New Zealanders are tired of ACT putting on an act

OPINION: New Zealanders have every right to be tired of ACT putting on a performance while the problems affecting daily life remain unresolved.

David Seymour’s political party has built its brand around provocative speeches, ideological battles and announcements designed to dominate the political conversation. Its latest campaign centres on radically shrinking and restructuring government, including giving ministers greater power over public service chief executives.

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Image: Coalition government figures (Chris Bishop left, David Seymour middle left, Nicola Willis middle right, Shane Jones right) hold copies of the Budget 2026 Summary of Initiatives after the documents were printed, before marking the occasion at a nearby bakery. (Supplied / Newswire)

ACT calls this accountability. To many struggling households, they see this as an unfinished slideshow presented to the masses.

Families are not sitting around the dinner table demanding another argument about the structure of government departments. They are discussing grocery bills, rent, mortgage payments and whether they can afford a doctor.

Household living costs increased 2.1 percent in the year to the March 2026 quarter, according to Stats NZ. The figures may show inflation slowing, but that does not reverse the price increases households have already absorbed.

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Budget 2026 was promoted as a package of “hard choices” aimed at cutting waste and preventing further debt and tax increases. Voters will judge those claims by whether households see lower costs and better public services, not by speeches, slogans or celebratory photo opportunities.

The health system continues to face serious access pressures, with many patients still confronting long waits, high costs and closed enrolments despite new funding and access targets.

Image: Ministry of Health in Wellington. (Supplied / Samuel Hudson / Quiet Pact Network)

Ministry of Health reporting acknowledges barriers involving appointment costs, waiting times and medical practices with closed books, particularly in several regional communities.

These are the issues demanding political energy for the election but all we get is talk, talk, talk. No action.

ACT lists the economy, health, law and order and infrastructure among its priorities but its own public messaging appears dominated by culture wars designed to generate headlines. Voters should look beyond the noise and judge the party on what it has delivered before casting their votes.

New Zealand needs measurable improvements of which people can see in their bank accounts, hospitals, schools and neighbourhoods.

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Image: ACT leader David Seymour delivers his 2026 State of the Nation speech at Rydges Latimer in Christchurch on February 15, 2026. (Supplied / ACT Party)

A political party should be judged by what it fixes, not by how loudly its leader blames everyone else while asking taxpayers to keep footing the bill.

ACT has become highly skilled at putting on an act. It now needs to prove it can deliver something beyond the performance.

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