𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 “Today’s decision by the Reserve Bank to hold the Official Cash Rate shows that spending discipline is working, but the job isn’t done. The biggest influence on the cost of living is the cost of government, and progress on savings must continue if we want to keep downward pressure on inflation and interest rates,” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “Government needs a party that watches spending like a hawk. Otherwise, inflation will be our future as well as our past. Taxpayers need more ACT in Government to cut more waste and grow the economy. “When we entered Government, inflation was high and the OCR was 5.5 per cent. The Coalition has turned the tide with more disciplined Government spending. “ACT Ministers have driven $14 billion of savings across three Budgets, helping avoid more debt, taxes, and pressure on interest rates. That discipline has helped put the Government on a path back to surplus a year earlier. “ACT has been effective at getting our partners to agree with us. In Budget 2026, we agreed on a target for a smaller public service and fewer departments. The best time to listen to us would have been three years ago, but the second best time is now. “Today’s hold is welcome, but it is no reason to ease off. Government is inherently wasteful, and the fight against waste is never truly won. Keeping inflation and interest rates down requires discipline year after year. “Saving should start at the top. New Zealand cannot afford a Government that is twice the size of similar countries. ACT has released a plan for fewer Ministers, fewer departments, clearer accountability, and a smaller, more efficient Government. “Just as ACT has set the agenda on No New Taxes, we set the agenda on cutting waste. “The alternative is a nightmare. Labour and its coalition partners are lining up hundreds of billions of dollars of new promises that would send inflation and interest rates up like a rocket. “Labour has already promised $34 billion. Then you look at their coalition partners in the Greens, who are past $250 billion, with TOP hot on their heels at $229 billion. Hello again, 2022. We can’t afford another Government pouring fuel on the fire. Inflation and interest rates would be much higher. “If we want New Zealand to be the best little country in the world, we need a Government that is smaller, more efficient, and focused on getting results from every dollar."

𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗭𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 “While other political parties have spent this campaign living in a gangsta’s paradise, ACT has released a law and order policy package that promises tougher consequences, stronger protections, and practical tools to keep New Zealanders safe in their homes and businesses,” says ACT Deputy Leader Nicole McKee. “ACT has spent the past term restoring consequences for criminal behaviour. We've brought back Three Strikes, scrapped the prisoner reduction target and ended taxpayer funding for culural reports. We’re campaigning to make the next government go further and faster. “We’ll target repeat offending before more victims are created. ACT will introduce Three Strikes for Burglary, ensuring offenders convicted of a third burglary offence face at least three years in prison without parole. This builds on my work re-introducing Three Strikes for violent offenders. “I've heard from countless exasperated business owners who are forced to watch criminals walk out the door with their stock, knowing there's little they can do to stop them. They feel like the criminals have more rights than they do to protect their livelihood. “ACT would change that. Our policy would create a new class of Accredited Security Operators with the power to remove people threatening safety, require identification and detain people in certain circumstances until Police arrive, and issue exclusion notices lasting up to three years across multiple premises. “The most isolated parts of rural New Zealand will benefit from an additional 100,000 Police patrol hours every year, establishment of a dedicated rural crime unit, and a crackdown on livestock theft and poaching with stronger penalties. We’ll also expand Text 111 coverage to areas where unreliable mobile service can make it difficult to contact emergency services. “The introduction of a national Working with Children Card will keep children safer and give parents peace of mind when leaving their children in the care of other adults by ensuring vetting and safety checks are kept constantly up to date. “On top of all that, ACT will protect victims by criminalising coercion through animal abuse in family violence situations, outlaw non-consensual deepfake pornography, end ‘good character’ sentence reductions for child sex offenders. Relocatable noise cameras will help tackle anti-social vehicle noise, while illegal dumping fines will increase to $1,000, or $2,000 for repeat offenders. “Alongside these measures, ACT will continue reforms aimed at improving court timeliness so victims see justice delivered more quickly and offenders face consequences sooner. “ACT has spent the last three years restoring consequences for crime. Our policy package will build on that work to make New Zealand a safer place to live, work, do business, and raise a family.”

ACT will make the Hauraki Gulf a recreational fishing reserve so more families can head out and catch a feed.

When ACT says smaller government, we mean it.

ACT Ministers cut $14 billion in wasteful spending, because your money should be treated with respect.

How your money is wasted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs...

This election is in your hands and it belongs to you. Party Vote ACT.