Category: Politics

Source: ACT Party

Responding to news that the resource consent for a McDonald’s in Wānaka has been declined, ACT Environment spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:

“A legitimate business has been blocked from investing, hiring locals, and selling products to willing buyers. This is an economic own-goal for Wānaka, and it shows how our planning regime stifles development.

“McDonald’s spent a year of time and resource fighting bureaucracy and bureaucratic NIMBYism while offering to make major compromises. We’re meant to be going for growth, but you have to wonder why anyone wanting to build or expand a business would even bother when this is the potential outcome.

“Clearly there was demand for a McDonald’s, but would-be customers now miss out because noisy opponents were able to weaponise a planning regime that is hostile to development.

“We’ve all got opinions on McDonald’s, but no-one is forced to buy a Big Mac. As far as the law is concerned, what ought to matter is that the building is sturdy, the food is safe, and the property rights of neighbours aren’t impacted. The opinions of lobby groups, busybodies, and would-be competitors shouldn’t come into it.

“My colleague Simon Court is working to replace the Resource Management Act with a system that respects property rights. That means letting people build, and letting people enjoy the products and services of their choice. This can’t come soon enough.

“This saga also highlights a failure in the culture of our health authorities. The National Public Health Service spent precious resources opposing this restaurant. That’s not democracy, it’s wasteful bureaucratic interference.”

Source: ACT Party

ACT Rural Communities spokesperson Mark Cameron is renewing calls for Kiwi banks to leave the Net Zero Banking Alliance in the wake of the withdrawal of Australia’s Macquarie Group.

“First it was the big American banks, then Canada’s banks, and now Macquarie Group is the first of the big Australian banks to pull out of the alliance, with pressure mounting on other Aussie banks to do the same.

“The Net Zero Banking Alliance was set up to change lending practices for the sake of climate goals. But there’s been a political sea change and the appetite for woke banking has disappeared. If the banks think punishing farmers and miners is necessary to satisfy a political agenda, they’re mistaken, and it’s time that message got through.

“If there was previously a commercial advantage for banks to join the alliance, that advantage is fading fast as one bank after another gets out. The longer New Zealand’s banks and their parent companies remain in the UN’s cabal of banking wokery, the more out of touch they look.

“As part of the inquiry into banking practices I’m leading alongside Cameron Brewer, we’ve called the four biggest banks back to answer more questions. The inquiry has unearthed deep concerns, especially from rural communities, over the debanking of legitimate sectors and a perceived unequal playing field between town and country.

“I will be asking what is driving banks to act in this way. It would be concerning if the actions of the government through international agreements or through the way we regulate at home is encouraging banks to move beyond commercial incentives and punish rural communities.

“ACT continues to question the role of regulation in anti-farmer, anti-miner banking practices. The Financial Markets Authority imposes emissions reporting requirements on banks. We warned in 2021 that these rules would impact loans on farmers, and we still have that concern.”

Source: ACT Party

ACT MP Cameron Luxton – Parliament’s only LBP builder – is on a mission to find a young tradie to take his seat in this year’s Youth Parliament.

“Tradies and practical people are underrepresented in politics, and that includes Youth Parliament,” says Mr Luxton.

“If you’re on the path to university, good luck, but you’re not what I’m looking for. We’ve got enough academics and lawyers in politics already.

“I’m looking for a young person who’s already in work, paying tax and offering practical skills to the world in exchange for an honest wage.

“Whether you’ve left school early to take up an apprenticeship, or you’re working at a building site on the weekend, I hope you’ll send me a letter of introduction at [email protected].”

Youth Parliament is held every three years and is an opportunity for young New Zealanders to learn about democracy and have their voices heard.

Young people aged 16 to 18 years (as at Friday 28 February 2025) are eligible to apply.

The programme will run from 28 April to 29 August, with the two-day event taking place on 1 and 2 July at Parliament in Wellington.

Source: ACT Party

“The Government’s Going for Growth agenda shows New Zealand has turned the corner. Governments ignored economic growth, taking wealth for granted and wasting billions until we started feeling poor,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“This Government’s focus on growth is team effort. ACT’s impact can be seen in a number of priority areas.

“To develop talent, we’ve implemented the attendance action plan, opened the first charter schools, and changed the Accredited Employer Work Visa. We’re removing red tape in Early Childhood Education and continuing reforms to get job seekers into work.

“For competitive business settings, we’ve repealed so-called ‘Fair Pay Agreements’, extended 90-Day Trials to all businesses, and revoked difficult requirements for accessing credit. We’re leading an inquiry into rural banking practices, reforming health and safety laws, reforming the Holidays Act and Employment Relations Act, conducting sector reviews for regulation of Agricultural and Horticultural Products, and Hairdressing and Barbering, improving Government Procurement Rules, and progressing the Regulatory Standards Bill.

“To promote global trade and investment, we’re reforming the Overseas Investment Act and have launched a new Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List.

“For innovation, technology and science, we’re liberalising genetic engineering laws.

“To deliver infrastructure for growth, we’re reforming and replacing the Resource Management Act and have established National Infrastructure Funding and Financing Limited. We’re developing the 30-year National Infrastructure Plan, and finalising the first Regional Deal between central and local government.

The big challenge

“The big challenge for growth is shrinking the Government part of the economy. There are only two halves to any economy, the public and the private sector, and it’s the private sector that provides the growth.

“Every dollar taxed to fund the public sector is a dollar a consumer can’t spend, or a business can’t reinvest in new jobs. Business is about taking risk, every percentage point taken in tax makes it less rewarding when the risks work out. Rational people invest less when taxes are higher.

“In that sense, the Government still has a big hill to climb, and it’s the mountain of waste left by the last Government. Pre-COVID, government spending amounted to 28 per cent of the economy, now it is 34. The Government must be relentless in reducing its spending.

“It is not only taxing and spending that holds people back, but regulating. Every compliance fee, every delay waiting for Government permission is a cost put on business. Like taxes, regulations drain the energy from business.

“That’s why it’s essential that the Government cuts red tape at every opportunity. We must run the ruler over rules that don’t make sense, then delete them. The commitment to passing the Regulatory Standards Bill is a landmark shift in the battle against red tape in favour of wealth and innovation.

“I’m proud of ACT’s contributions to this Government, especially the many contributions in this plan. For the first time in decades, we have a Government where it’s understood that Government activity and private activity compete for time and money. To grow the economy, we must shrink the Government.”

Source: ACT Party

Welcoming the Oceans and Fisheries Minister’s announcement of reforms to the Fisheries Act, ACT Oceans and Fisheries spokesperson Mark Cameron says:

“Access to healthy fisheries is practically a Kiwi birthright. Our fishers understand this, and they know their livelihoods depend on sustainable practices.

“Sadly, the fishing sector has been overregulated and stigmatised by landlubbing activists with no idea of practical realities at sea. The anti-fisher agenda was exemplified by Labour’s Fisheries Amendment Bill, which only ACT opposed.

“Now, fishers have real hope of relief from unnecessary red tape. The new Government has a chance to secure the future of our fisheries while respecting the men and women who work at sea.

“The focus on improving privacy protections for our fishers is particularly commendable. The use of onboard cameras has helped our understanding of fish stocks and bycatch, but the use of footage must respect privacy and be sensitive to the realities of work at sea.

“The approach to dealing with discards under the Quota Management System is welcome. The previous penalty regimes were impractical for many in the coastal and commercial fishing fleets, especially considering technological advancements and efforts made to minimise bycatch. We need a more practical application of the law that encourages investment and innovation within the industry.

“I encourage all fishers to engage with this consultation process. It’s about securing provincial livelihoods and our nation’s economic future. Let’s ensure these reforms truly support the backbone of our seafood industry, providing the certainty and support needed for future growth.”