ACT's Fiscal Plan

New Zealanders are working hard, but wages aren’t stretching far enough and too many young Kiwis see a better future overseas. Making life more affordable means growing wages as well as bringing costs down. That requires confidence to invest and build businesses here.

Government has to do its part by living within its means. Taxpayers are spending more than $1 million an hour on interest alone, money that could fund better healthcare or be left in your pocket. Cutting taxes by borrowing more would only pass the bill to the next generation, with interest.

ACT’s Fiscal Plan balances the books without new taxes and starts paying down debt. We’ll cut spending outside protected frontline services and make government smaller and more accountable, with 19 departments and 18 ministers. We’ll also gradually raise the NZ Super age to 67 by 2035, with compassionate early access for people who have spent much of their careers in physically demanding jobs.

The savings let us fund better services, including easier access to care through pharmacists, and remove tax on qualifying KiwiSaver investment earnings. More of your returns can stay invested and grow for retirement, without asking you to give up more of your pay today.

By 2031, debt will be $12.4 billion lower than current forecasts, leaving New Zealand better prepared for the next earthquake or major crisis. Balancing the books lays the groundwork for much lower, flatter taxes backed by lasting spending control. We’ll cut the waste to grow the country, Lock Labour Out and Unlock New Zealand’s Potential.

ACT’s Fiscal Plan 2026

Our plan to unlock New Zealand's potential sets out how we’ll cut waste and fund better services, with the costings in full.

Explore ACT’s Fiscal Plan →

Watch New Zealand’s debt grow

See how fast New Zealand’s debt is growing and the bill taxpayers are left to carry. Our debt ticker shows the scale of the challenge.

Watch the debt grow →

ACT will:

• Balance the books with no new taxes, putting much lower taxes within reach.

• Cut $9.5 billion a year from spending outside welfare and protected frontline services once fully implemented.

• Make government smaller and more accountable, with 19 departments and 18 ministers responsible for budgets and results.

• Remove tax on KiwiSaver investment earnings and discontinue the government contribution.

• Introduce a Carbon Tax Refund, returning net revenue from Emissions Trading Scheme auctions to New Zealanders.

• Gradually raise the NZ Super age to 67 by 2035, with compassionate early access for people who have spent much of their careers in physically demanding jobs.

• Fund better healthcare, expanding pharmacist care and setting aside around $2 billion as a funding contingency for a National Cancer Centre.

In our team’s words:

ACT Leader David Seymour says:

“It is immoral to keep borrowing for political promises and sending the bill to the next generation. We are cutting waste, bringing the surplus forward, and using some of those savings to let New Zealanders build greater financial security.

“New Zealand needs a credible path to surplus without new taxes, and an economy where work, saving and investment pay off. A stronger ACT presence in government will provide the determination to deliver both. That is how we unlock New Zealand’s potential.”