By Webfit News
ACT has launched the next stage of its 2026 election campaign with a major rally on Auckland’s waterfront, drawing more than 600 supporters and unveiling a series of policy priorities focused on welfare reform, reducing bureaucracy, public safety and deregulation.
The party says the rally marked the beginning of a renewed campaign to “unlock New Zealand’s potential”, with ACT Leader David Seymour using the event and subsequent party communications to argue that New Zealand needs a smaller, more efficient government and stronger tools for businesses and communities.
The gathering also confirmed a significant leadership change inside the party, with Nicole McKee chosen to succeed Brooke van Velden as ACT’s Deputy Leader.
Rally launches ACT’s 2026 campaign
According to ACT, more than 600 supporters attended the campaign launch on Auckland’s waterfront last weekend. The party described it as its biggest and most energetic campaign rally of the election campaign so far.
The central message from the rally was that New Zealand “can do better”, with ACT positioning itself as the party pushing for lower bureaucracy, stronger economic discipline and personal responsibility.
Two major policy areas were highlighted at the rally: welfare reform and reducing the size of government.
ACT said it was relaunching its welfare reform agenda from 2023, arguing that the policy should have been implemented during the current term of Government. The party says the number of working-age New Zealanders receiving a benefit has continued to rise, with 12.7 per cent now receiving support while unemployment sits at 5.3 per cent.
ACT argues that the welfare system needs stronger expectations, clearer incentives and a sharper focus on moving people into work where possible.
Plan to reduce ministers and departments
The second major announcement was ACT’s proposal to slim down the structure of government itself.
Under the policy, ACT says it would reduce the number of ministers from 28 to 18 and cut the number of government departments from 78 to 19.
The party says this is part of making New Zealand more affordable and efficient, arguing that savings must start “at the top” if the country is serious about reducing costs.
The idea is likely to attract debate. Supporters will see it as a serious attempt to cut duplication and reduce public sector spending. Critics may question whether such large reductions could affect service delivery, accountability and the Government’s ability to respond to complex national issues.
Either way, it gives ACT a clear campaign line: fewer departments, fewer ministers and a smaller government machine.
ACT proposes new powers for trained security guards
ACT has also announced a public safety policy aimed at giving trained security professionals more authority in shared spaces, retail areas and transport hubs.
The party says New Zealand has twice as many licensed security officers as police officers, but they currently have no more legal authority than ordinary citizens in most situations.
David Seymour said business owners want protection from trained, uniformed professionals, but police cannot respond quickly to every call.
“ACT will give real power, with clear limits, to properly trained security professionals,” Seymour said.
Under ACT’s proposal, a new licence would be created for Accredited Security Operators. These operators would receive additional training and be given specific powers in controlled settings.
According to the party, licensed operators could require a person’s name and address on private premises, detain them until police arrive if they refuse and will not leave, issue conduct-based exclusion notices, remove people who threaten safety or damage property, use reasonable and proportionate force as a last resort, and carry out consent-based safety searches where refusal means no entry.
This policy is aimed at retailers, business associations, shopping strips and transport operators.
It is likely to be popular with some business owners who feel exposed to retail crime and antisocial behaviour. But it will also need careful legal scrutiny, especially around privacy, use of force, training standards and safeguards against misuse.
Nicole McKee highlights Real Estate Authority law change
ACT also pointed to a recent legislative change led by new Deputy Leader Nicole McKee, involving the Real Estate Authority.
The party referred to the Janet Dixon case, where Dixon’s real estate licence was suspended after she refused to complete training that included Treaty-related content.
ACT says McKee has passed a law removing the Real Estate Authority’s power to suspend someone for five years on what ACT describes as flimsy grounds.
Seymour said people should be able to do their jobs regardless of their political views.
“The Dixon suspension should never have happened, and Nicole has changed the law so it can never happen again,” he said.
The issue fits ACT’s broader campaign theme around freedom of belief, limits on professional regulation and resistance to what it describes as political or ideological overreach.
ACT points to improved government finances
The party also claimed that the country’s books are looking better than expected, saying debt is now $3 billion lower than Treasury forecast in its May update.
ACT argues this shows that tighter spending discipline is beginning to have an effect.
Seymour said New Zealanders are working hard, but their efforts will not translate into better-paying jobs unless the economy grows consistently alongside productivity and wages.
“We will not unlock New Zealand’s potential while we are borrowing more to pay interest on the debt we already have,” he said.
ACT says New Zealand needs a path to “real, sustained surplus”, which it argues requires year-by-year savings and a smaller, more efficient government.
The party also took aim at the previous government, accusing it of spending heavily and leaving the country with the bill.
Deregulation remains central to ACT’s agenda
ACT also used its weekly update to highlight what it called a “day of deregulation” at the start of the new financial year.
The party says a series of changes are designed to cut red tape, reduce costs and make life easier for businesses, workers and families.
The changes include the Regulatory Standards Act coming into effect, a risk-based approach to road cones and traffic management for councils seeking taxpayer funding, consolidation of anti-money laundering regulation under the Department of Internal Affairs, and recognition of trusted toy standards from the United States and Europe.
Seymour said rules should make people safer and freer, not slower and poorer.
“Too often they make life slower and more expensive by adding cost without adding protection,” he said.
ACT says the Ministry for Regulation has already helped unlock around $300 million in value by challenging rules the party believes do not stack up.
Campaign message now clear
ACT’s 2026 campaign is now taking a sharper shape.
The party is betting that voters are tired of high costs, government complexity, slow decision-making, crime concerns and regulation that businesses see as unnecessary.
Its message is direct: shrink the state, tighten welfare, empower communities, reduce red tape and restore financial discipline.
The political challenge for ACT will be proving that its proposals can cut cost without cutting essential services, improve safety without weakening civil liberties, and reduce bureaucracy without creating new gaps in accountability.
That will be the real test as the campaign moves from rally speeches to voter scrutiny.
Source: ACT Party campaign update sent to Webfit News.
