Support for ACT surges to 14% in poll

Public Policy / news

ACT shoots up in poll at the expense of Labour and National; Seymour more popular than Collins, Luxon and Bridges combined

27th Sep 21, 6:30pm by Jenée Tibshraeny

Support for ACT is surging at the expense of the country’s major political parties, according to the latest 1 News-Colmar Brunton poll.

ACT is the preferred party for 14% of those surveyed - a 5-point increase from the last poll done in May. It would get a whopping 18 seats in parliament - eight more than at present.

Support for both Labour and National is down 3 points to 43% and 26% respectively.

Support for Labour has fallen to its lowest level since the onset of Covid-19. It would no longer have the support to govern alone and would need the backing of the Greens.

While Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is comfortably ahead in the preferred prime minister ranks at 44%, ACT leader David Seymour is now more popular (at 11%) than National leader Judith Collins and National MPs Christopher Luxon and Simon Bridges put together.

Only 5% of respondents chose Collins as their preferred prime minister. Nonetheless, she told 1 News she isn't going anywhere and plans to remain leader through to the 2023 election.

Here are the numbers:

Preferred party:

Labour: 43% (down 3 points)
National: 26% (down 3 points)
ACT: 14% (up 5 points)
Greens: 8% (no change)
NZ First: 3% (up 2 points)
Māori Party: 2% (no change)
New Conservatives: 1% (no change)
TOP: 1% (down 1 point)

Seats (61 needed to govern):

Labour: 55
Greens: 10
Māori Party: 3
National: 34
ACT: 18

Preferred prime minister:

Jacinda Ardern: 44% (down 4 points)
David Seymour: 11% (up 5 points)
Judith Collins: 5% (down 4 points)
Christopher Luxon: 3%
Simon Bridges: 2%

Colmar Brunton surveyed 1001 people for the poll between September 22 and 26. The last poll was done between May 22 and 26.

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118 Comments

by Foxglove. | 27th Sep 21, 6:39pm 1632721161

National Party needs to find substance and credibility and fast. This has been an extraordinary downfall in only four years. As far as I can see there is no viable candidate presently in parliament to lead the party into the next election, and do better than what they are currently polling. Used to say on here often that National’s greatest problem was they had no viable coalition party. Now that is ACT’s problem.

by kiwikidsnz | 27th Sep 21, 6:51pm 1632721904

ACTs problem will be do they go into coalition with Labour if National don't make the cut. Good problem to have.

by Foxglove. | 27th Sep 21, 7:03pm 1632722610

Not quite. Labour will be comfortable enough tucked in with the Greens. In fact that will provide quite some opportunity to introduce and legislate, radically, under the guise of coalition necessity.

by Pragmatist | 27th Sep 21, 9:35pm 1632731718

Acts proplem would be they'd have to put the 18th person on their party list into parliament.. Is #18 on their list capable of being left un minded for 15mins, or will they set the couch on fire?

by Grimey | 28th Sep 21, 12:15pm 1632784535

The same comments were made following the previous election and Seymour has managed his team well, better than the other major parties in fact.

by TonyBarnett | 28th Sep 21, 8:06am 1632769608

The government is now on a Runaway Train - the horse has bolted - there is nothing paid-off media can do now to make government look good except divert attention to what the opposition is doing badly.

The runaway train includes housing price disaster, lack of rental properties disaster, emergency housing disaster, MIQ disaster for NZers trying to get home, health infrastructure disaster in being prepared to suppress Delta - lack of icu nurses/beds, lack of rapid testing at home, lack of new drugs to fight Delta etc

Media’s preoccupation with criticising the opposition is all they can do on this runaway train. The opposition is not running the country. Financial support from the government is not a good reason not to address the poor performance of the government. What is it they have successfully delivered on?

by The Person | 28th Sep 21, 9:07am 1632773225

You are suggesting the Labour party has made payments to the media to garner good coverage? That's quite an extra-ordinary claim! Evidence?

by dollar_bill | 28th Sep 21, 9:30am 1632774635

The NZME and MediaWorks cheques must have gotten lost in the mail.

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 9:53am 1632775981

"All up, the Government’s own TVNZ was the biggest beneficiary, getting more than $5 million from the package. Stuff Ltd., publisher of this website, followed on $2.37 million, almost equal to rival media company NZME, which got $2.19m."'

Funding from gov to media. More to come. So yes it's not the "Labour Party" (we see your weasel words), it's the government, as controlled by Labour.

by Brian Low | 28th Sep 21, 1:41pm 1632789711

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by Dave Moderato | 28th Sep 21, 10:13am 1632777204

Two payments were made to the NZ legacy media, totaling 55 million tax payer funded dollars. Because, as the PM told us, the media were doing it hard under Covid. But of course, no evidence was tendered to support her statement. The media aren't going to bite the hand that feeds them. "NZ journalism. The best coverage money can buy"

by Zen20 | 28th Sep 21, 11:50am 1632783044

Yip and NZME - read NewstalkZB & NZ Herald are an anomaly - just a very large anomaly

by C'est la vie | 28th Sep 21, 1:14pm 1632788069

Have you not heard of the team of $55 million? Media in NZ is all paid up, and literally have agreed to conditions in order to access said funds. For example media companies must report favorably on the 'partnership' framing of the Treaty of Waitangi. This in effect stops them criticising iwi control in the new 3 waters reform. Seymour has brought this up in Parliament and even after heated exchanges it has not been reported on. Jacinda refuses to answer what happens to media companies who do not follow funding guidelines. NZCPR.com has some good reading on this issue

by redcows1 | 28th Sep 21, 9:43am 1632775425

Why did the horse bolt from the train?

by kpnuts | 27th Sep 21, 6:44pm 1632721491

all he needs now is a couple of high profile defections -- of some of the better younger national MP's louise Upton maybe chris penk -- chris Bishop would be a great one -- and they would be pretty creditable

overall its 4 points of the left -- whihc during a lockdown with the 1pm presser everyday - is a pretty big swing -- last lockdown Labour was over 50!

by lostinawoods | 27th Sep 21, 10:31pm 1632735117

It's time for youngsters in National to act!

by nigelh | 27th Sep 21, 7:12pm 1632723173

You want open immigration, tap open full bore with a high pressure pump behind it, vote ACT. You want a worse housing crisis than National or Labour. Vote ACT. Mouthing words that a lot of people agree with doesn't make policies.

by Brock Landers | 27th Sep 21, 7:27pm 1632724057

At least they would screw over the country the old fashioned way without all the woke theatre and lying.

by fortunr | 28th Sep 21, 11:01am 1632780083

Brilliant comment. Upvoted.

by paashaas | 27th Sep 21, 8:38pm 1632728285

seems to me you are panicking .

by JimboJones | 28th Sep 21, 10:49am 1632779386

Act has stolen votes from National, to me that makes the right weaker not stronger (its almost like two minor parties now). If National were to get enough votes for them and Act to govern, they will need to make a lot of concessions to Act. We would end up with a lot of unpopular free market policies which would probably make both parties unelectable in the following election.

Of course it can all change so quickly, it wasn't long ago Labour were almost unelectable.

by Whatwillhappen | 28th Sep 21, 3:41pm 1632796860

ACT also stole NZ First votes.

by lostinawoods | 27th Sep 21, 8:51pm 1632729106

Taking into account it's Labour who set the records for the work visa approvals, I don't see an issue voting for Act who are openly saying that's a plan.

Besides if they use Labour's playbook - say one thing pre-election and do the opposite once you're in power - we might even see the lowest immigration levels!

by Foxglove. | 27th Sep 21, 9:12pm 1632730320

Mouthing words! Whatever happened then to the loquacious Mr Twyford and all that policy pre 2017 regarding the simplicity of the housing problem. Plenty of mouth there then, wasn’t there, not many houses though. Your explanation of that policy trumpeting as opposed to that policy fail would be something to behold indeed. Your whole comment is self defeating, laughably so.

by imhenry | 28th Sep 21, 7:46am 1632768371

Sounds like you are already scared. Harden up. The Country has had enough of Labour

by neeko1979 | 28th Sep 21, 12:29pm 1632785384

Seems the cities have not

by rastus1 | 28th Sep 21, 9:24am 1632774250

And here is the ACT principle on foreign ownership -

Foreign investment should be restricted only if an investment threatens national security.

House prices anyone?

by Rumpole | 28th Sep 21, 1:35pm 1632789302

And the evidence for those assertions with proof is .............................................................!

by Carlos67 | 27th Sep 21, 7:16pm 1632723367

Overall we now have very poor politicians to choose from. I voted for ACT last election because the rest would have been like swallowing a dead rat. Collins is gone burger, she appears to be the only one who cannot see it. For the sake of the party should should step aside rather than losing the next election in epic fashion.

by muzled | 27th Sep 21, 7:51pm 1632725478

The minister for Oravida will be the one the goes, but the problems lie higher up than her imo.

Peter Goodfellow stood up after the last election and said they'd go away and change.

All they do is come out with more of the same old John Key era policies.

Times have changed and Goodfellow is the first one that needs to go.

by Mrs The Point | 27th Sep 21, 11:14pm 1632737646

Spot on Muz.

by rastus1 | 28th Sep 21, 9:29am 1632774546

There are votes galore if they would severely restrict immigration and commit to some strong environmental protection. I cant understand why they are so far behind on such issues of concern.

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 9:39am 1632775151

rastus, the reason is probably because a big chunk of the voters that haven't defected to ACT are farmers.

But I agree with you, it's low hanging fruit for any political party.

by flyer | 27th Sep 21, 7:30pm 1632724215

David Seymour, the underdog no longer!

I enjoy his quirky style. But what matters is he has pragmatic solutions to problems.

by Carlos67 | 27th Sep 21, 7:38pm 1632724714

Not surprised at the poll numbers, he gets more air time than Collins and when he opens his mouth solutions and ideas come out. From the rest of them its just criticism from Collins and "I will get back to you" from JA

by donny11 | 27th Sep 21, 8:08pm 1632726526

Act sythoning votes off national doesn't mean anything.

The elephant in the room is greens sythoning votes off Labour. If Labour need the greens to form a govt we may get that long overdue tax on property. I don't think James Shaw is a Patsy.

by Foxglove. | 27th Sep 21, 8:25pm 1632727503

Only if a special school needs special funding, perhaps then.

by solardb | 27th Sep 21, 8:18pm 1632727085

Can anyone name a Act MP besides Seymour? no googling.

by lowercase capitalist | 27th Sep 21, 8:28pm 1632727691

Rodney Hide :)

by solardb | 27th Sep 21, 8:31pm 1632727909

Dancing with the stars has a lot to answer for.

by ShoreThing | 28th Sep 21, 8:55am 1632772506

Brooke van Velden, believe she has posted an article or two here.

by Zen20 | 28th Sep 21, 8:57am 1632772646

Nicole McKKKee - she lurrrvves guns

by Albert2020 | 28th Sep 21, 9:00am 1632772824

The greens defector...no I can’t remember her name

by Galloleous | 28th Sep 21, 10:07am 1632776836

Mark Cameron, Got to have someone repping the rural sector in amongst all those suits. Useless bureaucrats have no idea how the real world works.

by AndrewRiddell5886 | 28th Sep 21, 10:51am 1632779502

Such a glowing review of Mark Cameron. he must have learnt heaps since I saw him in action in the last election campaign.

Or ...

by Rumpole | 28th Sep 21, 1:48pm 1632790106

Useless bureaucrats have no idea how anything works. there fixed that for you.

by sharetrader | 28th Sep 21, 10:28pm 1632821320

Donna Lynn Awatere Huata

David Garrett

by morepork | 27th Sep 21, 8:23pm 1632727431

Could we be looking at a Labour government with National as coalition partner?

by J.C. | 27th Sep 21, 8:36pm 1632728201

As far as I'm concerned, ACT is not much different to a university club. They would be abysmal is any form of government leadership. That's why they're happy to be a bit player.

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 8:51am 1632772296

They have to start somewhere. Seymour and Van Velden are good candidates but more strength and credibility is needed down the bench. I'm confident that will come.

Many people don't appreciate something until they've lost it. We've lost freedom under this government in the name of safety from a virus. It's been cleverly extracted from us by a smiling, harmless looking socialist. People are now looking to get freedom back for good.

by JimboJones | 28th Sep 21, 11:07am 1632780450

Can you name a right wing leader that didn't do something very similar to Ardern (except they did it after the horse had bolted). The UK for example has had almost twice the lockdown days as us. Even the hillbilly states where you have the "freedom" to carry guns into your local bank branch have had lockdowns as far as I am aware.

by blobbles | 27th Sep 21, 9:05pm 1632729919

Great to see more and more small parties coming to the fore, even though I am likely well left (or radically centre), more choices are great for democracy. We just need a better system for horsetrading after the elections and significantly longer terms so parties think long-term and their policies reflect it. Not what Natbour do and screw everyone as long as GDP rises.

by streetwise | 27th Sep 21, 9:14pm 1632730494

Breaking News:

"The National", that venerable old passenger liner, is listing more than ever as it attempts to reach port in New Zealand. It apparently hit a reef off Collin's Island 700 kilometres South West of Fiji.

We are getting footage back from our reporter on the would-be rescue ship, HMNZS ACT, the Navy's cadet training ship. He's reporting that passengers seem to be running around the top deck of "The National" flailing their arms in complete panic while some male passengers in pin-striped navy suits are entangling themselves in life-boat ropes as they desperately but ineffectually attempt to launch life-boats.

Our on-the-spot reporter says that they have indeed reached "The National" and have taken on board some of those passengers who made it onto the few lifeboats that were successfully launched. It appears that some of "The National" passengers are physically resisting attempts to be rescued by the crew of HMNZS ACT and wish to remain onboard with Captain Peter Goodfellow, who is determined to go down with his ship if it comes to it, although a couple of rescued crewmen are positive he sneaked in disguise into one of the successfully-launched life boats.

We will keep you fully up-to-date as this drama unfolds.

by nktokyo | 27th Sep 21, 9:20pm 1632730852

Went to an ACT meeting. It was the gun lobby + anti-EV crowd + climate change skeptics all in one room.

by lostinawoods | 27th Sep 21, 10:07pm 1632733672

Well, we all have to start somewhere: Comrade Jacinda Ardern

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 8:45am 1632771927

I had a similar experience. They're definitely pro-gun and freedom in general. On climate change, it was a reluctant acceptance that yes it's probably happening, but a belief that it was being used to hamstring Western economies.

by murray86 | 28th Sep 21, 9:20am 1632774025

I understand they're also pro-immigration? That's not what is wanted or needed.

Some of Seymour's comments/policies are common sense and pragmatic, others are very much not!

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 10:18am 1632777507

Immigration is good (I'm an immigrant so obviously I'm going to say that..!).

However it needs to be controlled within what the country can accomodate and what we need. One can be an Act support without total alignment with their policy set.

by rastus1 | 28th Sep 21, 9:31am 1632774716

I'm happy enough with pro-gun for responsible owners. This govt has attacked these owners while the gangs run riot. You might be glad your neighbour is a hunter one day!

by JimboJones | 28th Sep 21, 11:10am 1632780607

They used to be totally against the freedom to build more apartments in Epsom and to send your kids to the local public school there. As usual with the right they only want to protect the freedoms that suit them.

by Rumpole | 28th Sep 21, 1:53pm 1632790430

Sounds like a forum to debate real issues with real facts by real people with real brains, so a really good meeting eh? Meanwhile ardern has finally mastered how to place a wooden block on top of another without it falling off - kindys are are great places for learning.

by Mr Ed | 28th Sep 21, 11:54pm 1632826461

Hope you got out safely 😊

by TonyBarnett | 27th Sep 21, 9:24pm 1632731081

Unfortunately there is unlikely to be any good new for Labour over the next 2 years.

Renters will face ever increasing rents as supply will drop as investors sell their rental properties leading to an increased need for emergency housing.

NZ has inadequate hospital infrastructure and managed isolation facilities to mitigate the risks associated with a suppression strategy for Delta.

Whilst the Pfizer vaccine will provide significant protection against hospitalisation & death, it has had a poor record at preventing Delta infections/symptoms about 6 months after getting the second dose of the vaccine (known as waning effect). Vaccinated people that get infected with Delta (known as a break-through infection) are just as infectious as an unvaccinated person.

This problem means that there is a high risk that the virus will continue to keep circulating in the NZ community and will continue to keep infecting the unvaccinated. Israel is currently going through its 3rd wave because of this problem.

There is a possibility Delta cases will increase in NZ throughout 2022 because of the problems discussed above.

See last page of link below for graph showing waning effect depending on month you were vaccinated. (Link takes 30s to download)

https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/reports/vaccine-efficacy-safety-follow-up-committee/he/files_publications_corona_two-dose-vaccination-data.pdf

by Independent_Observer | 27th Sep 21, 9:34pm 1632731666

Who will the investors sell their houses to? Or do they evaporate upon sale and as such don’t not change the supply/demand dynamics of the rental and owner occupier markets?

by TonyBarnett | 27th Sep 21, 10:28pm 1632734937

Correct. As rental supply decreases owner occupier supply will increase. As rental supply decreases, renters will be displaced and will be forced into another type of housing such as emergency housing.

Is emergency housing increasing and getting out of control? Yes

Is it forecast to get worse? Yes

Do we have a rental crisis? Yes

by Independent_Observer | 28th Sep 21, 10:50am 1632779402

You miss the point - if an investor sells, who do they sell to?

And if the dynamics of supply and demand do in fact apply to the housing market, what happens when supply increases? (i.e. investors sell and add to supply?)

Oh that's right, the equilibrium price point falls.

And if the equilibrium price point falls, more FHB's are able to afford houses.

And if more FHB's are able to afford houses, then there are less renters.

And if there are less renters, what happens to the supply and demand of rental properties? Well you have excess supply.

What then happens to rent? Well a new equilibrium price point must be established for rent (downwards).

by JLM | 28th Sep 21, 1:00pm 1632787244

by Rumpole | 28th Sep 21, 1:59pm 1632790783

Theorectically you are correct but reality does not always oblige and the future direction is down a twisty, icy road thats fogbound with deep ditches either side.

by neeko1979 | 28th Sep 21, 12:37pm 1632785843

Tony, didn’t you get the memo from Seymour? I thought we were all done with the living in fear routine 🤷‍♂️

by Lord Dowding | 27th Sep 21, 9:39pm 1632731940

Lifelong labour voter here.

Would be voting Act if the election were tomorrow.

also why do the Maori party get 3 seats when they are at 2%?

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 8:43am 1632771832

Good for you. I switched from National to Act some time ago. The party is a little rough around the edges, but as support grows the quality of candidates will too.

On Maori seats, the answer is ironically systemic racism.

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 8:49am 1632772152

Can you explain to me how systemic racism is how the Maori party get 3 seats please npc?

by ShoreThing | 28th Sep 21, 8:59am 1632772768

Maori Electorates. Same reason any party can get MPs into Parliament below the 5% threshold, by winning an Electorate. Except that there are a bunch of special electorates only for Maori, so they are guaranteed representation in Parliament.

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 9:58am 1632776331

Thanks - you pretty much covered it.

"a form of racism that is embedded in the laws and regulations of a society or an organization."

Our laws are prejudiced in favour Maori, which is by definition, racism. It may help with your thinking to consider the response if a set of seats were reserved for white people.

Before you start with the "they were here first" argument. Play that same argument through using another example - consider English people of ancient Briton descent demanding a different level of representation in the UK.

Hope that helps Muzled!

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 10:18am 1632777509

Our laws are prejudiced in favour Maori

I hope you never have to leave your comfortable little cocoon.

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 10:32am 1632778373

You know nothing about me or my circumstances. If you have a counter argument, present it. Ad-hominem doesn't count.

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 11:07am 1632780442

More questions for you then npc

Do you agree that Maori in general are in the lower socio-econimic part of society?

Would you agree that NZ as a whole would be better off if we could somehow raise those people into the 'upper deciles'? (for want of a better word?)

Do you think if we abolished Maori seats that Maori would be better off?

Because that's what it comes down to, if we are making the country as a whole better off by having a handful of Maori seats, then isn't that a good thing for the whole country?

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 11:19am 1632781196

Maori should be given the dignity of being treated the same as all other citizens of New Zealand. I want all citizens of New Zealand to be better off.

I do not indulge in the soft bigotry of low expectations, as is common on the left.

by JimboJones | 28th Sep 21, 11:47am 1632782877

You want them to reproduce until they get to more than 50% of the population so they can have a vote worth using like us whities did?

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 2:27pm 1632792474

Sounds good to me. We have a lot of land and resources here, a growing population is a good thing. I don't mind what race, the more diverse the better I reckon.

by rastus1 | 28th Sep 21, 11:21am 1632781274

Society is structured into tiers (as is the globe). Okay, so target a group by race to lift them up a tier. Then guess what....the lower tier still exits...it's just now filled by other bodies.

So all we are doing is trying to move one race up a tier and another race down.

Are you OK with that?

Perhaps you better explain this to the bottom tiered folks that they are doomed to stay where they are...only chosen races are selected for movement.

by Whatwillhappen | 28th Sep 21, 3:48pm 1632797317

You miss out that the proportion of Maori in Parliament far exceeds the proportion of Maori in the general population. There is no white ceiling for them to break through

by AndrewRiddell5886 | 28th Sep 21, 10:56am 1632779773

Another racist who has never heard of Te Tiriti

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 11:08am 1632780490

More ad-hominem.

by Cobolt24 | 28th Sep 21, 9:31pm 1632817905

Māori seats were introduced at a time when most Māori were living rurally at marae site and didn't have a street address, so that was the only way they could vote. It has nothing to do with the treaty.

by sharetrader | 28th Sep 21, 10:23pm 1632820999

New Zealand Statutes - Advanced Search (auckland.ac.nz)

The origins of the Māori seats - New Zealand Parliament (www.parliament.nz)

Prior to the passing of this Act property ownership was a prerequisite for being able to vote. However, because Māori land was owned communally rather than under individual title, Māori did not qualify to vote.

by JimboJones | 28th Sep 21, 11:29am 1632781793

Maybe if English people were a 15% minority in England and hence had almost no say in the government it would make sense to give them some special seats.

by Waikatohome | 28th Sep 21, 3:30pm 1632796220

You could argue that there is a section of British society that fits this. Much of the white working class in England were impoverished by the Enclosures Act taking away their common land and then being forced into cotton mills and coal mines during the industrial revolution, which then closed leaving them with nothing. Identity politics is a distraction used by political parties to turn people against each other, it stops the commoners realising it is the rich that are screwing them. Those with power win, regardless of race.

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 9:16am 1632773782

Some ACT policies.

I wonder how many ACT voters are aware of these AND agree with them.

Cut and freeze the Minimum wage
Interest back on all student loans
No Kiwsaver subsidy
Cancel winter energy payment
Dump all climate crisis legislation
no more best start payments for families with new borns
cut welfare payments
no tax credits for research and development
cuts to working for families
$7b a year cut in public services
Abolish Maori seats
Abolish Human Rights Commission

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 9:55am 1632776126

Excellent set of policies. Emphasis on personal responsibility, freedom, small government and equality.

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 10:13am 1632777226

You sound like you'll fit in with ACT nicely npc.

You'll be the only one that thinks David Seymour wants anything to do with equality though.

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 10:38am 1632778736

Vague attacks like "wants anything to do with equality" don't add to the discourse. Critique the policy, which of them doesn't help with equality? Be sure not to confuse equality with equity.

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 11:00am 1632780007

Glad you mentioned policy.

Question - Do you beleive that David Seymour has any interest in the lower socio-econimic population of NZ?

Yes or No answer please.

Keep in mind his policies before you answer that.

Cut and freeze the Minimum wage
Cancel winter energy payment
cut welfare payments
cuts to working for families
Abolish Human Rights Commission

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 11:11am 1632780692

Yes.

People in lower socioeconomic will benefit from a lower tax burden, healthier economy, more open job market and cheaper goods. It's good to encourage personal responsibility over dependency on the state.

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 11:16am 1632781005

I take it you're excluding the last 40 odd years from that opinion?

by Waikatohome | 28th Sep 21, 10:17am 1632777457

I voted labour at the last two elections as I wanted to see a reduction in child poverty and improved housing affordability. I was concerned that we were becoming a divided society of the haves and have nots. Under Labour child poverty has increased, and houses are at record prices. Their policies are also increasing social division. There is no vision for a better future, just raking over the past and hiding from the rest of the world.

I am tempted to give Act a go. Perhaps their solutions might work better, it surely couldn't be any worse than what we have now.

by muzled | 28th Sep 21, 10:26am 1632778002

Might be worth checking ACT policy on the house front WH.

Foreign investment should be restricted only if an investment threatens national security.

There's only one way house prices are going if ACT get into the hot seat.

I think every labour voter will agree with your comments on child poverty and house prices, but David Seymour is a John Key on steroids when it comes to fixing any social type issues. Remember John Key, they guy who grew up in a state house, fat lot of good that did the bottom half of society when he got in power.

Definitely better the devil you know there.

by Computer | 28th Sep 21, 8:00pm 1632812401

"Definitely better the devil you know there."

Prior to their election were you aware they they planned to ban oil exploration? Mates & Dates, He Puapua and iwi getting a deciding vote on 3 waters and health for the entire country?

I wonder what their next term in office will bring.

by lastredact | 28th Sep 21, 11:47am 1632782852

I support the above except:

Cutting minimum wage - NZ is too expensive to live in, presently
Cutting welfare payments - as above. And I have friends on Supported Living Payment, for valid reasons, including one who was abused in state care (understandably has PTSD)
Abolish Maori seats - the treaty wasn't honoured by the British Empire and the poms have long since left us to pick up the pieces
Kiwisaver subsidy - we need to keep encouraging a culture of investment outside of residential property

I'm in two minds about the Human Rights Commission, but I think some of the concepts from various social media fads should be outside their remit.

I definitely disagree with ACT on foreign investment. All foreign investment should be treated as a matter of national security.

by npc | 28th Sep 21, 2:34pm 1632792844

You need to employ some second order thinking. NZ is expensive to live in partly due to a heavy tax and regulation burden. I don't think welfare benefits should (or would) be cut for those incapable of working. It should be cut for those capable of working but don't because welfare is too comfortable.

Residential property is expensive due to lack of supply. The market is not free.We have a lack of supply due government legislation, bureaucracy and red-tape surrounding land use.

by lastredact | 28th Sep 21, 3:58pm 1632797931

NZ is expensive to live in partly due to a heavy tax and regulation burden

Not so much. Have you spent any time in Europe? There's quite a few countries with higher tax and regulations, that are far cheaper in terms of groceries, energy as well as housing. I think a lot of this is due to the lack of economies of scale here and NZers passivity around oligopolies & duopolies.

Depends what welfare you're talking about: unemployment & disability benefits are far from comfortable, from what I've observed. Corporate welfare needs to be removed entirely, which is why I agree with obliterating R&D credits.

Residential property is partly expensive due to lack of supply, but also expensive due to NZers cultural obsession with owning a house (typically standalone with a section) as well as seeing them as the primary method of investment. Again, with passivity in accepting that amongst the general populace....hence why Labour gets away with it in the polls. The apathy in this country does my head in, most days.

by Waikatohome | 28th Sep 21, 3:35pm 1632796529

On comparing ACT with Labour and the Greens, it occurs to me that there may be room for a Centrist party in NZ politics. Perhaps something National could consider, rather than using Trumpian insults and flirting with the Christian right.

by Albert2020 | 28th Sep 21, 9:02am 1632772929

They are assuming they win the electorate seat which is a big assumption

by Rumpole | 28th Sep 21, 2:00pm 1632790852

Because Mawree are special people who always get preference due to colonialism.

by SmoKey | 27th Sep 21, 10:01pm 1632733265

There is a saying : In the land of blind persons, the one-eyed person is the King/Queen.

by SmoKey | 27th Sep 21, 10:03pm 1632733419

Wait till Judith is rolled and Simon comes back as leader of National. ACT will deflate fast and David will become an appendage of National again.

by Mrs The Point | 27th Sep 21, 11:44pm 1632739499

Pretty desperate if you think Simon is the answer to anything. Hopefully they have learnt not to shoot themselves in the foot twice, like they did with Bill English.

by NZChinese | 27th Sep 21, 10:41pm 1632735684

There is a generation thing too. David Seymour is a millennial, Jacinda is also a millennial. They both know how to attract us millennial voters. Now close your eyes and think about National.

by dotti | 28th Sep 21, 12:43am 1632742984

I thought Jacinda was Gen X? I know that I'm supposedly Gen X, and I'm only one year older than her.

by solardb | 28th Sep 21, 9:01am 1632772867

I was thinking that the other day . Even 3 term "stars"like John key and Helen Clark would probably struggle to get elected today.

One big change that may have gone unnoticed , young people are voting more.

by Zen20 | 28th Sep 21, 11:56am 1632783390

When you say 'young' do you mean those 56 and under? i.e. not boomers

by Stuart Mason | 28th Sep 21, 6:35am 1632764101

With Labour on 43% and falling and the state National is in, guess whose going to be back in government in 2023? It smells like it will be 2017 all over again. Labour's performance this year had been so woeful it's almost written WP's script for him.

by Albert2020 | 28th Sep 21, 9:03am 1632772995

His recent appearance on media both mainstream and social is no coincidence

by Computer | 28th Sep 21, 8:02pm 1632812557

"With Labour on 43% and falling and the state National is in, guess whose going to be back in government in 2023?"

The Greens.

by Doggog | 28th Sep 21, 10:51am 1632779519

I voted for Labour to stop a Labour-Greens coalition. I knew there was a risk in giving total control to the Labour party without the NZ First handbrake. The move to the right would indicate the team of five million is not happy. They should personality test political candidates, so we are subjected less to the psychology of the dark triad. It comprises the personality traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy.

by 7jai | 28th Sep 21, 11:11am 1632780683

Good. I like Seymour as he brings fresh ideas and perspectives to a dying political model with Labor & National.

by JimboJones | 28th Sep 21, 12:01pm 1632783664

I like Seymour too, but I am not convinced his ideas ("free market, free market, free market, and did I say free market") are particularly fresh.

It just shows how important the leader of the party is. I doubt many are voting for Act, they are voting for Seymour. Put someone with his charisma but more centre right in charge of National and it would turn the party around. But who?

by Mr Ed | 28th Sep 21, 1:17pm 1632788273

Disaffected Natanic survivors scrabbling for a lifeboat that's full of loonies