Why the ACT Party SUCKS: A Centre-Left View

The ACT Party is the loudest voice for less government in New Zealand, and it is also quite willing to use government on people who cannot easily fight back. This is the fourth article in my series on why each party disappoints. I come at it from the centre left.

I want a tax-free threshold, I like a universal basic income, and I think New Zealand can still set an example.

What the ACT Party stands for

ACT stands for the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers. It began in 1993 as a pressure group, and it became a political party ahead of the 1996 election, according to Wikipedia. Roger Douglas and Derek Quigley founded it. Its ideology is classical liberalism and right-libertarianism, which means smaller government and lower taxes.

In 2023, ACT won 8.64% of the party vote and 11 seats. It now polls about 10%, according to the latest 1News Verian poll. Keep that name in mind. A party for consumers and taxpayers wants to ask a bus driver on a temporary visa for about $2,000 a year.

The ACT Party and the Treaty

The Treaty Principles Bill was ACT’s bill. Parliament received more than 300,000 written submissions, and about 90% opposed it. Over 42,000 people marched on Parliament in the hīkoi. On 10 April 2025…