New Zealand ACT leader David Seymour has suggested the country’s left-wing parties should move to France, as he urged voters in Hamilton to support his coalition for a second term.
Speaking at a town hall meeting, Mr Seymour said France already had policies similar to those advocated by New Zealand’s left, pointing to the size of the French government and its top rate of tax.
“In France, the government is 57 per cent of the economy (and) their top tax rate is 55 per cent,” he told the crowd.
“(The NZ left wing’s) policies are already in place. So there’s a country they could all go to and leave us alone and save themselves the time of ruining New Zealand in the process.”
He added: “I’ve suggested it to them but they don’t seem so keen. I can’t think why. Maybe they don’t have a fire extinguisher.”
The remarks drew laughter from the audience, as Mr Seymour delivered an unscripted half-hour address covering taxation, government spending, healthcare, debt, superannuation and family violence.
He also called for a reduced role for the Treaty of Waitangi, a position associated with ACT’s libertarian and free-market approach.
Mr Seymour inherited ACT when it had a single MP and rebuilt it into a significant force in New Zealand politics. The party entered government this term with ministers around the cabinet table, while Mr Seymour served as deputy prime minister.
ACT seeks faster government reform
With the November 7 election approaching, ACT is targeting its strongest result, with polling placing it at about 10 per cent, above the 8.6 per cent it recorded in 2023.
The election is central to Mr Seymour’s ambitions to reduce the size of government. Although ACT has secured regulatory reforms alongside some public service “right-sizing”, he has voiced frustration at the pace of change under the coalition.
“Here we are in New Zealand with 28 ministers … and 39 departments and we wonder why nothing gets done,” he said. “Our government is too big and too complicated. Our economy is too small and has been strangled by our government.”
ACT has also been strengthened by the recruitment of broadcaster Paul Henry, who has addressed 7,000 people at 37 town hall-style meetings in recent months, according to Mr Seymour.
The party’s prospects are tied to those of National and New Zealand First, with the wider right-wing bloc engaged in a close contest with the left. Mr Seymour used the Hamilton meeting to appeal for support for ACT and the return of the coalition.
“Please get out and give your party vote to ACT to re-elect the coalition so we can go further and faster on the issues that you care about,” he said.
