2022
“ACT is welcoming reports that National Leader Christopher Luxon has expressed his support for a referendum on co-governance,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.“1News reported the following from a public meeting in Ashburton; “Luxon initially sidestepped a te reo question to...
ACT welcomes National’s COVID plan
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today congratulated National for adopting a suite of familiar measures – now it’s time for the Government to get on board,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT welcomes Nats’ welfare move
07 August, 2022
"ACT welcomes the National Party’s move towards mutual obligation in welfare. Requiring case management for long term and young beneficiaries is good policy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT welcomes success of Free Britney campaign
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is rejoicing that Britney Spears is free one more time after exiting the toxic conservatorship with her father,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT whacks petrol tax, the smart way
14 June, 2022
ACT exists to propose positive practical solutions to urgent problems, and one of the most urgent problems we face right now is the cost of living crisis....
ACT will fight compulsory unionism
14 June, 2022
“ACT has today launched our “Reject Compulsory Unionism” petition, which fights back against Labour’s reckless industrial relations law changes,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT will liberate good teachers
14 June, 2022
“Certain vocal principals’ responses to ACT policy this morning shows exactly why teacher pay and conditions, and student test scores, have declined under their leadership”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT will repeal hate speech law
14 December, 2022
“ACT will repeal Labour’s deeply offensive hate speech law if it is part of the next Government," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will repeal Hate Speech laws
19 November, 2022
“Justice Minister Kiri Allan has watered down Labour’s Hate Speech laws because Kiwis rejected Labour’s attempt to strip away their freedom of speech, but even in their current state they are not compatible with a free and open society and ACT will repeal them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT would remove cultural background reports for sentencing
19 September, 2022
“ACT is proposing to remove Section 26(2)(a) and Section 27 of the Sentencing Act 2002, which allows criminals to gain shortened sentences by undergoing cultural background reports,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT would repeal undemocratic compulsory unionism
14 June, 2022
“Compulsory unionism is undemocratic, will be a wrecking ball on the economy, and doesn’t solve any identified problem,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT would return bureaucrats to 2017 levels
14 June, 2022
“Today’s monster inflation number will have to be tamed and we need to start with politicians showing a bit of restraint”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ACT’s Alternative Budget vs Trussonomics
21 October, 2022
“It’s important that any lessons taken from Liz Truss’s downfall are based on actual data. The risk is New Zealand takes the wrong lesson from lazy analysis, particularly those on the political left who bleat on like the sheep in Animal Farm, tax cuts bad, spending good,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT's seventh Member's Bill this term shows depth of ideas
07 August, 2022
“The ACT Party has once again shown we are the leaders of the proposition with our seventh Member’s Bill this term to be read in Parliament,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT’s solutions for building New Zealand and conserving nature
30 November, 2022
“ACT’s solution for building New Zealand and conserving nature is one where New Zealanders are free to make the best possible use of their property and our shared environment to live their best lives,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Adrian Orr all care, no responsibility
03 November, 2022
“New Zealanders are struggling with high prices, rising interest rates, and no end in sight to either. After an hour before the Finance and Expenditure Committee, Adrian Orr refused to accept the Reserve Bank got anything wrong, couldn’t say when inflation would return to normal, and blamed everyone but himself," says ACT L
Air New Zealand must wait for Government Vaccination IT
14 June, 2022
“The real story behind the Air New Zealand waiting four months to make vaccination mandatory is that the Government’s ICT is not ready,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Alfresco dining for Auckland
14 June, 2022
“If we’re allowed to have picnics in parks with food bought from the supermarket duopolies, then we should also allow restaurants to have alfresco dining,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
An alternative to mandates will help heal divisions
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s mandates are causing huge disruption and division and we need an alternative way forward”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
An April bubble will be six months late
14 June, 2022
“If there is a trans-Tasman travel bubble in place by April New Zealand will still have badly missed the lay line,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
‘Announcements’ Ardern all talk and no action
14 June, 2022
“The Government should ensure there are vaccination centres set up at all ports tomorrow, and insist on enforcing the rules. Instead Ardern has made another announcement instead of action, waiting weeks before port workers must be vaccinated,” says ACT Leader...
Another Friday cover-up from Labour
14 June, 2022
“The Labour Government is once again using a Friday while the Prime Minister is on leave to dump information,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Another MIQ lottery postponed - time for honestly and certainty with the border
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s decision to yet again cancel the MIQ lottery will be devastating for Kiwis abroad and it’s time for a solution,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Another vaccine announcement, still no progress
14 June, 2022
“This Government’s vaccine rollout is reminiscent of a losing test cricket team desperately trying to increase the run rate as the days go by,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Answers needed on vaccine supply
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today welcomed news that the Government is now wastewater testing in 95 locations, up from 26 at the start of the outbreak. It has softened on saliva testing, and even said it was open to home...
Answers needed over testing and tracing
14 June, 2022
“The Ardern Government has had 18 months since the last Level 4 lockdown and there hasn’t been enough preparation done on testing and tracing,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Anti-democratic, anti-freedom FPAs must be scrapped
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s plan for compulsory unionism is anti-democratic and anti-freedom and it must be scrapped,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Apartheid Bill deeply divisive
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s Apartheid Bill will not begin to solve the fundamental economic and social issues our nation faces,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ardern assumes role of Car Tsar
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern should reverse her position on an exemption for utes in the feebate scheme now she has been corrected that Toyota isn’t bringing an electric ute onto the market in the next 12 to 24 months,” says ACT Leader...
Ardern desperate for another Covid election
17 October, 2022
“News that the Government wants to extend its Covid-19 powers for another two years shows how desperate and delusional it is,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Ardern Finds Missing Link, and Contact Tracing Failure
14 June, 2022
“Suggestion by the Prime Minister that Cases M and N caught the virus from cases D,E,F, G, and H would mean there was a chain of transmission to be traced all along, but the Government did not find it,” says...
Ardern refuses to rule out new taxes
14 June, 2022
“Labour is eagerly searching for new taxes to fuel its addiction to spending taxpayers’ money”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Ardern's credibility on 'white privilege' takes a hit
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s credibility in denying that ‘white privilege’ is being taught in the education system has taken another hit,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ardern, Seymour to support pricks everywhere
15 December, 2022
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and ACT Leader David Seymour have joined together in the spirit of Christmas to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Ardern wrong, you can have it both ways
05 November, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern is wrong when she says tax cuts can’t happen because they’d be inflationary, she just needs to stop her addiction to spending,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Arrogant Government ruling by dictate
14 June, 2022
“It takes a whole new level of arrogance for the Labour Government to undermine Parliament with the sudden imposition of new tax rules previously explicitly ruled out by Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
As goes the South Island, so goes New Zealand
14 June, 2022
“The South Island has been completely let down by slow contact tracing efforts, leaving it locked down for far longer than it needed to be,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ASB Showgrounds liquidation shows up Government's brittle COVID Response
14 June, 2022
“ASB Showgrounds going into liquidation after more than 160 years shows the Government’s failure to respond nimbly to COVID,” says Epsom MP and ACT Leader David Seymour “The events industry has worked hard asking Government to consider their unique circumstances....
Attorney General rejects Rotorua Bill
14 June, 2022
“Labour has no choice but to vote against the Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill after Attorney General David Parker found the Bill would limit the right to be free from discrimination and cannot be justified under the Bill of...
Auckland crime escalates as Police busy at border
14 June, 2022
“A crime wave across Auckland is taking place as violent criminals feel empowered by the knowledge Police are busy at the border,” says Epsom MP and ACT Leader David Seymour....
Auckland decision not worthy of wait
14 June, 2022
“It wasn’t worth waiting through Ashley Bloomfield’s slide show to find out Auckland might move, in principle, to Step 2 of Alert Level 3 in eight days’ time,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Auckland’s destiny is longer lockdowns
14 June, 2022
“Anti-lockdown protests in Auckland are insulting law abiding Aucklanders. We may end up locked down longer because an anti-lockdown protest spreads COVID” says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour....
Auckland should be at 3.3
14 June, 2022
"The Prime Minister should reactivate the forgotten ‘roadmap’ and move Auckland to Step 3 of Alert Level 3,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Auckland Transport Should Focus on Train Times, not Lynch Mobs
14 June, 2022
“Auckland Transport must ignore the lynch mob baying for an employee who made an innocuous Facebook comment,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Auckland will be livid at needless delay
14 June, 2022
“Anger at delaying the announcement on whether Auckland will move into alert level 1 underlines why the Government should adopt ACT’s COVID Response Plan 2.0,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Aucklanders paying for unprepared Government
14 June, 2022
“Aucklanders are paying for contact tracing that’s too slow and testing that wasn’t up to scratch,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Auditor General slams dodgy tourism fund for racial discrimination
14 June, 2022
“The Auditor General has made official what everyone in tourism knew, the Strategic Tourism Assets Protection Programme didn’t just have an awkward made-up name, it was dodgy all the way through,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Aussie bubble takes us straight back to October
14 June, 2022
“Once again the Government is long on self-congratulation but late on delivery with its announcement of a travel bubble with Australia, but Jacinda Ardern couldn’t treat us like lucky little prisoners any longer,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Australia shows us how to move on – again
03 October, 2022
“While Australia are removing Covid restrictions at a greater pace and reaping the economic benefits, New Zealand grimly holds on to zombie laws that do nothing,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Australia shows us how to move on from Covid
13 September, 2022
“The Aussies have shown New Zealand what needs to be done to move on from Covid,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Average worker $2185 better off under ACT, nothing under Labour
14 June, 2022
“Middle income New Zealanders are waking today to the realisation they were an afterthought in yesterday’s Brain Drain Budget and they’ve been shafted by Labour,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Barriers to business driving supermarket costs
14 June, 2022
“The millions of dollars spent on the Commerce Commission report into supermarkets says what we could have told Government for free: it’s too hard to build, invest, and do business in New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Benefit blowout as budget more than doubles
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern says Kiwis aren’t work shy, but they’re about to get a hell of a lot more shy now she’s more than doubled the budget for the dole,” say ACT Leader David Seymour and Social Development spokesperson Karen Chhour....
Better off on welfare than income insurance scheme
27 September, 2022
“Labour’s income insurance scheme would provide no more income to a family dependant on a median wage as benefits would, the only difference is the same family would have to pay for the income insurance scheme with a tax on their income,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Big questions about vaccine contracts
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to explain whether the New Zealand’s timeline for delivery of Covid 19 vaccines is based on supply constraints or because we’ve signed contracts that give the drug companies discretion to decide which countries need vaccines most,” says...
Bloated bureaucracy needs reining in
14 June, 2022
“The Government has let the public service get completely out of control before attempting to rein it in,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Bogeyman not found in Reserve Bank Review
10 November, 2022
“We seek him here, we seek him there, but the bogeyman the Reserve Bank tamed in 2020 cannot be found in its newly released five-year review. Instead, there is only a pile of debt and inflation for Kiwis to deal with,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Book My Vaccine still not updated for four-month bookings, My Vaccine Pass still not linked to actual vaccination date
14 June, 2022
“A week after the Government changed its policy to make COVID-19 booster vaccines available four months from last dose, the Book My Vaccine website is still set up for six-months,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Booking MIQ shouldn’t be like trying to get Elton John tickets
14 June, 2022
“The Government must reduce the anxiety being caused to New Zealanders offshore and wanting to return home by expanding its arbitrary three month window for booking managed isolation facilities,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Booster chaos totally avoidable
14 June, 2022
“Across the country people are finding boosters are available some places but not others, when they should have been available immediately,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Boosters should start tomorrow
14 June, 2022
“Now that booster shots have been approved, the rollout should begin immediately for those who are due one,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Botox but not barbers highlights Auckland absurdities
14 June, 2022
“The fact that Aucklanders can pop out for a Botox top up but can’t go to the hairdresser sums up everything that is wrong with the Government’s COVID rules,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Breakthrough on Laura Fergusson Trust
14 June, 2022
“The Laura Fergusson Trust which provides critical services to young disabled people has broken its silence and agreed to meet with the Minister of Health,” says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour....
Bring Back Democracy
14 June, 2022
“Other than the Alert Levels, the Prime Minister has another important decision to make today, will she allow democracy to continue? Asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
Bring back the Epidemic Response Committee
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is once again calling on the Government to bring back the Epidemic Response Committee,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Bubble more harrumph than triumph
14 June, 2022
“Today the Government will try its usual trope that ‘we’ve all worked really hard, and Australian travel is a reward for our sacrifice,’ but the public should look right through them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Bus ban needed in Tauranga
14 June, 2022
ACT’s Tauranga candidate Cameron Luxton has this morning called for kids who cause trouble at the Tauranga bus stop to be banned from the bus for a month....
Bus stop or final destination?
14 June, 2022
“With Cabinet today considering the controversial and divisive He Puapua document and what’s next for New Zealand after signing the UNDRIP – it’s time for the Prime Minister to be clear about her government’s intentions around co-governance,” says ACT Leader...
Businesses can’t access ramraid fund
13 September, 2022
“The Police Minister needs to explain to business owners who are terrified that they are next in line to be ramraided why they can’t access the fund designed to protect businesses,” says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour.
Businesses decimated, so Labour raises minimum wage
14 June, 2022
“Businesses have been decimated by Covid-19, so Labour has decided to dump more costs on them – that’s completely nuts”, say ACT Leader David Seymour and Small Business spokesperson Chris Baillie....
Butchers should meat the standard for click and collect
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party supports the Remuera butcher who’s shown the chops to challenge the ridiculous rules that stop butchers from operating,” says Epsom MP and ACT Leader David Seymour....
Cabinet’s simplest ever decision – but prepare to be spun
14 June, 2022
“It is inevitable the Government will announce Auckland is coming out of lockdown this afternoon – it has to – and they will portray the lockdown as having saved Aucklanders, when it hasn’t, it’s cost them dearly,” says ACT Leader...
Calls for compulsion become compelling
14 June, 2022
“It was a huge reveal in Parliament today when the Prime Minister admitted that none of the three community cases that led to the latest Auckland lockdown had been using the official NZ Covid Tracer app at all,” says ACT...
Calm and clarity needed for Omicron
14 June, 2022
“New Zealanders need calm and clarity from Government as the WHO identifies a new variant of concern in South Africa,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Cameron Luxton to stand for ACT in Tauranga by-election
14 June, 2022
“A vote for Cameron Luxton in Tauranga will send a message to Wellington that it’s time for real change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Can you hear the giant sucking sound?
03 August, 2022
“Immigration NZ needs to start thinking like a recruitment agency rather than a security guard, as we may be on track to lose 100,000 people in a year as the giant sucking sound gets louder” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Captain Climate Change and the First XV
14 June, 2022
“Captain Planet James Shaw is taking 14 officials to Glasgow with him, the first XV of climate change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Case L concerning and raises many questions
14 June, 2022
“Today’s KFC COVID case in the community is incredibly concerning and begs the question whether the Ministry of Health really has the South Auckland cluster under control,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
CCCFA still a handbrake
14 June, 2022
“Five months since I wrote to the Finance and Expenditure Committee requesting an inquiry in to the effects of the CCCFA changes into lending, the Government has still not solved the problem,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Chaos created by 90 percent target
14 June, 2022
“New Zealanders deserve to have clarity on what the vaccination target is and when we can get back to living our lives,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Chicken, meet roost this OCR decision
14 June, 2022
“The rise of the OCR today is the chickens coming home to roost after the Government got through COVID with mass money printing that’s had to stop,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Chickens come home to roost with rising food prices
19 January, 2023
“Labour has done everything possible to push up the price of food and Kiwis continue to suffer with the largest annual increase in food prices in 32 years, ACT will reverse Labour’s changes,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Christmas lunch never cost more? We hear ya!
21 December, 2022
“Feel like you’re coughing up more than ever to throw a summer BBQ or get the Christmas ham ready? ACT hears ya,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Clarity needed on critical workforces
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s announcement about the rules for critical workforces today must provide clarity so we can get our way of life back”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Clarity needed on traffic light levels
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern needs to give New Zealanders good reasons why each area will move to Red, Orange and Green today – she’s already failed with Auckland,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Climate Commission’s shoddy process
14 June, 2022
“The Climate Commission has run a poor process with its report, with a lack of public consultation and shutting out journalists,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Clock ticking for testing and tracing after infected Sydney traveller in Wellington
14 June, 2022
“News of a likely infectious Australian traveller in Wellington over the weekend will test the Government’s COVID Response,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Closed border heaps pressure on Kiwi households
14 June, 2022
“With interest rates set to undergo another hike this week, the pressure being heaped on Kiwi households is close to breaking point,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Co-governance has to stop
14 June, 2022
“Another co-governance plan, this time for South Island water is yet another example co-governance structures put in place by both National and Labour Governments,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Co-governance not the answer to sewage on the street
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s push for co-governance of our water assets is another small step towards a Partnership State where a small number of New Zealanders have greater rights under the law,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Co-governance petition reaches 10,000 signatures
14 June, 2022
“ACT’s petition for a referendum on co-governance has been signed over 10,000 times since it was launched less than two weeks ago,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Coal powered Government sets new record
14 September, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s “nuclear free moment” has become even more of a joke today as New Zealand has become a net importer of coal for the first time ever,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
COLP: Govt should accept all Auditor-General’s findings
13 September, 2022
“Revenue Minister David Parker should publicly commit to accepting all of the Auditor-General’s findings in relation to the Government’s shambolic cost of living payment,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Commerce Commission spends millions finding out what we already knew
14 June, 2022
“The Commerce Commission, through the misguided policy of ‘market studies’ has just spent millions finding what we already knew,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Commercial property changes are reckless and destructive
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s rushed commercial property laws will erode New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to invest,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Community to rally to save Laura Fergusson Trust
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour will this weekend hold a rally to save the Laura Fergusson Trust.
Compensation for prisoners beyond belief
14 June, 2022
“Compensation for prisoners at Waikeria Prison following a riot is an insult to hardworking Kiwis who pay their taxes,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Complacency leads to COVID outbreak
14 June, 2022
“Reports released today into the transmission of COVID-19 at the Grand Millennium and Grand Mercure hotels show the Government has been far too complacent,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Compulsory unionism will shock on 2022
14 June, 2022
“The Labour Government’s so-called ‘Fair Pay Agreements’ will be the most radical change to employment laws this country has seen in decades and will cause huge division,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Confusion reigns
14 June, 2022
“There’s been no contrition, no certainty and no end game,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Contact tracing data missing; past performance terrible
14 June, 2022
“Where is the Ministry of Health’s contact tracing performance results for February, and did they achieve the ‘gold standard’ of 80 per cent of community contacts isolated or in quarantine within four days from exposure, based on Dr Ayesha Verrall’s...
Contact tracing fails dismally
14 June, 2022
“The Ministry of Health's annual report paints a grim picture of just how badly it has failed on contact tracing,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Contact tracing review must be thorough and published
14 June, 2022
“Is the latest example of dissonance in the COVID-19 response the disconnect between how Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield describes his team of contact tracers and their actual performance,” asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
Contact tracing still costing still costing millions
18 October, 2022
“ACT can reveal that the Government has spent $58 million on contact tracing since May, despite the fact nobody is being traced,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Cooks travel bubble almost a year too late
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister’s paternalism of the Cook Islands has caused economic and emotional harm to our Pacific neighbours that will take years to fix,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Corporates creaming it in Brain Drain Budget
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s Brain Drain Budget is more focused on improving the wellbeing of corporate fat cats than helping everyday New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
CORRECTION: Auditor General slams dodgy tourism fund for racial discrimination
14 June, 2022
Correction: After being contacted by Stuart Nash, ACT would like to make the following correction. Kelvin Davis was the Tourism Minister at the time. We’d like to thank Minister Nash for contacting us about his colleague’s involvement and for his...
Cost of living crisis continues to bite
14 June, 2022
“The cost of living crisis is continuing to hurt Kiwi families as grocery prices continue to rise,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Cost of living nothing compared to tax increase
26 October, 2022
“The 7.7 per cent annual increase in household cost of living is nothing compared to the 10.7 per cent annual increase in tax revenue Grant Robertson has given himself,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Cost of Living Payment sprays it like a garden sprinkler
03 August, 2022
“The Government’s last minute, made-for-PR, cost of living payment is spraying taxpayer money around like a garden sprinkler,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Council results show rejection of Three Waters and intensification
10 October, 2022
“The swing to the right across the country at the local body elections should be a wake up call to the Labour government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Counter-Terrorism Legislation Bill looks like a fig leaf for failure
14 June, 2022
“It’s disheartening to see the Government changing the law in response to the March 15 murders in a way the Justice Minister readily admits wouldn’t have prevented the events of March 15,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Court concurs it’s time to move on from mandates
14 June, 2022
“The High Court has agreed with ACT’s call to move on from Government vaccine mandates, pointing out that vaccination is doing little to reduce spread,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Covicrat civil war means time for reset
14 June, 2022
“Thanks to Labour’s bungling bureaucracy, hardworking New Zealanders are locked down with their livelihoods threatened, and the Prime Minister still isn’t telling the truth. It is time for a reset. We need a purpose built, Taiwan-style, Epidemic Response Unit. It...
COVID-19 inquiry must be comprehensive and independent of Government
22 September, 2022
“ACT welcomes the end of Covid restrictions the Government has clung on to for far too long, but in order to fully understand the damage they have done we need a full and independent investigation into the Government’s Covid response, and a plan to ensure we’re prepared for the future,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
COVID-19 response deserves proper scrutiny
14 June, 2022
“The Health Select Committee’s refusal to have regular constructive debates about our response to COVID-19 is an indictment of this Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
COVID-19 Royal Commission misses key issues, should have reported before election
05 December, 2022
“ACT welcomes the Government holding a Royal Commission into its Covid-19 response, after we first called for one in May 2020. We note it is now conveniently too late for the Commission to report before the election, so it won’t inform the people’s judgement of this Government, and misses key issues in its terms of referenc
COVID 3.0: Life after lockdowns
14 June, 2022
“It’s time to start planning for life beyond lockdowns. We can’t keep living with the uncertainty that we could be locked down again at any moment. It’s time to look to the future with a renewed sense of confidence,” says...
COVID changes too slow for Uni staff facing chop
13 September, 2022
“The number of international students coming to New Zealand is just 4.5 per cent of pre-COVID levels, versus 38 per cent in Australia. No wonder Kiwi Universities are planning to dump staff by the hundred,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
COVID data transparency needed
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to seriously upgrade its COVID data transparency, so we can all understand the situation and the response” says Act Leader David Seymour....
Covid isolation periods need to be considered today
13 September, 2022
“While the writing is rightly on the wall for masks and mandates today – Cabinet should also consider changing our isolation rules that are amongst the strictest in the world,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
COVID policy all politics and not evidence
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern has today confirmed in Parliament what we already knew, she’s making up the rules as she goes along and none of it is based on evidence,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
COVID Response Act should be scrapped today
03 August, 2022
“The Government shouldn’t wait for Minister Verrall’s press conference this week, they should hurry up and scrap the Traffic Light Framework when Parliament votes for its continuation this afternoon,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
CPI highest since Lange was PM
14 June, 2022
“More bad news for New Zealanders as the cost of living once again skyrockets,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Crazy that Cooks bubble can’t happen before May
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to sharpen up if New Zealand is going to have any hope of surviving a multi-year pandemic,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Crims laughing at woke Police Minister
14 June, 2022
“Criminals must be laughing at the Government’s attempts to explain away their crimes by blaming ‘neoliberalism and white supremacy’”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Criticism unfounded – we must get tracing numbers up
14 June, 2022
“Criticism of ACT’s proposal to make scanning into any premises with an official Ministry of Health Covid-19 tracing QR code compulsory for those people who haven’t switched on the official NZ Covid Tracer app’s Bluetooth capability is misplaced,” says ACT...
Crown debt on the cusp of $100 billion
14 June, 2022
“Today’s announcement from the Treasury that core crown debt is on the cusp of $100 billion should worry future generations who have seen no steps taken to protect them from a growing and unsustainable debt mountain,” says ACT Leader David...
Culture of cavalier governance must end
14 June, 2022
“Finally revealed evidence that the Government forged ahead with plans for a multi-billion dollar light rail project in Auckland without even doing a cursory cost benefit analysis should be of huge concern to taxpayers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Cycle bridge not worth the tar it'll be sealed with
14 June, 2022
“The Benefit Cost Ratio of Auckland’s cycle bridge is the equivalent of putting your money on the Share Market knowing you were going to lose 60c for every dollar invested,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
David Seymour on why the protesters should be heard
14 June, 2022
The following op-ed was published on Stuff.co.nz on 17 February, 2022.
David Seymour's response to The Spinoff
14 June, 2022
Last week, The Spinoff published an opinion piece about ACT's Move On campaign. We asked for a reply, but The Spinoff wouldn't run it. Here it is....
David Seymour speech: ACT's Real Change Budget
03 August, 2022
Thank you Andrew for your introduction, and for hosting me here on behalf of Gravity and Waterstone. Thank you to everyone who has come out early at the start of another week to talk about the future of our country...
David Seymour Speech: The Road to Real Change
07 February, 2023
Thank you everyone for overflowing this event and this venue. Thank you Brooke, and welcome to ACT’s MPs as we start the political year. Something is happening in our country. Our team have confounded the critics. They just cannot quite bring themselves to write that ACT brought in nine rookie MPs and we have the best team
David Seymour visits Hawke's Bay
18 February, 2023
“I had a sad but useful visit to Hawke’s Bay today, seeing the situation from the air and ground, and hearing from local Government, businesses, and families affected by Gabrielle’s floods,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Day of recognition without the costs is the answer
22 September, 2022
“Creating a new public holiday on a whim is causing chaos amongst businesses, our health system and schools. We need a way to recognise the Queen’s passing without making life harder for Kiwis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Debt-laden Government decides to buy a bank
14 September, 2022
“If shareholders wanted out of Kiwibank it should have been floated on the open market, instead the Government is making it taxpayers’ problem,” says ACT’s Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
Deck chairs on Titanic reshuffled
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister is reshuffling deckchairs on the Titanic. This Government has collided with the iceberg of reality and it’s going down not just because of the faces in Cabinet, but because of its policies and its direction,” says ACT...
Delay in border opening was futile
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s postponement of home isolation for Kiwis arriving from Australia proved futile, with Omicron circulating before 17 January when they would have been allowed to come home without MIQ,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Delay on sharing locations reckless
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s delay on revealing the locations the Northland woman who has tested positive for Covid 19 has travelled is reckless and risks making a dangerous situation much worse,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Democracy or co-government?
10 October, 2022
“ACT has released another new policy paper, setting out what practical steps we would take to deliver the promise of a modern, multi-ethnic liberal democracy in Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Democracy wins
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today welcomed the Parliamentary Business Committee decision that a socially distanced Parliament will go ahead next week,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Deposit insurance is moral hazard madness
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s deposit insurance scheme is the kind of moral hazard madness that led to the GFC,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.“This is the socialisation of banking.“The Minister of Finance is saying 93 percent of bank customers don’t care about...
Different rules for DJs?
14 June, 2022
“It seems a case of one isolation rule for DJs, another for everyone else,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Director General say what?
14 June, 2022
“Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield gave a simply astonishing explanation this afternoon of why community contact tracing performance might be so far below the at least 80 percent of contacts within four days of exposure to a source...
Disgraceful donation laws will give voters less choice
03 August, 2022
“The Labour Party’s plan to change donation laws, dropping a bill with just a few hours’ notice is an act that chips away at the strength and trust of our democracy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Divisive mandate sackings should stop
14 June, 2022
ACT is calling on the Government to move on from divisive vaccine mandates immediately and tell its departments to stop sacking workers....
DOC co-governance an inland foreshore and seabed
14 June, 2022
“The Government has some serious explaining to do about a co-governance proposal for the DOC Estate,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Does She Know She's PM?
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister should take some personal responsibility when things go wrong, instead of throwing members of the public under a bus." says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Don’t trust Australian Government on RATs: Hipkins
14 June, 2022
“Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins told the Health Select Committee that we shouldn’t trust the Australian Government, because he’s read media reports that we shouldn’t,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Don’t make small business pay for pageantry
13 September, 2022
“In a cost of living crisis, the ACT Party cannot support yet another public holiday. It would amount to the Government making small business pay for pageantry,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Dr Ardern delivers a Panadol when the patient is on life support
06 November, 2022
“Labour today announced it’s giving up. There is a cost of living crisis for five million Kiwis. Labour's big answer today is to help 10,000, when the need is felt by millions,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Education and Workforce Committee a farce
14 June, 2022
“Today’s Education and Workforce Committee was a perfect example of why we need the Epidemic Response Committee back,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ëlarm trial shouldn't have taken ten months
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour has welcomed the Government’s decision to trial Datamine’s ëlarm with border workers.
Elected Ministers need to front on vaccine delays
03 August, 2022
“Auckland spent three months in lockdown, and New Zealand’s borders remained shut because the vaccine roll out was too slow, and the best Ashley Bloomfield can say is that he’d ‘like to see that written up,’” says ACT Leader David...
Electoral reform options don’t solve a problem
14 June, 2022
“The proposed reforms from the Ministry of Justice into electoral donations don't solve a public policy problem,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Elimination is over, so what’s next?
14 June, 2022
“ACT has been saying for weeks that the Government has given up on elimination, this morning on the AM Show Jacinda Ardern finally admitted that is the case,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ellerslie robbery shows cost of Hipkins’ bumbling
20 November, 2022
“The long-standing saga of Government bumbling became all too real today when Ellerslie Jewellers was robbed by a smash and grab using hammers and machetes. Ellerslie Jewellers started asking Police Minister Hipkins for support in August but were told they needed to be robbed first,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
End MIQ now
14 June, 2022
“Instead of talking about the ‘Welcome Home’ packs New Zealanders will get on their return, Jacinda Ardern should get out of the way and open the border to all travellers”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
End MIQ today
14 June, 2022
“The saga of Charlotte Bellis should be a turning point for the Government. It should end MIQ today, as there is no justification for waiting another month,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
End of Life Choice Act, where did the naysayers go?
07 November, 2022
“Tomorrow will mark one year of the End of Life Choice Act and terminally ill New Zealanders being able to die with dignity,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
End of Life Choice foes unite for rule of law
14 June, 2022
The leading figures from opposite ends of the polarising End of Life Choice debate have united to criticise the Government’s failure to issue Public Health Orders underpinning the traffic light system....
Enough is enough
25 November, 2022
“For months ACT has called on the Government to escalate its response to escalating crime against retailers. The Government has dragged its feet, deflected, and done little to nothing about the problem. Tonight, something we long feared would happen has happened, a person has been killed in a smash and grab.
Epidemic Response Committee needed now more than ever
14 June, 2022
“The Government has shown it is not open to being thoroughly scrutinised on how it is handling the response to COVID-19, despite regular claims to the contrary,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Epidemic Response Committee resumes today (unofficially)
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today responded to overwhelming demand for the return of the Epidemic Response Committee (ERC) with a special unofficial committee being held at midday,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ETS -Stealth Tax Snuck Through Under Urgency
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s rushed and flawed Climate Change (Auction Price) Amendment Bill passed under urgency this evening should be called out for what it really is, a stealth tax that will impose higher costs on New Zealanders....
Events industry might as well be at Level 4
14 June, 2022
“The shift to red settings, restricting gatherings to 100 people, is the same as Alert Level four for the events sector, and they should be given the wage subsidy to compensate,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Exhibition industry begs for fairness
14 June, 2022
“If the petition I received on the steps of Parliament this morning from Darryl Clarke seeking to have exhibitions separated from mass gathering rules is acted on by this Government it will probably come too late for many in this...
Faafoi must urgently clarify hormone blocker comments
14 June, 2022
“Kris Faafoi needs to urgently clarify the comments he made on Newstalk ZB this evening about parents being unable to deny their children hormone blockers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Facebook ‘listening’ costs taxpayer quarter of a million
14 June, 2022
“The Government spent almost a quarter of a million dollars of taxpayers money monitoring your social media to form its Covid response,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Fact checking Megan Woods on fuel prices
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s interventions into the petrol market have failed to ease cost pressures on everyday Kiwis, and its Ministers are spinning like crazy to distract from it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Fair Pay Agreement report anything but fair
05 October, 2022
“A report back from Select Committee has reinforced more than ever that the so-called Fair Pay Agreements have got to go, and ACT in government will ensure that happens,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Fairness for vaccine rollout needed
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is calling on the Government to have a fair approach to vaccinations after it was revealed “priority access codes for Māori” are being handed out that do not require a booking,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Families expect inflation pain to continue
15 November, 2022
“The latest Household Expectations Survey from the Reserve Bank shows Kiwis expect inflation to bite even harder over the next year,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Farcical pre-departure rules locking Kiwis out
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s command and control over our lives has gone on long enough and it’s time for Jacinda to give up her vice-like grip and let us get on with our lives,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Final vaccination push needs partnership approach
14 June, 2022
“With first vaccinations drying up far from reaching any target, the Government should learn from the Partnership School (Charter School) model that reached children disengaged from Government education,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Finance Committee should review changes to Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour has written to the Finance and Expenditure Committee, asking it to open an inquiry into the effects of recent changes to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act....
Finance Minister knowingly and illegally misspent taxpayers’ mone
14 June, 2022
“Information uncovered by the ACT Party has led the Auditor-General to deem the Government's Ihumātao purchase 'unlawful,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
First Government in 168 years arrogant enough to entrench policy
06 December, 2022
“Today in Parliamentary Question Time the Prime Minister confirmed that she feels no contrition for being the first Prime Minister in 168 years of Parliament to try and entrench her own policies, creating a constitutional crisis in the process,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
First world status slips as health system fails
26 October, 2022
“There is a serious question of whether New Zealand is still a first world country as increasingly tragic scenes play out in hospitals,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Fishing reserves hijacked by co-governance agenda
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s plan to roll out more fishing reserves will be welcomed by some, but it shouldn’t be used to smuggle in a co-governance agenda,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.“Revitalising the Gulf is the latest example of the Government’s drive...
Fishing rules now fairer for all- next stop, butchers
14 June, 2022
“Campaigning by ACT has led to a change in the fishing and whitebaiting rules, making them fairer for all,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Forget Hipkins’ swearing in, Kiwis swearing about inflation
25 January, 2023
“The day Jacinda announced she was stepping down we learned of rising food inflation and increasing dependence on welfare. Today Chris Hipkins has a baptism of inflation with the consumer price index showing inflation is stubbornly frozen at 7.2 per cent for back to back quarters,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Forget Medsafe, adopt FDA recommendation on 5–11-year-old COVID vaccines
14 June, 2022
“The Government should immediately rule that New Zealand children deserve the same protection as American children and allow the COVID vaccine for 5–11-year-olds, and they should say if it’s possible before school is rumoured to go back on November 15”...
Forget the banks, what about Inland Revenue’s huge profits
14 November, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern is quick to blame the banks for their record profits, conveniently forgetting about her government’s record tax take that has likely grown by twice the big four banks profits,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Forget welfare nation, Labour creates welfare world
03 August, 2022
“With the Prime Minister blaming “the globe” instead of her Government’s policies for the cost of living crisis, she has decided to extend her welfare agenda from just New Zealand to the world,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.“There are reports...
Four weeks and nothing to show on Omicron response
14 June, 2022
“Four weeks since Chris Hipkins last fronted on the COVID-19 response, he couldn’t tell New Zealanders anything new about how the Government will confront the imminent landfall of Omicron,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Fraught hate speech laws should go
14 June, 2022
“Justice Minister Kris Faafoi has this morning admitted how naive his Government has been about its proposed hate speech laws,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Free lunch farce
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to start looking at evidence and data before it rushes out policy which is nothing more than a marketing campaign,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Free Press, 01 November 2021
14 June, 2022
This Sunday, the End of Life Choice Bill comes into law. ACT expanded New Zealanders’ freedom, 26 years after Michael Laws first introduced his Death with Dignity Bill. The Prime Minister still won’t visit Auckland. David Seymour has. He says...
Free Press - The First 100 Days
14 June, 2022
Five times National has followed Labour into government and five times Labour’s policies have survived the change. It’s the corrosive slump of easy options that’s given us New Zealand today. For all that is good, we still have one of...
Free Press, 1 August 2022
03 August, 2022
The return of Parliament saw the Prime Minister get very angry at David Seymour’s questions. The Government told the reserve Bank to control inflation over the medium term, but the Prime Minister could not define ‘medium.’ If you wonder why...
Free Press, 1 February 2021
14 June, 2022
“The powers that are put in the hands of Cabinet and of a Minister, under this bill, take us back to a place that New Zealand has not been for 35 years,” Seymour continued, “and that is when we were...
Free Press, 1 March 2021
14 June, 2022
It appears that the man caught COVID from known cases D, E, F, G and H. The Government itself reports that genomic sequencing backs this up and that contact tracers have established they might have met case M and infected...
Free Press, 11 October 2021
14 June, 2022
Chaos fills the void between 2020’s COVID strategy, that no longer works, and 2022’s strategy, that isn’t ready. The Prime Minister went on the run and, while she was away, the Government made its first sensible decision of the pandemic....
Free Press, 12 July 2021
14 June, 2022
Parliament is in recess for three weeks so your property is safe. ACT’s MPs are embarking on a 45 stop tour of the country, packing halls from Ashburton to Alexandra last week. This link shows when they’ll be near you....
Free Press 13 June 2022
14 June, 2022
ACT is this year holding not one, not two, but three Annual Conferences. Coming to a town near you (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch), the Real Change events are open for ticket sales....
Free Press, 13 September 2021
14 June, 2022
The virus appears to be outrunning the world’s toughest lockdown, which is no longer short, nor sharp, enough. If eradication cannot be achieved with four weeks of Alert Level 4, the Government is going to need an honest conversation about...
Free Press, 15 March 2021
14 June, 2022
Free Press would like to acknowledge the 51 victims of our nation’s tragedy in Christchurch, and their families who lost them. The tragedy should remind us to focus on our common humanity, not divide people into groups. Each person has...
Free Press, 15 November 2021
14 June, 2022
All the polls say the same thing. The gap between left and right is closing fast. At the election it was 25 points, now it is 8. For the first time since the GFC, a majority say New Zealand is...
Free Press, 16 August 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT has reached another polling high, of 13 percent according to UMR. David Seymour is preferred Prime Minister for 14 percent of voters....
Free Press, 17 May 2021 Budget Week
14 June, 2022
It is only six days until ACT’s Annual Rally Honest Conversations. Get your tickets here to see David Seymour, Des Gorman, and the ACT MPs at the ASB Waterfront Theatre....
Free Press 18 July 2022
03 August, 2022
ACT’s Real Change tour and rallies are drawing huge crowds and being written up everywhere. This week the tour heads south to Blenheim, Nelson, Timaru, Queenstown and Invercargill. The week ends with two big rallies in Christchurch on Saturday and...
Free Press, 18 October 2021
14 June, 2022
The Government hyped up Super Saturday. Besides people who were going to have their second some time anyway, 39,024 people had their first dose. This was the 21st best day for first doses, the best being 67,903 on August 26th....
Free Press, 19 July 2021
14 June, 2022
Your property is safe for a second week as Parliamentary recess continues. ACT’s MPs are packing halls up and down New Zealand on the 45 stop Honest Conversations Tour. This week David Seymour is touring the lower and central North...
Free Press, 2 August 2021
14 June, 2022
The Government has lost its way, and voters are telling them in the polls. It apologised for immigration policy that happened before Jacinda Ardern was born at an Auckland Town Hall rally. Meanwhile, down the road, ACT MPs listened to...
Free Press, 2 May 2022
14 June, 2022
ACT’s Real Change tour has been an astonishing success. The largest crowd was 350 in Christchurch with Tauranga not far behind. The record, though, has to go to Pauanui, a town with a resident population of 1,100 where organisers counted...
Free Press 2021 What Free Speech Is and Isn't
14 June, 2022
We are doing it again. Celebrate our national day with fellow ACT supporters over brunch. David Seymour’s State of the Nation Speech theme is ‘All the Emergencies they Should Have Declared (And What ACT Would Do about them).’ If you’re...
Free Press 2022: OmiGod!
14 June, 2022
OmiGod! Will the Government be ready for Omicron, or ready like it was for Delta? Welcome back. The Navy wants to help in Tonga but doesn’t know what to take a Pacific Island beset by a natural disaster. Soft power...
Free Press, 21 December 2021
14 June, 2022
The so-called Tai Tokerau Border Control checked 20,000 cars on State Highway 1. The occupants of 19,900 cars were vaccinated or tested. TTBC then gave up. A real Prime Minister would have just said the costs outweighed the benefits to...
Free Press, 21 February 2022
14 June, 2022
The protest around parliament continues to grow. The Police say they are unable to act, the Speaker and Government do not know how to act. What is clear is Jacinda Ardern’s ‘kindness’ brand is gone, and better leadership will be...
Free Press, 21 June 2021
14 June, 2022
The Government has announced it will cancel the Mill Road project that would have opened access to more land. It says the land to build it on is too expensive. It has announced that it will build a bike bridge...
Free Press, 21 March 2022
14 June, 2022
Jacinda makes us wait for all Ardernity to announce decisions that Cabinet made today. New Zealand will collide with reality on April 13, when tourists arrive, because rest of the world has moved on. Tourists won’t download the NZ COVID...
Free Press, 22 February 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT would like to acknowledge the tragedy of the Canterbury Earthquakes, and especially the violent aftershock that took place at 12:51 on the afternoon of February 22. To all those who were lost, and those who lost, our thoughts are...
Free Press, 22 November 2021
14 June, 2022
Voters are getting something sorely needed for the past year, political competition. Last night’s Newshub Poll is not only good news for ACT. It is very good news for voters because the gap between left (Labour plus Green equals 50...
Free Press, 23 August 2021
14 June, 2022
After 18-months the Government’s COVID response looks indistinguishable from the first lockdown. What has it been doing? Isolation and cheap money delayed New Zealand re-joining the world, but Delta is here to hurry things along. In ‘civilian’ news, Kelly Dennett’s...
Free Press, 23 May 2022
14 June, 2022
ACT’s Tauranga Candidate Cameron Luxton is a machine. He is out on the street listening to voters and standing up to the city’s Labour appointed National Party Commissioner in the media. He is holding street corner meetings, embodying ACT’s back-to-basics...
Free Press, 25 January 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT’s Waitangi Day State of the Nation Address is set to sell out again. If you’d like to start the political year right over brunch with fellow ACT supporters (Saturday 6 February 10am-12pm, Mt Eden), please buy your tickets here....
Free Press, 25 May 2021
14 June, 2022
More than 500 people, six months after an election. ACT’s annual rally Honest Conversations was huge. The party launched new future focused policies for democracy and education. They have been widely reported and you can read about them here and...
Free Press, 26 July 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT has been busy in the Parliamentary Recess. ACT’s policies to let people get on with building homes, and crack down on gangs have been well received. Meanwhile the Party’s MPs have been listening to huge crowds up and down...
Free Press, 26 July 2022
05 August, 2022
THE HAPS Parliament’s been on a three week break, but we’ve been busier than ever. More than 2500 people attended ACT events in person over the past fortnight. The Party’s three Real Change rallies sold $50,000 worth of tickets, with the finale this past weekend packing the ASB Waterfront Theatre. Imagine what ACT’s campa
Free Press, 26 October 2021
14 June, 2022
Labour and National did a secret deal to rezone residential land, so secret even the councils they need to implement it didn’t know. Few people realise yet that the new Medium Density Residential Zone means an eight-metre wall one metre...
Free Press, 28 February 2022
14 June, 2022
For three decades we’ve assumed that the democratic west is invincible, and its members would come to each others’ aid. The events in Ukraine are horrific in themselves, but they have chilling implications for a small western democracy. Especially one...
Free Press, 28 June 2021
14 June, 2022
The Government launched a one-month consultation on the Hate Speech laws it signed off in December. Neither the Minister of Justice nor the Prime Minister have been able to explain what it will cover. ACT’s campaign against the laws has...
Free Press, 28 March 2022
14 June, 2022
After an Ardernity, the COVID bubble has burst. The craziest rules are being dumped, and activity has noticeably ticked up. It’s only a few billion too late but we are finally moving on. But you can’t have too much sanity...
Free Press, 29 November 2021
14 June, 2022
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is now telling you it’s a ‘luxury’ to go wees in your friend’s toilet. The COVID response and her Prime Ministership are descending into parody and farce. She is a well-meaning person well out...
Free Press, 30 August 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT has been busy. Citizens of a democratic country deserve a proper parliament, and it will sit on Tuesday after lobbying from ACT. Fishing and whitebaiting are now allowed after ACT pointed the absurdity of allowing it for ‘Māori customary’...
Free Press, 30 May 2022
14 June, 2022
ACT is this year holding not one, not two, but three Annual Conferences. Coming to a town near you (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch), the Real Change events are open for ticket sales....
Free Press, 31 January 2022
14 June, 2022
The Taliban is giving pregnant single Kiwis asylum and the Ministry of Health takes a week to contact trace the Prime Minister. The hangover sets in with record (for 30 years) inflation being the most measurable cost of COVID. The...
Free Press, 4 October 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT’s COVID 3.0 Plan has been widely reported to a positive reception. It says the Government must accept its approach of sporadic eradication has failed. The lockdowns are no longer short nor sharp, and a new way forward is required....
Free Press, 5 April 2022
14 June, 2022
Labour is taking labour relations back to the 1890’s with it’s so-called ‘Fair Pay Agreements.’ The Agreements would force one contract on a whole industry. It’s almost like the twentieth century didn’t really happen. Between the Budget, the by-election, ACT...
Free Press, 6 November 2021
14 June, 2022
People are sceptical about polls, but we think they’re right. Why? They all use different methods but say the same thing. Aussie pollster Roy Morgan’s last poll of the year shows the Opposition overtaking the Government. It shows, since the...
Free Press, 6 September 2021
14 June, 2022
Another terror attack, another promise of rushed legislation. Already since Labour and National promised to rush through a law against preparing terrorism, it’s become clear the real problem was with the immigration laws around deportation. Today the Government will make...
Free Press, 8 June 2021
14 June, 2022
The CCP’s outlook is deteriorating. The Wuhan lab leak investigation seems pointless, but it will cast them as a global pariah. Sinovac has failed. Chinese fertility is 1.3 but the CCP is pointlessly allowing a third child. Our government has...
Free Press, 8 March 2021
14 June, 2022
There’s a saying in politics that you can’t argue with results. New Zealand has an enviable record in the Covid-19 era, with fewer infections and deaths, and lighter restrictions (over a year) than almost any country....
Free Press, 9 August 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT had another great week on tour with a record 300+ crowd packing Classic Flyers in Mt Maunganui on a Friday night as the Honest Conversations tour rolls on. There are still meetings to come, in Canterbury this week and...
Free Press, 9 May 2022
14 June, 2022
It’s a Budget day of sorts. Commissar James Shaw brought out his first carbon budget under the Zero Carbon Act, legislation that only ACT opposed and we are still the only party opposing this new form of central planning. ACT...
Free Press Extra
14 June, 2022
Free Press traversed this ground in its review of Cynical Theories several weeks back. The book defends liberalism, where people are born free and equal, contending with a single objective reality, joined by our common humanity....
Free Press EXTRA
14 June, 2022
The Prime Minister doesn’t often take my advice, well meant as it always is. But everyone should make an exception from time to time, and Jacinda should visit Auckland. In 24 hours, I saw, heard, and felt things that Wellingtonian...
Free Press May 22: Theatre of the Absurd
14 June, 2022
In 2019 there was ReACT, in 2020 there was Dare to be Different. This year ACT's premier event will be Honest Conversations. We hope to see you on May 23 in Auckland, more details will be released very soon....
Free Press Monday 19 April: A letter of expectation
14 June, 2022
ACT's annual rally and event of the year is on Sunday May 23. We return to the ASB Waterfront Theatre to hear ACT's new MPs, a very special guest and David Seymour tell it how it is. Tickets on sale...
Friendly advice for the big reshuffle
31 January, 2023
“The Prime Minister has some big calls to make today when he reshuffles his Cabinet. Here are a litany of failures he needs to take into account ahead of allocating portfolios,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Fundraiser supporting Ukraine takes place tonight
17 October, 2022
“ACT’s fundraiser to help our friends in Ukraine during their fight for freedom takes place tonight in Auckland,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
GDP: Covid chickens come home to roost
14 June, 2022
“Today’s disappointing GDP figures show the Government’s Covid chickens have come home to roost,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
GDP figures show Govt wasn’t prepared for Delta
14 June, 2022
“Today’s GDP figures show a Government that was unprepared for Delta – leaving us in a long lockdown and Kiwis are paying the price,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour....
GDP numbers a bump in the road downhill
14 June, 2022
“Today’s GDP numbers show a small bump in the road downhill,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
GDP numbers a dead cat bounce
14 June, 2022
“The Reserve Bank printed $100 billion, the Government borrowed $60 billion - we've got an economy that’s running on a sugar hit,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
GDP release a wake up call
14 June, 2022
“Today’s Q2 GDP release will be a helpful reminder that outside the Government’s tunnel vision approach to COVID, the troika of debt, inflation, and uncertainty are killing business,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour....
Get the vax, get back some tax
14 June, 2022
“ACT is today launching a new tax incentive policy that would see fully vaccinated New Zealanders receive a $250 tax credit,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Getting tougher to do business? We hear ya!
09 January, 2023
“The ACT Party has today launched the next part of our ‘We hear ya’ campaign. ACT MPs travelled the country in 2022, carrying out 208 public meetings. One of the main concerns we heard was that red tape and regulations keep making it harder to do business,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Give Us A Clue: COVID Edition
14 June, 2022
“Today’s big announcement will feel like Give Us A Clue: COVID Edition,” predicts ACT Leader David Seymour.
Give us the green light
14 June, 2022
“The Government should just show us the green light and let us get on with our lives,” ACT’s Leader David Seymour says....
Glaring lack of urgency revealed
14 June, 2022
“The enormity of New Zealand’s soft approach to negotiating Covid-19 vaccines on New Zealanders’ behalf is being laid bare, and no amount of faux self-congratulation for finally approving the safety of Pfizer’s vaccine will change that,” says ACT Leader David...
Glasnost - ACT will kick-off full investigation into Labour’s COVID response in first 100 days of new Government
03 August, 2022
“Kiwis deserve better than another $80 billion debt from an experimental response the next time a pandemic arises. ACT would commission an independent investigation with local and foreign investigators into the Government’s COVID response and its effects on mental health,...
Global vaccination programmes hit 60
14 June, 2022
“We have further evidence today that New Zealand is nowhere near the front of the queue, with the Bloomberg Covid Vaccine Tracker hitting 60 countries where vaccination programmes have started,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Good work on boosters, now tell us about the border
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s announcement on boosters showed how all announcements should be done. Cabinet made the decision; the Prime Minister immediately shared the information with the public. People now know what the Government will do, and when,” says ACT Leader David...
Government adopts ACT language – should adopt ACT policy
14 June, 2022
“Chris Hipkins’ adoption of ACT’s language of continuous improvement in announcing his latest COVID-19 review shows the impact of effective opposition,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government adopts ACT policy – months too late
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s announcement today of making rapid antigen testing more widely available is welcome but has come months too late,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government adopts ACT policy six months late
14 June, 2022
“It’s mandatory for businesses to display QR codes, but not for people to scan them. Only the Ardern Government could continue this madness,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Government all over the place on completing vaccine roll out
14 June, 2022
“The Government can’t answer the simple question, when will it deem the vaccination roll out to be complete,” says ACT Leader David Seymour after Chris Hipkins appeared in front of the Health Select Committee this morning....
Government allows Auckland rule breaking
14 June, 2022
“A man who was allowed to isolate at home but repeatedly broke the rules has been enabled by the Government to let the entire Auckland community down,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government announces smaller version of ACT’s Major Events Fund
14 June, 2022
“Two and a half months after ACT first proposed a Major Events Insurance Fund, the Government has finally come on board with a similar, but much smaller scheme,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government can stop everyone leaving Auckland – except criminals
14 June, 2022
“Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson’s excuse that a man with COVID-19 crossing the border to the Waikato was “a decision for the courts” simply doesn’t wash,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government captured by Ministry of Health
14 June, 2022
“ACT can reveal Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has attended Cabinet 17 times this year, a breach of Cabinet’s own rules,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government confiscates Rapid Antigen Tests
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s control-freak instincts are on full display, telling people that if you try to do the right thing we will confiscate your property,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Omicron: Govt a deer in the headlights
14 June, 2022
“The Government hasn’t a clue what to do about Omicron, imposing a six-week delay on home isolation without explaining what will be better then,” says ACT Leader David Seymour."We know there's no certainty but people want clarity. It's unclear why...
Government ‘do as I say, not as I do’ on EVs
14 June, 2022
“The Government is showing complete hypocrisy when it comes to electric vehicles by converting less than two percent of the Government’s fleet,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government drops the ball, Aussies score again
14 June, 2022
“Victoria’s plan to open to up to international students and workers is what ACT has been calling for since August last year and New Zealand should follow suit,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government fails to control inflation and prices skyrocket
14 June, 2022
“The ramifications of the Government’s irresponsible spending are continuing to hit home with Kiwis paying more at the checkout,” says ACT’s Leader David Seymour....
Government flying blind, new testing technology needed
14 June, 2022
"The Government is flying blind with so little testing, it doesn’t know if unlinked or ‘mystery’ cases are exceptions, or the tip of a Delta iceberg,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government forgets South Island again
08 December, 2022
“The Labour government has once again forgotten the Mainland as it releases policies and completely ignores the South Island,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government has lost control and is in denial
14 June, 2022
“The Government has lost control of COVID-19 and is in dangerous denial,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government has wasted $4.3 million on patsy questions this term
14 June, 2022
“The Government has wasted more than $4 million dollars of taxpayers’ money this term asking itself questions about things as banal as what reports Grant Robertson’s received,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government in action or a live performance of Monty Python?
03 August, 2022
“Only this government could hire thousands of bureaucrats to take money from New Zealanders and then hundreds more to work out how to give the money back,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government incapable of sending MIQ invoices
14 June, 2022
“After the Government bragged about bringing in debt collectors for overdue MIQ debt, ACT can today reveal that some people have never been sent invoices,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government insults public and erodes democracy
14 June, 2022
"As protestors held vigil for Myanmar's democracy outside Parliament, inside the Labour Party rushed to remove New Zealanders' democratic rights," says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government loses plot completely with allocated times to leave Auckland
14 June, 2022
“The Government is now either making it up as they go or completely detached from reality with its suggestion that people will need to book a slot to get through checkpoints heading out of Auckland,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government making it up as they go
03 August, 2022
“Two days ago ACT reminded the Government that ‘there’s nothing more permanent than a temporary Government program,’ and Labour has kicked the petrol price discount down the road,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government must apologise for costly pre-departure screw up
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party today calls on the Government to apologise for the mistake that most likely caused the current lockdown - cancelling pre-departure testing from COVID hotspot New South Wales,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government must apologise for MIQ debacle
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister needs to apologise to the thousands of Kiwis who were cruelly stranded overseas after her Cabinet had been briefed that MIQ was pointless in November last year,” ACT’s Leader David Seymour says....
Government must open up about what next
14 June, 2022
“As the World starts to get on top of COVID-19, New Zealand’s focus must turn to how the country will move from the emergency measures of closed borders and rolling lockdowns that come with an elimination strategy to preparing our...
Government needs to explain costs and benefits of staggered border opening
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to explain the costs and benefits of the staggered border opening that stretches through to October, because it looks like they’re making it up as they go,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government needs to stop Putin the blame for inflation offshore
13 October, 2022
“Try as they might, the New Zealand Government can’t avoid taking responsibility for its role in spiking inflation. If they want to take the credit for their COVID response, they need to own all the effects of that response,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government needs to walk and chew gum
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister today told parliament that she didn’t know when Janssen vaccines would be on shore in New Zealand because Medsafe has only just approved the vaccine," says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government playing catch up on MIQ
14 June, 2022
“This Government is like a kid who shows up after the race is run but still wants a medal for participating,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government rejects higher standards of law-making
14 June, 2022
“It’s a sad day for New Zealand when the Government shows it doesn’t care about lifting the standards of law-making in this country,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government’s paternalism over Māori businesses
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s paternalistic approach towards Māori through procurement is a step too far and needs explaining,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government’s questionable media funding
14 June, 2022
“The Government is extending its tentacles into nearly every area of media with an offer too good to refuse for each outlet, and it has rapidly reached absurdity with taxpayer money spent on journalism to check on Government expenditure of...
Government’s super-majority creating extreme arrogance
14 June, 2022
“ACT says you can’t deliver better public policy if you don’t show humility, and this Government’s arrogance is getting in the way of solving problems and helping people,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government’s tax windfall no help to Kiwi battlers
14 June, 2022
“While Kiwi battlers are tightening their belts in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, Grant Robertson has raked in an extra $2.68 billion in tax revenue off the back of record inflation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government scrambles to save summer event vaccine carrot
14 June, 2022
“The Government is now scrambling to erect a major events insurance scheme, with reports of MBIE seeking advice from Wellington brokers over the past week,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government seizes 31,000 Rapid Antigen Tests
14 June, 2022
“In the space of 53 days, the Government seized 31,156 Rapid Antigen Tests at the border, a stark reminder of how controlling our COVID response has been,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government shamed into action
14 June, 2022
“Opposition pressure to improve the timeliness of Covid 19 vaccine deliveries is working,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government shifts the goal posts again on vaccine rollout
14 June, 2022
“The Government has once again sneakily changed the dates that vaccines will be available,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government should adopt the Mr Whippy business model
14 June, 2022
“If the Government really wants to get on top of the Auckland outbreak it needs to come up with new and innovative ways of testing the affected communities,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government should Google “fairness”
14 June, 2022
“The Government has questions to answer about why billionaire Google co-founder Larry Page was allowed into New Zealand when desperate Kiwis and separated families can’t get through the border,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government should put a moratorium on unnecessary projects
23 November, 2022
“The Reserve Bank is in uncharted territory, moving to triple shots when it thought doubles would mellow out inflation, but the Government has refused to change a single aspect of its approach,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government sounds like 1990s climate change denier on Northland case
14 June, 2022
“Saying there’s no evidence for claims is weaselly as 1990s climate change denial,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “If the Government knows that the person at the centre of the Northland COVID outbreak was not a gang-related sex worker, it...
Government strategy rudderless
14 June, 2022
“Everything Jacinda Ardern based today’s decision on was true two weeks ago, the only thing that’s changed is politics,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government wages war against Kiwi Battlers
14 June, 2022
“Today is no ordinary Thursday for Kiwi Battlers. It’s the day Labour attacks, piling on yet more taxes, and regulations,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Government won’t release school’s RAT tests
14 June, 2022
“Following reports on Friday that the Government had stopped a school importing 2000 Australian Government approved RAT tests at the border, Customs has now confirmed the tests will not be released,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt admits it’s wrong – months too late
28 November, 2022
“The $10 million of funding provided to retail businesses is only equal to the amount provided to bail out AJ Hackett bungy in 2020. The Government values the thousands of vulnerable retail businesses in New Zealand living in fear the same as it valued a single tourism business two years ago,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt adopts ACT’s changes to lending rules
14 June, 2022
“ACT is welcoming the Government’s changes to over the top lending rules that had people choosing between Netflix and a mortgage,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt adopts ACT's Freedom Day
14 June, 2022
“ACT’s Freedom Day has effectively been adopted by the Government – if only they’d offered certainty earlier,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt creates $200k job to get rid of MP
14 June, 2022
“The Labour Government was so desperate to get rid of firebrand Labour MP Louisa Wall it created a job for her, didn’t advertise it to anyone else and shuffled her out just like with Shane Jones,” says ACT Leader David...
Govt cries “privatisation” in 3W backdown while opening Kiwibank up for sale
05 December, 2022
“The Government has been thwarted in its sneaky attempt to entrench Three Waters provisions, this is a win for democracy but the Government’s intentions remain concerning,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt departments teaching ‘white privilege’
14 June, 2022
“Public servants are being required to calculate their ‘white privilege score’”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt fighting phoney war against Omicron
14 June, 2022
“As Omicron cases pile up at the border and the whole spectrum of commentators from the blasé to the catastrophists say we’re gonna get it, the Government is fighting a phoney war. Book My Vaccine is still not set up...
Govt gives up on elimination
14 June, 2022
“If the Government moves Auckland to Level 3 today then it needs to be clear with New Zealanders that it has given up on the elimination strategy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt goes on holiday – literally
14 June, 2022
“The Government will have to hope that the virus observes Wellington Anniversary Day tomorrow while Ministers take a break,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt knows MIQ network could be bigger, but won’t act
14 June, 2022
“The Government knows the Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) network could be 23 hotels bigger – it commissioned work on it and was told so – but has done nothing about it, leaving thousands of Kiwis stranded overseas unable to...
Govt leaves expats out of team of five million
14 June, 2022
“More than 22,000 New Zealanders in the MIQ waiting room within hours of it opening have shown why locking down and locking out is unsustainable,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt living hand to mouth on vaccine
14 June, 2022
“Chris Hipkins celebration of 150,000 doses of vaccine arriving is like hooting and hollering for a drop goal while the team of five million is 50 points behind on the score board,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt misleads on testing capacity
14 June, 2022
“The Government has misled New Zealanders about its COVID-19 testing capacity and needs to take urgent steps approve more tests,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt moves to four day weeks
14 June, 2022
“For the second week in a row, as Omicron starts to spread across the country, the Government has decided to work a four day week,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt must learn and bolster testing orders
14 June, 2022
“The Government must learn from the latest Covid-19 outbreak and bolster its border testing orders so that further lockdowns don’t damage livelihoods,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt must learn from latest outbreak
14 June, 2022
“We must hope that the Government’s testing and tracing can isolate this outbreak before a damaging extended lockdown harms livelihoods,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt must reject He Puapua
14 June, 2022
ACT is calling on the Prime Minister to publicly reject the recommendations of a Cabinet-commissioned report which aims to give effect to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples....
Govt must release contact tracing evidence
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to release full details of the contacts made with the family of cases L, M, N and O at the centre of the South Auckland cluster,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt needs to show us the numbers on youth crime
13 September, 2022
“The number of youths in Corrections’ management is plummeting while ram raids rise, the Government needs to be up front with Kiwis about the full scope of the youth crime crisis enveloping New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt of kindness deeply cruel
13 December, 2022
“The Ombudsman’s investigation into the MIQ debacle shows that the Government of kindness has been deeply cruel”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt out of its depth on law and order
14 June, 2022
“Labour is out of its depth when it comes to law and order, with the Prime Minister and the Police Minister not across the details of Police’s plan to target organised crime,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt plan risks vulnerable communities
14 June, 2022
The ACT Party says the Government’s road map to nowhere for Auckland risks the welfare of vulnerable communities and children.
Govt’s anti-science testing approach unprepared for Omicron
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s anti-science approach to Covid-19 testing means we’re unprepared for Omicron”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt's denials about 'white privilege' don't stack up
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s denials about ‘white privilege’ being taught in the classroom don’t stack up”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt's disturbing bout of banana republic lawmaking
14 June, 2022
“In a disturbing bout of banana republic-style lawmaking, the Government is legislating to take the private property of Covid-19 testing laboratories and questioning the motives of businesses who speak out,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt should go further on Rapid Antigen Tests
14 June, 2022
“A gazette notice allowing more Rapid Antigen Tests (point of care tests) is a step in the right direction but doesn’t go far enough,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt spending up to $1.2m on secret VIP lounge
03 October, 2022
“The Government has budgeted almost $1.2m to upgrade the hidden VIP ‘Kauri Lounge’, should this really be a priority during a cost of living crisis?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt splurge brings more mortgage pain
14 September, 2022
“Today more pain has been heaped on Kiwis already struggling with a cost of living crisis, it could have been avoided if the Government had disciplined its spending,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt still shutting people out at the border
14 June, 2022
“If this Government had any sense of compassion they would allow travellers from non-visa waiver countries to enter New Zealand as well,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Govt tried to hide Ihumātao link to Treaty settlements
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s Government has been caught red-handed, saying one thing about potential Treaty of Waitangi implications of spending $30 million of taxpayers’ money to buy its way out of Ihumātao and trying to cover up the truth,” says ACT Leader...
Grant Robertson – NZ’s biggest taxer
14 June, 2022
“Record taxation of $97 billion shows Grant Robertson taxing New Zealanders harder than even we could have imagined,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Grant Robertson pockets another $1.5 billion of your money
14 June, 2022
“Finance Minister Grant Robertson has taken in an extra $1.5 billion in taxes than Treasury had forecast, as New Zealanders continue to be squeezed from every direction,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Grant Robertson’s drops the h-bomb of hypocrisy
20 September, 2022
“Acting Prime Minister Grant Robertson admonishing the National Party for the cynical timing of an announcement is the h-bomb of hypocrisy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Graph illustrates Government's failures
14 June, 2022
“A Ministry of Health graph drawn by a graphic designer with no data to inform it is the perfect metaphor for this Government, all spin and no substance,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Greedy Grant refuses to give money back
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s books show Grant Robertson is profiteering from record inflation as he refuses to give any money back to New Zealand taxpayers”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Greens Member’s Bill inconsistent with Bill of Rights
04 August, 2022
“The Green Party’s disdain for democracy and freedom has once again been exposed, this time by the Attorney General,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Guilt and shame taught in “White Privilege” courses for Education Ministry staff
14 June, 2022
“It is entirely inappropriate that the people who set the policy for our schools are undertaking courses that teach them “guilt and shame” are natural responses to so-called “white privilege,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hardworking tax payers need a break
14 June, 2022
“Hardworking taxpayers have spent the first four months and 10 days of 2021 working to hand over every cent they’ve earned to Grant Robertson,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hate Speech Petition reaches 20,000 signatures
14 June, 2022
“Tens of thousands of Kiwis have exercised their right to free speech, standing up to Jacinda Ardern and her divisive Hate Speech Laws. The Prime Minister needs to back down and dump this confused initiative,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hate speech sentence longer than male assaults female
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s proposed Hate Speech Laws mean someone could spend longer in jail for having an unpopular opinion than assaulting a child, male assaults female, participating in a riot and common assault," says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hate speech will put cancel culture on steroids
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s proposed hate speech laws are a huge win for cancel culture and will create an even more divided society,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
He Puapua needs some sunlight
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister is patronising New Zealanders when she says the He Puapua report shouldn't have been released in case taxpayers didn't understand it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
He Puapua promotes division over democracy
14 June, 2022
“ACT is appealing to the Government to make openness and inclusion the non-negotiable condition for work on our country’s constitutional future,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Health system on the decline? We hear ya!
09 January, 2023
“There is a serious question of whether New Zealand is still a first world country as increasingly tragic scenes play out in hospitals. It’s time to turn around the decline,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Heartless funeral decision shows Government has lost perspective
14 June, 2022
“When a Government denies the grieving parents of an 8-year-old boy who died from a long battle with cancer any family support at the funeral – it shows it has lost all perspective,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Here comes the hangover
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s economic sugar hit is fading and Kiwis are being left with a hangover of debt, rising prices and taxes”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
High Court victory emblematic of Government’s response
14 June, 2022
“ACT is glad to see Grounded Kiwis succeed in their high court challenge against the Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.“MIQ was an exercise in cruelty that excluded up to a million people from our team of six million. It’s...
Higher lawmaking standards well overdue
14 June, 2022
“The Regulatory Standards Bill, drawn from the members’ bill ballot today, is a long overdue addition to New Zealand’s constitutional framework,” according to ACT Leader David Seymour....
Higher standards for teacher registration
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is calling for higher standards for our teachers when renewing their practicing certificates,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hipkins, Bloomfield can’t answer basic questions
14 June, 2022
“Chris Hipkins and Ashley Bloomfield couldn’t answer basic but critical questions about the COVID response at Health Select Committee this morning,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hipkins extraordinary admission on Q+A
14 June, 2022
“COVID response Minister Chris Hipkins has shown how unprepared the Government was for a Delta outbreak in an interview on Q+A this morning,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hipkins fails first test
31 January, 2023
“Former Education Minister and now Prime Minister Chris Hipkins must front up and explain the poorly communicated overkill decision to close every Auckland school,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hipkins' own Trussonomics
01 February, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ first policy decision is to carry on deficit spending, continuing the petrol, RUC, and Public Transport subsidies. Carrying on spending without a plan to control Government spending is a recipe for more inflation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hipkins sets new standard
03 August, 2022
“Chris Hipkins’ apology to Charlotte Bellis at least tells us where the Government’s standards are: The Government will apologise if the Government leaks a pregnant woman’s private information,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hipkins told Pfizer to slow down delivery
14 June, 2022
“Newstalk ZB has this evening revealed the reason we’re short of vaccine is because COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins told Pfizer to slow down delivery,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hippity Hoppity Hipkins needs to spell it out
14 June, 2022
“COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins needs to lay out a clear and concise plan instead of spitballing ideas in interviews with journalists,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hit pause on minimum wage for three years
27 January, 2023
“Chris Hipkins has a chance to show he understands the pain businesses are feeling by hitting pause on further minimum wage increases”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Homegrown inflation not going anywhere
14 September, 2022
“Inflation is not going anywhere because it’s homegrown, literally in the case of the latest food price increases,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Honest conversation about higher standards of law making
14 June, 2022
Parliament has today had a constructive and sensible debate about David Seymour’s Regulatory Standards Member’s Bill.
Honest Conversations about housing and infrastructure
14 June, 2022
The ACT Party has today released the first of three Discussion Documents as part of our Honest Conversations series.
Honest Conversations about Law and Order
14 June, 2022
The ACT Party has today released the second of our three Discussion Documents as part of our Honest Conversations series.
Honest Conversations about the economy
14 June, 2022
ACT has today released the third in our series of Honest Conversations documents, this one about the economy.
Hope fading fast for Hipkins
24 January, 2023
“Fresh from declaring inflation a pandemic without knowing inflation is 7.2 per cent, and saying co-Government is misunderstood without knowing what the Treaty says, Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins has made another gaffe, this time not knowing how many public servants there are,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hospitalisations won’t go up if restrictions are lifted
14 June, 2022
“Health Minister Andrew Little has this morning admitted that if mandates and other restrictions were lifted, there wouldn’t be an increase in hospitalisations,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Household costs tip of the mortgage pain iceberg
02 February, 2023
“With half of New Zealand’s mortgage debt due to be refixed this year, today’s household cost figures are just the tip of the iceberg,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
How about we spend the COVID Fund on COVID this time?
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is calling on Finance Minister Grant Robertson to spend the $7 billion he’s topped up the COVID Fund with on COVID related issues,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
How does the Govt have the gall to knock on Covax’s door?
14 June, 2022
“Chris Hipkins’ surprising admission on NewstalkZB that the Government isn’t seeking an earlier than scheduled batch of vaccines for front line workers direct from Pfizer, but in fact from the WHO-backed Covax initiative, will surely ruffle the feathers of poorer...
How Freedom Day was won
14 June, 2022
"ACT’s relentless campaigning for Freedom Day has today seen the city released from its shackles after 107 days in lockdown,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hungry kids show the human cost of inflation
17 October, 2022
“With 10,000 more children relying on charity and families unable to put food on the table, the human cost of inflation has never been more evident in New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hunt proves why Human Rights Commission should be abolished
14 June, 2022
“In an extraordinary interview on Newshub Nation this morning, Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt has demonstrated exactly why the Commission should be abolished,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Hunt unfit for office, HRC should be abolished
03 February, 2023
“Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt’s comments this morning about white supremacy and co-governance show he is unfit for office and reinforce the need to abolish the left-wing Human Rights Commission”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
I’m waiting for it, that green light, I want it
14 June, 2022
“It’s time for Jacinda Ardern to give up her vice like grip on controlling our lives and either scrap the traffic light system altogether, or at the very least take some advice from Lorde,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ice cream exporters frozen out
14 June, 2022
“A media release from Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash talking up New Zealand ice cream exports is ridiculous when New Zealanders are frozen out of going overseas to promote their products,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ice cream, sex toys and AM Show – but not Parliament?
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister needs to explain why the AM Show can broadcast, I can order ice cream to my apartment and people can order sex toys, but Parliament shouldn’t open,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ICU nurse visas should be fast tracked today
14 June, 2022
“Only Labour could fail to prioritise residence visas for ICU nurses in the middle of a pandemic when the shortage of ICU nurses is the critical weakness in our response,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ICYMI: Govt Friday afternoon vaccine mandate backdown
14 June, 2022
“The Government has staged a quiet, Friday afternoon backdown on vaccine mandates, updating the MBIE website so that unvaccinated citizens and residents can re-enter the country without isolation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
If Govt workers can hack a vaccine deadline, so can the country
14 June, 2022
“A series of announcements about molnupiravir and vaccine mandates failed to hide the fact that the Government still doesn’t have a clue what happens next or how to get out of the current lockdown,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
If it’s good enough for MPs, it’s good enough for nurses
14 June, 2022
“If it’s ok for MPs to isolate at home for five days after leaving Auckland, why can’t the same be done for highly skilled migrants and New Zealanders coming to boost the health response?” asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
If not now, then when for Auckland relief?
14 June, 2022
"The Prime Minister’s decision around alert levels today will be critical for Auckland retailers and the mental health of all Aucklanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
If only they’d listened earlier
26 January, 2023
“ACT has consistently fought for all of the concerns business leaders will raise with Chris Hipkins today and yet Labour is only just waking up to the challenges facing this country,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
If Shaw goes, so should the Zero Carbon Act
03 August, 2022
“If James Shaw goes as Leader of the Green Party, he should take the Zero Carbon Act with him,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
If the Minister doesn’t know what Hate Speech Laws Mean, how will Police?
14 June, 2022
“The Justice Minister has today shown how out of his depth he is on Newshub Nation as he was unable to provide any clarity around his proposed hate speech laws,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ignorance of ram raid details shows out of touch PM
09 August, 2022
"The Prime Minister has made no efforts to find out how many people have been arrested or what’s happened to them, showing she is out of touch with real life in New Zealand communities,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Ihumātao: Serious questions after Treasury opposed deal
14 June, 2022
“New Zealanders will be demanding answers after learning that the Government’s chief economic adviser opposed its efforts to solve the dispute at Ihumātao”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Immigration NZ needs a revamp as the floodgates open
14 September, 2022
“Today’s net migration figures from Stats NZ show that the floodgates have opened and New Zealand needs real change to turn things around,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Implementation unit an admission of failure
14 June, 2022
“It turns out the Government has been announcing policies for four years and had nobody to implement them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Implementation Unit run from Robertson’s office
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s ‘Implementation Unit’ was run on a trial basis inside Grant Robertson’s office and included 115 projects according to new documents,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Incompetent Govt can’t issue its own payment
03 August, 2022
“The Government’s farcical attempts to find 160,000 bank accounts so it can return taxpayer money to New Zealanders is embarrassing,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Indefinite Level 2.5? Where’s the plan?
14 June, 2022
“Fourteen months since the first COVID restrictions, New Zealanders deserve certainty about the Government’s response, not random remarks suggesting the country might indefinitely live at an undefined Level 2.5. The Director General must reveal the planning and documentation his remarks...
Indexation is not the answer
06 August, 2022
“National and Labour can spend all the time it wants arguing over whether The National Party’s policy of Tax Indexation is in or out – but the argument should be about whether this is good public policy. ACT says it’s not,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
Inequality not solved by separate Māori spend
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s decision to slice up over $1 billion based on race will not solve inequality,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Inflation double wage growth
14 June, 2022
“New Zealanders are losing money under Grant Robertson's watch. They're working harder and now their wages can't keep up with the cost of living,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Inflation, economic growth expectations deteriorate further
14 February, 2023
“The Reserve Bank’s latest inflation expectations show a deteriorating outlook for the economy, and it reflects Labour’s approach to economic management,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Inflation up, business confidence down
26 October, 2022
“With Fair Pay Agreements being voted through today and inflation through the roof, it’s no wonder Business Confidence is down again,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
Initiative report confirms need for productivity growth
14 June, 2022
“A timely report from the New Zealand Initiative confirms that New Zealand needs policy that improves productivity. Printing money and sharing it around for political reasons won’t work and may lead to catastrophe,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Inland Revenue should focus on gangs, instead of success
03 August, 2022
“The ACT Party has today announced it would use Inland Revenue’s new powers to investigate gang members income and tax paid,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Inquiry into CCCFA madness must be open and transparent
14 June, 2022
“Reports that Commerce Minister David Clark has asked the Council of Financial Regulators to inquire into December's changes to the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act is welcome news, but the inquiry must be real,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Inter-agency inquiry a sham
14 June, 2022
“The inter-agency review announced this evening into the LynnMall Terror attacks is hopelessly prejudiced before it has even started,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Interest rate rises compound cost of living crisis
14 June, 2022
“Today’s hike in mortgage interest rates is driven by Labour’s spending spree, and heaps even more pain on Kiwis struggling with a cost of living crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Introducing ACT TV
14 June, 2022
The ACT Party has tonight launched its new programme ‘ACT TV’ a limited series hosted by ACT Leader David Seymour.
Is Hone Harawira more competent at setting up checkpoints?
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to front up and reveal why Police have set up a key checkpoint between Auckland and Northland at Brynderwyn, which is in the Kaipara District, outside of Auckland’s level 3 boundary,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Is that it?
14 June, 2022
“The Skegg reports tells us the Government should reopen the border in stages, proportional to risk, using better technology, but we can’t yet due to low vaccination rates, and variants might undermine the vaccine. All of this was in ACT’s...
Is the economic recovery real?
14 June, 2022
“On Tuesday the country was invited in a speech by Finance Minister Grant Robertson to believe a ‘better than expected recovery’ had given the Government room to address longstanding challenges,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Is the vaccine programme ready for variants?
14 June, 2022
“New Zealand ran one of the latest COVID vaccine programs on earth. Jacinda tried to say it was good because we had a different strategy. As New Zealand re-joins the world, the vaccine strategy needs to be ready for variants,”...
Is tikanga now the law?
14 June, 2022
“Today is the last day Government has to appeal a ruling that granted Māori property rights based on tikanga,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Isolation rules make no sense
14 June, 2022
“By keeping the isolation and MIQ rules in place for people entering New Zealand, we are reducing case numbers by less than 0.2 per cent,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Isolation rules to blame for low testing rates
14 June, 2022
“Just as we predicted, the Government’s unworkable isolation rules are almost certainly stopping people from getting tested,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
It never should have become a RAT race
14 June, 2022
"The Government will once again be in full self-congratulations mode for securing Rapid Antigen Test when it never should have been a RAT race in the first place,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
It’s no longer an eternity, it’s an Ardernity
14 June, 2022
“Once again the Prime Minister has made an announcement about an announcement, leaving us waiting an Ardernity for a decision,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
It's not a vaccine roll out, it's a vaccine stroll out
14 June, 2022
“The total lack of preparation for Medsafe’s approval of the AstraZenica vaccine is another example of a Government that is always reactive, never proactive in relation to COVID,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
It’s not too late to dump the Climate Commission’s advice
14 June, 2022
“It is not too late for the Government to dump the Climate Commission’s advice, set a cap to reduce emissions in line with our partners, and let New Zealanders choose how they live, travel, and work within that cap,” says...
It’s ok to admit you’re wrong, Prime Minister
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister’s inability to answer my questions in parliament today proves her inexplicable decision to cease pre-departure testing from Sydney was clearly the wrong one,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Iwi-Police checkpoints the dangerous side of kindness
14 June, 2022
“Our weak Prime Minister and Police Commission have been bullied by iwi into surrendering citizen's basic rights,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda all at sea in Question Time
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party put a series of basic questions to the Prime Minister in Parliament today, but all Jacinda could do was bob around like a cork in a chaotic ocean,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Our geopolitical environment is...
Jacinda and Chris owe Kiwis stranded in Oz and Apology
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins owe Kiwis stuck in Australia an apology for leaving them stranded with no flights for today’s MIQ lottery,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda announces she’s doing nothing
14 June, 2022
“Today we got an announcement that the announcement wasn’t being announced, and that another announcement might come later,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda Ardern failing by her own measures
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s focus on inequality is all talk and she’s failing by the measures she set herself before she became Prime Minister,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda Ardern has no idea what the plan is
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern proved in Question Time today that she has no idea what the plan is to open up New Zealand to the world again,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda Ardern must explain failed election bribe
14 June, 2022
“A slush fund of taxpayers’ money announced less than two weeks before the election has created just five percent of the jobs promised and New Zealanders are owed an explanation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda Ardern owes New Zealand an apology
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern owes New Zealanders an apology for the slow vaccine rollout that has New Zealand at the bottom of the OECD,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda Ardern's coal powered nuclear free moment
14 June, 2022
“Even Jacinda Ardern's harshest critics never imagined her 'nuclear free moment' would be coal powered," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Jacinda Ardern won’t rule out political opinion in Hate Speech laws
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern has admitted in Parliament today that she hasn’t ruled out including political opinion in her proposed hate speech laws,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda caught in the middle of Robertson/Hipkins fight
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern hasn’t made a decision on whether Aucklanders will need a time slot to leave to city because she’s lost control of the Robertson/Hipkins spat,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda cements her status as first Instagram PM
14 June, 2022
“New revelations of continuous social media listening throughout the COVID pandemic are cementing Jacinda Ardern as the world’s first Instagram Prime Minister,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda does verbal gymnastics over inflation
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern twisted herself in knots trying to explain why inflation has gone from half of wage growth to double in the space of five months,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda follows the (political) science
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s Covid-19 response has always followed the science – political science”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Jacinda has no solutions to cost of living crisis
14 June, 2022
“As New Zealanders continue to be squeezed from every direction, Jacinda has this morning shown she has no plan to ease the pressure they face,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda makes us wait an Ardernity
14 June, 2022
“Today’s Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence Index shows that New Zealand is heading towards a recession, with consumer confidence at its lowest level since the 2008 Global Financial Crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda must explain why Auckland still restricted
14 June, 2022
“While people ask whether the Government will ‘let’ Auckland go to Alert Level 3 Step 3, a better approach is to cast off the Stockholm Syndrome and ask why hairdressers and hospitality should stay shut,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda needs to side line prankster Trevor and do some adulting
14 June, 2022
“The Speaker of the House is one of the most important constitutional roles in New Zealand and it’s time for Trevor Mallard to behave like it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda needs to wind back threats made on ZM
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern used her regular music radio station appearance this morning to threaten teens and listeners of Fletch, Vaughan and Megan with summer imprisonment. She’s either bluffing or lost the plot but neither is a good look,” says ACT Leader...
Jacinda not interested in how long the checkpoints take
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern doesn’t know how long holiday makers will be held up at checkpoints over summer, now that she’s made them legal, she’s washing her hands of them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda out of touch with Kiwis
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister has shown today in Question Time how out of touch she is with everyday Kiwis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda’s Ihumātao naivete home to roost
14 June, 2022
“The dangerous side of Jacinda’s kindness is on full display as her ham-fisted Ihumātao intervention comes home to roost at Shelly Bay and in Northland,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda’s Ihumātao naivete home to roost
14 June, 2022
“The dangerous side of Jacinda’s kindness is on full display as her ham-fisted Ihumātao intervention comes home to roost at Shelly Bay and in Northland,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda’s MIQ argument makes no sense
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern has failed to explain in Parliament why we need to continue with MIQ,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Jacinda should visit hairdressers and hospo
14 June, 2022
“ACT is calling on the Prime Minister to visit those worst affected by the Auckland lockdown and not just carry out a stage manged visit when she finally goes to Auckland tomorrow,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda, stop being the centre of attention and give people their lives back
14 June, 2022
“Today’s announcement of a slow, staged and uncertain border reopening is all about Jacinda, instead of New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda uses public health research to check her Facebook likes
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party will write to the Auditor General to raise concerns about Jacinda using Government research into vaccinations to check how her Facebook’s going,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda visiting Auckland a very welcome development
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda’s visit to Auckland will be long overdue as the city enters its 12th week of lockdown, and if she sees, hears and feels what I saw last week it will seriously change her perspective,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jacinda wouldn’t know inflation if it blew up in her face
14 June, 2022
“It’s no wonder wages are going backwards under Labour when Jacinda Ardern doesn’t know the rate of inflation and wage growth”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Jackson’s violent rhetoric should be condemned
07 February, 2023
“Prime Minister Chris Hipkins should swiftly and categorically condemn Labour frontbencher Willie Jackson’s violent rhetoric about the prospects of Māori under an ACT-National government”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
James Shaw shows staggering hypocrisy
14 June, 2022
“Just last week Greens co-leader James Shaw said Parliament sitting was “putting lives at risk” by sitting in Level 4, and yet this week he’s prepared to fly to the COVID hot spot of Glasgow for climate talks,” says ACT...
Janssen approved, so what now?
14 June, 2022
“Now MedSafe has approved the Janssen one shot vaccine, months after the United States and European Union, the Government should be transparent about its plans for using the vaccine,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Journalists must be free to bite the hand that feeds
14 June, 2022
“The Government must ensure that journalists can remain independent of the state despite the $55 million of taxpayer money it’s just given to media companies,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Just make a decision, Prime Minister
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister is holding on to Covid-19 longer than the saga of whether Ross and Rachel were on a break”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Kids discouraged from eating their own lunches
14 June, 2022
“Advice from the Ministry of Education shows that kids who bring their own lunches from home are being discouraged from eating them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Kiri Allan guarantees hate speech laws, ACT guarantees repeal
30 October, 2022
“If Labour forces hate speech laws through, ACT can guarantee it will repeal them in the first 100 days of Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kiwi businesses succeed in spite of Labour
15 September, 2022
“Today’s growth in GDP is a testament to the hard work of Kiwi businesspeople, who through sheer will and determination have managed a positive result in spite of Labour’s policies that have restricted production and starved them of workers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kiwi families under siege
14 June, 2022
“ASB’s Household Living Cost Outlook released today shows Kiwis are about to be squeezed even harder by rising prices,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Kiwi workers fall $6,600 behind Australians
14 June, 2022
“New Zealand is being thrashed in the trans-Tasman battle for ideas, talent and capital”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kiwis continue to fly the coop
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s lock em down, lock em out, borrow, print and spend approach to COVID-19 has contributed to the lowest net migration level since the tail-end of the GFC,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Kiwis kept flightless by vaccine passport go slow
14 June, 2022
“The Government has issued 4.3 million doses of Pfizer vaccine and, as is this Government’s way, forgot to issue any kind of proof,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Kiwis need relief from cost of living crisis
14 June, 2022
“Kiwis need tax relief and businesses need workers as Labour’s cost of living crisis continues to bite,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Kiwis want a tax cut
14 June, 2022
“With a cost of living crisis, and nearly 70 per cent of New Zealanders demanding a tax cut, the time for beige responses has passed”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour abusing taxpayer resources to campaign on envy tax
14 June, 2022
“The Labour Government has abused its powers by sneaking through legislation that allows the Inland Revenue Commissioner to ask for any financial information – no matter how private or personal”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour and Nats reject more sensible housing solutions
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today put forward a sensible solution to improve the rushed housing deal between Labour and National,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour: Aucklanders are not legitimate ute drivers
14 June, 2022
“Transport Minister Michael Wood has today clarified the Prime Minister’s comments about who are “legitimate” ute drivers and its seems it’s region dependent,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour backs the truck up, ACT says keep on reversing
18 October, 2022
“ACT welcomes the Government’s backdowns on COVID-19 powers, the Traveller Declaration Form and defunding of Shakespeare, while they’re backing down on policy they should keep going,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour can’t give money away
09 August, 2022
“The Prime Minister has today admitted to Parliament that 134,000 people who are eligible for the cost of living payment still haven’t received it because the Government does not have their bank accounts,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour creating an unfair playing field for hard working Kiwis
14 June, 2022
“Labour is continuing to incentivise welfare and punish hard work, with advice provided to the Government on their income insurance scheme warning of increased unemployment and disincentives to work,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour crisis makes unemployment figures irrelevant
01 February, 2023
“With close to 100,000 people on jobseeker benefits and businesses begging for more workers, low unemployment numbers cannot mask the labour crisis facing New Zealand businesses,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour damaging democracy for no reason
03 August, 2022
“Changes to the electoral system announced today don’t solve any public policy problem, and will prevent people from engaging in politics,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour gifts lowest ever consumer confidence for Christmas
19 December, 2022
“Christmas will be tough for many this year, with consumer confidence at its lowest ever level as inflation continues to bite. There’s never been a better time to let households keep more of their money with tax cuts,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour gives itself room to borrow extra $90 billion
14 June, 2022
“Grant Robertson has this morning given himself free reign to borrow and spend an extra $90 billion with changes to the debt ceiling,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour Government a fiscal risk
14 June, 2022
“Treasury has released a long list of Government promises it describes as “fiscal risks” because the costs are uncertain or unquantified,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour has no answers but handouts
14 June, 2022
“Handouts are Labour’s answer to every problem, taking New Zealand down a one-way street to greater debt and dependency on Labour,” says ACT leader David Seymour....
Labour has sunk brand New Zealand
31 October, 2022
“When Labour campaigned on reducing immigration, I didn’t think they would make New Zealand so unattractive no one would want to come here,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour kowtows to environmental activists
15 December, 2022
“Labour’s decision to pause any further block offers until the next term of Parliament kowtows to a tiny group of environmental activists and ignores the interests of millions of productive Kiwis," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour laying the groundwork for another tax grab
14 June, 2022
“If today’s speech from Revenue Minister David Parker is anything to go by, Labour is planting the seed for increased taxation to fund their addiction to spending,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour making policy based on assumptions not evidence
22 September, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern and her Government need to apply the enlightened approach of Education’s Equity Index to other areas such as health, where crude racial targeting is the norm,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour Minister admits crisis
14 June, 2022
ACT is welcoming Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni’s admission that New Zealand faces a cost of living crisis.
Labour must explain vaccination cold calls
14 June, 2022
“Labour MP for Northcote Shanan Halbert needs to explain why a member of the public received a call from his office asking them to delay their COVID-19 vaccinations so they could have it on Super Saturday,” says ACT Leader David...
Labour-National coalition trashing the Kiwi Dream
03 August, 2022
“With housing affordability for first-home buyers the worst it’s been in six decades, New Zealand’s political duopoly has irreparably damaged the chances of young New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour-National corporate welfare gravy train steams on
07 December, 2022
“Propping up a single tourism business is more important to Labour than protecting thousands of people from the lawlessness on our streets”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour-National housing bill returned without amendment
14 June, 2022
“The Committee charged with examining the Labour-National housing bill has returned it without amendment because it didn’t have time to fix its many flaws,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour, National vote against adding infrastructure funding to housing bill
14 June, 2022
“Labour and National have today voted against adding infrastructure funding to their joint housing bill”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour need to stand up for innocent shoppers
26 September, 2022
“A brazen broad daylight smash-and-grab is the latest example of why Labour need to start sticking up for innocent shoppers’ right to move freely around their community,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour on ram raids - another month of doing nothing
03 October, 2022
“Today marks a month since Police Minister Chris Hipkins said of his ram raid fund "I expect the programme to ramp up over the next month”, but not a single cent has been paid out since,” says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour.
Labour oversees biggest food price increase since GFC
22 September, 2022
“Kiwi battlers are continuing to pay the price of Labour’s economic mismanagement, with the past year seeing the biggest increase in prices at the checkout since the Global Financial Crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour Party puts the Treaty at the heart of everything but the Labour Party
14 June, 2022
“Labour is putting the Treaty at the centre of everything, but is the Treaty at the heart of Labour? The Labour Party constitution is 113 pages, but it mentions treaty only three times. It says that the Treaty should be...
Labour preparing another tax grab
14 June, 2022
“Instead of creating the conditions for wealth, Labour is once again finding new ways to take it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour running out of foreign excuses for inflation
18 October, 2022
“The makeup of tradeable and non-tradeable inflation figures out today show that Labour can’t keep blaming the rest of the world for inflation,” says ACT leader David Seymour.
Labour’s electoral law reform nakedly political
03 August, 2022
“Labour is cynically using its parliamentary majority to hamstring political opponents a year out from an election with the Electoral Amendment Bill undergoing its first reading today, it should be ashamed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour’s Māori ward plan deeply divisive
14 June, 2022
“New Zealand’s electoral system should focus on our common interests and treat voters equally, but Labour’s plan for Māori wards would take us down a divisive path,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour’s rushed laws make fully vaccinated signs illegal
14 June, 2022
“The Government has today made it illegal for businesses to display signs saying all staff are fully vaccinated - a result of its rushed COVID laws,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Labour’s tax addiction revealed
14 June, 2022
“The average New Zealander is paying $2,138 more in tax than in 2017 and ACT would lift that burden with a middle-income tax cut”, ACT Leader David Seymour said in his State of the Nation speech today....
Labour should have just cut taxes
07 October, 2022
“The ongoing Cost of Living Payment saga shows the Government should have taken a better approach to helping New Zealanders through the cost of living crisis and just cut taxes,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour spends $44.8m trying to slow Kiwis down
14 October, 2022
“Labour is trying to slow Kiwis down on the road, and they’re spending millions of taxpayer dollars doing it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour, the Grinch who stole Christmas for no reason
14 June, 2022
“Labour needs to stop milking gratitude for giving citizens any freedom at all and start explaining why restrictions are justified. It has the relationship between citizens and government back to front, and it’s covering the fact the Government’s systems aren’t...
Labour the most cynical government in a generation
14 June, 2022
“Labour’s move to suspend democracy and avoid public scrutiny over its vaccine mandate legislation, and to use COVID-19 as a cover to sneak its welfare policy through Parliament, are the actions of the most cynical government in a generation”, says...
Labour union hackery reaches full absurdity
14 June, 2022
“Even as a frequent critic of this Labour Government, I never thought Grant Robertson would try appointing a teacher union rep to run an airline,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Labour won’t even consider listening to alternatives to Three Waters
03 November, 2022
“If there was any doubt that Three Waters was about taking away local control and implementing co-government instead of fixing water infrastructure, Labour and Green MPs on Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure select committee confirmed it today,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour’s fix for overregulated supermarket sector – more regulation
14 September, 2022
“The Government’s expected announcement that it will force supermarket groups to supply wholesalers shows they completely misunderstand why groceries are expensive,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour’s involuntary apology shows deeper cultural problem
29 September, 2022
“The Prime Minister has shown a lack of leadership over Kelvin Davis’s apology, she hasn’t renounced what he said, or so much as told him off for his attack on ACT MP Karen Chhour,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour’s lucky dip childcare policy
14 November, 2022
“Many lower earning families and sole parents miss out entirely under Labour’s lucky dip childcare policy, while those that it does apply to will find it doesn’t even cover inflation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour’s problem with culture
30 September, 2022
“The Prime Minister has a big problem with culture in her party and it’s time she confronts it, instead of sweeping it under the carpet,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Lack of clarity on vaccine delivery astonishing
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s inability to provide clarity on when the Covid-19 vaccines it has purchased will arrive is alarming and deserves a much better explanation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Last-minute law-making means chaos for businesses
14 June, 2022
“Today’s rushed COVID-19 vaccine mandate legislation shows a Government out of touch with business, we can’t support this legislation without major explanation and change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Late COVID Report Shows Up Casual Unaccountable Government
14 June, 2022
“The August lockdown cost hardworking New Zealanders hundreds of millions of dollars, and the Government is still not telling the truth about its COVID response,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Laura Fergusson Trust meeting with Minister raises more questions than answers
14 June, 2022
“The Laura Fergusson Trust and Health Minister Andrew Little need to be upfront with the community about what was discussed at their meeting on Friday night,” says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour....
Leadership opportunity for Jacinda
14 June, 2022
“Today’s a great opportunity for Jacinda Ardern to show some leadership, by giving clear commitments on borders, boosters, and Freedom Day,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Less regulation is the answer
14 June, 2022
“Labour seems to think that more regulation will fix our supermarket industry, but that’s exactly what the problem is,” says ACT’s Leader David Seymour....
Less rehabilitation, more disorder in prisons
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to explain why the number of prisoners attending rehabilitation is decreasing while disorder increases,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Let The People Decide On Co-Government? We Hear Ya!
24 January, 2023
“ACT will be campaigning for a referendum on co-governance at the next election,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Level up and let them in
14 June, 2022
“Today’s announcement from the Government that it will let people who’ve tested positive for COVID isolate at home, demonstrates how inconsistent its policies are,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Lift ban on Rapid Antigen Testing, Let returnees self isolate
14 June, 2022
“When Cabinet meets on Monday, it should lift the ban on importing Rapid Antigen Testing and allow double vaccinated returnees with a negative pre-departure test to skip the MIQ hunger games and home isolate,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Lift the veil on He Puapua
14 June, 2022
“It’s time for Labour to lift the veil on He Puapua and tell New Zealanders what its plans are on co-governance”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Light at the end of the tunnel?
14 June, 2022
"ACT welcomes Chris Hipkins’ suggestion in Parliament today that the COVID-19 Response Act might not be around for much longer, and encourages him to just get on with the job and rip it up already,” ACT’s Leader David Seymour says....
Like Freedom Day, but held to ransom
14 June, 2022
“The Government has given an impossibly complicated version of the Freedom Day that ACT, and later National, have advocated,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Lion King wiggles in while Kiwis wait
14 June, 2022
“There is no rhyme nor reason to who gets into the country under the critical worker category and New Zealanders here and overseas have plenty of reasons to be unhappy about it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Lockdown no longer short or sharp
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s inadequate testing and tracing have let us down, leaving us in lockdown for at least two weeks,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Locked out Kiwis deserve the right to vote and come home
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today launched a petition to give overseas New Zealanders the right to vote in their own country and to end MIQ for those who are fully vaccinated,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Māori and Pacific children failed by Government
14 June, 2022
“The Minister for Child Poverty Reduction is letting Māori and Pacific children down according to new school attendance rates,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Māori only consultation on He Puapua separatism says it all
14 June, 2022
“The Government is taking the whole country on the path to being an ethno-state, not just the select Māori leaders it’s chosen to consult on its implementation of He Puapua,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Māori privacy rights breached by judgement
14 June, 2022
“The effect of a High Court judgement that Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency should have access to Māori data to try to lift vaccination rates is that Māori have a different and lesser right to privacy due to the Treaty of...
Maōri Party owes Tauranga an apology
14 June, 2022
“The Māori Party has been caught in a lie, trying to bad-mouth Tauranga by spreading misinformation and they owe our city an apology,” says ACT’s Tauranga candidate Cameron Luxton....
Machete attack result of Labour’s crime approach
19 December, 2022
“If Labour needed any proof their approach to crime has failed, the unspeakable machete attack in Hamilton today is it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Mahuta questions need answers
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to answer questions about Nanaia Mahuta fully and swiftly”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Major events fund falls short
14 June, 2022
“Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash was poorly advised when he restricted the Government’s Major Events Fund to events with over 5000 attendees. He could support far more events for the same money,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Major Events Insurance Fund proposed by ACT
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is today proposing a Major Events Insurance Fund to ensure the industry can survive,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Major reshuffle shows lack of talent
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister’s major reshuffle of Cabinet has shuffled the deck chairs but the underlying problem is a lack of talent and good policy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Make up your mind, Jacinda
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister has lost control of the COVID response and can’t make up her mind what the strategy is,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Mallard costs to taxpayers continue past resignation
25 August, 2022
“Normally people screw up and then have to resign, Trevor Mallard has managed to continue screwing up after leaving the role of Speaker,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Mallard must go
14 June, 2022
“The Mallard hunting season came to an end last weekend but there’s one more Mallard that still needs to go,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Mallard’s last hack at Parliamentary democracy
03 August, 2022
“ACT has stood as the only party in favour of parliamentary democracy after all other parties supported the introduction of a new so called ‘Independent Parliamentary Commissioner for Conduct,’” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Mandate Monday should have testing alternative
14 June, 2022
“With the onset of widespread vaccine mandates about to create chaos in multiple sectors, it’s time for the Government to apply the approach of the Danish Government, Air New Zealand, and its own requirement for teachers to all mandates. That...
Māori ward urgency chips away at democracy
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s decision to legislate away democratic rights under urgency does damage far beyond the question of Māori wards,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Massive victory for common sense
14 June, 2022
“The Government has taken a massive dose of common sense by removing border restrictions where the costs outweigh the benefits. It’s just a shame Labour is reactive as usual instead of the proactive approach Kiwis need,” says ACT Leader David...
Matariki almost a half billion dollar tax on business
14 June, 2022
“Official advice to the Government says an extra public holiday at Matariki could cost almost $450 million,” ACT Leader David Seymour can reveal....
Media addicted PM feigns ignorance over sneaky Friday decision
14 June, 2022
“The most media savvy Prime Minister in New Zealand history must have found it hard to keep straight face when she claimed at her post-cabinet performance today that she’s not involved in media decisions,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Melbourne could have been us
14 June, 2022
“The lockdown affecting Melbourne right now could just have easily happened to New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Middlemore mistake creates massive risk
14 June, 2022
“The 91-year-old left for hours in a room with a COVID-19 positive patient has today reached out to me, furious at the risks he was exposed to,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Migration figures mean more ‘help wanted’ signs
15 November, 2022
“It is no wonder there are help wanted signs from Cape Reinga to Bluff as Stats NZ’s latest migration figures show that New Zealand is bleeding people,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Minister all over the place on vaccine rollout
14 June, 2022
“New Zealanders deserve some transparency when it comes to the vaccine rollout and the COVID-19 Recovery Minister isn’t providing it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Minister must review world’s most inflexible iso rules
06 August, 2022
“New Zealand should dump the world’s strictest COVID-isolation rules, with no other jurisdiction requiring seven days mandatory isolation for cases and household contacts,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Minister Must Say If He's Parked Hate Speech Laws
14 June, 2022
“Introducing hate speech laws, as described in a Cabinet paper reported by Newsroom, would take human rights and our ability to problem solve as a country backwards,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Minister’s reckless and nasty privacy breach
14 June, 2022
“The mask of kindness has fallen off Jacinda's Government. Chris Hipkins' use of Charlotte Bellis's personal information to publicly attack her is reckless and nasty,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Minister shows staggering arrogance on Three Waters
14 June, 2022
“Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta has shown staggering arrogance towards councils on the Government’s Three Waters policy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Minister Tinetti must explain unusual Kashmir censorship
14 June, 2022
“Minister for Internal Affairs Jan Tinetti needs to explain why the Classification Office appears to have carried out last minute censorship of the film ‘The Kashmir Files,’” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ministry of Health lets down Soundsplash attendees
14 June, 2022
“The Ministry of Health has let down the attendees of Soundsplash with a complete lack of information, it’s just as well parents and schools have taken charge,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ministry of Health: Self-isolating new arrivals low risk
14 June, 2022
“The Ministry of Health advised the Government that self-isolating overseas arrivals pose a low risk compared to community cases meaning there’s no public health reason to continue with MIQ,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
MIQ cases show lack of cost benefit analysis
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s lack of common sense around MIQ is plain for all to see with an admission that just four people out of 24,000 tested positive after day eight,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
MIQ escapee proves podium of truth just a PR exercise
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s decision to keep under wraps that a man had escaped from MIQ and posed a risk to the community shows how far her Government is prepared to go to avoid scrutiny,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
MIQ spaces should be used for workers
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s Seasonal Work Scheme attracting just 195 new fruit pickers to move to where the work is shows its strategy is failing and it’s time to let more workers in,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
MIQ sucks, let them come home
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party sympathises with and endorses a banner seen at today’s All Blacks game, MIQ does suck and we should let them come home,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Miss having a world class education system? We hear ya!
17 January, 2023
“New Zealand’s proud history of educational achievement is in decline, as kids stop attending class and standards are being lowered across the board. ACT hears ya, we’ve got a plan to make New Zealand’s education system world class again,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Modelling shows 7-day iso should go
13 September, 2022
“The latest modelling from Covid-19 Modelling Aotearoa backs up ACT’s February call to scrap the 7-day isolation period,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Monetary Chicken meet Fiscal Roost
14 June, 2022
“The chickens are coming home to roost with rising mortgage rates being the direct response of the Government’s costly COVID response,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Monetary Policy Committee needs to work right through
23 November, 2022
“A likely 75 per cent basis point increase in the OCR shows that the Reserve Bank has lost control of the situation, but astonishingly, they’re going to take three months off. They should schedule another meeting for early January, you can’t say the situation is critical then put it on autopilot for three months.
More confusion on RATs for teachers
14 June, 2022
“The Government is all over the place when it comes to rapid antigen tests for teachers and it’s time for clarity,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
More Division from Widespread ‘Maori Business’ Requirement
14 June, 2022
“The Government is creating further ethnic division with its procurement policy of requiring firms to favour ‘Māori businesses’ hitting the inboxes of firms that contract to Government up and down the country,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
More made-up rules from Jacinda
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern has sunk further into running the country on a whim, instead of by predictable rules we can all understand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
More questions than answers from 1pm presser
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister’s 1pm announcement brought good news about the situation but also questions about the Government’s response,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
More social engineering than emissions reduction
14 June, 2022
“Today’s announcement is a bonanza for bureaucrats and a travesty for taxpayers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
More than a thousand unvaccinated port workers
14 June, 2022
“With the very real risk of another COVID-19 outbreak, our borders have been left vulnerable with more than 1,000 port workers unvaccinated,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Mouse with a match sets fire to own policies
08 February, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ policy bonfire shows how hare brained Labour’s failed and disgraced policies really are. None of their policies were necessary, the amazing think is he admits it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Move on from vaccination travel requirements
13 September, 2022
“ACT is calling on the Government to drop travel vaccination requirements that are hampering our tourism sector,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Move Tamaki to Springhill, let pilgrims protest in a field
14 June, 2022
“Brian Tamaki should be held at Springhill Prison, which is in a large field, so his protestors stop disturbing my constituents in their homes,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Nash’s precarious position on bed taxes
14 June, 2022
“Stuart Nash owes New Zealanders an explanation about why he said he wasn’t working on a bed tax when he has been,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
National should do the right thing on UNDRIP
14 June, 2022
“The National Party should take a stand against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), even if it has to reverse its previous position,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
National waking up to housing deal failure
14 September, 2022
“The ACT Party is heartened to see National’s Leader recognise the mistake it made in supporting Labour with new intensification rules. ACT is ready with solutions to improve the law, solutions we put forward when the law was being debated,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Nearly a third of bureaucrats earn six figures
14 June, 2022
“New figures released by the Public Service Commission show there are 3,246 more public servants earning six figures this year compared with last,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Negative test and you’re out
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to release the modelling it has received for how many people will need to isolate at the peak of Omicron so we know the costs and benefits of a 10 day isolation period,” says ACT Leader David...
Never been a better time for tax cuts
14 December, 2022
“Treasury forecasts show a government that’s looked after itself just fine, but households should be worried about what's coming," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New councils should reject war on cars
10 October, 2022
“The ACT Party welcomes all new and returning mayors and councillors – and asks them to reject the war on cars,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New education programme teaches white supremacy
14 June, 2022
“The Government must explain why a new education programme is teaching the idea that white supremacy exists in our education system”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
New Health Act order shows rules weren’t straight before
14 June, 2022
“The making of a new Health Act order shows that the Government didn’t have the rules straight before,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
New health committee divisive and unnecessary
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s insistence that a new Select Committee be set up to consider the health care reforms because it wants greater Māori representation is divisive and sets a dangerous precedent,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
New National Leader should reject RMA Bill
14 June, 2022
“The new National Party Leader, whoever that may be, should take the opportunity to undo its deal with the red devil on housing, or at least try to improve it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
New PM, still no answers at the checkout
14 February, 2023
“While Cyclone Gabrielle consumes the nation, today’s food price index is reality calling Prime Minister Hipkins. It confirms in numbers what people feel every day at the checkout every day, driven by an eleven per cent increase in groceries,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New Prime Minister needs substance over spin
24 January, 2023
“For the sake of all Kiwis, incoming Prime Minister Chris Hipkins needs to show they’re prepared to deliver on substance instead of snowing New Zealand with spin,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New report highlights policy failures of co-Government agenda
13 September, 2022
“Dr Bryce Wilkinson’s damning report into the Government’s misguided approach to our health system is evidence of why we need to move on from Labour’s co-Government agenda,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New tax rate rounds out month of divisive, punitive Ardern Government
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s introduction of a 39 per cent top tax rate is futile, punitive political theatre that rounds out a month of increasingly divisive governance,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
New Zealand becoming an economic backwater under Labour
14 June, 2022
“New Zealand is becoming an economic backwater to Australia under Labour and we need real change to stem the tide of Kiwis fleeing our shores”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
New Zealand Government must break deafening silence on Mahsa Amini
03 October, 2022
“Following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the Iranian ‘Morality Police’. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta needs to speak up, call in the ambassador, and show that New Zealand does not accept this oppression,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New Zealanders deserve better than KiwiBuild 2.0
14 June, 2022
“New Zealanders deserve better than Labour and National rushing their half-baked housing deal through Parliament under the cover of COVID-19 right before Christmas”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
New Zealanders getting the mushroom treatment on vaccinations
14 June, 2022
“How astonishing that the Australian Health Minister finds himself having to defend his Government having only vaccinated 670,000 Australians when New Zealand has managed less than 10 per cent of that number,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
New Zealanders reject their own country under Labour
13 December, 2022
“15,000 New Zealanders have chosen to leave under Labour,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Nice but clueless leadership from PM on testing
14 June, 2022
“Improving our approach to testing is another thing the Prime Minister should have done instead of a little dance while we enjoyed Covid-19 freedom”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Niue??? Heard of New South Wales?
14 June, 2022
“The open border to Niue before Australia shows the Government couldn’t care less about struggling tourist and horticultural industries,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
No accountability in Jacinda Ardern’s Hermit Kingdom
14 June, 2022
“The most visible Prime Minister in New Zealand political history was nowhere to be seen as the border was effectively closed to overseas Kiwis last night,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
No Bluetooth tracing: Delta preparation goes from bad to worse
14 June, 2022
“Reports from Newsroom that not a single contact has been traced with Bluetooth tracing is damning of a Government that’s been having the world’s longest nap between lockdowns," says ACT Leader David Seymour....
No consequences in Labour’s youth plan - ACT would use ankle bracelets
13 September, 2022
“Labour’s plan to “drive down youth crime” will fail because it doesn’t introduce a single consequence for youth offenders. ACT would introduce ankle bracelets for serious youth offenders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No extra precautions to prepare against Delta
14 June, 2022
"The Australian Prime Minister has called the Delta variant a game-changer. Chris Hipkins agrees and told Parliament today that contact tracing wouldn't be able to contain it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
No ifs, no buts - wealth tax would be gone under ACT
14 June, 2022
“Any Government ACT is part of will have no time for envy-fuelled wealth or capital taxes,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
No incentive left: time for the ACT’s Vax Break
14 June, 2022
“As the number of first doses dwindles, it’s time to bring in ACT’s Vax Break, a $250 tax credit for anyone who gets vaccinated by December 1,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
No Labour, food prices aren’t the war’s fault
11 November, 2022
“The price of food continues to rise and as much as they try to blame overseas factors, Labour needs to accept it has cooked up this problem all by itself,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No middle ground for Reserve Bank Governor
14 June, 2022
"The Reserve Bank Governor tried to tell Parliament this morning that New Zealand’s only options going into COVID were mass unemployment or the current high inflation. In reality the Reserve Bank has failed to find a balance and we are...
No plan for Omicron – just crickets
14 June, 2022
“Back from a long holiday the Government has finally fronted about the imminent arrival of Omicron – only to admit what we suspected all along, there is no plan,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
No reason NZ shouldn’t be part of business travel network
14 June, 2022
“Whether countries have an elimination strategy for COVID-19 or not should have no bearing on whether New Zealand explores establishing a business travel network to re-ignite investment in a post-vaccine world,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
No responsibility from Robertson
27 November, 2022
“Finance Minister Grant Robertson has shown he has no plan to reduce spending and takes no responsibility for the part he’s played in the cost of living crisis,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
No Rhyme Nor Reason for Extra Day at Level 3/2
14 June, 2022
"There is no rhyme nor reason for spending an additional day at Alert Level 3 in Auckland, but the cost is estimated at $45 million," according to ACT Leader David Seymour...
No Rhythm & Vines, stay in your confines
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to stop holding fun hostage and give us a Freedom Day,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No sense of urgency on COVID response
14 June, 2022
“If the Government knew at 7.30pm last night that a Sydney tourist with COVID-19 had visited Wellington, why did it take nearly 12 hours to confirm this with the public?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour...
Northland case should be charged, or the loophole she used closed
14 June, 2022
“The leaky boundaries in and out of Auckland lead to many questions about how the Government is administering them," says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Nosediving forecasts show you can’t trust Grant’s figures
14 June, 2022
“Grant Robertson is putting a brave face on Labour’s Brain Drain Budget, but the figures don’t lie. Compared to the same forecasts made in December, we are going to have mode deficit spending, more debt, and much more interest on...
Not a single issue the PM is across
08 November, 2022
“There is no end in sight for inflation in New Zealand, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern unable to even indicate what year it will be under control by,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Not so little experiment cost how much bread and butter?
08 February, 2023
“Labour needs to explain how much was spent on the failed and disgraced media merger. Now they admit it was a harebrained mistake, they need to tell New Zealand how much Willie Jackson wasted. ACT predicts over $30 million was spent – that’s a lot of bread and butter,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Nothing tangible from Skegg report
14 June, 2022
“It turns out the Prime Minister’s announcement about this week’s announcement won’t be an announcement at all,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Now we’re getting somewhere
14 June, 2022
“In the words of Neil Finn, ‘now we’re getting somewhere,’” says ACT Leader David Seymour, after the Government considered using Datamine’s ëlarm technology in Managed Isolation and Quarantine....
Nurse’s deal solves one equity problem, creates another
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s announcement on pay equity may have disappointed DHB nurses, but it'll create chaos in the aged-care sector,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Nurses better off under ACT
14 June, 2022
“Nurses will be better off under ACT’s Alternative Budget than they would under the pay increases proposed by the Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Nurturing gangs doesn't work
14 June, 2022
“The current gang member-driven outbreak of COVID-19 is the logical conclusion of the Government's tending and nurturing approach,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
NZ a Sitting Duck, Hoping for COVID Luck
14 June, 2022
“News of new COVID-19 community cases show New Zealand is a sitting duck, hoping for luck. The Government should have been hardening our defences with better contact tracing, testing, and vaccination over the past year," says ACT Leader David Seymour...
NZ bottom of OECD for vaccines
14 June, 2022
“After saying we would be at the front of the queue, New Zealand is now officially last in the OECD for the vaccine rollout,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
NZ the remains the weakest link in the West
14 June, 2022
“The entire country of New Zealand has given less support to Ukraine than Larry Ellison as we continue to be the weakest link in the West,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Objective must be to avoid another lockdown
14 June, 2022
“If today’s probable case of Covid-19 in Northland turns out to be community transmission the Government’s overarching objective must be avoiding another lockdown,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Obstinate border stance truly bizarre
14 June, 2022
“What a cockeyed world we live in when the Government is letting in criminals from Australia but not their tourists,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
OECD: Govt spending increasing prices
14 June, 2022
“The OECD is the latest organisation to remind Labour that prices are soaring in part because of its out-of-control spending”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ombudsman should investigate Sharma claims
23 August, 2022
“The Ombudsman should investigate Gaurav Sharma’s claim that Labour MPs are being coached on how to deliberately subvert the Official Information Act”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Omicron delays must be justified
14 June, 2022
“If the Government wants to buy time for Omicron, it needs to explain how much that time costs, who pays, and why it’ll be worthwhile,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Omicron wake up call for lazy vaxx roll out
14 June, 2022
“Today’s news of a near hit or miss with Omicron should be a wake up call for the Government’s lazy vaccine program. Four-month boosters are our strategy for Omicron but there’s absolutely no urgency getting them ready, that should change...
One Year on from Delta: Citizens voting with their feet
14 September, 2022
“One year from the Delta outbreak, New Zealand is ‘leading’ the Anglosphere for COVID cases and death rates, and Jacinda Ardern’s abundance of caution has been replaced by an abundance of social and economic costs - but she’s nowhere to be seen,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Only a vote for ACT will clear tax minefield
14 June, 2022
“A vote for ACT is a vote to eradicate the bright-line test,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Only half of known contacts tested
14 June, 2022
“When asked today what the Government has done to protect New Zealanders against Delta, COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins fell back on N95 masks for MIQ workers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Open and transparent? Then what are the figures on ram raids?
14 September, 2022
“The Prime Minister has no idea what is going on with the biggest crime problem hammering business owners across the country, and she doesn’t appear to even want to know,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Open Banking a win for consumers
10 November, 2022
“The Government has finally had a good idea around financial policy – but two years is a ridiculous amount of time to wait,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Open border will sink traffic lights, isolation rules, QR codes, and test imports
14 June, 2022
“As New Zealand finally opens up to the rest of the world, the Government will find its nonsensical COVID restrictions for New Zealanders are almost impossible to enforce on tourists” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Open letter to PM should be a wake-up call
14 June, 2022
“An open letter to the Prime Minister today from New Zealand’s biggest property owners should be huge wake up call to Jacinda Ardern and her Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Orr reappointment shows Labour’s low standards
20 November, 2022
“Despite a term of poor leadership, poor focus and poor outcomes, Adrian Orr has somehow been reappointed for another term as Reserve Bank Governor,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Other Prime Ministers have apologised
14 June, 2022
“New Zealand Prime Ministers have on a number of occasions realised their comments or behaviour were ill-judged, gotten over their own egos and apologised to people for doing them wrong,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Other things the Govt should cancel
14 June, 2022
“After the Government proved yesterday it is capable of listening to New Zealanders by scrapping the cycle bridge, ACT has a list of other things Labour should back down on,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Outdoor event rules need changing
14 June, 2022
“Sensible changes are desperately needed to the rules for outdoor events to prevent more economic pain,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Over Co-governance Being Forced On You? We Hear Ya!
24 January, 2023
“The ACT Party has today launched the next phase of our ‘We hear ya’ campaign.’ ACT MPs travelled the country in 2022, carrying out 208 public meetings. One of the main concerns we heard was about co-government being forced on New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Over the cost of living crisis? We hear ya!
21 December, 2022
“The ACT Party has today launched the next part of our ‘We hear ya’ campaign.’ ACT MPs travelled the country in 2022, carrying out 208 public meetings. One of the main concerns we heard was how the cost of living crisis is affecting New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Parker doesn’t want the public to know about COLP
14 September, 2022
“Minister of Revenue David Parker is refusing to answer questions on what he advice he received on ineligible people receiving the errant Cost of Living payment,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
Parliament closure diktat a historic low
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern is happy to have a socially distanced 1pm stand up with a dozen journalists in a room but not a democratic parliament with elected representatives asking her questions,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Patronising PM gives potty privileges
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s comment that allowing people to use the toilet at a friend's house is a “luxury” sums up all that is wrong with her COVID response,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Perry's Berrys Failure is Government's
14 June, 2022
“The closure of Perry’s Berrys, a major vertically integrated strawberry producer of 40 years’ standing, reflects this Government’s failure writ large,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Personal responsibility needed for scanning
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is pleased to see mandatory scanning being put in place by the Government but the onus shouldn’t be on businesses to enforce it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Petition to stop hate speech laws reaches 32,000
14 June, 2022
“A petition from the ACT Party to stop Labour’s divisive Hate Speech Laws has received 32,000 signatures,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Petrol up 41c under Labour – this is a trim, not a cut
14 June, 2022
“Petrol tax has increased 41 cents a litre under Labour, today’s 25c decrease is a fraction of what the Government could have done to support Kiwis who are being squeezed from every direction,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Pfizer arrival great news
14 June, 2022
“The Government should be congratulated for getting some Pfizer vaccine for Covid-19 confirmed for rollout from next week,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Pfizer boss pours cold water on Ardern claim of possible Aussie delay
14 June, 2022
“The Government is all at sea on timelines for Australia and New Zealand’s respective vaccine roll-outs, with the worst news coming from the mouth of Pfizer Australia CEO Anne Harris,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Please Explain, PM
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister has some serious explaining to do after her Government's Official COVID-19 Facebook Page contradicted her claim that Case J (Kmart worker) and Case L (KFC worker) were told to isolate. The Page replied to a member of...
Please Prime Minister, bore us with the details now
14 June, 2022
“It’s simply not good enough for the Prime Minister to treat the media like five year olds and tell them there are ‘layers of complexity’ ‘which I won’t bore you with now’ behind why she can’t say more about a...
PM admits there’s no alternative to utes
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern has today told Parliament she knows that farmers and tradies have no alternative to using utes, but she’ll tax them anyway” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM admits worst kept secret -it was the vaccine pass all along
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister has admitted New Zealand’s worst kept secret, we’re not waiting for vaccination rates to get up, we’ve been waiting for the Government to get its vaccine passports sorted," says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM agrees Human Rights Commissioner adds no value
14 June, 2022
“ACT’s policy to get rid of the Human Rights Commissioner has today been backed up by Jacinda Ardern and her Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM closed border for another six weeks to prevent less than 1% of cases
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern today made the extraordinary admission in Parliament that she’s keeping the border closed for another six weeks to save us from 1,000 cases on COVID a week – even though we currently have at least 197,000 active cases,”...
PM doesn’t know Govt went soft on crime
28 November, 2022
“Fending off suggestions she is ‘pro-criminal’ this morning, the Prime Minister revealed her ignorance of the law and accidentally drew attention to the fact her Government has reduced penalties for ram raid-type offences”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
PM ‘following the health advice?’ Yeah, right
14 June, 2022
“Nobody will ever believe the Prime Minister again when she says she’s ‘following the health advice’”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM in denial about ram raids
28 November, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s assertion on AM this morning that the “majority” of ramraid cases are being prosecuted shows she’s either in denial or living on another planet when it comes to crime,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
PM in la la land on white privilege
14 June, 2022
“The fact that the Prime Minister doesn’t know that white privilege is a core part of a new education programme being used across the country shows a Government in la la land”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM must drop covert plan to redefine Treaty
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern needs to drop her Government’s covert plan to redefine the Treaty and have an honest conversation with New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM must stop making trans-Tasman travel harder than it needs to be
14 June, 2022
“For some reason the Prime Minister is trying to talk down expectations of substantive movement on quarantine free trans-Tasman travel at Cabinet today, when she’s got every reason to be talking it up,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM needs to be clear on co-governance agenda
14 June, 2022
“With Cabinet today considering the controversial and divisive He Puapua document and what’s next for New Zealand after signing the UNDRIP, it’s time for the Prime Minister to be clear about her Government’s intentions around co-governance,” says ACT Leader David...
PM needs to reveal mandate advice
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda needs to start answering questions about what advice she has received about whether mandates should continue,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM on Hate Speech: Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong
14 June, 2022
“It’s not just the Justice Minister who doesn’t understand his own Hate Speech Laws, the Prime Minister has proved she’s also out of her depth,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM out of touch on crime and guns
14 June, 2022
“While the Prime Minister is cosying up to left-wing talk show hosts and delivering speeches at elite universities about gun laws, Aucklanders are living in fear over gang shootings”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM out of touch on Ram Raids
30 August, 2022
“With a 260 per cent increase in ram raids since 2018, the Government’s crime prevention fund practically inaccessible, and the Prime Minister unable to answer basic questions, the PM is out of touch on crime,” says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour.
PM pleased with last place, throws workers under the bus
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister has her priorities completely warped if she thinks being last in the developed world for the vaccine rollout is pleasing,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM preparing massive tax flip-flop
14 June, 2022
“After categorically ruling out ever implementing any sort of wealth tax under her leadership in 2020, Jacinda Ardern appears to be readying herself for the mother of all flip-flops,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM’s performance spin over substance
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister’s post-Cabinet press conference today was a nauseating stream of self-congratulation when what she should have been doing was apologising,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM should answer Europe question
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern has avoided a question from ACT in Parliament about whether she plans to travel to Europe in the coming weeks and New Zealanders deserve an answer,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
PM should be in Sandringham today
25 November, 2022
“The Prime Minister and MP for Mt Albert has shown a complete lack of judgment by going to the Chatham Islands today instead of supporting her local community after the tragic death of a dairy owner,” says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour.
PM’s co-governance comments insulting
05 November, 2022
“The Prime Minister’s comments on Newshub Nation this morning that co-governance is not the biggest issue for New Zealanders shows how out of touch she is with the electorate,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Police Commissioner bullied by iwi
14 June, 2022
“Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has confirmed that Police have given into demands of iwi rather than upholding the law,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Police plan to check every passenger vehicle going to Northland
14 June, 2022
“The queues leaving Auckland to head North are quickly going to become unreasonably long and a safety risk with Police tonight confirming the intent is to check every passenger vehicle leaving Auckland,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Politics triumphs over public health, sanity
14 June, 2022
“The rest of the world is moving on, taking the highway to normality, while we’re strapped in the back waiting,” ACT’s Leader David Seymour says....
Poll shows Kiwis want ACT’s tax policies
14 September, 2022
“Today’s Taxpayers’ Union Curia Poll shows that Kiwis are overtaxed and want real change in our tax system, they will be pleased to know that ACT is the party proposing exactly that,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Poll shows Kiwis want COVID investigation
18 October, 2022
“Polling shows that Kiwis want an independent investigation into the impacts of the COVID response so we don’t make the same mistakes in the future, as ACT has been calling for since May 2020,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Pre-departure testing could have prevented lockdown
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s decision to drop pre-departure testing from Sydney has likely cost the entire country weeks of lockdowns,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Pre-departure testing needs to go now
14 June, 2022
“Chris Hipkins has admitted that the pre-departure testing regime is making little difference to case and hospitalisation rates in New Zealand, it’s time for pre-departure testing to go,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Preparing New Zealand for a post-vaccine world
14 June, 2022
“ACT has done what the Government hasn’t but the business community and others have been crying out for – develop a plan for the immediate next steps of New Zealand’s response to COVID-19 and a longer term strategy for living...
Primary healthcare shut-out makes no sense
14 June, 2022
“The Government is shutting out a standing army of vaccinators like pharmacists and General Practitioners (GPs) in a flawed model that will ensure the continued slowness of our COVID vaccination rollout,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Prime Minister all at sea on saliva
14 June, 2022
“Seldom has the Prime Minister shown up to Parliament and given a poorer performance than she did at Question Time today on the issue of PCR testing, which is all the more surprising given what a specialist topic COVID-19 has...
Prime Minister can’t define medium term
03 August, 2022
“How can the Reserve Bank Governor tell what his goal is when the Prime Minister can’t even explain it in Parliament,” asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
Prime Minister must explain and apologise to Northlanders
13 September, 2022
“The buck stops at the top, and the Prime Minister must explain why her Ministers didn’t fess up about the Government stuff up that put Northland into an eleven-day, $30 million lockdown,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Prime Minister needs an honest conversation on eradication
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister’s strategy of eradicating COVID-19 and hiding behind the oceans is finished. She needs to stop fudging and confront reality on behalf of New Zealand, “says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Prime Minister refuses to acknowledge one-person one-vote
03 August, 2022
“Speaking to Jack Tame this morning on Q+A, Jacinda Ardern couldn’t even answer whether her co-governance regime was undermining the fundamental right of one-person one-vote,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Prime Minister’s hypocrisy on immigration
14 June, 2022
“At the same time as the Prime Minister is apologising for the Dawn Raids in the 1970s, Labour is completely ignoring the struggles being faced by migrants today,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Prime Minister treats us like kids
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister is treating New Zealanders like kids. If you want a Rapid Antigen Test, you have to be a ‘critical worker,’ otherwise you have to stay in isolation for 14 days,“ says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Prime Minster won’t rule out co-governance of South Island water infrastructure
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern needs to let New Zealanders know what’s happening with the South Island’s water assets rather than leaving us in limbo,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Private health info should stay private
14 June, 2022
“The Ministry of Health has done the right thing by not handing over the private health information of individuals based on race,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
ProdComm's focus on race relations misplaced
14 June, 2022
“The Productivity Commission’s latest report confirms Labour isn’t seriously committed to growing productivity,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Public deserve to know what Government knows about Northland case
14 June, 2022
“The Government should release what is knows about the mysterious Northland COVID-19 case instead of stonewalling the country. It’s implausible that Police have tracked the person’s movements but don’t know what they were doing or whether they were gang affiliated,”...
Public deserves clarity and consistency on vaccine timing
14 June, 2022
“ACT’s January 6 call for a vaccine timetable review, and January 11 charge that the Government’s response to Covid 19 had become complacent, are being sadly vindicated with each day’s developments,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Public failed by slow testing and tracing
14 June, 2022
“The continuation of a nationwide Level 4 lockdown shows the current technology can’t trace an outbreak unless the entire country is locked down,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Public health advice means roadblocks should be torn down
14 June, 2022
“The public health advice to Jacinda Ardern that we no longer need the Auckland border proves the controversial Northland roadblocks are not needed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Public holiday shouldn’t cost Kiwis
20 September, 2022
“Creating a new public holiday on a whim is causing chaos amongst businesses, our health system and schools, what’s worse, we’re behind the world again after waiting two weeks for Jacinda Ardern to get home from New York,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Public libraries join cancel culture
14 June, 2022
“Public libraries should be a place for all members of the community and public events shouldn’t be shut down because of political agendas,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Queensland cluster a useful trial run for trans-Tasman travel
14 June, 2022
“Queensland has just given New Zealand a lesson in how to contain an outbreak of COVID-19 and lift a lockdown,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Questions to answer about another lockdown
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s decision to put New Zealand back into Level 4 lockdown is incredibly disappointing and shows it only has one tool in the toolbox,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Race Relations Commissioner racially profiles MPs
14 June, 2022
“Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon has breached the Human Rights Act by racially profiling Members of Parliament,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Racial discrimination by Te Pāti Māori must stop
28 September, 2022
“Te Pāti Māori has been engaging in racial discrimination on its website with claims of genetic superiority, but when notified, New Zealand’s Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon refused to publicly stand up to it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Rally to save Laura Fergusson Trust site
15 November, 2022
Epsom MP David Seymour and the ACT Party have today supported a rally to buy back the Laura Fergusson Epsom site.
Rapid antigen testing long overdue
14 June, 2022
“ACT is applauding the Government for introducing rapid antigen testing just seven short months after we first called for it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
RAT confusion easily resolved
14 June, 2022
“The confusion about whether the Government took RATs that were already in the country and destined for private businesses is easily resolved”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Rate rise takes us back to reality
14 June, 2022
“Today's announcement of a 25-basis point increase in interest rates is the sound of reality returning to the New Zealand economy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
RBNZ doth protest too much in 13 page mea culpa
14 September, 2022
“Less than an hour before Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr was due to be questioned at Select Committee he issued a 13 page mea culpa,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
Real Change in Immigration
24 November, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour and Immigration spokesperson Dr James McDowall have today released ACT’s policy for real change in immigration.
Real change in law and order
14 September, 2022
“The ACT Party is once again leading with policies to solve the issues facing New Zealand. Our latest policy document tackles law and order, an area where the Government’s beltway ideology has failed and people on main street are feeling real consequences,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Real change in tax, not minor adjustments
02 November, 2022
“While the CTU attacks National for wanting Labour’s tax policy adjusted for inflation, ACT proposes real change. Our fully costed alternative budget for real change, proposed a flatter simpler more competitive tax structure that sets New Zealand up for long-term growth” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Real change needed to improve lowest ever business confidence
17 January, 2023
“With the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research’s (NZIER) latest quarterly survey showing the lowest business confidence in the survey’s history, it’s clear that real change is necessary to make New Zealand a prosperous country that is open for business,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Real Change to tackle the cost of living crisis
03 August, 2022
“With inflation at a 32-year high, the Government needs to take responsibility for its role in the cost of living crisis. That means taking concrete actions to lessen the burden on Kiwi battlers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Real change to wasteful Government spending
14 June, 2022
“ACT has today released a range of measures to bring real change to Government spending, cutting untargeted and wasteful spending that is funded by hardworking Kiwis,” say ACT Leader David Seymour and Associate Finance spokesperson Damien Smith....
Real Solutions For Truancy Crisis
13 February, 2023
“Labour's decision to bring back truancy officers must be accompanied by mandatory daily attendance reporting and fines for parents who refuse to send their kids to school – as set out in ACT’s truancy plan released in November”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Reality of Mandate Monday sets in, testing alternative needed
14 June, 2022
“As the reality of teachers and nurses walking away from their jobs sets in today, ACT is again calling for the mandate to allow regular testing as an alternative to vaccination,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Record inflation a tax on Kiwi Battlers
14 June, 2022
“Today’s announcement of record inflation amounts to a 5.9 per cent tax on Middle New Zealand”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Release MIQ inmates now
14 June, 2022
“People currently isolating in MIQ should be released immediately. Making people stay until Thursday or Saturday would be the most extraordinary cruelty, and the pinnacle of uncaring bureaucracy in the name of COVID,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Reserve Bank bets against the economy
14 June, 2022
“Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr clearly doesn’t share this Government’s confidence in the economy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Reserve Bank Governor disingenuous at best
14 June, 2022
“The most generous interpretation of Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr’s answers at Select Committee this morning was that he disingenuous in his answers about high staff turnover,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Reserve Bank in Lala Land
14 June, 2022
“Inflation is twice the maximum level set down by the Reserve Bank’s remit, and it is now saying that’s ok because inflation will return to 2 per cent ‘over coming years’”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Reserve Bank patch-up effort inevitable
14 June, 2022
“Reintroducing loan-to-value ratios (LVR) was as inevitable a move from the Reserve Bank as night following day, but it won’t make much difference to the fundamental reasons house prices continue to rise disproportionately to other asset classes,” says ACT Leader...
Reserve Bank slams Government, more mortgage pain coming
13 October, 2022
“The Reserve Bank has slammed the Government’s big spending and anti-immigration policies, promising more mortgage pain to bring inflation rates under control,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Reshaping Streets is anti-car, anti-business, undemocratic, one-way traffic
14 September, 2022
“Hot on the heels of the government's unannounced KiwiSaver changes, Transport Minister Michael Woods ‘Reshaping Streets’ proposal looks set to drastically change streetscapes up and down the country despite few people knowing about it,” says ACT Leader and Epsom MP David Seymour.
Restaurant Assn. survey shows terrible toll of lockdowns
14 June, 2022
“A survey by the Restaurant Association of over a thousand members shows the grim toll the lockdowns are taking on those in the industry,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
RMA Bill won’t solve the housing crisis
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s draft RMA Bill won’t do the very thing New Zealand desperately needs it to, lead to more houses being built,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
RMA retread doesn’t fix a thing
15 November, 2022
“Labour’s Natural and Built Environments (NBE) Act and Spatial Planning Act are a retread of the Resource Management Act. They even dusted off the same guy who did the RMA to design them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Road to recession as spending figures slump
14 September, 2022
“New Zealand is well on the road to recession as consumer spending slumped in the second quarter of the year," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Robertson admits spending causing inflation
25 January, 2023
“Finance Minister Grant Robertson has effectively admitted that out-of-control government spending is to blame for sky high inflation”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Robertson loses $8.46 billion, no regrets for epic own goal
03 August, 2022
“Finance Minister Grant Robertson admitted in Parliament today that he made an $8.46 billion mistake, underwriting the Reserve Bank’s inflationary Large Scale Asset Purchase program, but he has no regrets,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Robertson essentially took a bet...
Robertson misses point on cost of COVID
14 June, 2022
“Grant Robertson should be able to connect the Government’s floundering COVID response with money printing and rising costs of life and housing, but can’t or won’t,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Robertson's growing megalomania
14 June, 2022
“Grant Robertson’s growing megalomania will be sending shockwaves through boardrooms across the country,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Robertson should rescind letter to Air New Zealand
14 June, 2022
“Parliament is quite rightly this afternoon urgently debating a letter from Finance Minister Grant Robertson to the chair of Air New Zealand that has more than the whiff of Rob Muldoon about it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Rodney Jones, Sean Hendy call for new tests, data transparency
14 June, 2022
“Rodney Jones gave an illuminating presentation to the Health Committee today, saying the Government needs to speed up approvals of new testing technology, and release data like Singapore does,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Russian Ambassador should stop doing Putin’s dirty work
06 October, 2022
“Instead of doing Vladimir Putin’s dirty work by attacking fundraisers for Ukraine, the Russian Ambassador should stand up against the tyrant’s regime and seek asylum in New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Saline cover-up a scandal
14 June, 2022
“The Director General of Health’s admission that the Ministry has known that five people may not have been fully vaccinated for weeks is completely unacceptable and leaves questions about whether this was a botched coverup,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Saliva testing rollout disappointing
14 June, 2022
“The revelation that saliva testing at dual use MIQ facilities has resulted in just 140 tests, or six tests a day since starting almost a month ago is disappointing,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Same faces, same policies?
31 January, 2023
“Changing some of the faces in the Beehive will make no difference to the lives of New Zealanders if there aren’t new policies to go with them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Schoolkids being taught about "white privilege"
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to explain why a new education programme is teaching primary school children about ‘white privilege’”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Second motel being purchased in Rotorua
14 June, 2022
“Labour MP Tamati Coffey has told media a second motel is being purchased for emergency accommodation in Rotorua,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Seymour begins free speech speaking tour
14 June, 2022
“The world is currently facing greater challenges than it has in decades, with a pandemic, a decline in democracy and geopolitical tensions on the rise. More than ever we need to unite New Zealand behind good ideas, and that takes...
Seymour calls on Laura Fergusson Trust to buy back the land
31 October, 2022
Epsom MP David Seymour is calling on the Laura Fergusson Trust to do the right thing and buy back the land and facilities it sold last year.
Seymour, McDowall to join Samoa delegation
03 August, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour and Immigration and Defence spokesperson Dr James McDowall will join the Prime Minister’s delegation to Samoa next week....
Seymour statement on Prince Philip
14 June, 2022
"On behalf of ACT, I would like to express sincere condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family.
Shaw should apologise for divisive race baiting
14 June, 2022
“James Shaw has shown his arrogance and contempt for ordinary New Zealanders in an interview he didn’t think would make the mainstream,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Shelly Bay Shows the Dangerous Side of Kindness
14 June, 2022
“Last year ACT warned that rewarding protestors at Ihumātao with taxpayer money would promote further squatting. We just didn’t think it would happen as quickly as it is in Shelly Bay” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Sick leave bribe had nothing to do with Covid-19
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s new Covid-19 payment allowing workers to isolate at home is a welcome development,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Sick of crime? We hear ya!
17 January, 2023
“The ACT Party has today launched the next phase of our ‘We hear ya’ campaign.’ Crime is out of control, whether it’s smash and grabs, ram raids or carjackings, Kiwis have had enough,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Sick of driving slow and roads filled with potholes? We hear ya!
09 January, 2023
“The ACT Party has today launched the next part of our ‘We hear ya’ campaign. Kiwis are sick of lower speed limits on poorly maintained roads that are riddled with potholes,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Six months of Government inaction
14 June, 2022
“Today marks six months since Ministers in the 53rd Parliament were sworn in and they have very little to show it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Skyrocketing food prices mean game over for ‘inflation comes from overseas’ tripe
14 June, 2022
"The Government’s argument that New Zealand’s rampant inflation isn’t caused by their irresponsible spending has gone up in smoke as food prices have recorded their highest annual increase in the last decade,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Some good must come from sacrifice
14 June, 2022
“Today’s decision will come as a great relief to businesses, workers and families,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Some New Year’s resolution ideas for Jacinda
14 June, 2022
“As we enter another year – ACT has some New Year’s Resolution ideas for Jacinda Ardern and her Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Some simple steps to be more transparent
14 June, 2022
“ACT is today calling on the Government and Ministry of Health to take some simple steps to be more transparent,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Sorry seems to be the hardest word for Ardern
14 June, 2022
“With 55 new cases and the inevitable extension of Northland and Waikato lockdowns, Jacinda Ardern needs to admit the Government has made mistakes and reset the response," says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Speaker’s Tour expected to cost $40,000 per MP
03 August, 2022
“Most New Zealanders could only ever dream of a $40,000 two-week trip to Europe but that’s what five MPs, including the Speaker have just completed and are charging back to the taxpayer,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Speech: David Seymour's Address to the 2022 ACT Annual Conference
03 August, 2022
Speech: David Seymour's Address to the 2022 ACT Annual Conference - Sunday, 10 July 2022
Speech: Hard labour -why we can’t go shopping with Jacinda’s announcements
14 June, 2022
Speech -public meeting, Addington Race Way
State of the Nation Address: The Emergencies Labour Should Have Declared
14 June, 2022
The government declared a climate emergency. How about low productivity? Student test scores in freefall? Gun violence? We need honest conversations about the serious issues facing our country....
Speech: Why engineers are saving humanity and the environment
15 September, 2022
Thank you for having me, it’s nice to be back amongst fellow Engineers, and especially the best engineers of all, Electrical. I’ve been asked to talk about some of the challenges and opportunities our country faces, through the lens of our profession.
Stage One was a placeholder for no plan
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister has just admitted “Stage One” was a placeholder for having no plan and that forcing people to isolate for up to 24 days was unworkable,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Stand by for more dumb, ineffectual taxes
14 June, 2022
“No amount of sensible advice to the contrary will stand in the way of Labour’s dogma that there isn’t a problem you can’t tax your way out of,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Statement on Epsom Stabbings
14 June, 2022
Epsom MP David Seymour has expressed shock and sadness at news of a fatal stabbing incident in Epsom.
Stealth PM undetectable to Aucklanders
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s secret visit to Auckland will leave her undetectable to 99.99 per cent Aucklanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Stop the games and move on MIQ
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to stop the briefing games and move on MIQ and Step 3 for Auckland,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Stubborn Robertson running out of other people’s money
05 December, 2022
"Finance Minister Grant Robertson is running out of options as he runs out of other people’s money. The Reserve Bank’s November Monetary Policy Statement forecasted conditions much worse than its own August Statement. When Treasury issues the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update in ten days’ time, Robertson’s reality will b
Student isolation in university hostels cruel and unusual
14 June, 2022
“The requirement for students in university hostels to isolate, unable to leave their rooms shows how absurdly unbalanced our COVID response has become,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Stupid questions costs taxpayers $400,000
14 June, 2022
“They say if you ask a stupid question, you get a stupid answer. In the case of Kris Faafoi, his stupid questions came with a hefty price tag,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
Summer bbq comes at a cost with Labour
13 December, 2022
“Today’s Food Price Index results show that Labour’s economic mismanagement is continuing to have a corrosive effect on the holiday period. As well as paying inflated prices for Christmas presents, Kiwis are coughing up more to throw a summer BBQ,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Summer is cancelled
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern is New Zealand’s biggest party pooper, it’s time for her to cut the events industry some slack before they give up and stop organising things,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Super Saturday is over, now let’s get back to reality
14 June, 2022
“Super Saturday was a fun but desperate event. Now it’s over, the Government needs to say what’s next,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Surprise, vaccine rollout stuck in first gear
14 June, 2022
“When vaccines hit our shores earlier than Ministers expected last month and our first vaccinations started a day ahead of Australia, there was much glee among some in the commentariat that New Zealand might catch up with the rest of...
Swarbrick should reject NZ On Air doco
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is calling on Green MP Chloe Swarbrick to reject taking part in a NZ On Air funded documentary,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Tall poppy economics make New Zealand poorer
31 October, 2022
“The Greens have never seen a problem they couldn’t solve by taking other people’s money, the problem is that when you take more and more of peoples’ earnings they have less to invest and everyone loses,” says ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
Tauranga deserves accountability
14 June, 2022
ACT Party Tauranga candidate Cameron Luxton is calling on his fellow Tauranga candidates to front up to Today FM.
Tauranga deserves local democracy
14 June, 2022
ACT Party Tauranga candidate Cameron Luxton is calling for democracy to be restored in Tauranga and a local body election to be carried out along with the rest of New Zealand....
Tax cuts not only possible, but necessary
04 August, 2022
“Tax cuts are not only possible, but necessary for New Zealand’s recovery from COVID funk,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Taxing tradies to subsidise Teslas
14 June, 2022
“Labour is breaking its promise to not introduce new taxes by slapping new taxes on tradies, farmers and large families,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Te Pāti Māori must dump President Tamihere over Pogrom comments
03 October, 2022
“Te Pāti Māori should be in damage control, distancing themselves from John Tamihere as rapidly as possible this weekend after his totally unacceptable ‘Pogrom’ comments,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Teachers let down by lack of saliva testing
14 June, 2022
“Many teachers in Auckland are still waiting for COVID test results to return before they are able to return to school,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ten things better than vouchers
14 June, 2022
“It’s great that the Government is issuing vouchers for businesses still alive after the lockdown, but here are the top ten things they could have done, or still do, for business,” according to ACT Leader David Seymour....
Ten things that Cabinet needs to do for Omicron
14 June, 2022
“Omicron is, to quote the PM, a ‘whole new virus,’ and we can’t be caught out with another March 2020 response, so Cabinet needs to confront reality with new goals and strategies today,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Terrible timing for mortgagees as Orr appointed against rising inflation expectation news
08 November, 2022
“Grant Robertson alone has faith in Adrian Orr as inflation expectations rise, with more mortgage pain to come,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Thank God for the Farmers, Now Bring Back Democracy
14 June, 2022
Speech to Manawatu Rangitikei Federated Farmers Farmers Forum
Thank you very much for your high inflation
14 June, 2022
“Today’s inflation figures are the direct result of Labour’s addiction to borrowing and spending and Kiwi families are paying an almighty price,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
That low unemployment’s really a Labour crisis
02 November, 2022
“Today’s low unemployment is actually a Labour crisis. The country is missing about 140,000 people based on normal migration trends. That’s why there is help wanted signs and businesses grinding to a halt from Cape Reinga to the Bluff,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
THE ACT BUS IS IN TOWN!
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today unveiled our new mobile community office, a bus that will travel the country as we continue listening to the concerns of New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The Brain Drain Budget
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern and the Labour Government have today presented New Zealand with the Brain Drain Budget. Ambitious New Zealanders, tired of being milked, will weigh up leaving for greener pastures,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The column Stuff wouldn't publish
14 June, 2022
Stuff.co.nz was happy to run a column from John Tamihere accusing David Seymour of an “insidious, sophisticated and covert form of race-based politics” but they wouldn’t publish David's below response because they didn’t like the “tone” of the article....
The cost of climate virtue signalling
12 October, 2022
“New Zealand is leading the world in the wrong way, sacrificing the most efficient farming industry in the world so Labour and the Greens can claim to be ‘world leaders’ on climate change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
The cost of living domino effect
14 June, 2022
“ACT said in December it was a cost of living crisis – now finally the Prime Minister has accepted what Kiwis have known for months,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The cost of the Government’s attitude problem
14 June, 2022
“Unfortunately ACT predicted tonight’s plunge back into Level 3 lockdown for Auckland and the rest of New Zealand into Level 2,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The curious case of the RAT in the pharmacy
14 June, 2022
“I’d never normally bring a politician’s partner into politics, but everyone should break a rule from time to time, and I want to commend Clarke Gayford for advocating Rapid Antigen Tests. If only he knew someone in the Government who...
The devastating impact on hospitality
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today heard about the devastating impacts the lockdown and Delta Level 2 is having on our hospitality industry,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The envy tax isn’t crazy, Grant’s spending is
06 October, 2022
“If Grant Robertson thinks cutting taxes by 0.42 per cent is crazy, what does he call increasing total Crown expenditure by 51 per cent in five years?” Asks ACT Leader and Finance spokesperson David Seymour.
The eradication strategy isn’t working, time to change tack
14 June, 2022
“45 new cases 43 days into a lockdown shows that the Government’s eradication strategy isn’t working, it has lost control. On May 5 2020, 43 days into the first lockdown, zero cases were recorded”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The Free Press 16-05-22
14 June, 2022
ACT’s Alternative Budget for Real Change has been widely reported and discussed. Labour, the Greens, and Māori Party all attacked ACT for it, and that was just Tuesday. As Matthew Hooton wrote, it ‘sufficiently disturbed the Labour National duopoly.’ It...
Free Press, 7 March 2022
14 June, 2022
The West unites behind the extraordinary leadership of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Where, though, is New Zealand’s response? We depend on collective security and a rules-based order but our Government was not ready to join. New Zealand business has led...
The Government is not ready, so it’s lockdown in all but name
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s approach to Omicron amounts to a lockdown in all but name, New Zealanders are paying the price because the Government did not use the time it had to prepare for Omicron,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The Irish not so lucky with Mallard appointment
14 September, 2022
“Today’s announcement that disgraced Speaker of New Zealand Parliament Trevor Mallard will be taking up a cushy diplomatic posting in Ireland is an outrage,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
The La La Budget
14 June, 2022
“The Government had an opportunity today to get New Zealand back on track following COVID-19, instead its Budget makes Fawlty Towers look like hotel with a sound management plan,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The next year of COVID response must be smarter
14 June, 2022
“One year on from New Zealand plunging into level four lockdown, we need some honesty about the Government’s COVID Response – it must get smarter or we’ll go broke,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The questions the Government can’t and won’t answer
14 June, 2022
“It’s no wonder the Government didn’t want to bring back Question Time, today showed they either can’t or won’t answer most of the questions put to them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The rainy day is here, so where’s the COVID fund?
14 June, 2022
“The day has arrived where businesses will rightly need support from the Government after they’ve been forced to close but the rainy-day fund has already been raided,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The real pay gap is with Australia
14 June, 2022
“Putting more bureaucracy on businesses won’t close the gender pay gap, the real pay gap we should be worried about is the gap with Australia,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The South Island’s Catch 22
14 June, 2022
“Sixteen days on from the South Island going into lockdown there are still 22 people waiting for a second test,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
The Speech Ardern Should Have Given Yesterday
14 June, 2022
Speech from David Seymour to Central City Business Association, Christchurch, 5pm Tuesday October 5th.
The true cost of Delta lockdowns revealed
14 June, 2022
“We now know the real cost of being unprepared for Delta was $8 billion,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
There is no greatness in our lateness
14 June, 2022
“When I asked less than a month ago whether New Zealand would be in the second 50 countries to begin vaccinating its citizens against Covid-19 or the third, I was half joking, not really thinking 100 countries could start before...
There is no long term COVID-19 strategy
14 June, 2022
“ACT applauds and endorses the business people who have written to the Government today asking what its longer term COVID-19 strategy is,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
There is no plan for fortress New Zealand
14 June, 2022
“Every day we get more evidence that this Government is reluctant to even explore taking a proportionate risk-weighted approach to managing COVID-19,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Three reasons petrol subsidy is dumb, election year populism
01 February, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ dumb, election year populism shows he just doesn’t have the mettle to make hard choices. Reducing revenue while spending up large is Liz Truss-style economics”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Three Waters dead in the water?
14 June, 2022
“Reports that Labour’s caucus has voted to abandon the co-governance aspect of Three Waters is a sign that New Zealand has seen right through their anti-democratic agenda,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time for answers from Laura Fergusson Trust
14 June, 2022
“The Government has made it clear it's willing to get back to the table with the Laura Fergusson Trust, so we need answers about why the Trust is refusing,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time for some maturity at Parliament
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour is calling on his Parliamentary colleagues to show New Zealanders some respect and stop the petty politics when Parliament resumes today....
Time to abolish Human Rights Commission
14 June, 2022
“The revelation that Paul Hunt gave money to a criminal organisation is further evidence that the Human Rights Commission must be abolished”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to be transparent and call in vaccine favours
14 June, 2022
“At current rates the Government is on track to run out of Pfizer doses on September 2nd. It needs to either source more doses, or slow down on the ‘incredible news’ of 90,000 vaccines per day,” says ACT Leader David...
Time to decolonise the Cook Islands, Jacinda
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s paternalism and colonialism of the Cook Islands has gone too far as she’s stopped it from unilaterally being able to open its border,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to do the right thing
03 August, 2022
“Labour needs to do the right thing and announce the end of the Traffic Light Framework today,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to drop Labour’s student politician fantasy
14 June, 2022
“Business NZ’s refusal to back Labour’s so-called 'Fair Pay' Agreements should be a wake up call to the Government - it’s time to drop the damaging policy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to dump covid requirements
13 September, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s comments to media today that she might once again chop and change the traffic light settings are completely illogical, it’s time she gave up her vice like grip on our lives and dropped the Covid rules,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Time to dump seven-day isolation after record absenteeism
14 June, 2022
"A 67 per cent rise in workplace absenteeism proves what ACT has been saying for months, it’s time to dump restrictions that no longer make sense,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to establish Epidemic Response Unit
14 June, 2022
“Sir Brian Roche, before Parliament’s Health Committee this morning, once again advocated for a specialised Epidemic Response Unit, an idea ACT has championed since last August”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to face reality on Super Age
14 June, 2022
“It’s time to face reality on the superannuation age, and gradually increase the age of eligibility starting now instead of waiting ‘til it’s harder,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to follow the traffic light criteria
14 June, 2022
“When Jacinda Ardern announces the traffic light changes today she should follow her own criteria and move Auckland to Orange and the South Island to Green,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to move on
14 June, 2022
“It’s time to move on from fear and take back control of our lives from unending government restrictions,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to shut down the rumours and give us the truth
14 June, 2022
“When the Government makes a major decision like shutting down an entire region it needs to give us the truth about why, or the void will be filled with rumour and speculation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to stop the Hunger Games
14 June, 2022
“It’s hardly surprising that the Chief Ombudsman is investigating the shonky MIQ booking system – it’s time to stop the cruelty and restore fairness,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to tell us what vaccine will mean
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister must come to this afternoon’s post-Cabinet press conference with much more information on the impact of New Zealand’s vaccine rollout than her last two previous efforts,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Time to zero-base the public service
14 June, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour has today outlined the party’s approach to ensuring the public service is serving the public, ensuring we have healthy and thriving communities....
Time's Up Mahuta
13 December, 2022
“Revelations this morning in the NZ Herald that Nanaia Mahuta sought advice about the 60 per cent entrenchment threshold a month before Labour voted on the amendment shows she cannot be trusted on three waters entrenchment,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Tinetti wants to “work with the gangs”
14 June, 2022
“Cabinet Minister and Tauranga candidate Jan Tinetti has tonight shown Labour’s true colours when she conceded she wants to “work with the gangs” says ACT’s Tauranga candidate Cameron Luxton....
Tolley -Tauranga’s own Marie Antoinette
14 June, 2022
“Being appointed a highly paid commissioner by Labour, has gone to former National MP Anne Tolley’s head. “The people of Tauranga are having an election. The right to choose who speaks for us is our democratic birthright, but nobody told...
Traffic lights not ready for those vaccinated overseas
14 June, 2022
“As New Zealand moves into the traffic light system this Friday, many fully vaccinated New Zealanders who got their jabs overseas will be left without a pass,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Transparency needed on COVID after sneaky prisoner rule change
14 June, 2022
“The Government has been quietly moving some prisoners up the list to receive the COVID-19 vaccination without any consultation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Transparency needed on vaccine supply and inter-household transmission
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to up its transparency on two crucial numbers in its COVID response, vaccine supply and how much transmission is between households,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Transparency needed over wastewater testing
14 June, 2022
“ACT has been consistently calling for more frequent and widespread wastewater testing with daily and transparent reporting, the positive testing in Tauranga shows why this is needed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Trespass orders shouldn't stand
14 June, 2022
“The petty and vindictive trespass orders issued to people who simply visited the Parliament protest shouldn’t stand”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Trevor leaving early for Knighthood of shame
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party predicts that Trevor Mallard will vacate the Speaker’s chair so he can be awarded the Knighthood he wouldn’t get from the next Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
True costs of Government charges are crippling for business
14 June, 2022
“Many New Zealanders will take just a second to acknowledge a minimum wage increase of $1.10 an hour tomorrow and move on, paying it little mind, but the reality for New Zealand small businesses is they need to find tens...
Two million COVID doses a pathetic milestone
14 June, 2022
“The Government will today give itself a big pat on the back for delivering two million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, but it should hold off on its self-congratulations,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Two years of the ACT team in Parliament
17 October, 2022
“It’s been two years to the day since ACT became a team of ten MPs in Parliament, we’ve achieved a huge amount in that time,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Undemocratic Reshaping Streets quietly closes for consultation
19 September, 2022
“Despite not many people knowing about it, Transport Minister Michael Wood’s ‘Reshaping Streets’ proposal could drastically change streetscapes up and down the country and closes for submissions at midnight,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Unemployment up, employment flat, wages down
04 August, 2022
“Somehow Labour has managed to increase unemployment in the middle of an unprecedented labour crisis, while the Kiwis who are working are making less money. It’s more evidence we need real change in our country’s approach to economic management,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Unprepared Government caught on the hop
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda’s ‘Stage 1’ is just Delta 2, with any real response to Omicron yet to be announced, that will be called Stage 2, and Stage 3,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Vaccination botch up needs urgent fix
14 June, 2022
“It’s unacceptable the Government won’t play hardball with unions and force those employees unwilling to get a COVID vaccine to vacate MIQ premises for another 18 days,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Vaccination making little difference to infection rates
14 June, 2022
“Vaccination rates are making little difference to infection rates under Omicron, which means it’s time to ask if the benefits of vaccine rules are still worth the costs to individuals, and social cohesion overall. Based on new evidence, it may...
Vaccination rollout an insulting lottery
14 June, 2022
“Chris Hipkins is performing an absurd dance of the seven veils, announcing today the Government intends to reveal group by group to an expectant public who will get access to COVID-19 vaccine next,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Vaccine advertising costing $67 per jab
03 August, 2022
“Labour’s COVID mega spend is rolling on, with spending on advertising vaccines still sky-high despite the high vaccinated portion of our population,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Vaccine certificate a logistical nightmare
14 June, 2022
“Once again the Ardern Government has reacted to crisis instead of being proactive and getting out in front of it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Vaccine numbers don't add up
14 June, 2022
"Jacinda Ardern’s extraordinary claim that there are 840,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in the country are impossible to reconcile with all other public claims," says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Vaccine sequencing framework terribly lacking
14 June, 2022
“Today’s vaccine sequencing framework announcement by COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins had this Government’s hallmark shocking lack of detail front and centre,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Waiting for vaccines is a dangerous game
14 June, 2022
“The delay of the vaccine roll out to the general population by several weeks shows how disorganised the Government is,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Was PM misleading, or not paying attention?
02 December, 2022
“The Prime Minister needs to explain to New Zealanders whether she was misleading them when she said a controversial change to Three Waters was “not something I would necessarily be aware of” or whether she just wasn’t paying attention in caucus when it was discussed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
We can’t ban and tax our way to climate utopia
14 June, 2022
“The Climate Commission wants the Government to ban and tax its way out of climate change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
We did the mahi, where’s the treat?
14 June, 2022
“New Zealanders will be asking themselves why the Government is maintaining the current COVID-19 restrictions now that 9 in 10 adults are fully-vaccinated,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
We hear ya!
21 December, 2022
“The ACT Party has today launched a new campaign highlighting the issues facing New Zealand and our solutions those problems. ACT has been listening, we hear ya,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
We need a clear path out of this
14 June, 2022
“The wheels are falling off the Government’s response to COVID-19, it needs to show it is prepared to do more than just extend lockdowns,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
We should never have signed UNDRIP
09 December, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern and Willie Jackson should commit to burying their co-governance ambitions forever”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
We’ve done the mahi – it’s time for the treats
14 June, 2022
“No wonder we have a productivity problem when even the Prime Minister takes 22 minutes to deliver 2 minutes of information,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
We were slow to secure vaccines and now we’re exposed
14 June, 2022
“New Zealand has been left terribly exposed as a slow vaccinating outlier among developed countries, unable to let vaccinated travellers into the country because the Government doesn’t yet know enough about how infectious those protected travellers might be,” says ACT...
What ACT heard from over 2500 people at our recess events
03 August, 2022
“New Zealanders have shown they’re ready for real change at the next election, with 2500 people attending ACT’s Real Change events and $50,000 of tickets sold in the past three weeks,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
What did Covax say Minister?
14 June, 2022
“It’s been almost 20 days since Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins revealed the Government had made a plea to Covax to release some early doses of the Pfizer vaccine so frontline workers could be treated sooner than originally scheduled,” says...
What did they do to prepare for Delta?
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to tell us what it did to prepare for a Delta outbreak, so there is hope of ending this lockdown in days not weeks,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
What Else Did Ashley Forget?
14 June, 2022
“Ashley Bloomfield’s admission that he just forgot he’d been texting the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the UN worker from Fiji shows an official being economical with the truth,” says ACT Leader David Seymour...
What happened to following the science?
14 June, 2022
“The Government has spent a quarter of a million dollars on focus groups and polls to test whether its COVID-19 advertising was popular,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
What happened to governing for all New Zealanders?
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s reasoning for forcing undemocratic union contracts on people who don’t want any part of them just doesn’t add up,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
What the Government needs to consider today
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s decision today around Alert Levels will come down to how prepared it’s been. It should be open and transparent about the numbers traced and tested, and what numbers it needed to make a decision” says ACT Leader David...
What the new Ministers need to do
25 July, 2022
“The Prime Minister has appointed six new Ministers and they’re all refusing interviews. They can’t afford to be new faces making the same mistakes as their predecessors. ACT, as always, has some helpful advice,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
What today’s vaccine announcement must include
14 June, 2022
“The Government outlining further plans for the country’s COVID-19 vaccination programme today – 16 days after the vaccine arrived in New Zealand – is far from ideal but it must be meaningful for all New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David...
What would have been ‘incredible news’, Chris
14 June, 2022
“Eighty thousand vaccination doses in one day is good news. What would have been incredible news is if this rate was achieved, say, 100 days ago. That would have got the target 8 million doses done, and New Zealand might...
When is Freedom Day?
14 June, 2022
“As New Zealand grinches towards Christmas, ACT is challenging Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins to set a date for Freedom Day so we can start living our lives again,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
When is the green light for the traffic light system?
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern has tied herself in knots trying to explain in Parliament when we might move to the traffic light system,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
When will hairdresser trials, and the traffic light system, be legal?
14 June, 2022
“Throughout the COVID-19 response the Government has taken a leaf from Steven Joyce’s book, with most of its policies being ‘pretty legal,’ now the hairdresser trial is illegal, and the traffic light system still has no legal basis,” says ACT...
Where are the ICU beds, Damien?
14 June, 2022
“Senior Cabinet Minister Damien O’Connor has today claimed that the number of ICU beds has doubled – so where are they?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
Where is NZ’s Global Travel Taskforce?
14 June, 2022
“The Government must start taking some of the steps other countries are to chart the course ahead for how we travel in a post-vaccine world,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Where the bloody hell’s our plan?
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern has today made it clear in Parliament that she has no plan for New Zealand to move on from COVID-19,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Where the world will be on April 6 and in six months
14 June, 2022
“How much better New Zealand could be doing in its response to COVID-19 is being laid bare by the numbers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Where was the wastewater testing?
14 June, 2022
“The infrequent wastewater testing needs to be explained by the Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
While Government response lags, ACT holds another Ukraine Fundraiser
04 October, 2022
“New Zealand isn’t pulling its weight to support Ukraine in its fight against Putin’s oppression, with data showing we’re ranked only 37th out of the 39 developed countries who have pledged support to Ukraine,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
WHO: End travel bans
14 June, 2022
“The Government should end its effective ban on travel to New Zealand now that even the World Health Organisation has advised against it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Who’s telling the truth on mandatory te reo Māori for teachers?
14 September, 2022
“The Government needs to front up and tell the people of New Zealand the truth on a very simple question: do they want to make speaking Māori compulsory for holding a practicing certificate as a teacher, or not?” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Why are Police blocking the entrance to Auckland?
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to explain why people are being blocked from going in to Auckland,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Why are we locked down? Three percent of current cases double vaccinated
14 June, 2022
“The same day the Government pronounced out that ‘74 percent of currently eligible people are booked or vaccinated at least once,’ a much more telling figure emerged,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Why are we pausing vaccines?
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s announcement that it will hit pause on vaccinations for 48-hours is the most nonsensical decision it could make,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Why aren't we on Australia's vaccine timeline?
14 June, 2022
“News this morning that Australia’s medical regulator has approved Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine for use in Australia, clearing the way for Australians to be vaccinated from next month, begs the question why New Zealand is on such a different timetable,” says...
Why did Faafoi reject Afghan applications?
14 June, 2022
“Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi should tell New Zealanders on what grounds he rejected the applications from a group of Afghan people who helped New Zealand’s military,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Why didn’t you check COLP recipients’ residence before, Mr Parker?
13 September, 2022
"Only after a deluge of embarrassing news, where people all over the world got a Cost of Living Payment from taxpayers courtesy of Labour, has David Parker thought to ask the obvious question 'are you in New Zealand?' before giving out free money,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Why it would cost $50 per crossing for cyclist bridge
14 June, 2022
“Each crossing of the proposed new Auckland cycle bridge will cost $50,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Why stop there with interest deductibility?
14 September, 2022
“The Government has seen sense and axed their unfair interest deductibility policy for larger developers, it should keep going and axe it for all renters,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Why the secrecy on vaccine arrivals?
14 June, 2022
“Why is the Prime Minister getting herself in such a verbal tangle over when more vaccines will arrive in this country,” asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
Why wait until April 13th?
14 June, 2022
“Newshub Nation this morning reported that vaccine passes will be gone by April 13th, why not just do it now?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour....
Will Aussie RATs be stopped at the border?
14 June, 2022
“As New Zealand get ready to finally let Kiwis from Australia back into the country, the Government needs to be clear about whether anyone carrying in their own Rapid Antigen Test will have it removed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Will NZ be in the second 50 or the third?
14 June, 2022
“News compiled by Bloomberg that there are now 49 countries with Covid-19 vaccination campaigns underway piles more pressure on the Government to tell us when our vaccines will arrive and when jabs can begin,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Will the Government borrow more or make cuts?
14 June, 2022
“Grant Robertson has today told the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee that it doesn’t matter how much of the COVID-19 Recovery Fund he’s blown on unrelated spending because he can always borrow more,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Will the Police enforce the law at Shelly Bay?
14 June, 2022
“When protestors occupied privately owned where 480 homes were planned at Ihumātao in Auckland the Police did nothing to protect the owner’s property rights and did everything they could to pander to the protestors, so is that how events will...
Will there be real consequences for Gillies Ave car jackers?
05 December, 2022
“Labour’s bumbling approach to crime is continuing to have real consequences for Kiwis. With Epsom and West Auckland resembling Johannesburg this morning during a police helicopter chase after an attempted gunpoint carjacking in Epsom,” says ACT Leader and MP for Epsom David Seymour.
Willie Jackson can’t define democracy
14 June, 2022
“Māori Affairs Minister Willie Jackson has today shown all of the reasons why we need a proper debate on co-governance,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Winnie-the-wasted-vote a year late on housing
17 October, 2022
“Winston Peters’ pitch to overturn Labour/National’s housing density laws shows he has nothing new to offer, ACT already has a plan to fix the housing mess ready to go,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
With partisan electoral law changes in time for election, Labour attacks democracy itself
14 December, 2022
“Fresh from causing a constitutional crisis with its attempts at entrenchment, Labour is now using its parliamentary majority to hamstring political opponents a year out from an election with the Electoral Amendment Bill, it should be ashamed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
With tourists arriving, are we still serious about seven day iso?
14 June, 2022
“Opening the border to tourists should make the Government revisit its seven day isolation rules, because nobody seriously believes a tourist will follow them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
“Woke-gate” misses the point on gangs
14 June, 2022
“The debate over whether a senior civil servant is ‘woke’ or if gang numbers are statistically reliable completely misses the point – we know more and more New Zealanders are being victimised by violent thugs, and it stands to reason...
Yes Chris Hipkins, let’s dump unworkable isolation rules
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s pondering that it might change unworkable isolation rules is very welcome but very late,” says ACT leader David Seymour....
Yesterday’s three steps were not the three things we needed
14 June, 2022
“The Prime Minister needed to do three things yesterday, admit her strategy wasn’t working, propose a new one, and put the details on it, we’re giving her a zero out of three” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
You can’t refute economics, Jacinda
14 June, 2022
“The economists at Treasury have undermined the Prime Minister’s claim that the Government’s out-of-control spending has had no impact on rising prices”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
You may not kiss the bride
14 June, 2022
“Forget a veil or garter, the latest bridal fashion accessory this summer is a mask – that must be worn for the ceremony and in all photos,” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Zero logic to Labour’s COVID-19 decisions
14 June, 2022
“The Government is making ad hoc COVID-19 decisions that don’t meet its own criteria. We need clarity, certainty and common sense for New Zealanders to buy into the Traffic Light System”, says ACT Leader David Seymour....
Consequences for truancy: ACT proposes solutions
05 December, 2022
ACT Leader David Seymour and Education spokesperson Chris Baillie have today proposed a range of solutions to deal with New Zealand’s truancy crisis, including consequences for parents and schools.
D Day for Trevor Trump
14 June, 2022
“With the Prime Minister announcing a reshuffle today, she should use this opportunity to confirm she has lost confidence in Trevor Mallard, the Donald Trump of New Zealand politics” says ACT Leader David Seymour....
COVID Isolation Periods make New Zealand a global oddity
11 April, 2023
“Retaining a seven-day mandatory COVID isolation period makes New Zealand a global oddity. It’s a kind of Hermit Kingdom redux, 2023 edition, where Labour keeps treating adults like kids and putting costs on the economy like money is no object,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Dictatorship of academics still running COVID-19 policy
11 April, 2023
“A dictatorship of unelected academics is still running what remains of the Government’s Covid-19 policy, imposing significant costs on New Zealanders for little benefit, and showing reckless disregard for working people and businesses,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt won’t admit they got Three Waters wrong
11 April, 2023
“Prime Minister Chris Hipkins can’t claim that Three Waters was a good policy that wasn’t fair on Nanaia Mahuta, either the policy itself was a dog all along or Mahuta screwed it up,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Easter egg hunt more expensive this year
08 April, 2023
“The easter bunny might not be as generous this year, with inflation on the price of chocolate up 8.9 per cent in the past year,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt prioritises new RNZ website over cost of living
06 April, 2023
“While Kiwis grapple with the cost of living crisis and a shock increase to the OCR yesterday, the Government has announced it is spending an extra $25m every year on RNZ. This is Labour’s priorities in action,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Robertson needs to finally heed Orr’s blunt message
06 April, 2023
“Yesterday’s shock OCR double hike sends a very clear message to Grant Robertson that he hasn’t been doing his part to tackle inflation. The question is whether he will finally learn?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour.
Cancelled media merger shows contempt for taxpayers
05 April, 2023
“Contempt is the only way to describe burning $20 million of taxpayer money during a cost of living crisis on a project that had no purpose,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
NZ getting smashed in trans-tasman mortgage battle
05 April, 2023
“Today’s increase to the Official Cash Rate (OCR) is business as usual, the only problem is that business is much better across the Tasman,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
RNZ should release Kiri Allan recording
05 April, 2023
“Kiri Allan has the opportunity to clear up any lingering doubts about what she actually said at an RNZ function,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Lobbying ‘crackdown’ is a distraction from OIA sins
04 April, 2023
“The Prime Minister’s ‘lobbying crackdown’ is purely symbolic and a distraction from the real issue – the Official Information Act. There can be no accountability if there are no penalties for suppressing and covering up information,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Yes or no? Hipkins evasive over OIA reform
04 April, 2023
“The Prime Minister has tied himself up in knots over whether he will support changes to the Official Information Act,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Living wage shows how much less workers earning
03 April, 2023
“The latest living wage calculations show just how far working Kiwis’ wages are falling behind, but the Government is looking out for everyone except workers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Working Kiwis being played for fools today
01 April, 2023
“Today the joke is on the approximately 2.8 million Kiwis who rely on working, saving, or investing to get by. The Government has forgotten about you,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
5,100 jobs killed by minimum wage hike
31 March, 2023
“The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment told Labour to go slower in raising the minimum wage and estimates 5,100 jobs will be killed off as a result of the hike,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Consumer outlook gloomy as Govt forgets workers
31 March, 2023
“Consumers can see that inflation isn’t going anywhere yet the Government refuses to do anything to reward workers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour
A bridge away from Government’s failures
30 March, 2023
“Chris Hipkins needs to show what has changed to make the fast-tracking of a new Auckland harbour crossing a realistic proposal, otherwise it will just seem like an opportunistic distraction from the many issues within his Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Most convenient mistake in history of NZ politics
30 March, 2023
“The Government needs to release all of the communications between Stuart Nash’s office and the Prime Minister’s office relating to the email that got him sacked right now, otherwise they expect people to believe it’s the most convenient mistake in the history of New Zealand politics,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Productivity crisis the root of New Zealand’s problems
29 March, 2023
“The value of work and getting ahead in life is being eroded by Labour’s policies, new statistics show that productivity is anaemic,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hipkins pays price for low standards
28 March, 2023
“The Prime Minister will now pay the price for having low ministerial standards and being unable to sack Ministers, just like Jacinda Ardern”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour not working for workers
28 March, 2023
“Today in Parliament the Prime Minister showed he doesn’t know or doesn’t care that workers’ after tax incomes are falling behind inflation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Davidson should front up with facts or resign
27 March, 2023
“Marama Davidson can’t be an effective Minister if she can’t get basic facts right and instead chooses prejudice. If she can’t front up with evidence for her statement about white men, she should resign,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Did Ardern know?
16 March, 2023
“Police Commissioner Andrew Coster should have known that Stuart Nash was acting in a way that was inconsistent with section 16 of the Policing Act. The question is, who then received that information and what did they do with it?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour.
GDP shows what Kiwis already know
16 March, 2023
“With New Zealand almost certainly headed for a recession, Labour needs to wake up and unleash the ingenuity of New Zealanders by reducing wasteful spending, giving it back in tax cuts, and ditching the stifling red tape,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Nash a recidivist offender, must go
16 March, 2023
“It has now been revealed that Stuart Nash is a recidivist offender when it comes to breaching the Cabinet Manual, Chris Hipkins has no choice but to sack him entirely,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
3 strikes and Nash should be gone
15 March, 2023
“He interfered, he boasted about it, and then he doubled down on it. That’s three strikes and Stuart Nash should be out,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Maurice Williamson resigned for less than Nash just admitted to
15 March, 2023
“Former Minister Maurice Williamson resigned in 2014 for allegedly interfering in a police investigation into businessman Donghua Liu, but Stuart Nash this morning boasted of calling the Police Commissioner to influence prosecution decisions,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour doesn’t deserve the name
14 March, 2023
“Labour is now the party for beneficiaries – it doesn’t deserve its name,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
PM looks for excuses when retailers need solutions
14 March, 2023
“The PM is claiming retail crime rates are up because more thefts and shoplifting are being reported. What he fails to admit is that there’s so much crime a lot of these reports aren’t even being investigated,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government can’t play the blame game on food prices
13 March, 2023
“With the Food Price Index (FPI) showing the largest annual increase to food prices in 34 years, Labour will automatically look for someone to blame, ACT is calling on Labour to instead take responsibility and ease the squeeze on Kiwi families,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Inflation adjustment catches Robertson telling porkies
13 March, 2023
“Labour’s inflation adjustment of pensions, benefits and student allowances has caught Grant Robertson telling porkies. Just last month he said wages were rising faster than inflation, but he forgot to mention after tax wages, which is what benefits are tied to,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No bonfire, just burning a twig in a damp forest
13 March, 2023
“Kiwis aren’t going to fall for the spin that Labour is torching its manifesto when it’s introduced hundreds of illogical policies and is only prepared to u-turn on a tiny handful," says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No prizes for fixing own mistakes
13 March, 2023
“Prime Minister Chris Hipkins deserves no credit for fixing messes Labour made. For another day, he’s like a kid who messes up his room and wants a reward for tidying it. This time it’s the madcap scheme to lower speed limits, something ACT opposed from the get-go,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Past time for a change of values on crime
13 March, 2023
“When it comes to crime, Labour has the wrong values. They get confused between criminals and victims. Like Donald Trump, they seem to think there’s “fine people on both sides.” ACT says there must be rights for victims and consequences for criminals, we have the practical solutions for a whole change in values when it come
Hipkins unable to say that co-governance is democratic
12 March, 2023
“Asked point blank by Jack Tame on Q+A this morning “is co-governance democratic?” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins couldn’t say that it was. ACT is clear in its position that having different political rights based on ancestry is anti-democratic,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Control freak Govt should apologise, drop mandates
10 March, 2023
“New Zealanders were illegally punished by a control freak Government for no public health benefit at all”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Race Relations Commissioner needs to go
10 March, 2023
“Meng Foon is consistent only in his ability to ignore everything that doesn’t fit his narrow left wing worldview. He’s not upholding human rights for all New Zealanders, just those who fit his personal political views and he needs to go,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Donald Trumps of the left need to cut out populist attacks on foreign bankers
09 March, 2023
“Bashing the banks because they’re Australian and obsessing over profit-making panders to the worst prejudices and won’t improve the cost of living for New Zealanders”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A society committing slow suicide
08 March, 2023
“Lost in the debate about the truancy crisis is the fact that neither parents nor Ministry of Education bureaucrats are being held accountable for their poor behaviour,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour dominated Finance Committee must back consumers
08 March, 2023
“It would be shameful for the Labour-dominated Finance and Expenditure Committee to block an inquiry into the Labour Government’s regulation of the banking sector,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Robertson says MPs aren’t up to it
08 March, 2023
“Grant Robertson’s assertion that the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee isn’t capable of conducting an inquiry into the banking sector shows he doesn’t trust Parliament, and by extension the people who elect it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Bureaucrats creaming it in a cost of living crisis
07 March, 2023
“While Kiwi battlers tighten their belts, and businesses cut costs left, right and centre, Wellington bureaucrats are creaming it. It’s time to zero base government and ask whether some departments need to exist,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt boots anti-democratic Rotorua bill to touch
07 March, 2023
“Labour has quietly withdrawn the Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill from Parliament. This is a win for ACT and democracy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Michael Wood isn’t governing for real people
06 March, 2023
“Michael Wood needs to scrap his proposed Land Transport Government Policy Statement (GPS) and start again. Instead of governing for the needs of New Zealanders as he was elected to do, he is trying to force them to change their own behaviour to fit his own narrow worldview,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
National's childcare credit too easy for Labour to steal
05 March, 2023
“National’s policy announced today is a good start to addressing the cost of living, but is too easy for Labour to steal. The best way to address the cost of living crisis for all Kiwis is a tax cut for every earner,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
HRC spends $1.3 million on ‘give nothing to racism,’ doesn’t give a hoot about actual racism
04 March, 2023
“The Human Rights Commission’s (HRC) spent $1.3 million on it’s ‘give nothing to racism campaign,’ but won’t even comment on the blatant racism in Tusiata Avia’s poem. It’s double standards shows the HRC is ineffective, unprincipled, and needs to go,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
15 urgent solutions for the cyclone rebuild
03 March, 2023
“ACT is today proposing 15 practical solutions that are necessary to rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and create a more resilient future,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Consumers don’t believe Hipkins
03 March, 2023
“For all of Chris Hipkins’ talk of a policy reset and ‘bread and butter’ issues, the latest ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence survey shows that people just aren’t buying it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Declaring a Special Economic Zone
03 March, 2023
“Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti can’t afford to get caught up in Wellington’s web of painfully slow bureaucratic processes. ACT would declare a Special Economic Zone to lift the regulatory barriers that make it so difficult to get anything done,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt spending focussed on what matters
03 March, 2023
“The cost of the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle is going to be enormous, the only way New Zealand can afford it without heaping more pressure onto households is if the Government reprioritises to reign in its spending,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Campbell deservedly gone, two days later
02 March, 2023
“David Parker can always be relied upon to make the right choice. Once every other choice has already been exhausted,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt funding hate with show about murdering white people
01 March, 2023
“The Government should withdraw the $107,280 in taxpayer money given to a racist stage show about murdering James Cook, his descendants and 'white men like [him] with pig hunting knives,' then apologise to the public for giving so much to racism in the first place,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Parker must explain why EPA standards are different from health
01 March, 2023
“David Parker needs to front up on whether Rob Campbell’s inappropriate conduct means he will be removed as Chair of the Environmental Protection Authority as well,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Campbell must go today
28 February, 2023
“Chris Hipkins cannot become another doormat for the badly behaved, like his predecessor. After saying Te Whatu Ora Chair Rob Campbell’s partisan political rant is ‘not on,’ ‘inappropriate,’ and inconsistent with the Code of Conduct for the Public Service, Hipkins needs to back his words with actions,” says ACT Leader David
New Health NZ Chair must focus on waiting lists, not social media
28 February, 2023
“ACT congratulates Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall for sacking Health NZ Chair Rob Campbell. His partisan political rants made his position untenable, it let down the entire public service,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour politicises public service
27 February, 2023
"Te Whatu Ora Chair Rob Campbell’s rant about Three Waters and co-governance breaches the code of conduct for board members of Crown entities and he should be pulled up by the Public Service Commissioner”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Three waters repeal a good promise, now to pay for it
25 February, 2023
“National’s recommitment to dumping three waters is a good start, ACT says it must happen with a repeal bill in the first 100 days of a new Parliament, backed up by a plan to pay for it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Bread and butter PM doesn’t like being asked about the basics
23 February, 2023
“For a Prime Minister trying to spin himself as ‘bread and butter’, Chris Hipkins really doesn’t like being asked about the basics”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt must rule out Cyclone Tax
22 February, 2023
“While speaking on the Budget Policy Statement this morning, Grant Robertson has refused to commit to any additional reprioritisation of Government expenditure to pay for the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, meaning he expects taxpayers to foot the bill during a cost of living crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
OCR hike shows need for spending cuts
22 February, 2023
“Today’s double shot to the official cash rate means more pain is on the horizon for mortgagees. The onus is on Grant Robertson to pull back on the Government’s spending or Kiwis will continue to bear the brunt of price rises,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
PM gives economically illiterate performance in Parliament
22 February, 2023
“New Zealand taxpayers should be deeply worried about the Prime Minister’s first performance in Parliament today”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Commissioner Gaslight has got to go
21 February, 2023
“Police Commission Andrew Coster, AKA Commissioner Gaslight, needs to stop undermining East Coast residents, mayors and business leaders and show them support,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Fine the parents, fire the bureaucrats
21 February, 2023
“Throwing money at the truancy crisis is a failed idea from failed Education Minister Chris Hipkins. That bureaucrats came up with nothing better shows we need a total clean out and ACT’s plan to fire half of the Ministry of Education is the correct one”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Police and Defence Ministers need to support local requests
20 February, 2023
“Police Minister Stuart Nash and Defence Minister Andrew Little need to start listening to the needs of local communities and send help,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Shot Tower demolition must start now
20 February, 2023
“Demolition of the Mt Eden Shot Tower must start immediately, so that people can return to their homes as soon as possible,” says MP for Epsom David Seymour.
Māori Caucus: 1, Chris Hipkins: 0
13 April, 2023
“There was only ever going to be one winner in a battle over co-government between the Prime Minister and the Māori Caucus,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New Zealanders aren’t stupid, Chris
12 April, 2023
“If Chris Hipkins thinks he can sell Three Waters by changing the name, he’s got another thing coming”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
IMF Report shows NZ falling behind Asia
12 April, 2023
“The World Economic Outlook report released by IMF today shows the fallout of Grant Robertson’s economic mismanagement, with New Zealand taking last place of all the advanced Asian and Pacific economies,” says ACT Party Leader David Seymour.
‘Affordable’ water reforms to cost taxpayers more
14 April, 2023
“Taxpayers are going to have a big bill to pay for the Government’s shallow rebrand of Three Waters. The Government needs to be upfront with the costs, if it has even bothered to figure them out,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Media Council: racism against white people not possible
14 April, 2023
“The organisation that deals with complaints about media content says people don’t deserve protection from racism, ironically because of their race. It concluded that it’s not possible for white people to be victims of racism, seemingly unaware the conclusion itself is racist”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Another headstone in Labour’s expensive policy graveyard
15 April, 2023
“This week Three Waters joined a long list of Labour policies that have been re-branded, kicked for touch, or outright scrapped. Nothing sums up Labour’s incompetence more than all of their failed policies,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
McAnulty mixes honesty, naivete, and ignorance on Three Waters
16 April, 2023
“Kieran McAnulty’s candid admission that Labour’s three waters reforms are not democratic shows a dangerous mixture of naivete and ignorance about the Treaty and democracy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Grant Robertson is feeling 17 again
17 April, 2023
"Stats NZ is once more telling Kiwis what they already know – that life has never been more expensive than it is under Labour,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Tall poppy tax policy built on empty rhetoric
18 April, 2023
“Today’s report released by OliverShaw shows exactly why there’s no place for tall poppy syndrome in the tax code,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Treasury report backs up ACT
18 April, 2023
“Treasury is saying what ACT has said all along. The rampant inflation that is making life impossible for Kiwis has been fuelled by Labour’s wasteful spending,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT launches Ease the Squeeze campaign
20 April, 2023
“ACT is today launching the ‘Ease the Squeeze’ campaign to show how New Zealand can tackle the cost of living crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Police were put on the frontline fighting Labour’s war
20 April, 2023
“The Parliamentary riots reflect a sad chapter in New Zealand history, there were ugly acts on all sides of it which can’t be excused but its important to look at what caused the event – needlessly inflexible vaccination policy and an immature and divisive response from the Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
More evidence that wasteful spending is the problem
20 April, 2023
“Today’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) shows that the rest of the world is getting on top of inflation, while the New Zealand Government is still spending up large and fuelling the cost of living crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Grant Robertson is directing the country towards disaster
21 April, 2023
“Grant Robertson told Newstalk ZB this morning that he is focussed on ‘the direction of travel’ for inflation, what direction? Everything he has any influence over is getting worse,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Meng Foon’s true colours revealed – Labour red
21 April, 2023
“ACT has said right from the start that Meng Foon isn’t fit for his role because he is unable to remain politically neutral, today’s revelations bring new weight to our claims and he needs to go immediately,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
You can’t tax your way to prosperity
26 April, 2023
“The Government will try and leverage whatever comes out of the IRD’s tax study into a reason to take more money from Kiwis. No one has ever taxed their way to prosperity though, the Government needs to cut its own waste before it looks for more revenue, and cut red tape that makes live so expensive,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Parker pitches to rob Peter to pay Paul
26 April, 2023
“David Parker is defining unrealised capital gains as income so he can create a better case for his beloved CGT. His fishing expedition wasn’t about gathering information, it was about creating a narrative that he can ride to more taxes on Kiwis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Parker can’t defend dodgy study
27 April, 2023
“David Parker’s only way of defending the dodgy methodology in his tax system fishing expedition is to create a new definition for what ‘income’ means,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
3,000 words of nothing from Hipkins
27 April, 2023
“Chris Hipkins pre-budget speech today was 3,000 words without substance. It was like an old Jacinda Ardern speech, just without her flair,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Policy bonfire actually just putting things on ice
29 April, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ ‘policy bonfire’ is no such thing. He’s just putting a bunch of unpopular policies on ice in election year,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT would end winter energy payment money go round
01 May, 2023
“The Winter Energy Payment needs to be targeted to those who really need it, New Zealand can’t afford to be spending half a billion dollars on a winter energy payment that goes to millionaires and beneficiaries alike,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government must ease the squeeze on Kiwi households
01 May, 2023
“Household living costs data released by Stats NZ shows that the Government isn’t doing enough to Ease the Squeeze on Kiwi households,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Supercharged ute tax taxing tradies to subsidise Teslas
02 May, 2023
“Making cheap, reliable cars more expensive for tradies and farmers in a cost of living crisis for no environmental gain will go down as one of Labour’s dumbest policies,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Sepuloni’s lecture is ‘legitimate ute users’ all over again
02 May, 2023
“Carmel Sepuloni arrogantly lecturing Aucklanders that they don’t need utes shows the Labour Party can’t help themselves when it comes to telling people how to live their lives”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
This term, this term, this term! Labour leaves door open for capital taxes
02 May, 2023
“Labour is clearly keeping the door open for a new tax on capital if re-elected, making the election a referendum on new capital taxes”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Whaitiri distraction won’t make streets safer or life affordable
03 May, 2023
“Meka Whaitiri’s defection from Labour is ultimately a distraction from the real issues New Zealanders face, but it also highlights some of the reasons the Government is incapable of dealing with them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No benefits for Census dodgers
06 May, 2023
“If someone can’t be bothered to spend 10 minutes online completing the Census, they shouldn’t be eligible to receive government benefits. I predict this move will get census completion rates near to 100 per cent over night,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour-Green-Māori circus shows real change needed
07 May, 2023
“The ongoing waka-jumping circus won’t make one street safer or one week’s bills more affordable, but it does show why real change is needed this election,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Holding young offenders accountable
08 May, 2023
“It is past time for a change of attitude on youth crime. ACT's upcoming Real Change Alternative Budget will invest in youth justice facilities run by Corrections so youth offenders are held accountable for their actions,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No consequences for kids, no respect for teachers
08 May, 2023
“The latest lunacy from the Ministry of Education - that teachers cannot restrain students unless they are specifically trained to - could be a satire of why New Zealand is struggling right now,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Investing in safer communities
08 May, 2023
“Labour’s goal of reducing the prison population by 30 per cent has meant New Zealand is no longer the safe place it once was. ACT’s Real Change Budget will invest in the safety of our communities by ensuring there’s enough capacity for dangerous people to be locked away,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour in chaos, unable to focus
09 May, 2023
“Meka Whaitiri’s revelation this morning that she doesn’t trust the Prime Minister shows a divided Government unable to focus on the issues facing New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
PM out to lunch on state of lawlessness
09 May, 2023
“Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has only been out of the country a few days but he seems to have completely forgotten about the state of crime in New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Embarrassing: Labour saves less than 1%
11 May, 2023
“Why the Finance Minister decided to put out a press release with the embarrassing admission that he’s managed to save less than 1 per cent of the Government’s entire budget escapes us, but it shows why New Zealand needs real change”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Want to pay more tax? Here’s IRD’s bank account number
11 May, 2023
“If a group of wealthy New Zealanders wants to pay more tax, ACT will share the IRD’s bank account number with them, so there’s no need for them to force their values on other New Zealanders”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Face facts, take some responsibility for Kiwis’ struggles
11 May, 2023
“With the Food Price Index (FPI) showing the largest annual increase to food prices in 36 years, Labour will automatically look for someone to blame. Instead they need to take responsibility and ease the squeeze on Kiwi families,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Drip-feeding Announcements Doesn't Provide Certainty
14 May, 2023
“Three months after Cyclone Gabrielle, the Government has finally announced a partial recovery package, timed to coincide with the Budget rather than the needs of people on the ground”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A Time for Truth offers real change
15 May, 2023
“Our country will face a real choice in five months’ time, between parties offering more of the same and one promising real change. ACT’s Alternative Budget – A Time for Truth – faces the facts and offers a real alternative,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
David Seymour speech - The Simple Truth
15 May, 2023
Our country will face a real choice in five months’ time.
And the choice isn’t Red Chris or Blue Chris. As many now see, that isn’t much of a choice at all.
The choice New Zealanders face is between parties offering more of the same… And one promising a genuine change.
RNZ should release full Kiri Allan transcript
08 May, 2023
“Releasing snippets and hiding other parts of the transcript only makes the Kiri Allan speech to RNZ more suspicious. RNZ should clear up any lingering doubts and release the whole transcript, like they did to the PM’s office,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Fiscal discipline requires zero basing
15 May, 2023
“New Zealanders don’t need Treasury bureaucrats to tell them their hard-earned money is being wasted – ACT has already found it”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Nash incompetent, Hipkins just wrong
16 May, 2023
“Stuart Nash was the only Labour Minister listening to the people of Hawke’s Bay about crime. But sadly he was hapless and incapable of convincing Chris Hipkins who repeatedly denied there was a problem,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour/National offer different shades of beige on spending
17 May, 2023
“Labour and National are offering different shades of beige when it comes to government spending with only ACT promising real change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hapless Hipkins tell Kiwis life is better across the ditch
17 May, 2023
“Hapless Chris Hipkins is spending taxpayer money to advertise to New Zealanders living in Australia that life is better there now they can get citizenship – rather than trying to persuade them to come home”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
We don't need more bureaucracy to tell us money is being wasted
15 May, 2023
“New Zealanders don’t need Treasury bureaucrats to tell them their hard-earned money is being wasted – ACT has already found it”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Build Back Broke Budget delivers a blowout
18 May, 2023
“Labour’s Build Back Broke Budget will mean a blowout for the government’s books as it tries to buy the election”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Corporates cream it while Kiwis feel the squeeze
18 May, 2023
“Labour’s Build Back Broke Budget is more interested in improving the wellbeing of corporates than New Zealanders who are doing it tough,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Splurges for some, inflation for all with $10b blow out
19 May, 2023
“While the Government wants to focus on a few specific spending initiatives, the overall picture of inflationary spending, and its effect on inflation and interest rates, is the story most relevant to all New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
First gamers, now global manufacturers receive corporate welfare
21 May, 2023
“The Government’s $140 million handout to Bluescope Group to build an electric arc furnace is more corporate welfare from a Government who thinks the answer to everything is spending your money,” says ACT Party Leader David Seymour.
Time to take youth crime seriously
22 May, 2023
“The epidemic of youth crime has gotten to the point where New Zealand’s news headlines could be straight out of the L.A. Times – ram raids, stabbing threats, brazen robberies. It’s past time for youth offenders to start facing real consequences,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kiwis pay an extra two days’ worth of taxes than in 2022
22 May, 2023
“Every year Labour is in Government, Kiwis have to work longer just to hand over every cent they’ve earned to Grant Robertson,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
PM needs to back struggling Kiwis, not wealthy Aussies
22 May, 2023
“Prime Minister Chris Hipkins appears to be confused about which country he’s leading,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. In recent weeks his government has spent $10,000 advertising in Australia to promote the benefits of living there and given highly two highly profitable Aussie companies a massive corporate handout.
Thank Grant Robertson for your next interest rate rise
23 May, 2023
“Following last week’s blowout budget, the question around tomorrow’s OCR decision is whether Adrian Orr hikes it by 25 points or 50. If Grant Robertson had shown the slightest degree of fiscal competency and reigned in his spending there wouldn’t be a need for any hike,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Bad, terrible or disastrous? How bad are interest rates going to get?
24 May, 2023
“The country is waiting nervously for today’s OCR announcement, which is going to be bad, terrible or disastrous,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Because this Government can’t control its spending, it’s not a question of “if” we’re going to feel more pain, it’s a matter of when.”
Change the Govt, not the length of your shower
24 May, 2023
“Labour is launching a nationwide campaign to lecture people to have shorter showers on the same day its reckless economic policies have added $2,500 to a half million dollar mortgage over the next two years”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Reckless and Irresponsible Robertson just cost you big time
24 May, 2023
“Reckless and irresponsible Robertson just cost a family with a half-million mortgage $2,500 over the next two years,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Are Labour financially illiterate, or dishonest?
29 May, 2023
“Labour’s claim that taxpayers would be worse off under ACT’s alternative budget is either financially illiterate or dishonest, because they ignored ACT’s generous tax cuts for working families,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Where is Labour’s vision?
29 May, 2023
“New Zealanders watching for Labour’s vision of a wealthier, safer, more united country will be bitterly disappointed to see its opening gambit this election: a promise to keep everything the same,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour unarmed in contest of ideas
29 May, 2023
“New Zealanders watching for Labour’s vision for a wealthier, safer, more united country this weekend saw a political party enter a contest of ideas completely unarmed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Yes, we are the Coalition of Cuts
29 May, 2023
“More than half of Kiwis want to pay less tax according to a recent 1News poll, and ACT will give them what they want,” said ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hipkins, we have a problem
30 May, 2023
“The Prime Minister’s refusal to call crime a ‘problem’ on Morning Report shows he spends too long in the back of a Crown limo and not enough time out on the streets”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
We’re the Coalition of Cuts, Labour’s the ‘Coalition of Klutz’
30 May, 2023
“After six years of big spending with little to show for it, Labour and the Greens should be called the ‘Coalition of Klutz’”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“The Government thinks all its spending is useful, but that position is completely indefensible – Labour is out of touch with the majority of Kiwis who know it can cutback wasteful spending.
Parmjeet Parmar to stand for ACT
31 May, 2023
Scientist, businesswoman and former MP Parmjeet Parmar will stand for ACT at the 2023 General Election.
“ACT is always on the lookout for great talent to take New Zealand forward, so we’re delighted that Parmjeet is joining us for this election”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Cut the Crap! Visionless Government leading country down the road to ruin.
31 May, 2023
"The Labour Government is floundering, unable to tackle any of the issues facing New Zealand," said ACT Leader David Seymour. "The country needs a fresh new approach and the Real Change that only ACT can deliver."
Unionisation by stealth: Butchers now hospo workers
02 June, 2023
“Without any notice at all, butchers have been designated hospitality workers and will be unionised by stealth under the latest ‘Fair Pay’ Agreement”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“At a time when New Zealanders are already doing it tough, small businesses up and down the country have a new bureaucratic hoop to jump through.
Hate speech laws 2.0 will be defeated as well
02 June, 2023
ACT defeated the Government’s first attempt to introduce hate speech laws and we’ll kill off hate speech laws 2.0.
“This afternoon, the Department of Internal Affairs began to do Labour’s bidding for new hate speech laws after Andrew Little, Kris Faafoi, and Kiri Allan failed to convince voters they were a good idea. ACT will continue to fight them and we will win again”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Record crowd demands real change
06 June, 2023
Over 600 people crammed into the SkyCity Theatre today to demand real change as ACT MPs and candidates outlined a fresh vision for New Zealand.
“The size of this crowd, and the enthusiasm they showed for ACT’s people and policies, shows that this is a country crying out for real change,” said ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT to police red tape and regulation in Government
06 June, 2023
- New Minister and Ministry of Regulation to police red tape and hold Ministers and departments accountable
- Regulatory Standards Bill to require regulation meets good lawmaking principles
- Strong enforcement mechanisms to police new and existing regulations
Speech: David Seymour, A Time For Truth
06 June, 2023
Speech: David Seymour, A Time for Truth
Real Change Now, SkyCity Theatre, 4 June 2023
Permanent left-wing Govt would result from electoral review
06 June, 2023
“If the totally politicised and partial chair of the latest electoral review wants to change the system, she should get elected first”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Shocking retail crime figures show Government must go
07 June, 2023
“North Island Retail Crime retail crime figures released by Foodstuffs today show that the Labour government has totally lost control of crime and must go,” said ACT Leader David Seymour.
Wood must go
07 June, 2023
“Michael Wood can’t carry on as a Minister after declining airport authority status to North Shore Aerodrome, despite owning shares in a competing airport,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
More 'convenient mistakes' from Prime Minister’s office
08 June, 2023
“The Prime Minister needs to answer for his own office’s negligence in the Michael Wood airport shares debacle, his lack of knowledge of Michael Wood’s repeated failures is either another convenient mistake or serious wilful ignorance,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Epsom MP releases post-flood survey
08 June, 2023
“My survey of Epsom Electorate residents post flood shows why the Council should be getting out of the aviation business and back into drainage,” says MP for Epsom David Seymour.
‘Red Radio’ issues Russian Propaganda
09 June, 2023
ACT is demanding answers tonight after Radio New Zealand republished Reuters articles on its website that appear to have been altered with Kremlin-friendly framing.
Greens’ solution for poverty – make everyone equally poor
11 June, 2023
“The Greens’ solution to poverty is to make everybody equally poor. That may remove the feeling of envy, but it won’t actually raise New Zealanders’ living standards,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Address the racial lottery in healthcare as well
12 June, 2023
“If Labour wants to end unfair differences in access to healthcare, it should start with the racial lottery it is deliberately creating,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
How the Greens will tax your hairdresser $12,000 extra
12 June, 2023
“The Greens are trying to stoke the politics of envy, but in reality their tax hikes will hurt the hairdressers, farmers, tradies and many other New Zealanders who work hard and save to provide for their families and future,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
OAG releases damning review of PGF
13 June, 2023
“The PGF was never about regional economic development. It was about NZ First trying (and failing) to buy votes in the provinces,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Only one anti-social Kāinga Ora tenant removed from state house
13 June, 2023
“The Government is protecting and promoting anti-social behaviour by Kāinga Ora tenants under the Labour-National sustaining tenancies policy”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Palestine, China stories also edited – independent inquiry needed
13 June, 2023
“Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson needs to commission an independent inquiry into RNZ after new revelations that stories about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and China’s treatment of Uighurs were also edited to provide Palestinian and Chinese-friendly framing”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Current account deficit shows Robertson's Afterpay economy
14 June, 2023
“The most irresponsible Finance Minister in modern history is happy to preside over an Afterpay economy. It’s buy-now-pay later under Grant Robertson, whose just presided over the four worst quarters of trade deficit on record,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Unaffordable food part of Labour’s legacy
14 June, 2023
“One of this Labour Government’s legacies will be how it let food prices get so out of control that putting a healthy dinner on the table became too hard for many Kiwi families,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Afterpay economy goes into recession
15 June, 2023
“A recession is when your neighbour loses their job. A recovery is when Chris Hipkins loses his,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Nash report highlights Govt skills shortage
16 June, 2023
“It’s not just the private sector struggling to find talent. The Government’s Cabinet is facing a severe skills shortage as well, and the only solution is to fire them all,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Foon Strewn on a June Afternoon
16 June, 2023
“Meng Foon’s tenure as a Race Relations Commissioner who was never able to put his own views aside has today ended fittingly with an undisclosed conflict of interest,” says ACT Party Leader David Seymour.
“Meng Foon’s resignation is welcome,” said ACT Leader David Seymour, “but the cause of his departure and manner of its announcement is another sign of a rotten government that has to go.”
Race-based waitlists indefensible
19 June, 2023
“Using ethnicity to prioritise healthcare waitlists is lazy and divisive and it’s not who we are as a country”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Time to cancel the corporate welfare gravy train
18 June, 2023
“While Kiwis are tightening their belts and making tough choices, the Government is spending more and more taxpayer money to keep the corporate welfare gravy train chugging along,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Waitlist review must end racial discrimination
19 June, 2023
“The Health Minister’s review of Te Whatu Ora’s ‘waitlist equity adjuster tool’ must end the policy of moving sick patients up and down health waitlists based on their race,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kiwis brace themselves for a Cruel Summer
21 June, 2023
“Kiwis received some news today that Hits Different, it will be near impossible for some people to just Shake it Off,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour cuts its last capitalist
21 June, 2023
“The way things are going, Labour is going to run out of Ministers before October. If Hipkins doesn’t have the talent to keep a Government running he should bring the election forward and let New Zealanders pick a Government that is up to the job,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Statement on Westfield Newmarket attempted robbery
20 June, 2023
"The attempted robbery of Michael Hill Newmarket is intolerable anywhere and completely unwelcome in the Epsom Electorate," says Epsom MP David Seymour.
PM: People can self-identify as Māori
20 June, 2023
“According to the Prime Minister, whether someone is Māori or another ethnicity is up to them”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Protecting choice and freedom to contract
22 June, 2023
“ACT is proposing to change the Employment Relations Act to give greater certainty to workers and businesses who enter a contracting relationship,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
More rules, bureaucrats won't solve conflicts issue
22 June, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ reaction to the Wood affair – hiring more people and making more rules that won’t actually solve the problem – is a perfect case study in why government costs so much and achieves so little”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT welcomes support for law and order policies
26 June, 2023
ACT has welcomed National’s partial support for three of its policies today.
PM's spare plane an aircraft embarrassment
26 June, 2023
“New Zealand’s embarrassingly ancient Defence Force planes are so decrepit that the PM has to bring a spare in case one of them breaks down on a stopover. The emissions created by taking the extra plane is the equivalent of driving a Ford Ranger the distance of a trip to the moon three times,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Deputy PM out of water, economy out of gas
26 June, 2023
“The Deputy Prime Minister ran out of water at post-cab and the Government is out of its depth managing the economy. Today the Government put sticking plasters on the hard facts, life is becoming less affordable due to their poor economic management,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Landfill Labour presiding over a mountain of waste
27 June, 2023
“It’s only Tuesday, but already Labour has shown multiple times that it is a government of waste, and Kiwis need to chuck them on the landfill come October,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Uni bailout another consequence of COVID response
27 June, 2023
“The $128 million being given to universities is the result of Labour’s inability to see the bigger picture, whether it’s in the case of their bloody-minded response to COVID or their resulting obsession with throwing money at everything,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Tough on crime tradies trump police
28 June, 2023
“You know there is something wrong when local tradies are keener to arrest criminals than the police are,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Covid-19 Inquiry needs broader public input
28 June, 2023
“ACT is concerned that the Royal Commission into Covid-19 Lessons Learned is unnecessarily restricting the public’s ability to make submissions, which will defeat their stated aim of getting a wide variety of viewpoints and experiences,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Anyone can be PM for a day
27 June, 2023
“Acting PM Carmel Sepuloni’s comedy routine in Parliament today was a depressing reminder of just how much money this Government has spent and how little it has achieved with it. But at least she proved social mobility is improving in New Zealand - it really seems anyone can be PM for a day”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Govt must explain $10k a day COVID storage
28 June, 2023
“The same Government that banned private companies from importing rapid antigen tests now admits it’s spent $45 million in 14 months on storage for expired and expiring rapid antigen tests (RATs) and PPE that will likely never be used,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kids get KFC for breaking someone’s wrist? That’s a dying nation
29 June, 2023
“Five youths who attempted to escape a youth facility, damaged taxpayer property, and broke a person’s wrist in the process were rewarded with KFC? These are Labour’s values in action and they will doom a nation. It also shows why youth imprisonment should be done by Corrections instead of Oranga Tamariki,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Why wouldn’t Hipkins release Kiri Allan’s RNZ transcript earlier
29 June, 2023
“Recent revelations about bad working relationships with Minister Kiri Allan raise questions about why Prime Minister Chris Hipkins wouldn’t release the transcript of her controversial speech to Radio New Zealand earlier this year,” said ACT Leader David Seymour.
Robertson, Woods, must front massive Auckland planning power grab
29 June, 2023
“Without any announcement on the Beehive website, Ministers Robertson and Wood have written to Kainga Ora and asked them to commence a Specified Development Project to rezone an enormous area of the Auckland isthmus between Mt Eden Rd and Sandringham Rd as part of a so-called ‘Auckland Light Rail urban development project,’ under the Urban Development Act,” says MP for Epsom David Seymour.
Rooftop standoff why Corrections must run facilities
03 July, 2023
“It’s time to restore the values of right and wrong. Police should be out in the community preventing crime instead of dealing with the latest youth offender breakout, and Corrections should be in charge of youth justice facilities to ensure offenders aren’t in a position where they can cause so much chaos in the first place,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Time for a Health Reality Check
04 July, 2023
“You’ve got to admire the Labour Government’s chutzpah, bombarding media with health announcements after spending six years breaking healthcare. It’s a cynical election-year ploy, and the public need a health reality check to set the record straight,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Taxes up tomorrow, but where are the results?
30 June, 2023
“There is never a good time for a tax increase, but Labour’s massive tax hike while Kiwis are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis is about the worst timing you can get,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Knowing these extra taxes will just be wasted by the most profligate government in our history just makes it worse.”
Enough of the failures, Kelvin Davis must resign
05 July, 2023
“Kelvin Davis needs to put his money where his mouth is. If he’s going to call for resignations over scandals in opposition, he should be prepared to stand down himself when he loses control of his department and has the same problems occurring that he was once so vehemently against,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Reckless Robertson’s $9 billion deficit leaves forecasters in the dust
05 July, 2023
“The interim financial statements for May show a Government in serious fiscal trouble,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New Zealand is in an undeclared economic and social crisis
03 July, 2023
“When the history of this period is written, it will record New Zealand was in an economic and social crisis, without realising it. Just look at the evidence in every area, and ask yourself whether Labour or National are proposing real solutions,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
100 days to Real Change
06 July, 2023
“With 100 days before the election ACT has set out a stark choice for voters - that there is more of the same from the duopoly of the last 90 years, or a Government of Real Change powered by ACT,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
HRC – a useless organisation proposing another useless organisation
09 July, 2023
“The Human Rights Commission is nothing but a Wellington managerial-class quango desperately trying and failing to justify the funding it receives from taxpayers. It’s time for it be abolished,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Time to reverse an offender-centric crime policy mistake
09 July, 2023
ACT has today announced a law change that will mean 17-year-olds no longer go through the youth justice system and will face real consequences for their crimes.
Is it the apology or the policy, PM?
11 July, 2023
“Prime Minister Chris Hipkins can’t have it both way on dawn raids. If he accepts the review’s recommendations then he must also accept the Government’s apology was a publicity stunt and denounce it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A more humane and accountable Oranga Tamariki
12 July, 2023
“Oranga Tamariki (OT) has failed our most vulnerable children by avoiding accountability, treating kids as an ethnicity first, and failing to preside over youth justice facilities they never should have been running in the first place” says ACT Party Leader David Seymour.
When will media call out Te Pāti Māori's racism?
12 July, 2023
“Te Pāti Māori continues to show that it’s the only racist political party in Parliament, openly and brazenly engaging in discrimination in a media that refuses to hold them accountable for it”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour’s Capital Gains Caucus would force a CGT in coalition
12 July, 2023
“Under a Labour-Green-Māori Govt, the Greens and Māori Party would team up with Labour’s Capital Gains Caucus to force Hipkins to introduce a Capital Gains Tax. Only ACT is committed to Real Change on tax,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kiwis stuck with most expensive mortgages in English-speaking world
12 July, 2023
“Today’s pause in interest rates needs to be seen in context: New Zealanders face the most expensive mortgages in the English-speaking world. Compared with Australia (4.1), America (5.25), Britain (5) and Canada (4.75), The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is forcing the highest mortgage rates in the anglosphere, and the reason is the irresponsible fiscal management of Grant Robertson,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Tougher sentences for attacks on vulnerable workers
13 July, 2023
“Workers on the frontline are facing an increasingly violent New Zealand. It’s time to take an approach that puts victims first, so New Zealand’s shopkeepers, taxi and bus drivers, security guards, small retailers and other frontline workers can operate without fear,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
$25 million wasted on “free” lunches almost criminal
13 July, 2023
“A new report shows Chris Hipkins is quite literally the Bread and Butter Prime Minister. The only problem is that $25 million worth of the ‘free’ school lunches he signed off on were fed to pigs in 2021”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No relief at supermarket until change of Government
13 July, 2023
“There is nothing in the recent trend of food prices to suggest Labour is even close to getting prices under control. The only solution is to vote them out and bring in a Government with ACT in it to manage the economy and strip regulations that increase costs,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT announces list for 2023 General Election
16 July, 2023
ACT has today announced its list for the 2023 General Election.
Greens are desperate vandals
17 July, 2023
“The Green Party’s Treaty plan is a recipe for endless chaos and division all over New Zealand, just like we saw at Ihumātao,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Unreal COVID isolation rules must go
17 July, 2023
“ACT hears the hotel industry’s call to remove COVID isolation requirements before the FIFA World Cup. If a star player catches COVID six days before a major game, Labour’s ‘abundance of caution’ will be a national embarrassment as the world sees New Zealand is stuck in 2021,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
It shouldn’t take an election to care about victims
17 July, 2023
“After more than five years of cuddling criminals and ignoring victims, Labour’s sudden pre-election change of heart on crime is hardly believable. It’s too late, the horse has bolted, there has to be Real Change this election to put law and order in place again,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Getting tough on crime 88 days from an election betrays five years of victims
18 July, 2023
“Labour doesn’t deserve to govern. They have let victimisation skyrocket at enormous cost to so many victims, then with an election in 88 days and crime a rising issue in the polls, they pretend to care,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Spare 757 cost up to $97k per hour
19 July, 2023
“ACT can reveal the true cost to taxpayers so Chris Hipkins could bring a spare plane overseas with him – spoiler alert, it’s a lot more than flying commercial,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Tradeable vs non-tradeable chasm catches Robertson out
19 July, 2023
“After nearly six years as Minister of Finance, Grant Robertson must take responsibility for above target inflation rolling into its 10th quarter at six per cent, twice the maximum allowable rate. He can’t blame COVID, Putin, the last Government, or the tooth fairy. He’s been Minister of Finance for six years and the chasm between tradable (5.2) and non-tradeable (6.6) inflation is catching him out,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Doing the same thing over and over won’t change minds
19 July, 2023
“Albert Einstein once said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Chris Hipkins should heed this advice, no matter how much he pretends he is tough on crime, no one is buying it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT Party statement on Auckland shooting
20 July, 2023
“I’d like to offer my, and ACT’s, sympathy to the families of this morning’s victims. I hope those injured are stable and recover soon,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will supercharge road development and maintenance
23 July, 2023
“Anyone who has experienced the state of New Zealand’s roads lately knows that the current system of relying on the Government to maintain them with your taxes isn’t working. ACT’s ambitious plan would change the way infrastructure is planned and funded, by inviting private partners from home and around the world to build infrastructure beyond what the Government can afford,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Cost of cultural reports skyrockets under Labour, but lawlessness continues
23 July, 2023
ACT leader David Seymour can reveal that the cost of Section 27 cultural reports continues to skyrocket. “In the 12 months to June 30 this year, $7.56 million was spent on cultural reports compared to $5.91 million in the same period a year before. That’s a 27% increase – and for what,” he said.
“In the year to June 30, 2023 the average amount spent on cultural reports was a little over $630,000 a month. This compares to an average of $3,333 a month in the year to June 30, 2018.
Police Minister misleading over prisoner numbers on Newstalk ZB
24 July, 2023
“Police Minister Ginny Andersen’s claim on Newstalk ZB that the reduction in prison numbers is primarily due to there being fewer people in prison on driving and cannabis charges, is completely wrong,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“Andersen said on Friday morning that ‘the two main decreases of that prison population decline, the two areas that have declined the most have been low level drug offences like cannabis, and traffic offences. They’re the two main drops.’ This statement is untrue, and indefensible.
Home detention review needed
25 July, 2023
“A review of the law relating to home detention is necessary in light of last week’s shooting in Auckland”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Albo departs, takes an full Airbus of Kiwis with him
27 July, 2023
“In the two days that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited New Zealand, more than an entire Airbus A320’s worth of Kiwis decided they’d had enough and moved across the ditch,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
GST announcement would be sign of true desperation
27 July, 2023
“If Labour announces a policy to remove GST from fruit and vegetables, that’s not a sign they want to address the cost of living. It’s a sign of a truly desperate political party, willing to throw any semblance of sensible policymaking out the window to snare some votes. Kiwis deserve better,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT to make personal grievance process faster, fairer
30 July, 2023
“ACT’s proposed changes to the personal grievance process will make it fairer and faster for all parties, providing greater certainty and making hiring workers less risky”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Easy win: Scrap Workforce Development Councils to save $65m per year
29 July, 2023
“The problems with the Workforce Development Councils are far more serious than the money wasting efforts of one lobster-gobbling CEO,” said ACT Leader David Seymour. “As bad as that is, the real question is what do these organisations do for the $65 million of taxpayers money each year?”
PM needs a lesson from ACT on cutting waste
01 August, 2023
“Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was dancing on the head of a pin this morning trying to explain to media how the Government can afford pay increases for teachers without increasing taxes or borrowing more. If he wants a lesson on cutting waste, he should grab a copy of ACT’s Alternative Budget,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT would prevent NZ joining Belt and Road Initiative
02 August, 2023
“If National’s Transport policy leaves the door open for the Chinese Government to build New Zealand roads, ACT’s well thought out Transport policy shuts it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
LGWM captured by co-governance
02 August, 2023
“Let's Get Wellington Moving is the latest public sector project to become captured by co-governance and ACT will end the Treaty consulting industry that has grown under Labour,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Underutilisation rate the telling figure
02 August, 2023
“As inflation gobbles up more of their income and it becomes harder to find work, Stats NZ data shows that more and more New Zealanders are unable to gain meaningful work,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
It’s not one meeting, it’s two, and it’s not $20 billion, it’s $30 billion
02 August, 2023
“Grant Robertson’s reported meeting where bureaucrats were asked to save 10 per cent of their spending just 73 days from an election was the second of two, and the fiscal hole is closer to $30 billion”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Auckland Council is right about ‘bombing run’
04 August, 2023
“Megan Woods needs to recall her instructions to Kainga Ora that would turn a massive strip through the centre of Auckland into a project. The way she treated Auckland Council disrespected local people, and it’s time to get a Government that listens,” says Epsom MP David Seymour.
‘Stop Work Notices’ will cut $1 billion of waste on day one
06 August, 2023
“Labour has increased government spending by $56 billion over six budgets and some of the spending is so damaging it must be stopped on day one of the next Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New Zealand can’t afford to chase wealth away
05 August, 2023
“The constant focus on the wealth gap in New Zealand betrays the biggest problem with New Zealand’s economy – Everyone is getting poorer, and until we have a Government focussed on attracting wealth and growing the economy then New Zealand will keep declining,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Grant ‘contortionist’ Robertson says Boondoggles are good
06 August, 2023
“Boondoggles can be worked through” says the contortionist Finance Minister of a cynical government on its last legs. How can New Zealanders trust a government that doesn’t believe in its own policy?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour.
Time to end failed Māori Health Authority experiment
07 August, 2023
“Just as ACT predicted, the Māori Health Authority experiment has been disastrous, and that’s why we will end it. The Māori Health Authority has sacked half its board, failed to hire critical skills because it’s too focused on hiring based on race, wasted half a billion dollars, failed to deliver better healthcare, and created resentment and division among New Zealanders,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
NZers don't want 'world first' climate experiment
08 August, 2023
“New Zealanders don’t want to be subject to a ‘world first’ climate change experiment that will mean the government micromanages their lives”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Energy Minister forgets she owns electricity generators
09 August, 2023
“Megan Woods has been Energy Minister for almost six years, but she still hasn’t figured out that the Government owns majority shares in electricity generators. This is the sort of incompetence New Zealand taxpayers have been shelling out for over the past six years,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples ineffective at everything but spending
09 August, 2023
“The Ministry for Pacific Peoples seems to have no outputs except gross expenditure, and would be gone under ACT,” says ACT leader David Seymour.
Ensuring sentences fit the crime
10 August, 2023
“Being nice to criminals hasn’t worked. New Zealand’s justice system needs to start putting victims first, which means ensuring appropriate sentences for offenders that will keep communities safe,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Jackson Should Deny Meeting With Media On Treaty Principles
08 August, 2023
“Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson should come out and deny that he is meeting with journalists this week to discuss how they should report on the Treaty”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Let’s close the Australia pay gap
11 August, 2023
“If Labour was serious about pay gaps it would set its sights on the massive gap between New Zealand and Australian workers – it won’t because it’s focused on dividing the economic pie, not growing it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
HRC doesn't need two CEOs, it needs to go
12 August, 2023
“A vote for ACT is a vote to abolish self-serving, taxpayer-funded bureaucracies that don’t deliver for New Zealanders. The latest example? The Human Rights Commission offering $286,900 so they can have a second Chief Executive for the sake of ethnicity,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour’s visionless, poll driven gimmick policy sets election tone
13 August, 2023
“Labour going all-in on GST meddling sets up an election between parties with serious ideas to improve economic policy, and parties with vote buying gimmicks who are also the ones that got us into this mess,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“It’s an act of desperation from a visionless, poll-driven party which is out of ideas, out of Ministers, and fast running out of other people’s money. They know the policy doesn’t work, and we know they know because their own Finance spokesperson said so just a few months ago!
Hipkins massive own goal on GST
13 August, 2023
“In criticising income tax cuts today, Chris Hipkins has taken down his own GST policy with a huge own goal”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Stopping the slide – ending truancy
14 August, 2023
“Every day this week ACT will highlight how to stop the slide and raise standards in health and education. Beginning with a range of solutions to deal with New Zealand’s truancy crisis, including consequences for parents and schools,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
57 cents a week – how much you’ll benefit from GST cut
14 August, 2023
“Labour’s own Tax Working Group led by former Finance Minister Michael Cullen showed that only 30 per cent of the benefit from removing GST from fruit and vegetables will be passed through to consumers in the form of lower prices, with supermarkets keeping the rest. That means the average New Zealander will be just 57 cents better off each week”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
What is “processed”? The boondoggle Robertson warned about
14 August, 2023
“Working out what counts as ‘processed’ fruit and vegetables for the purposes of GST exemptions is the boondoggle Grant Robertson warned us about – but the policy will be a boon for the bureaucrats who administer it and the lawyers who argue about it”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour finally catches up with rest of world
14 August, 2023
“Exactly two months before Election Day, the Prime Minister has decided New Zealanders can leave the giant creche for adults where his Government had been treating us all like children,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT supports the flexible and responsible option for paid parental leave
15 August, 2023
“The Government’s paid parental leave policy is a clear downgrade from the flexible and responsible option of letting parents share the existing 26 weeks. Predictably enough, Labour wants to give you more tax and less choice,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
PM quiet on real benefits of GST policy
15 August, 2023
“Chris Hipkins was keen to avoid answering questions today in Parliament about how much New Zealanders would save if GST is removed from fruit and vegetables – he’s clearly not confident that families are going to get the full $4.25 a week he’s promised”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
PM says asking about racial division is racist
15 August, 2023
“Somehow, according to Chris Hipkins it is racist to even ask questions about government policy that divides public services by race. He should ask himself: Is raising questions about healthcare divided by race the problem, or is the policy?” Asks ACT Leader David Seymour.
Stopping the slide – Reinstating Partnership Schools
16 August, 2023
“Labour promised to put kindness back at the heart of government. But they scrapped an innovative education model that was engaging disadvantaged children underserved by the state system to appease middle-class unionists in Wellington. ACT will reinstate Partnership Schools,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Public Service disappointment shows real change needed
16 August, 2023
“Today’s Taxpayers Union poll reported in The Post reveals that even Labour’s own supporters think government services have got worse during their time in office,” says ACT leader David Seymour.
“The poll shows that 70% of voters think the health system has ‘got worse’ since 2020 under Labour, 57% said the same for education system, and 64% said the criminal justice system has also ‘got worse’.
OCR flat but mortgagees suffering
16 August, 2023
“Adrian Orr’s announcement that the OCR remains stable offers little relief to first home buyers. New Zealand has the fifth highest mortgage rates in the OECD and the average first home buyer in Auckland repricing a 2-year fixed rate is facing repayment increases of $490 per week,” says ACT Party Leader David Seymour.
“Watershed moment” a greenwashing PR stunt
16 August, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ self-proclaimed “watershed moment” has turned out to instead be him being outsmarted by a global corporation’s greenwashing PR strategy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Stopping the slide – Solutions for the health workforce crisis
17 August, 2023
“New Zealand’s health system is in crisis. Emergency departments are overflowing, patients languish on waitlists, and it’s harder than ever to be seen by a doctor. Health and medical professionals are doing their best to provide Kiwis the care they need when they need it, but they’re overworked and burnt out. The health crisis is a workforce crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT would abolish the Ministry for Pacific Peoples
17 August, 2023
“The Ministry for Pacific Peoples spending $121,000 in one year on Prezzy Cards is more evidence that Ministers in the next Government will need to demand chief executives stop wasting money on day one,” says ACT leader David Seymour.
Stopping the slide – Restoring health and education
18 August, 2023
“New Zealand’s future prosperity depends on the next Government being able to fix the crises in health and education. It’s going to be a huge job, but ACT is committed to turning things around,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT’s plan for efficient and effective public services
20 August, 2023
- Specific outputs set for each government department, reported on annually
- Ministers to issue key performance indicators for chief executives, do performance reviews, and release them publicly
- Performance-based pay for chief executives
Billion dollar deficit demolishes NZ economy
21 August, 2023
“New Zealand’s economy is on the ropes, with imports and exports declining and a monthly trade deficit of more than $1 billion dollars in today’s overseas merchandise trade statistics, New Zealand needs Real Change more than ever,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Election year politics with curriculum a disgrace
21 August, 2023
“Labour’s decision to play politics with the curriculum six weeks before an election after stuffing it with ideological garbage for six years is disgraceful,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will give striking doctors a tax cut
21 August, 2023
“People like to think New Zealand is a first world country, but a health system under immense pressure and now doctors going on strike certainly doesn’t back that impression up,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Māori seats on Auckland Council “morally repugnant”, ACT will abolish them.
22 August, 2023
“The idea that Auckland Council should have seats reserved just for Māori – or any ethnic group – is abhorrent, and must be stopped,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “ACT in government will repeal the relevant sections of the Local Electoral Act 2001 and will oppose the introduction of any new legislation that allows race-based representation.”
ACT will increase the prison population
23 August, 2023
“Until we accept reality and start locking up more criminals, Kiwis will remain unsafe in their communities, their workplaces and even their homes. ACT is proposing tougher sentences for serious crimes and increased capacity to lock more criminals up,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Tough on crime is the best policy for Māori
25 August, 2023
“The biggest victims of crime in New Zealand are Māori women, failing to be tough on crime only does a disservice to the most disadvantaged communities that Labour claims to care about the most,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will repeal undemocratic Māori wards
27 August, 2023
“ACT will restore one person, one vote to local government by scrapping race-based representation altogether”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hipkins launches campaign of fear
27 August, 2023
“Chris Hipkins and Labour have no record or achievements to run on, so they’re launching a campaign of fear – but New Zealanders deserve better”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
UNDRIP non-binding, He Puapua gone under ACT
28 August, 2023
“The next Government must commit to a modern, multiethnic liberal democracy and universal human rights. It must ignore the non-binding United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and stop any and all work on He Puapua”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Too little, too late for Robertson's last post-cab as Finance Minister
28 August, 2023
“After bingeing on taxpayer money for six years, Grant Robertson spent his last ever post-cab trying to finally project some financial responsibility. It's too little, too late. He’s had a chance to manage the books responsibly. But all he’s done is given New Zealanders a cost of living crisis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Bringing back 90-day trials a good start, but ACT will bring real change
29 August, 2023
“Labour has made running a successful business and creating jobs harder than it should be, with its onslaught of changes to workplace relations. Bringing back 90-day trials is a positive step for New Zealand employers, but we shouldn’t stop there,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New Zealand public service needs to be colourblind
30 August, 2023
“ACT will demand that the public service is colourblind, but highly focused on eliminating inequity. ACT is opposed to racial discrimination because it’s a lazy and divisive way of treating people,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Landlords and tenants need tax relief now, not in 2026
30 August, 2023
“National’s proposal to restore interest deductibility for landlords is welcome, but it can and should be done immediately, not be phased in over three years,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“Under ACT’s fully costed Alternative Budget, Labour’s removal of interest deductibility for residential landlords will be reversed will be reversed immediately, taking effect in April 2024. This will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code.
Nats tax plan shows why ACT needed for real change
30 August, 2023
“National’s tax policy shows beyond doubt why ACT is needed to make a change of government a government of real change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
National adopts ACT’s Carbon Tax Refund
30 August, 2023
“The next ACT/National Government will implement ACT’s policy of a Carbon Tax Refund for all Kiwis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT sees red with National's tax policy
30 August, 2023
“National’s tax policy confirms there won't be any real change without ACT. Their tax cuts promise about half as much as Labour’s Michael Cullen promised 15 years ago, this policy could easily have been announced by Labour,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Fees-Free unfair, unprincipled, unaffordable
25 August, 2023
“Fees-Free is unfair, unprincipled and unaffordable, and the next Government has a responsibility to dump it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Charities tax loophole should be closed
29 August, 2023
“Taxpaying businesses are at a competitive disadvantage due to certain companies’ tax-free status and this destroys the principle of a competitive marketplace. As I have been calling for since 2016, it’s time to close the ‘charitable tax’ loophole,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Less waste, more ambition needed on tax
31 August, 2023
“New Zealand cannot return to economic health with Labour levels of government waste staying in place. An economic recovery, and eventual economic strength for New Zealand, will require real change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Time to question university affirmative action schemes
31 August, 2023
“Affirmative action schemes have been running in New Zealand universities for a generation and no one seems able to prove any demonstrable benefits to disadvantaged communities. We shouldn’t accept any form of discrimination if it isn’t delivering results,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour makes co-governance stance clear
01 September, 2023
“Willie Jackson used his final speech of the Parliamentary term to declare that ‘Māori do have a separate set of rights.’ What’s at stake this election is clear, and ACT will be equally unequivocal – all New Zealanders should have the same rights,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour spreads disinformation on back of March 15. What would Jacinda say?
01 September, 2023
“When Chris Hipkins said he was going to ‘fight back’ I thought he would attack me and other politicians, but I never thought he’d make Trumpian attacks on truth, and especially not on the back of March 15,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will ensure affordable and reliable energy
03 September, 2023
ACT is announcing its Energy policy, which will:
- Reverse the ban on oil and gas exploration
- Remove Te Mana o te Wai from resource consenting
- Get the state out of energy development, dumping Lake Onslow
- Introduce a regulatory framework to support carbon capture
- Fast-track permit development to make offshore wind easier to permit
Hipkins gives his exit interview
02 September, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ interview with Newshub Nation this morning should be his exit interview. As the leader of a Party that his been in power for six years he can’t point to improvements Labour has made to Kiwis’ lives and has resorted to a campaign of fear to cling on to power,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“Free” dental a desperate bribe
02 September, 2023
“Grant Robertson is attempting to recreate 2005’s election win by desperately bribing voters with ‘free’ stuff – but New Zealanders are rejecting their cynical and failed policies,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Tackling our productivity crisis
05 September, 2023
- Make it government policy to view policy decisions through a productivity lens, whereas government currently emphasises identity, the Treaty, and the climate
- Set an explicit target for New Zealand to be in the 10 fastest-growing economies in the OECD
- Introduce a range of productivity-boosting policies to boost productivity growth.
Luxon gives another reason taxpayers need ACT
05 September, 2023
“A fiscally responsible government will need to end wasteful policies like Fees-Free and ‘free’ school lunches rather than letting them build up like a welfare lasagne,” says ACT Leader David Seymour, responding to National’s promises to keep both of Labour’s programmes.
ACT announces first four sectors to get red tape review
06 September, 2023
ACT has announced the first four sectors that will undergo a red tape review by a new Minister and Ministry of Regulation: early childhood education, health workforce, primary industries and financial services.
Labour has no economic credibility left
06 September, 2023
“No one buys Labour’s vision for the New Zealand economy after they’ve spent six years running it into the ground. The reality is that New Zealand is in real trouble. An economic recovery, and eventual economic strength for New Zealand, will require real change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour can’t be trusted on law and order
07 September, 2023
“Labour’s new-found enthusiasm for tackling crime is like waiting for a ram raid before putting up bollards – which, sadly, is Labour’s policy for crime-hit retailers,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT bringing back the Kiwi dream
10 September, 2023
“Housing is still in crisis and Labour and National are equally responsible, it’s time to stop demand-side policies that aren’t working and set a target for supply,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kiwis voting with their feet
12 September, 2023
“39,378 Kiwis decided to vote with their feet and leave New Zealand in the year to July 2023. The next Government will need to completely turn the country around to stop the exodus,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Government books cry out for Real Change
12 September, 2023
“Now Grant Robertson’s destructive legacy has been laid bare, the need for real change in New Zealand’s direction has never been clearer. The next Government will need to take real action to balance its budget so Kiwis can balance theirs,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Core Labour promises left unfunded
12 September, 2023
“Labour is desperate to balance the books, dishonestly leaving core policies unfunded to make their numbers add up. Free school lunches are unfunded from July 2025, and the Screen Production Grant has no appropriation from this year. Labour has even failed to continue Pharmac’s $120 million funding boost from next year,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will restore law and order in communities
13 September, 2023
“Being nice to criminals hasn’t worked. It’s time we sent a message to New Zealand that crime will be punished, that if you’re willing to take part in rehabilitation you will be given another chance but most importantly that victims are at the heart of the justice system,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour raids contingencies to keep the lights on
13 September, 2023
“PREFU has revealed that Labour’s budget doesn’t include enough funding to maintain real per-capita spending in areas like health and law and order. They’re going to have to dip into contingencies just to keep things going,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Kiwis want real change on co-governance
15 September, 2023
“This election, voters are being presented with two starkly contrasting sets of values. One openly admits that Māori have separate rights, while the other says that New Zealand is made up of hundreds of cultures, all of which are entitled to the same rights and duties. Today’s poll in The Post shows that most Kiwis support ACT’s proposal to finally have a say on co-governance,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Helping sick and drug-addicted beneficiaries back to work
15 September, 2023
“Abandoning people to a life on welfare is a waste of human potential – but that’s what Labour is doing to thousands of New Zealanders right now,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “ACT will provide hope and opportunity by helping sick and drug-addicted beneficiaries who can get off the benefit and back into work to do so.”
Record crowd demands real change to New Zealand’s economy
17 September, 2023
“Today ACT is holding the biggest event in the party’s history to launch its 2023 campaign. We’re telling Kiwis that the biggest focus for ACT as part of the next Government is restoring growth to New Zealand’s economy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A path from co-government to democracy
17 September, 2023
“New Zealand is at a constitutional crossroad. In one direction is liberal democracy. In the other is co-government; power-sharing between one ethnic group and all others. ACT will end co-government and restore universal human rights in New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT calls out Te Pāti Māori for misinformation
18 September, 2023
“ACT is calling out Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Deborah Ngarewa-Packer for flagrant misinformation on the Treaty and ACT’s policies,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour opts for subsidies instead of fixing NZ’s problems
18 September, 2023
“Labour says it wants to double the number of houses with solar panels, but like all of their policies it relies on the taxpayer to stump up for yet another subsidy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
No hope for economy without real change
19 September, 2023
“With the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research’s (NZIER) latest forecasts showing subdued economic growth for the next two years, it’s clearer than ever that New Zealand’s economic recovery, and eventual economic strength for New Zealand, will require real change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hipkins gaslights on co-government
19 September, 2023
“Chris Hipkins is gaslighting New Zealanders on co-government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT wins first leader's debate
19 September, 2023
“The Chrises squabbled about who gets how much of the pie, without articulating a vision for growing it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
“The Chrises went back and forth over issues which are very real to hardworking New Zealanders, without spelling out what real change would look like. That is why it was a failure not to include all parties in the debate like times past.
Building the foundations for education success
20 September, 2023
ACT will:
- Develop a traffic light system for unjustified absences, which will be publicly available in real-time.
- Redirect funding from centrally controlled truancy services so schools can fund or purchase services directly.
- Extend the B4 School Check to include education progress as well as health. ECE providers that fail to contribute to child development may risk losing their funding or license.
- Set minimum criteria that any curriculum taught in New Zealand primary schools must follow, but allow for multiple curriculum versions.
- Ensure all schools participate in standardised testing.
- Develop an online league table, like Australia’s ‘My School’, to help parents understand how their school is performing compared with other schools.
- Refuse to lower the bar for literacy and numeracy standards. ACT will conduct another set of mock exams in 2024 to gauge progress on higher literacy and numeracy standards and commit to enforcing higher standards from 2025.
- Abolish University Entrance as a separate qualification and replace NCEA level three requirements with the current University Entrance requirements.
- Ensure employers’ and tertiary institutions’ input is included in the development of achievement and unit standards.
ACT’s plan to help schools that fail
20 September, 2023
ACT will:
- Use information on school attendance and educational progress to prioritise ERO school inspections.
- Ensure ERO’s school evaluation reports are consistent and based on clear, objective, and relevant criteria.
- Improve the Ministry of Education’s slow and ineffective approach to managing under-performance by enforcing a clear and structured intervention process for identifying and intervening in under-performing schools.
- Replace the current practice of appointing a limited statutory manager or commissioner to a struggling school. A tendering process would enable existing school operators to apply to take over schools that fail. Applications would consider the school operator’s track record of success. Where there is more than one school operator interested in the takeover, the Ministry would be responsible for selecting the best candidate based on who would best serve the school community.
- Evaluate the outcomes of school interventions, as persistent failure is likely to indicate system-wide weaknesses in the education system.
Too late for Labour to start caring about crime
19 September, 2023
“After more than five years of cuddling criminals and ignoring victims, Labour’s sudden pre-election change of heart on crime is hardly believable. It’s too late, there has to be Real Change this election to put law and order in place again,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour goes full circle on immigration and the economy – NZ needs Real Change now
21 September, 2023
“New Zealand might technically be out of recession, but the reality is the next few years will be grim thanks to Labour’s appalling economic mismanagement,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Politicians need to be honest with New Zealanders and offer realistic policies that will revitalise our economy, not more of the same.”
ACT’s Alternative Budget: End the waste, fix the economy
21 September, 2023
“Tough circumstances call for responsible economic management. Now is not the time for big spending promises or significant tax cuts. It is time to end the waste and fix the economy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Supporting New Zealand’s seniors
22 September, 2023
- Reform the Retirement Commission so it’s focussed on retirement villages and aging-in-place
- Require the Retirement Commission to design a regulatory framework to enable individualised funding of in-home care
- Reverse the ban on over-the-counter pseudoephedrine
- Require post-implementation evaluations of pharmacist-only and prescription-only classifications for medicines used to cure common ailments
- Introduce a range of policies to ease the health workforce crisis and ensure there is proper planning and forecasting to meet the needs of an ageing population.
ACT welcomes support for Pseudoephedrine reversal
23 September, 2023
“ACT is welcoming National and Labour’s support for our policy to reverse the ineffective ban on effective cold and flu medicines. This is just one of many unnecessary regulations that will be on the chopping block with ACT in Government,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT introduces the Unite Visa
23 September, 2023
- ACT will introduce a new visa — the Unite Visa — that will enable parents to visit their children or grandchildren for up to five years at a time, with a renewal requirement each year.
Providing real choice in education
25 September, 2023
“We need to get the politics and bureaucracy out of New Zealand’s education system, bring high standards for attendance and learning in, and treat the profession with respect. While Labour is responsible for lowering the bar and leaving kids even further behind their international peers, the education decline started well before 2017,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT and National a coalition for change
25 September, 2023
“ACT and National are on the same page about a future coalition Government, with both parties working together in a strong coalition to overcome the significant challenges New Zealand faces,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A climate response that doesn’t cost the earth
26 September, 2023
ACT will:
- Repeal the Zero Carbon Act, including the Climate Change Commission, and instead tie New Zealand’s emissions cap to our trading partners’ emissions so New Zealand businesses can be competitive overseas
- Scrap unrealistic targets set by Jacinda Ardern and James Shaw to reduce net emissions by 50 per cent below gross 2005 levels by 2030
- Return Emissions Trading Scheme revenues to New Zealanders through a carbon tax refund
- Repeal virtue signalling laws and spending that have no effect on climate change because the ETS caps emissions - like the oil and gas ban, 100 per cent renewable electricity generation, the Clean Car Discount, and any spending on mitigation in areas that are covered by the ETS
- Allow overseas mitigation
- Adopt a split gas emissions reporting approach which accurately reflects the actual warming effect of methane emissions
- Ensure farmers are able to offset all on-farm sequestration from their emissions liability
- Remove barriers stalling the uptake of emissions reducing technologies
- Support efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change
Labour’s lolly scramble doesn’t add up
26 September, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ $1 billion PHARMAC announcement is nothing but a cynical election season bribe. New Zealanders know the government books are in terrible shape and they want fiscally responsible policies, not promises of big spending and more debt six weeks out from an election,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour’s plan to continue the decline
27 September, 2023
“We need more hope rather than more of the same. Labour's fiscal plan won't admit a mistake and carries on with the wasteful spending that has made life so tough for Kiwis. They have confirmed that ACT is the only party with a credible plan to fix the economy by ending wasteful spending,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
New Zealand needs hope, not more of the same
27 September, 2023
“Tonight’s edition of Chris vs. Christopher was more entertaining than the last one, but when you scratch beneath the surface the real solutions to the problems New Zealanders are facing weren’t on offer. New Zealand can be a prosperous nation with a productive economy and first class services, but it needs a real change in direction,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will end Labour’s war on landlords
28 September, 2023
“Landlords have been scapegoated and blamed by Labour for the housing crisis when the real cause is a lack of housing supply”, says ACT leader David Seymour.
Charter Schools were Tino Rangatiratanga in action, Chris
28 September, 2023
“In a speech delivered by Chris Hipkins today labelled ‘Progressing Together’, Chris Hipkins outlined the choice this election. There is the status quo, where New Zealand is more divided than ever, or all New Zealanders get an honest, healthy debate about our constitutional future,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Mood of the boardroom shows mood for Real Change
29 September, 2023
“With 78 per cent of those surveyed in the NZ Herald’s Mood of the Boardroom saying the next Government needs to implement major cuts to government spending, it is clearer than ever that ACT and its well thought out plan to cut $25.5 billion of wasteful spending is needed,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Self-proclaimed Māori leaders make political, ignorant comments
29 September, 2023
“The self-proclaimed Māori leaders who wrote an open letter in the Herald this morning appear to fight racism for purely political reasons”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Taking the politics out of the Covid-19 Royal Commission
29 September, 2023
“ACT will take the politics out of the Royal Commission into the Government’s Covid-19 response by allowing all New Zealanders to have their say on what should be investigated through a new crowdsourced terms of reference”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Now ACT will definitely be needed for real change
29 September, 2023
“National’s long-awaited fiscal plan confirms that ACT will be needed to change the Government and the direction of New Zealand. National’s plan alone amounts to kicking out Labour and keeping their direction,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT to streamline AML Compliance as part of small business package
30 September, 2023
“Small businesses are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy. If New Zealand is to have a thriving and productive economy, we need to make it a better place for small business to operate in. ACT is committed to doing that,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Why you must vote ACT for real change
01 October, 2023
Today, ACT Leader David Seymour released a video asking New Zealanders to Party Vote ACT to avoid inaction and instability. You can watch the video by clicking the image below.
The next Government will need a fiscal conscience
02 October, 2023
“The cost of living is biting hard on New Zealanders up and down the country, thanks to inflation driven by wasteful Government spending. ACT will make sure the next Government pays for any tax cuts with savings on spending so Kiwis can breathe at the end of the week,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour can’t be trusted to lower food prices
02 October, 2023
“After threatening more bureaucracy and regulations for supermarkets over the course of its time in Government, and driving food prices through the rood, Labour now claims it is going to help new entrants into the grocery sector with vague promises of corporate welfare. Labour can’t be trusted to lower food prices for struggling Kiwis,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will bring real change to debates
02 October, 2023
“If Kiwis want to see Chris Hipkins really held to account next week at the Press Leader’s Debate, I’ll take Christopher Luxon’s place and do it,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A strategy to ensure consistent and fair access to medicines
03 October, 2023
ACT will require the Ministry of Health to publish a Medicines Strategy every three years. This strategy will:
Waititi dangerous and confused on democracy
03 October, 2023
“Rawiri Waititi says that he isn’t a fan of democracy, calling it the tyranny of the majority, but also championing a system where the majority can banish your whole family. It goes to show for all his theatrics, Waititi doesn’t get democracy or human rights,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Six rural regulations first on the chopping block
04 October, 2023
“New Zealand’s biggest export industry is tied up in endless red tape. If we want New Zealand to have a prosperous future and a productive economy, we need to let farmers get back to what they do best. The primary sector will be one of the first sectors to undergo a red tape review from ACT’s Minister and Ministry of Regulation,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Labour trying to sneak co-governance past voters
04 October, 2023
“With only ten days until an election David Parker is trying to sneak more co-governance past voters and into water rights. He’s wasting his time and taxpayers’ money, in ten days’ time the results will be in and it will be clear that Kiwis have rejected Labour’s co-government agenda,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT coming to the defence of the defence force
04 October, 2023
“It’s all very well Andrew Little saying pay rates will be set independently for the New Zealand Defence Force, but if the Government isn’t increasing its funding then where is the money coming from? ACT is committed to increasing New Zealand Defence Force’s budget so it is equipped to protect New Zealand and our allies,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT is the only party serious about tackling inflation
04 October, 2023
“New Zealand’s economy is stuck in the mud. The Reserve Bank has decided to hold the Official Cash Rate for this cycle, but until there’s a government which cuts wasteful spending and eases the pressure on inflation there will be no relief to households. To tackle inflation the next Government needs ACT as its fiscal conscience,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will smash the red tape state to fix the economy
05 October, 2023
- Empower a new Red Tape Reduction Minister to start examining red tape in the finance, primary industries, health, and ECE sectors in the first 100 days of a new government
- Cutting red tape is one way ACT will put productivity at the centre of everything government does to deliver a lower cost of living and higher incomes
- Set a goal for New Zealand to be one of the OECD’s top 10 fastest growing economies, as measured by GDP per capita.
Zero evidence for TPM’s race-baiting claims
05 October, 2023
“Te Pāti Māori's claim that a trespass incident was caused by ACT is a dangerous fiction, and the party shouldn’t be taken seriously by media until they produce evidence,” says ACT leader David Seymour.
Budget Blowout shows need for real change
05 October, 2023
“News that the Government ran a $9.4 billion deficit in the year to June, after forecasts as late as May predicted a deficit under $7 billion show how much trouble the Government’s books are in, and why taxpayers need ACT,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Too late to apologise for division, Prime Minister
05 October, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ apology for dividing New Zealanders with vaccine mandates through the Covid-19 response has come far too late to be considered genuine”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
TPM should apologise to victims of crime
05 October, 2023
“Police reports show that Te Pāti Māori has played fast and loose with the truth in their characterisation of an alleged home invasion. The police have confirmed there was no ‘home invasion’, there was no ‘ram raid’ and there was no racial motivation. They should apologise to all the genuine victims of serious crimes for making misleading criminal claims so they can play the victim,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Public services will be accountable to taxpayers
06 October, 2023
ACT will:
- Set benchmarks for key government services like health, education, welfare, immigration and track performance over time
- Require Ministers to issue KPIs for chief executives, complete performance reviews, and release them publicly
- Introduce performance pay for chief executives.
Justice for victims means less crims on electronic monitoring
06 October, 2023
“The New Windsor stabbing by a man on home detention is yet another example of how New Zealand’s justice system is too soft on criminals and weak for victims,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
A dollar a day for 2000 more prisoners by 2027
07 October, 2023
ACT will:
- Review the use of electronic monitoring and tighten eligibility
- Increase prison capacity to put 2094 more people behind bars by 2026/27
- Ensure tougher sentences for serious crimes, leading to more prison sentences.
More evidence ACT needed to get rid of co-governance
07 October, 2023
“More evidence has emerged that ACT will be needed as a strong voice in the next government to get rid of co-government”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.
An end to dividing health by race
08 October, 2023
- Getting rid of the race-based Māori Health Authority
- Ending the use of race to prioritise surgical waitlists
- Stopping pharmacy initiatives only accessible to Māori and Pasifika
- An end to giving out race-based taxpayer-funded freebies – like prezzy cards for pregnant Māori women.
ACT condemns terrorist attack on Israel
08 October, 2023
“ACT New Zealand utterly condemns the appalling attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel,” said ACT leader David Seymour.
“We stand with our friends and allies the United States, Australia and Britain in condemning the attacks, which include indiscriminate rocket fire on Israeli cities and the killing of innocent civilians.
ACT’s open letter to public service chief executives
09 October, 2023
ACT Leader David Seymour has today released an open letter addressed to the chief executives of all public service departments outlining ACT’s commitments to New Zealanders for real change the in public service from 15 October.
Déjà vu as Hipkins misleads on prison numbers
09 October, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ claim on Newstalk ZB that the reduction in prison numbers is primarily due to fewer people in prison on driving and cannabis charges, is completely wrong and was disproven when his Police Minister said it months ago,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT Leader David Seymour mourns the passing of Neil Christensen
09 October, 2023
“The ACT Party is mourning the passing of Neil Christensen, a valued member of the party and candidate for the Port Waikato electorate,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Grant Robertson’s attack on savings show why Real Change is needed
10 October, 2023
“Grant Robertson thinks it’s a criticism to say National would save $3.1 billion in spending. The truth is that the next Government will need to reduce spending by more than that to tackle inflation and ease the cost of living pressure on New Zealanders, only ACT has a plan to do that,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hipkins vs reality on New Zealand’s economy
11 October, 2023
“New Zealanders became poorer this year under Labour and, if we carry on with more of the same, next year isn't looking any better. Only a stable ACT-National government can fix the economy,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Another poll shows Kiwis want ACT’s referendum
12 October, 2023
“Today’s Curia poll shows that Kiwis’ support for ACT’s referendum on co-governance cannot be ignored,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Hipkins’ campaign of fear on Treaty will fail
12 October, 2023
“Chris Hipkins and Labour are spending the last 48 hours running a desperate campaign of fear and misleading New Zealanders about ACT’s position on Māori and the Treaty,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Two years straight of rising food prices
12 October, 2023
“With today’s 8 per cent increase, it has now been two years since Kiwis had even the slightest bit of relief at the checkout. We can either carry on the same direction until a loaf of bread becomes a luxury item, or we can get rid of the waste driving inflation and sort out the regulations that make it so hard to produce. ACT will do the latter,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT will bring the solutions to a stable ACT-National coalition
13 October, 2023
“Many who watched Episode 3 of Chris v Chris tonight will wonder who they can trust to bring some hope. ACT is the clear choice to change the Government, and change our country’s direction,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Tackling inflation must be No.1 priority for incoming govt
17 October, 2023
“Today’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a hangover from Labour’s time in charge, it marks two and a half years of inflation above the Reserve Bank’s target range. The next Government’s number one job is going to be ending wasteful spending and getting inflation back within its target range,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT records best ever result - time for real change
03 November, 2023
“With the special votes finally counted, ACT is proud to have achieved its greatest ever election result. Now it’s time for real change,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Swarbrick must explain use of Hamas phrase
06 November, 2023
"Green MP Chloe Swarbrick must explain why she is repeating statements from the terrorist organisation Hamas’ charter,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Two year anniversary for End of Life Choice Act
07 November, 2023
“Today marks two years of the End of Life Choice Act allowing terminally ill New Zealanders to die with dignity,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Coalition agreement means lower cost of life, safer streets, stronger democracy
24 November, 2023
“The coalition agreement ACT has negotiated with National and NZ First and announced today will deliver the real change so many New Zealanders voted for,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT priorities populate 100-day plan
29 November, 2023
“The ACT Party’s coalition commitments will form a core part of the government’s first 100 days of office,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Te Pāti Māori protesting democracy itself
05 December, 2023
“This morning protestors backed by Te Pāti Māori have attempted to block roads and disrupt the opening of Parliament and New Zealander’s lives just because they’re unhappy with the election result,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Finally, Wellington can get moving
17 December, 2023
“ACT welcomes the end of the ironically named Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM). The left-wing fantasy project was a drain on taxpayers and ratepayers, and would have achieved the exact opposite of what it says on the tin,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
Bad planning laws scrapped before Santa comes down the chimney
20 December, 2023
Labour’s resource management regime has been scrapped before Christmas, as promised in ACT’s coalition agreement.
Mini-budget stops work on Labour’s economic demolition
20 December, 2023
“ACT’s stop-work notices are already ensuring significant savings to the taxpayer in the Government’s mini-budget. With HYEFU revealing the absolute state Labour left the economy in, there’ll need to be more savings where that came from,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.
ACT responds to Independent Electoral Review
16 January, 2024
ACT’s Democracy Policy a step closer to implementation
Information campaign launched to support Treaty Principles Bill
07 February, 2024
ACT is launching an information campaign to support the Treaty Principles Bill, starting with an info hub at www.treaty.nz.
ACT MPs host Ukraine fundraiser for two-year invasion anniversary
19 February, 2024
Epsom MP David Seymour and Tāmaki MP Brooke van Velden are hosting a fundraising event on Friday in St Heliers to mark two years since Vladimir Putin’s troops invaded Ukraine.
Waitangi Tribunal picked the wrong fight
18 April, 2024
The Waitangi Tribunal’s attempt to summons Children’s Minister Karen Chhour makes me deeply fearful for them.
I’m worried they haven’t thought about who they’re dealing with. Karen is a Māori woman who survived the state care system. By their own standards, they are buying a fight with someone of much greater mana.
It’s not just Karen. They don’t seem to understand the subject either. Karen is removing section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act because a child’s safety and welfare matter more than their race.
Section 7AA has led to Māori children being uplifted from loving homes due to the ethnicity of the carers. The Tribunal seems to think that’s okay. I call it race fanaticism.
It’s not just the person and the issue, though. It’s also the timing. With the recent publication of a Newsroom story about the traumatic ‘reverse uplift’ of children from a loving home because their carers were the wrong race, their timing couldn’t be worse.
The Tribunal summonsed the wrong woman, on the wrong issue, at the wrong time. No wonder some people think they’re past their use-by date. Perhaps they should be wound up for their own good.
Auckland Grammar School ANZAC Day Address
25 April, 2024
This speech was delivered to Auckland Grammar students, family, Old Boys, and staff on ANZAC Day 2024 by David Seymour ’97, MP for Epsom.
Thank you Mr O’Connor and this great school for inviting me to give this address. It’s a great honour to speak here on this day, as those who serve, have served and sacrificed are among us and watch over us.
I thank the school also because its teachers, some of them still here, gave me the skills to write such a speech. That said, any errors are my own so you shouldn’t blame them if you disagree or don’t like it.
Past addresses have been exceptional. For example, my former colleague Chris Finlayson’s dissertation on the role of dissent. He meditated on parallels between World War One conscientious objection and contemporary dissent against the then Government’s COVID-19 response. I can only hope to present something comparable.
Auckland Grammar is not an outwardly militaristic school, but it’s difficult to miss the influence of military ethos from the inside. The bell rings, students and guests stand in unison. Only the slam of the Headmaster’s door and the prayer break the silence before everyone is seated. Students are called by last names, line up neatly outside the class, and are expected to wear their uniforms with pride and their socks pulled up at all times.
Perhaps that’s because, for better or worse, the school’s formative years were dominated by war. Beside the stage is a small memorial to those lost in the Boer war, before Grammar stood at this site. Shortly after it moved here to Mountain Road, in 1916, it was necessary to construct a memorial to those old boys and teachers lost in the First World War in front of the Great Hall.
Less than thirty years passed before the wall surrounding that memorial was needed to record the names of more Grammar men lost in an even bigger conflagration. In the decades that followed, the teaching staff was filled with veterans who brought back the horrid lessons of war.
Many of us have family stories. My great grandfather Walter Faithfull was decorated in World War I for catching German grenades and throwing them back before they detonated. A very early example of my family saving money for the taxpayer. It’s good to see so many wearing medals on their right breast to remember how war touched their family each year.
Walter was left angry by the war, marching his children up and down the family hallway. We might sometimes think that mental health is a modern concern, but the scars of war were often on the mind even a century ago. We also think of the past as a harsher time with little sympathy to those facing mental health challenges. One tragic story of an old boy sent to war shows neither of those things are true.
Grammar Old Boy and Teacher Bombardier Richard Kinloch, 1909, was one such victim. Mr Kinloch’s name is recorded on the Roll of Honour even though he died two years after the war.
He distinguished himself as a student. He came to Grammar after winning a District Scholarship, and left with a University Entrance Scholarship, going on to study law at the then Auckland University College. In his final year he helped the school win the Natal Shield, a rifle shooting competition for high school students.
Bombardier Kinloch enlisted when he turned 20, in 1916. After training he arrived in England in January 1917, and France that March. He served at Passchendaele and witnessed the horror of Bellevue Spur. Although physically unharmed, he carried deep scars of the mind. The star pupil returned to this school where he was made an Assistant Master. The school archive records that he was shown “remarkable compassion by offering him time off, limited hours and much personal support.”
Unfortunately, that help was too little and the trauma too much. He took his own life in May 1920. The Herald recorded his passing as ‘A Victim of the War,’ and his name was added to the roll of honour outside.
As we remember those who served and sacrificed, it is worth remembering the values they practiced. Bravery and sacrifice, yes, but also compassion and pragmatism. While it’s easy for us to lambast the futility of World War I with over a century of hindsight, they showed unity of purpose in protecting our fledgling nation.
When they returned from World War II, they were determined to enshrine universal human rights. They wanted to create a world where each human being was alike in dignity, never again subject to the inhuman prejudice and subjugation that went with that war.
Our then Prime Minister Peter Fraser was instrumental in founding the United Nations. Whatever people may think of the institution today, it was founded on a Universal Declaration of Human Rights that said “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood,” and “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
We all benefit from their sacrifices, and those of veterans since, and those serving in the New Zealand Defence Force today. We can also use the poignant times in history to ask ourselves how our national project is living up to the hopes of those who fought for it.
People who measure these things tell us that, 104 years after Bombardier Kinlock passed, our faith in our national project is at a low ebb. This is not a lament, because I suspect these things run in cycles, but here’s what they’re saying.
Ipsos, a French polling company, has run an annual survey of populist sentiment in various countries since 2016. This year they included New Zealanders in their survey, and their findings sadly pierce our beliefs about New Zealand exceptionalism.
60 per cent said New Zealand is in decline, against an all-country average of 58. Since it’s ANZAC day, I should mention the same figure in Australia is a significantly healthier 48 per cent. Meanwhile, 58 per cent of New Zealanders agreed the country is ‘broken’. That’s slightly better than the U.S. at 60 and slightly worse than the all-country average of 57.
Before New Zealand was incorporated into the survey, most countries were in decline on most measures. It’s likely New Zealand figures have been declining, too, we’re on the low side of a bad track.
Further figures challenge our self-image that we are a kinder, gentler village-like society. For example, 54 per cent say we need a “strong leader willing to break the rules,” not very reassuring stuff if you fought for democracy.
The figures go on from other surveys. 64 per cent say the country is more divided than five years ago, versus 16 per cent saying we are more united. Before COVID-19 hit, 53 per cent trusted media, today it is only 33. Before you think I’m lecturing, I know politicians and journalists tend to track each other in these figures. It seems we exist to make Lawyers and used car salesmen feel better, but the news is bad for everyone.
What are some of the reasons for this trend? Well, here’s two, one being the declining diversity of thought in institutions, and the other being the post-modern trend of identity politics.
A clue to this decline in unity and trust might be found in a story I heard from someone last week. He is involved in several community groups around their city. Because of some of the divisive topics in the world today, he lives multiple lives. He feels he can’t talk about one group in the company of another, or in one case even reveal they were involved in one group to another.
I suspect that such a person is rare, many of us don’t even cross the divides in belief that separate New Zealanders. People who conduct market research, focus groups tell me that their job has gotten harder in recent years because the participants are more cautious about sharing their opinions. Hard luck if your business is public opinion research, but the wider problem is we talk to each other less about hard topics.
Someone who’s studied this trend more scientifically is the American moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt, who’s documented the homogeneity of belief amongst university staff. He reasons that institutions reach a tipping point where people become hesitant to express a view contrary to the overwhelming majority. In academia that’s deadly to inquiry, and there’s no reason to think it’s limited to American universities.
There is less research on New Zealand institutions, but one might be found in the political views of our media. A survey of New Zealand journalists last year found that 81 per cent of journalists self-identify as having left wing political views, versus 15 per cent with right wing views. On the face of it, such homogeneity of belief cannot be good for dissenting against the norm. Suppressing those who challenge the orthodoxy might explain why trust in media fell so precipitously through the COVID period.
Of course there will be those who point out most organisations are more diverse than ever today. They’re right, when it comes to demographics, and that’s obviously worth celebrating. They’re also right that demographic diversity should bring diversity of thought, but they’re not the same thing.
The intellectual trend of post-modernism makes diversity of thought harder regardless of who’s in the room. It’s a belief system that tells us there is no objective reality. Instead, each person constructs a subjective world for themselves.
Then your beliefs are just a product of your “lived experience,” or pre-determined by your culture. That’s why people open their opinions with “as an a, b, c type of person,” or “writing from an x,y,z perspective.” In this world, to attack a person’s belief is not just that, it is to attack a person’s identity and even their value as a person. As another person summed up for me once, “this is supposed to be a time of enlightenment, but you have to walk on eggshells all the time.”
The result is a world where people can’t talk to each other. There is no common project of understanding the world as it is. Instead, we are forced to reconcile competing versions of the world without the common ground of objective reality. That makes for a divided world.
It’s harder to imagine taking on a collective struggle like defeating Nazism or defending our free land without that commitment to universal humanity and common objective reality.
If I’m right that homogenous thought in institutions thanks to post modernism has made it harder for people to share their views and deadened the life of professions and organisations alike, then we have a challenge living up to the ideals of the Universal Declaration. We also have an idea of what it would take to reverse the trend.
It's ok to hear unpopular views in our workplace, school or club. The criticism of an idea is not a criticism of a person. Ideas come and go. The great thing about being human is that we’re free to pick them up, try them out, and discard the ones we don’t like.
It helps to believe that the world is real, not constructed, and we are all equal; thinking and valuing beings able to make up our mind about it. That’s a much better epistemological vision than believing there is no real world, no common ground, just a range of competing views tied to identity.
This school’s founding values point us in the right direction. “For persons of all races and classes who may inhabit this colony,” and “per angusta, ad augusta.” In those founding words are the foundations of a belief that any student, no matter their background, can study the world and achieve excellence.
The people we remember today were kind, sympathetic, and had great hopes for a world of universal humanity. One where we join hands to make progress understanding the wonders of the natural world to improve human welfare. The best way to remember them is to cherish and live by those values they lived, fought for, and recorded at the war’s end.
Lest we forget.