Simon Court MP is the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform. Simon was first elected to Parliament as an ACT Party MP in 2020. Before politics, Simon worked as a Civil and Environmental Engineer with 23 years’ experience in roles for the private sector and local government. This includes 10 years leading engineering, planning, tendering, and construction teams primarily in Auckland, Wellington, and Fiji.
Latest Press Releases
$26m on consultants for Three Waters
03 August, 2022
“Labour’s wildly unpopular Three Waters programme has turned into a consultant’s banquet, with more than $26 million spent on consultants and contractors as at 31 May 2022,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
$638,000 spent promoting Labour policy
14 September, 2022
“Labour wasted $638,000 promoting its public transport policy to people who already used public transport,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
$7.4 billion but no new driving lanes
03 August, 2022
“Lets Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) has finally jumped the shark, this morning announcing a new four-lane tunnel for bikes, walkers and buses through Mt Victoria, but not adding any increased capacity for motorists,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
A list of irrelevant measures announced under the guise of “Emissions Reduction”
14 June, 2022
“If the Emissions Reduction Plan is anything to go by this Government has lost all touch with reality and is unable to separate climate change policy from any other part of life,” says ACT Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
ACT absolutely positively supports Progress Wellington
14 June, 2022
“The depth of feeling from Wellington businesses couldn’t be clearer, it’s time for Let’s Get Wellington Moving to start listening,” says ACT’s transport spokesperson Simon Court....
ACT believes polluters should pay
14 June, 2022
“Big companies should no longer be able to get away dumping contaminants into New Zealand’s drains and getting away with it,” ACT Environment and Local Government spokesperson Simon Court says....
ACT floats scrapping road taxes on marine fuel
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is calling on the Government to scrap road taxes on marine fuel,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
ACT forces submission extension to RMA reform process
08 December, 2022
“Parliament’s Environment Committee has agreed to ACT’s proposal to extend time for submissions on RMA reform, after Labour MPs tried to truncate the process to the summer shutdown period when businesses would find it harder to submit,” says ACT’s Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court.
ACT opposes emissions budgets
14 June, 2022
“Just like with the Zero Carbon Bill in 2019, ACT is the only party in Parliament to stand up against flawed climate legislation,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
ACT releases Three Waters policy
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today released our Three Waters Policy as we respond to the Government’s proposal to move control of water assets away from local communities and into centralised bodies,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
ACT’s infrastructure plan needed now more than ever
14 June, 2022
“The Infrastructure Commission’s draft 30-year plan shows we need 115,000 more homes and meaningful RMA reform to fix the housing crisis and ACT has the solutions,” says ACT’s Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court....
ACT says Clean Car Discount should go
16 November, 2022
“The Clean Car Discount needs to go and ACT will keep campaigning to get rid of it,” says ACT’s Transport and Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
ACT support Communities 4 Local Democracy
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party will today meet with the newly formed Communities for Local Democracy – He hapori mō te Manapori, as it fights the Government’s undemocratic Three Waters policy,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
ACT the only party for Real Change on RMA reform
14 June, 2022
“The Natural and Built Environments Bill is just the RMA in drag and ACT is the only party willing to oppose it,” says ACT’s Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court....
ACT welcomes common sense report on climate change
14 June, 2022
“ACT has welcomed New Zealand Initiative Senior Economist Matt Burgess’s report on climate change policy Pretence of Necessity. It reiterates what ACT has been saying all along, our Government’s climate policies are costly, ineffective, and need to go,” says ACT’s...
ACT welcomes Labour back-pedal
14 June, 2022
“The Labour Government has done the right thing by scrapping the Auckland cycle bridge,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
ACT will create a ‘Nation-Building Agency’
14 June, 2022
The ACT Party has today announced it will introduce a Public-Private Partnership Agency known as the ‘Nation-Building Agency’ (NBA), says ACT’s Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court....
AG’s verdict should sink Three Waters
08 August, 2022
“The Auditor-General’s comments on Labour’s divisive Three Waters should be the final nail in the coffin for the widely-rejected reforms,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
An Environmental Protection Act that works
30 November, 2022
“Almost everyone is frustrated with the Resource Management Act, including environmentalists who believe it has failed its environmental goals. ACT’s proposed Resource Management reforms would simplify and focus resource management law to ensure the health of the air, water and soil, along with biodiversity, are protected a
Ardern, Shaw blow hot air with climate target
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern and James Shaw are blowing hot air with a climate target that is fanciful, given our trading partners’ more modest commitments and the reality of a country burning Indonesian coal to keep the lights on even now,” says...
Auckland Transport spends $71m slowing down Auckland
13 December, 2022
“Auckland Transport is spending $71 million lowering speed limits in Auckland, ratepayers just want them to spend that money fixing potholes,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Better, faster infrastructure planning funding
30 November, 2022
“ACT has announced a suite of measures to get infrastructure built faster at less cost to the taxpayer and ratepayer. These measures borrow from around the world where a range of vehicles are used to get infrastructure done, compared with New Zealand’s limited and parochial range of infrastructure ownership, funding and fin
Billions of dollars for barely any capacity
03 August, 2022
“The Government plans to spend over a billion dollars to ensure around 44,000 fewer daily trips through the Mt Victoria Tunnel,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Birkenhead bike bridge cost up to $150m
14 June, 2022
“Documents dumped on Christmas Eve, show the Government will now spend up $150 million to get a bus or ferry instead of a bike bridge, three times the original cost,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Bumpy start for central planners
14 June, 2022
“The Climate Commission’s grand plan is already going awry, because, as the Russians will admit, it’s too hard to plan an entire economy,” says ACT Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Car-hating, tax-loving government drives distributors out of the country
14 June, 2022
“Distributors are being driven out of the country by a government that hates cars and loves tax”, says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Carbon Tax Refund? We hear ya!
09 January, 2023
“ACT knows Kiwis are struggling, not just with a cost of living crisis, but a tax crisis too. That's why we would return the revenue collected from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to them in the form of a Carbon Tax Refund. That would mean a $1558 payment in the next fiscal year to a family of four,” says ACT’s Climate C
Cash for clunkers an expensive failure
14 June, 2022
“The Government is rolling out failed Obama era policies that are going to cost New Zealanders during a cost of living crisis,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Clean Car scheme adding bureaucracy, not reducing emissions
19 September, 2022
“Motorcycle importers are being forced to undergo more red tape and bureaucracy because Labour’s Clean Car Standard is so poorly designed,” says ACT’s Transport and Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
Clean car standard is a 20 percent tax
14 June, 2022
“The proposed Land Transport (Clean Vehicle) Amendment Bill is virtue signalling nonsense that will see the Government once again raiding Kiwis back pockets, says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Climate Change Commission process must be paused
14 June, 2022
“The whole Climate Change Commission process of providing long term recommendations to the Government should be halted immediately, until it can get its house in order,” says ACT Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Climate Change Commission won’t stop one gram of emissions
14 June, 2022
“The Climate Change Commission’s proposals for reducing our emissions will give massive power to government, hit Kiwis with higher costs, but fail to achieve its goal,” says ACT’s Climate Change Spokesperson Simon Court in ACT’s submission on the Commission’s advice...
Climate Commission extension warranted
14 June, 2022
“It’s not good enough that three weeks after releasing its draft report the Climate Commission hasn’t been able to supply potential submitters with the models and underlying data it based its assumptions and recommendations on,” says ACT Climate Change spokesperson...
Climate Commission’s virtue signalling costing Kiwis
03 August, 2022
“James Shaw has once again shown that his Government is more focussed on platitudes than progress when it comes to climate policy,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Climate law change proposed by ACT
14 June, 2022
“A law change proposed by the ACT Party proposes a much fairer way for New Zealand to meet our climate obligations and will keep thousands of highly paid jobs in our communities,” says ACT’s Environment and Climate Change spokesperson Simon...
Climate Levy a cash grab dressed up as a green fig leaf
14 June, 2022
“The Auckland Council’s “climate levy” is costly greenwashing when the Council should be focusing on getting homes built and keeping the sewage off the beach,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Clunkers scheme belongs on the scrapheap
13 September, 2022
“Labour hasn’t done its homework on the ideological ‘Cash for Clunkers’ scheme, and after realising the policy won’t lower emissions are now trying to claim it’s about ‘equity’,” says ACT’s Transport and Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
Co-government in water entities needs to go
25 October, 2022
“The Minister for Local Government Nanaia Mahuta is unable to justify why it is necessary for mana whenua to get more of a say than other parts of the community when it comes to the four new water entities,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Coal boiler ban is virtue signalling
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s ban on coal-fired boilers won’t stop one gram of emissions because the Emissions Trading Scheme already sets a hard cap,” says ACT’s Environment Spokesperson Simon Court....
Coal imports up again, Govt must reverse gas exploration ban
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s marketing-led environmentalism has been mugged by scientific reality”, says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
Coal the latest consequence of bad policy
14 June, 2022
“ACT feels genuinely sorry for the Prime Minister every time the market she’s tampered with proves her nuclear free moment was just a line in a speech, not the harbinger of reductions in New Zealand’s climate change emissions,” says ACT...
Consistent treatment of forestry investors welcomed
14 June, 2022
“The announcement that overseas investors intending to purchase farmland for forestry will be treated consistently with other investors will come as a welcome relief to rural New Zealand”, says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court and Primary Industries spokesperson Mark...
Councils should focus on core services instead of hiking rates
14 November, 2022
“The projected $270m budget hole in Auckland Council’s finances show why a focus on core services and ACT’s GST-sharing policy are essential for ratepayers,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Damage complaints double, NZTA avoids responsibility
18 October, 2022
“The number of people complaining to NZTA/Waka Kotahi about damage to their vehicles because of the state of our roads has almost doubled in the past five years – but you won’t find the agency taking responsibility,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
David Seymour, Speech to Milford Rotary Club
14 June, 2022
Thank you very much for hosting me at Milford Rotary again. Every time I speak at Rotary I thank you for what you’ve done to polio around the world. My mother was born in April 1956, five months before the...
Distance of Wellington to Mexico under speed limit review
11 December, 2022
“Seven times the length of New Zealand, the distance of Wellington to Mexico has been under review for speed limit reductions in the past few years," says ACT's Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Ditch the ute tax? We hear ya!
09 January, 2023
“Why should tradies be taxed to subsidise Teslas? ACT says the Clean Car Discount and Clean Car Standard should go,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Driving up car prices in a cost of living crisis
28 November, 2022
“The Government’s Clean Car Standard (Ute Tax) is expected to increase the price of used cars by 20 to 25 per cent, making life tougher for everyday Kiwis grappling with the cost of living crisis,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Drop co-governance of Three Waters
14 June, 2022
“Nanaia Mahuta should stop listening to Labour’s powerful Māori Caucus and start listening to ratepayers when it comes to co-governance of Three Waters”, says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Evidence needed for Harbour Bridge cycle lane
14 June, 2022
“Cyclists who have broken the law to cross the Auckland Harbour Bridge need to provide evidence to back up their case,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
First steps of Government’s car tax start today
14 June, 2022
“The first step towards a car tax that punishes tradies and farmers comes into effect today,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Forget the right side of history, is EECA on the side of taxpayers?
14 June, 2022
“Amidst a global pandemic where debt and spending are at record highs, taxpayers have forked out almost $600,000 for a 30 second video about being on the ‘right side’ of climate change,” says ACT’s Energy spokesperson Simon Court....
Free Press, 20 September 2021
14 June, 2022
ACT achieved its highest ever poll result at 15 percent, with momentum still growing. ACT’s polling is a barometer of where New Zealand is headed. The only party to consistently rise in the polls is calling for the country to...
Future of local govt report an attack on liberal democracy
28 October, 2022
“The Government’s review into the future of local government proposes ‘differentiated liberal citizenships’, where people get different rights based on their cultural and ethnic background. Is this what Willie Jackson meant when he said, ‘democracy has changed’?” Asks ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Gas barbecued chickens coming home to roost
14 June, 2022
“The Government was warned its hasty virtue signalling policy of banning new oil and gas exploration would have the opposite of its intended impact on the domestic economy and the global environment, and so it looks set to play out...
Gen Less continuing to Cost More
14 June, 2022
“After revealing last year that taxpayers’ forked out $600,000 for a 30 second compilation of file photos as part of the Right Side of History campaign, ACT has now discovered that the campaign’s cost to taxpayers far exceeds this, with...
Get politicians out of transport
14 June, 2022
“The light rail saga is proof we need to get politicians out of transport and infrastructure decision-making to get better long-term outcomes”, says ACT Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Government fails low carbon test
14 June, 2022
“It’s clear from the Climate Commission’s draft report that the Government’s poorly thought out climate policies have severely impacted New Zealand’s ability to innovate to decarbonise the economy,” says ACT Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Government must follow most efficient pathway
14 June, 2022
“A startling admission from the Climate Commission chair that his group’s draft advice to Government does not recommend the most efficient pathway or policies for emissions reduction brings the whole process into disrepute,” says ACT Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Government needs ACT's climate plan
14 June, 2022
“The Government's lofty emissions reduction targets will be difficult to meet without ACT's climate change plan,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Government proves sometimes you just need a diesel
14 June, 2022
“The Government has proved that sometimes electric doesn’t cut it and you just need a diesel,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Government relying on something that doesn’t exist for energy shortages
14 June, 2022
“When questioned by the ACT Party about the risk of energy shortages, Energry and Resources Minister Megan Woods said she’s considering a range of projects through the NZ Battery Project which doesn’t even exist yet,” says ACT’s Energy spokesperson Simon...
Government should leave it to the experts with construction changes
05 December, 2022
“Labour is trying to solve problems that businesses are already solving by themselves, except Labour’s way means more red tape and lectures from government officials,” says ACT’s Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court.
Government squandering RMA reform opportunity
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s proposed reforms to the Resource Management Act pose a serious risk of adding more restrictions and confusion to the already chaotic regime,” says ACT Environment spokesperson Simon Court....
Govt Holiday Journeys Traffic Prediction Tool could be satire
14 June, 2022
“Waka Kotahi’s new Holiday Journey Prediction Tool sounds like something from a satirical News site. It would be a great source of Christmas amusement if it hadn’t just wasted an unknown amount of taxpayer money,” says ACT Transport Spokesperson Simon...
Govt opts for populism over sensible climate policy
14 June, 2022
“The Government has opted for populism over sensible climate policy with its latest announcement,” according to ACT’s Transport and Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Govt refuses to make Three Waters equal for all
23 November, 2022
“The Government has again shown that Three Waters is simply a trojan horse for more co-government, refusing to amend the legislation to allow all New Zealanders to have an equal say,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Govt spreading Three Waters misinformation
18 November, 2022
“Labour lost the argument on Three Waters, so they resorted to spreading misinformation about rates increases in a cynical attempt to garner some support,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Govt steaming ahead with divisive Three Waters
14 June, 2022
“The Government has ignored everyday Kiwis and their valid criticisms of Three Waters and is steamrolling through more legislation today,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court says....
High Court finds James Shaw filled with hot air
25 November, 2022
“The targets set by James Shaw under the Zero Carbon Act were never achievable and the High Court’s recent ruling proves it. It is nothing but expensive climate-change performance art,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
Hillside an expensive vanity project
14 June, 2022
“The Government received advice from Treasury, KiwiRail and the Transport Ministry that the Dunedin Hillside Rail project was a political decision and not based on sound economic advice,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Hurry up and wait! There’s a climate emergency
14 June, 2022
“In a world first, the Government has postponed responding to an emergency. The Government declared a ‘Climate Emergency’ last year, now it’s delayed its Emissions Reduction Plan by five months,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Ideological fuel mandate would only increase costs
14 June, 2022
"The Government’s plan to force retailers in to using biofuels will pump up the price of fuel and is pointless when the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) can help us meet our targets anyway,” says ACT’s Environment and Climate Change spokesperson...
If they steal it, we'll give it back
14 June, 2022
“ACT will be campaigning to return stolen property to councils, reversing Three Waters reforms and restoring democracy to New Zealand”, says ACT's Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Increased centralisation would lead to fewer buses
14 September, 2022
“Minister of Transport Michael Wood’s policy of trying to take public transport accountability away from private companies is a sop to union bosses that could lead to fewer buses on the road,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Industry tells Government to go back to the drawing board
03 August, 2022
“Industry groups like the Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) have had enough of the Government’s lack of consultation and refusal to see reason when it comes to the Clean Car Programme,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Is light rail the answer to Auckland’s transport crisis?
14 June, 2022
“Despite an announcement about plans for Auckland light rail being imminent, the fact of the matter is Aucklanders would still prefer better road connections in the city over a promise of light rail,” says ACT Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
James Shaw spends more time in isolation than Glasgow – for nothing
14 June, 2022
“The Climate Change Minister has spent more time in isolation than he spent in Glasgow announcing things that will make no real change to New Zealand's pre-existing policies,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Journey Planner part of Labour’s route to recession
14 June, 2022
“The New Zealand Transport Agency should stop wasting taxpayers’ money trying to create their own bargain bin Google Maps and worry about fixing roads instead,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Kafka would be proud of the EPA
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s supposedly fast-track consenting process is proving to be anything but, with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) a clear hindrance to progress rather than a facilitator,” says ACT Environment spokesperson Simon Court....
Kiwis say no to lower speed limits
06 November, 2022
“Documents from Waka Kotahi show that Kiwis don’t support having speed limits cut to a crawl. The Government should just end its war on cars,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Labour bribes ratepayers
14 June, 2022
“Labour has resorted to bribing councils and ratepayers to get its deeply unpopular Three Waters policy over the line”, says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Labour cares little for liberal democracy
03 August, 2022
“Labour’s fixation with shoe-horning co-governance into every aspect of our lives means the Canterbury Regional Council will soon be able to have unelected representatives based on their race,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Labour erodes local decision making
04 August, 2022
“Labour’s Local Government Electoral Legislation is trying to back councils into a corner where they are forced to consider implementing Māori wards,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Labour’s obsession with co-governance continues
14 June, 2022
“The Government needs to scrap its anti-democratic bill that would add unelected representatives to the Canterbury Regional Council based on their race,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Labour steals, ACT will repeal
09 December, 2022
“Labour believes it has gotten away with stealing local assets, but any Government ACT is a part of will repeal Three Waters”, says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Labour’s centralisation agenda rejected
31 October, 2022
“Local councils have rejected Three Waters and Labour’s centralisation agenda, and embraced ACT’s practical solutions for infrastructure,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Landfill tax comes into effect today
14 June, 2022
“Yet another tax from the Labour Party comes into effect today, this time a landfill levy,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court....
LGWM Absolutely Positively Inefficient
17 November, 2022
“Lets Get Wellington Moving’s (LGWM) name doesn’t match its objectives, which place more than twice the importance on getting people out of cars than providing more efficient transport for Wellingtonians,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Lights out should have been avoided
14 June, 2022
“Jacinda Ardern’s idealism has tonight collided with energy reality as the lights went out in the Waikato,” says ACT’s Energy spokesperson Simon Court....
Local Government needs to get back to basics
14 June, 2022
“The review from Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta completely misses the mark of what is important to ratepayers,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Mahuta admits Māori have not expressed interest in Three Waters assets
14 June, 2022
”Nanaia Mahuta has admitted under questioning from the ACT Party that there is no need for co-governance around Three Waters,” says ACT Local Government and Environment spokesperson Simon Court....
Mahuta carries on with ‘my way or the highway’ 3W reforms
11 November, 2022
“Labour is continuing to bulldoze through its wildly unpopular Three Waters policy, despite New Zealanders overwhelmingly rejecting it,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Mahuta should apologise for inappropriate Three Waters ad
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party has today commended the Public Service Commission for intervening over the inappropriate Three Waters advertisement,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Michael Wood defends transport mega spend
03 August, 2022
“Minister of Transport Michael Wood has basically told Kiwis that their taxpayer dollars don’t matter when it comes to the cost of Labour’s transport projects,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Mining ban more illogical virtue-signalling
03 February, 2023
“Reports that Labour is going to push through legislation to ban new mines on public conservation land shows they’re prepared to ignore common sense and the wellbeing of New Zealanders to kowtow to environmental activists,” says ACT’s Energy and Resources spokesperson Simon Court.
Minister delivers a whitewash Christmas
14 June, 2022
“Transport Minister Michael Wood has delivered the worst possible news this week to people affected by years of disruption from City Rail Link construction,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Minister must front up and apologise for scapegoating
14 June, 2022
“After publicly throwing commercial power companies under the bus following widespread power outages in August last year, the Electricity Authority has shown the Minister was just trying to shift the blame with her baseless remarks,” says ACT’s Energy spokesperson Simon...
Minister won’t commit to Three Waters changes
14 June, 2022
“The Local Government Minister has today confirmed what mayors and many New Zealanders feared, if the Three Waters Working Group on Representation, Governance and Accountability recommends that the governance structure should include more local representation, she probably won’t listen,” says...
More co-governance, bureaucracy in new Three Waters bill
14 June, 2022
“Far from pulling back from co-governance in Three Waters, Labour has doubled down,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
National expert backs ACT over Scott Simpson
14 June, 2022
“ACT is disappointed to hear National’s Climate Change spokesperson Scott Simpson contradict new National staffer Matt Burgess’ common sense approach to climate change,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
New evidence of Three Waters bribe emerges
14 June, 2022
“New evidence has emerged that the Government sought to bribe councils to accept its Three Waters reforms”, says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
New RMA a three headed hydra
14 June, 2022
“RMA reform must uphold the rights of property owners while freeing up land for development and making it easier to develop, a balance which is completely missing from today’s announced repeal and replacement of New Zealand’s consenting system,” says ACT...
New RMA is Three Waters for the land
22 November, 2022
“Instead of replacing the RMA with a property-rights based system that allows Kiwis to develop more and get things done, Labour has used their replacement as a trojan horse for more co-government,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Over 100,000 New Zealanders could face car tax in first year
14 June, 2022
“The Transport Minister has admitted that more than 100,000 New Zealanders could be hit with his car tax next year,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Pain at the pump – what happened to Labour’s solution?
14 June, 2022
“As Kiwi families head away for their summer roadies – they’ll be wondering what happened to Labour’s promise to reduce pain at the pump,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Pausing Climate Commission’s work more urgent
14 June, 2022
“One of New Zealand’s most eminent economists has busted open the sketchy basis for many of the Climate Commission’s draft recommendations to the Government, concluding they regularly misrepresented evidence to support their positions,” says ACT Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Politicians should walk the talk on climate change
14 June, 2022
“ACT is again calling on politicians to put their money where their mouth is and reduce their travel to reduce emissions,” ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court says....
Practical measures should take precedence for climate adaptation
04 August, 2022
“The Government’s National Adaptation Plan incentivises people to build and live in risky coastal areas with the safety net of a government insurance payout,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
Real Change to building infrastructure
03 August, 2022
“New Zealand needs to build its way out of the cost of living crisis, but in order to do that we need to scrap the Resource Management Act (RMA) and replace it with a fit-for-purpose set of environmental and urban...
Road repairs not built to last
17 January, 2023
“It’s little wonder Kiwis are finding their roads are falling apart. The Government has reduced the amount of structural asphalt resurfacings by more than half while greatly increasing the amount of thin asphalt coverings,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Road tax on marine fuel should be scrapped
14 June, 2022
“The ACT Party is calling on the Government to scrap road taxes on marinefuel,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Scrap the road tax on marine fuel
14 June, 2022
“ACT has today launched a petition to scrap road taxes on marine fuel,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Secret letter shows Greens and Labour both hate drivers
14 June, 2022
“The release of the ‘secret letter’ from former Associate Transport Minister Julie-Anne Genter to Labour’s former Minister of Transport shows that Labour and the Greens are united in their viewpoint of making life impossible for drivers,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson...
Sick of potholes? We hear ya!
09 January, 2023
“There’s now an open question about whether New Zealand’s roads have more orange cones or more potholes. Waka Kotahi’s solution is to spend your money reducing the speed limits instead of fixing the roads,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Simple and costless action to help the climate
14 June, 2022
“Yesterday’s lolly scramble of a climate announcement is full of plans to make plans, but ACT has a simple and practical solution that politicians can implement right now to help the climate,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
South Islanders will pay for light rail
14 June, 2022
“New Zealanders from the Waikato to Southland will be paying for Auckland light rail”, says ACT Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Stop lowering speed limits? We hear ya!
09 January, 2023
“If you feel like you’re travelling slower this summer, consider that 11,095km of road has been under speed limit review since July 2018,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Stop tinkering, cut income taxes
14 December, 2022
“Labour needs to stop tinkering with petrol taxes, get back to fixing our roads, and instead let people keep more of the money they earn”, says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Submitters echo ACT’s concerns over RMA retread
07 February, 2023
“Submitters to Parliament’s Environment Select Committee have warned the Government that its proposed replacement for the RMA risks replacing an old dog with a far bigger monster, they should adopt ACT’s alternative property-rights based approach,” says ACT’s Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court.
Subsidies instead of fixing the problem? We hear ya!
09 January, 2023
“Ministerial briefings show that the Government’s half price subsidy for public transport isn’t leading to any greater use of public transport, taxpayers are wondering why they’re paying millions in a cost of living crisis for policy that doesn’t achieve anything,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Take co-government out of Three Waters? We hear ya!
25 January, 2023
“Three Waters is a trojan horse for more co-government, ACT says all New Zealanders should have an equal say,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
The cost of carbon under Labour
14 June, 2022
“The cost of carbon under the Emissions Trading Scheme pushed up the cost of electricity and added to record fuel prices in 2021 and food is next,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court....
Thirty scenarios for Three Waters just slightly adjusted maps
14 June, 2022
“Nanaia Mahuta grossly exaggerated when she said the Government looked at 30 scenarios for Three Waters,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Three Waters bribe another waste of money
03 August, 2022
“Labour has again resorted to bribery in a desperate attempt to get its wildly unpopular Three Waters reform programme across the line,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Three Waters delay a chance for Mahuta to listen
14 June, 2022
“The Government’s decision to delay Three Waters is welcomed by ACT, we just hope Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta uses the extra to time to listen,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Three Waters entrenchment on dangerous constitutional ground
27 November, 2022
“An attempt by the Greens and Labour to entrench ownership of three waters assets in the new Water Services Entities breaks dangerous constitutional ground, but will be repealed all the same,” says ACT Local Government Spokesperson Simon Court.
Three Waters isn’t the answer
14 December, 2022
“Labour keeps forcing through its Three Waters legislation. They shouldn’t bother because ACT will repeal it,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Three Waters Petition reaches 43,000 signatures
14 June, 2022
“A petition from the ACT Party to return stolen property to local councils has had more than 43,000 signatures,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Three Waters petition reaches 50,000 signatures
31 October, 2022
“Kiwis are resoundingly against Labour’s anti-democratic Three Waters agenda and 50,000 have signed ACT’s petition to return stolen property to local councils,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Three Waters problems remain with two
03 August, 2022
“Separating stormwater from the Three Waters reforms might be sensible but all of the problems with the legislation remain,” says ACT Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Three Waters will be gone under ACT
14 June, 2022
“Any Government ACT is a part of will reverse Labour’s wildly unpopular Three Water reforms,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Time for the Govt to listen on Three Waters
14 June, 2022
“It is critical that New Zealanders have access to safe drinking water and high-quality infrastructure for storm and wastewater. Currently the system is not up to scratch, but the Government’s proposed reforms simply miss the mark,” says ACT’s Local Government...
Time to back-pedal on cycle bridge
14 June, 2022
“Grant Robertson is right to have second thoughts about the Auckland Cycle Bridge. He should listen to New Zealanders and scrap the idea,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Tradies tax to subsidise Teslas comes into effect
14 June, 2022
“Commuters across New Zealand will be disappointed that from 1 April the Government’s deeply unpopular car tax will be coming in to effect,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Victims of forestry slash deserve accountability
16 February, 2023
“As the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle brings rivers of slash through Kiwis’ homes and livelihoods, ACT is proposing a change to resource management that would ensure accountability lies with those responsible, and property owners are spared further pain,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court.
Waka Kotahi in disarray
13 September, 2022
“Labour is failing to deliver anything other than inflated budgets and project delays, with only two of its 15 highest cost infrastructure projects delivered on time and on budget,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Waka Kotahi the grinch that says no to new road opening
09 January, 2023
“The brand new Puhoi to Warkworth road is ready to open and provide a safer and faster journey for motorists, but Waka Kotahi is refusing to let people on it before Christmas,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Where’s the cost benefit analysis for the bridge?
14 June, 2022
“Transport Minister Michael Wood needs to release the cost benefit analysis for the walking/cycling bridge he’s proposing for Auckland,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court....
Who’s checking the checkers?
14 June, 2022
“News that flood protection work undertaken by the Otago Regional Council may be responsible for killing hundreds of native fish begs the question whether those responsible for enforcing resource management standards on others will be held to account themselves,” asks...
Working group doesn’t address real issues
14 June, 2022
“The insider-led working group set up by Local Government Minister Mahuta in response to community concerns about her agenda will please the Minister, but it has failed to address the real problems,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court....
Road safety taking a backseat to cycleways
09 April, 2023
“For everyone who has been stuck driving on a goat track that once resembled a road this long weekend, try not think about how much Labour has spent on cycleways,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Labour’s forges ahead with Henry VII power grab bill
06 April, 2023
“The Severe Weather Emergency Response Bill is an example of governance at its worst. Immensely powerful legislation being passed with minimal scrutiny, and a Government that ignores valid constitutional concerns,” says ACT’s Environment and Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court.
Should’ve And Could’ve, If Only He Wood’ve Listened To ACT
04 April, 2023
“Today in Parliament I asked the Minister of Transport just how much money he had wasted on the now-cancelled transport policies which ACT has always opposed,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
LGWM - a lot of staff but not much progress
02 April, 2023
“Lets Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) has spent $84m and increased its staffing levels by 50 per cent in the past year, but all they’ve managed to deliver is one pedestrian crossing,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Labour can’t use crisis to inflate its powers
28 March, 2023
“ACT cannot support the Government’s Severe Weather Emergency Response Bill through first reading. In its current form it is Henry VIII legislation that gives Ministers enormous powers unrelated to cyclone recovery,” says ACT’s Environment and Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court.
New report shows cost of oil and gas ban
22 March, 2023
“A new report from Castalia shows that Labour’s “nuclear free moment” is going to cost Kiwis big time,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
Greens pitch for role they’re already failing at
18 March, 2023
“Green Party Deputy Leader Marama Davidson has appeared on Newshub Nation’s ‘The Pitch’ this morning pleading for the Green Party to have more sway over climate policy, does she realise her co-leader has been the Climate Change Minister for over five years?” Asks ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
Infrastructure Commission report says cut the red tape
17 March, 2023
“The Infrastructure Commission has today released a damning report explicitly stating that the Government will fail to meet its emissions reductions targets if it does not radically reform the consenting process, which not only causes massive delays but drowns infrastructure projects in unnecessary costs,”
Cyclone legislation doesn’t do enough
16 March, 2023
“The Severe Weather Legislation being rushed through Parliament today is better than nothing, but disappointing for all the things it doesn’t do,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court.
CRL blowout announcement long time coming
15 March, 2023
“After asking the Government for three and a half years to provide the public with an updated cost estimate for City Rail Link, it has finally been announced the project is yet another budget blowout for Michael Wood,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Ute tax must go for cyclone-affected
14 March, 2023
“Transport Minister Michael Wood has point blank refused to even consider allowing cyclone victims to avoid a significant tax when replacing their written off utes,” says ACT’s Transport Spokesperson Simon Court.
Farmers fobbed off, relax the RMA
11 March, 2023
“The Government has fobbed off farmers by not relaxing the RMA in cyclone-affected areas, they must act now so farmers and growers can recover from Cyclone Gabrielle minus the red tape and bureaucracy,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court.
Wood needs to drop ute tax on struggling families
09 March, 2023
“With up to ten thousand vehicles expected to be written off in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, the Government’s ute tax needs to go. Flood-affected families trying to rebuild their lives shouldn’t be taxed more to help pay for someone’s new Tesla,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Road to Zero needs a u-turn
08 March, 2023
“Labour’s Road to Zero programme is underdelivering on safety improvements and overdelivering on speed restrictions that no one wants. The Government needs to sort out its priorities for road safety,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Transport Minister gaslights that roads aren’t falling apart
07 March, 2023
“Transport Minister Michael Wood today has proved himself to be totally out of touch with everyday Kiwis, he is governing for left-wing activists and not real people,” says ACT’s Transport Spokesperson Simon Court.
Environment Ministry – do as we say, not as we do
02 March, 2023
“Bureaucrats from the Environment Ministry told a Parliamentary Select Committee that moving people from cars to public transport is a top priority, then admitted that it spent a million dollars on taxis and flights and only $250 on public transport for its own staff,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court.
Three Waters rebrand an insult to Kiwis
13 April, 2023
“If Chris Hipkins had any respect for Kiwis then this morning’s Three Waters announcement would be that he’s getting rid of it completely. Instead he is unveiling a hollow rebrand that Kiwis won’t fall for,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Waka Kotahi’s lacklustre contribution to Auckland flooding response
23 April, 2023
“Waka Kotahi’s response to the events of January 27th in Auckland have been revealed to have been slow off the mark and totally underwhelming,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Five times more spent on cycleways than at risk roads
26 April, 2023
“Labour’s transport priorities are clear for all to see. Despite highlighting hundreds of resilience risks in New Zealand’s roading network almost three years ago they have only started to address ten of them, meanwhile they’ve spent five times the amount on cycleways,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Consequences of Zero Carbon Act keep on coming
26 April, 2023
“The Climate Change Commission’s latest batch of recommendations will cost the country immensely without reducing emissions one bit. This is what ACT warned about when we were the only party to vote against the Zero Carbon Bill,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
Climate change should be science-based, not spiritual
30 April, 2023
“Any response to climate change needs to based on science, not vague spiritual concepts which don’t lower emissions one bit,” says ACT’s Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
No basis for Three Waters co-government arrangement
02 May, 2023
“Labour has confirmed in his own confused way that there is no legal basis for implementing co-government arrangements in water infrastructure,” says ACT’s Three Waters spokesperson Simon Court.
Oil and gas ban led to more emissions
03 May, 2023
“A new report from EnergyLink shows that ACT was correct right from the beginning, Labour’s oil and gas ban wasn’t environmental policy, it was a publicity stunt,” says ACT’s Energy and Resources spokesperson Simon Court.
ACT launches petition to speed up the clean-up of Auckland’s beaches
20 May, 2023
“ACT has launched a petition which urges the Government to adopt ACT’s three-point plan to speed up the clean-up of Auckland’s beaches,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court.
ACT would scrap $79m agency responsible for ‘showerganda’
29 May, 2023
The agency, EECA receives $79 million from the taxpayer each year to ‘promote’ energy efficiency, but its main ‘jobs’ are giving unnecessary handouts and lecturing New Zealanders about taking shorter showers.
$2.8m for ‘showerganda’: EECA doesn’t live in the real world
29 May, 2023
“Newshub’s revelation that a condescending campaign for five-minute showers will cost $2.8 million shows Wellington bureaucrats don’t live in the real world and EECA should be scrapped altogether, as proposed in ACT’s alternative budget last week”, says ACT’s Climate Change Spokesperson Simon Court.
‘Coalition of Chaos’ strikes again: Refusal to define mātauranga Māori will create red tape and delay
29 May, 2023
At today’s Environment Select Committee, Labour and Green Party members voted down a proposal from ACT MP Simon Court to include a definition of mātauranga Māori in the Natural and Built Environment Bill (NBE Bill), one of the two Bills which replace the RMA.
ACT agrees with the Wellington Six – scrap ‘Let’s Get Wellington Moving”
30 May, 2023
ACT’s Infrastructure Spokesperson Simon Court is right behind the six Wellington Councillors calling for the scrapping of Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM).
“Monthly spending on LGWM shot up from $280k in 2017 to $7.4 million in March 23 – and what is there to show for it?” he said. “One pedestrian crossing.”
Real Change Now Speech: Simon Court
06 June, 2023
Speech: Simon Court
Real Change Now, SkyCity Theatre, 4 June 2023
Infrastructure report says it time to embrace private enterprise
14 June, 2023
“A new report highlights the need for New Zealand to adopt ACT’s policy of using private enterprise and local knowledge to get its infrastructure up to speed,” says ACT’s Infrastructure spokesperson Simon Court.
Government needs to stop fiddling with the ETS and just let it work
19 June, 2023
“The Government’s ETS reform options released today are largely unnecessary,” says ACT’s Environment Spokesperson Simon Court. “CO2 reductions can be achieved by supporting the current Emissions Trading Scheme.”
“All the problems to date have been the result of Government meddling. The ETS itself has shown it can work, we just have to be brave and implement it properly.
Serve up core services not word salads
21 June, 2023
“Our communities want their councils to get back to the basics. Water, rubbish, housing and roads is what councils should be focussed on. The last thing they need is another word salad from the Government like the Review into the Future for Local Government,” says ACT’s Local Government spokesperson Simon Court.
Let’s Get Wellington Moving Absolutely Positively must go
29 June, 2023
“If Wellington City Council’s (WCC) faction of clueless left-wing councillors try and condemn the city to Let’s Get Wellington Moving today, Central Government should at least do the right thing and pull its funding out of it,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Will Mauri make our water safe to drink
29 June, 2023
“The Labour Government’s obsession with adding race-based hierarchy to every piece of legislation has come to Three Waters,” says ACT’s Infrastructure Spokesperson Simon Court, “but will it fix our broken pipes and make our water safe to drink?”
ACT would reverse speed limit reductions
10 July, 2023
“ACT would ensure the next Government scraps the advice that is encouraging councils to lower speed limits, and instead tell councils to focus on what is right for communities - safe and efficient roads, not slowing people down and making society less productive,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Gas reserves drop to historic low
13 July, 2023
“With New Zealand’s gas reserves dropping below ten years of remaining use for the first time, Labour’s “Nuclear-Free Moment” could be even more reliant on imported gas and coal,” says ACT’s Energy and Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
RMA retread doubles down on past failures
18 July, 2023
“Instead of replacing the RMA with a property-rights based system that allows Kiwis to develop more and get things done, Labour is trying to pass a replacement that doubles down on the old RMA’s failures, with an extra helping of co-governance,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court.
Waka Kotahi’s $614 million state highway budget blowout
22 July, 2023
ACT’s transport spokesperson Simon Court can reveal that Waka Kotahi has overseen a state highway budget blowout of over $614 million across the last four financial years.
Auckland needs ACT’s transport policy
26 July, 2023
"Transport Minister David Parker's admission in Parliament today that toll roads work is encouraging, but the Government needs to accept that ACT's plan to change the way infrastructure is planned and funded, by inviting private partners to build infrastructure the Government can’t afford, is the only way to ensure New Zealanders have world class infrastructure,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Zero Carbon Act about to push up prices
27 July, 2023
“The price of just about everything is about to go up and the Green Party’s Zero Carbon Act, supported by every political party except ACT, is to blame”, says ACT Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court.
National has a will, ACT has a way
31 July, 2023
“National’s Transport announcement is currently a wish-list. Luckily for them, ACT has the policy to make this dream a reality,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
ACT will bring once in a generation change to RMA
16 August, 2023
“Labour is wasting Kiwis’ time and taxes urgently trying to pass RMA legislation that ACT will repeal as soon as the Government changes,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court.
Take the politics out of transport
17 August, 2023
“After six years spent trying to bully Kiwis out of their cars with ‘mode shift’, Labour now wants to talk about new roads a couple of months from election day. It’s a cynical attempt to bribe Kiwis with the prospect of shiny new roads, but nothing will get built until ACT’s policy to revamp transport funding is enacted,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Climate policies holding back efficient transport
20 August, 2023
“New Zealand’s transport system is going to continue to suffer as long as it is dictated by anti-progress climate policies,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Transmission Gully should be 110km/h
24 August, 2023
“Motorists on Transmission Gully should be able to travel at the speed the road was engineered for,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.
Government tries to pay NGOs to support reforms
06 September, 2023
“The Government is trying to pay non-government organisations to rush work on Labour’s RMA reforms through before the election. They should save taxpayers’ money, ACT is going to scrap it and implement a property-rights based resource management system instead,” says ACT’s Environment spokesperson Simon Court.
ACT will do more than just raise speed limits to get Kiwis moving
24 September, 2023
“Restoring speed limits is good, but it’s only part of what’s needed to get Kiwis moving,” says ACT Transport Spokesperson Simon Court. “ACT will ensure it’s safe to raise speed limits by making sure all the money raised from excise tax and road user charges actually goes into roads.”
Ute tax most successful initiative for punishing workers
11 October, 2023
“Chris Hipkins’ claim that the Ute Tax was one of Labour’s most successful initiatives either shows how little Labour has achieved, or how little they care about everyday Kiwis who are unable to drive an EV,” says ACT’s Transport spokesperson Simon Court.