ACT leader reflects on party’s first year in Government

In its first year as part of the coalition, the ACT Party has established its role as a disruptor in New Zealand politics.

ACT leader David Seymour says his party’s influence is “totally disproportionate” to its size.

“It's the first time that you've had ACT at the centre of government, at the Cabinet table. So, we're really proud of that.

“I feel like we've really had a totally disproportionate influence on this Government from what the size of our party is and I think that's probably why we've got a little bit of growth in the polls.”

Charter schools

Seymour identifies the reopening of charter schools, such as TIPENE at the former St Stephen’s School, as ACT's key achievement.

He highlights the party's commitment to providing alternative pathways in education.

“We're opening one in the far North. It's for a group who run early childhood education.

ACT's caucus grew from one to 10 in the most recent election. Photo/ACT Party

“Their big achievement is that they've gained the trust of the community.

“They've got four early childhood centres with about 160 young children, almost all of them young Maori children, in a community where people don't often trust the government.”

Seymour says these institutions, managed by trusted community figures, particularly within Māori communities, are vital for re-engaging students who have become disillusioned with traditional educational systems.

However, critics argue that charter schools may divert essential funding from public education and lack the regulatory oversight needed to ensure consistent educational standards.

There are also concerns that these schools could worsen educational inequalities, especially if they are not equitably accessible to all students.

Watch David Seymour's final interview for 2024 on Pacific Mornings.

Treaty Principles Bill

While Seymour points to policy successes, ACT’s year has not been without controversy.

The Treaty Principles Bill, which proposes redefining the Treaty of Waitangi, sparked one of New Zealand's biggest protests.

Yet, Seymour sees the debate as a victory.

“Up and down New Zealand, people are talking about the Treaty and what it really means in a way I don't think we've seen before. And I think it's long overdue.”

He finds it particularly interesting that so many oppose the bill, even from those who believe it won’t pass.

“Why would you oppose a bill that you are certain is not going to pass? Well, because you don't want people to talk about it. But people are talking about it.

Tens of thousands joined the national hikoi last month. Photo/RNZ

“And that's the real achievement here. So, no, I have no regrets about that.”

In contrast, opposition parties like Labour and the Greens view the bill as a regressive measure that undermines the foundational partnership between Māori and the Crown.

They warn that such legislative changes could erode Māori rights and exacerbate social disparities.

The Labour Party has previously emphasised the Treaty's importance in guiding equitable policy development, while the Green Party has consistently advocated for the protection and enhancement of indigenous rights.

Influence beyond its numbers

According to Seymour, much of ACT’s success comes from its thorough preparedness.

He rejects the perception of being the “man behind Luxon” and instead credits ACT’s years of policy development as the basis of its influence on Government.

A haka erupted in Parliament's debating chamber after the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill. Photo/Parliament TV

“When it comes to policy, we can really point to having come with our homework done.

“And that's allowing us to influence what sort of policies the government puts in place.”

Wins and lessons learned

Seymour acknowledged that the year wasn’t without challenges but emphasised his ability to turn problems into successes.

He pointed to the Government’s handling of cancer drug funding, where National’s pre-election promise to fund specific drugs like Keytruda conflicted with Pharmac’s usual processes.

“The cancer drug situation, I was responsible for that.

“I think the problem was that a lot of people heard the National Party policy before the election, and it really wasn't possible to implement the policy the way they talked about it.

“I don't think that it was a particularly smart promise to make.

“But in the end, we actually got a win. So we managed to get the drugs they promised funded.

“We managed to preserve the integrity of the Pharmac system.”

Looking ahead

As the year concludes, Seymour is focused on the future, anticipating his transition to Deputy Prime Minister in 2025.

“Look, to be honest, I know so many people who've had a bloody tough year, and I've been lucky in that I've had my job, and I haven't been running out of money.

“And to be honest, I haven't really thought much about what happens next week.

“I'm just going to get through this week and get everything ticked off, and then we can think about what happens next year.”