Policies

A 5-Point Plan for Economic Recovery

ACT has a fully-costed plan for economic recovery, which keeps the debt low, cuts taxes, and gets the country back to surplus, while keeping Kiwis in work.

Covid-19 Response

The concept of wellbeing has been lost as New Zealand has scrambled to contain Covid-19. While the virus has been largely beaten with few deaths and no community transmission, we have lost sight of the many costs imposed by lockdowns that are unaffordable.

Transforming Mental Health

New Zealand is facing a mental health crisis. The system is a messy and disorderly mix of DHBs, NGOs, and primary care providers all struggling to be part of a coordinated response. ACT would create a separate, stand-alone Mental Health and Addiction agency on a national scale, which would empower patients to choose between a range of providers, rather than simply accept what their DHB offers.

Real Solutions for Small and Medium Enterprises

Covid-19 has hurt our small businesses. Through no fault of their own, they were forced to shut down. The crisis also showed how government puts small business to the back of the bus. While supermarket chains who retain lobbyists in Wellington were given a pass, people were forced to drive past their local butcher, baker and greengrocer, which were all shut.

It’s only right that government now creates policies which supports SMEs to thrive.

Defending Freedom of Expression

Hate speech laws punish people on the basis of opinion. Usually opinion is met by opinion, but under hate speech laws opinion is met by the power of the state. Freedom of expression is the basis of all freedoms. It must be defended. ACT has a policy for protecting free speech.

A Middle Income Tax Cut

ACT will cut taxes to get the economy moving again and Kiwis back into work. We'd temporarily cut GST to 10% and permanently cut the marginal tax rate paid by those on the median wage from 30% to 17.5%, simplifying the tax system to 3 rates.

Backing Tourism in a Covid World

Tourism is New Zealand’s largest export earner and is the sector that has been most affected by the Covid-19 crisis. Rather than picking favourites, we need to ask what can be done.

Build Like the Boomers

ACT’s strategy for housing and infrastructure, Build Like the Boomers, offers real solutions to New Zealand’s building woes. We’d get politicians out of the building business and leave it to those who know best – locals on the ground and everyday New Zealanders spending their own money. We would bring New Zealand back to its building heyday.

Real Solutions for Health

Covid-19 has highlighted how important access to high-quality healthcare and mental healthcare is for leading long and healthy lives.

However, the status quo isn’t acceptable. Our hospitals are run down and people are languishing on waiting lists. ACT has real, positive solutions to reform our healthcare system.

Real Solutions for Our Primary Industries

ACT wants to see the rural sector given the respect it deserves. Through Covid-19, the efforts of our farmers raised the level of respect rural New Zealanders get. The rural sector has been given a short reprieve from the campaign of demonisation. It’s time to put that change in rhetoric into action.

The World's Best Firearms Laws

ACT’s priority is to repeal this year’s Arms Legislation Act, including the threat of a firearm register, then set about making the world’s best firearm laws that balance public safety, firearms control, and freedom. We would introduce another Bill that repeals the Arms Act 1983 - and all subsequent amendments - after the Royal Commission reports back. The new law will be delivered in the next parliamentary term and will be the envy of the world.

Welfare as a Hand Up

New Zealand's welfare system hasn't been fundamentally reformed since the 1970s and it is showing its age. Too many children grow up without the positive example of a parent in work. Too many adults suffer from chronic welfare dependency. And, for those who do fall on hard times, the amount they receive in welfare is often far lower than the amount they contributed in taxation.

Guaranteeing the Freedom to Learn

We have some of the highest-performing schools and students in the world, but we also have a long tail of underachievement in disadvantaged communities. Our education system is a slow moving disaster. ACT has a plan for a world-class education system.

Energy and Resources

ACT will develop the resources to power our economic recovery.

Real Solutions for the Environment and the Climate

We pride ourselves on being clean and green, but the reality lags behind the rhetoric. Governments have offered up bold environmental policies, but they’re more symbolic than effective. We can do much better. ACT says we can take positive, practical steps towards a better environment by allowing individuals, businesses and communities the freedom to innovate.

Individual Choice on Individual Issues

ACT is a party of tolerance and respect. New Zealanders should be free to live their lives without government interference as long as they aren’t hurting others. David Seymour authored the End of Life Choice Act.

Hunting and Conservation

ACT believes we must protect our country’s unique flora and fauna by eradicating pests and predators. However, this shouldn’t occur at the expense of our valued introduced species. Fishing, hunting and gathering are important activities undertaken by many thousands of New Zealanders.