David Seymour
Sitting MP · EpsomACT leader, Epsom MP and Deputy Prime Minister with an electrical-engineering and philosophy background; elected locally four times since 2014.
Stated priorities: Local constituent service, educational achievement, charter schools, personal freedom, lower regulation and equal opportunity.
Latest party-vote polling
Polls measure nationwide support for ACT, not this candidate or this electorate — no electorate-level figures are published in these releases.
ACT manifesto promises
61 policy commitments on file for the party this candidate stands for.
- • Oppose capital-gains, wealth and inheritance taxes and favour lower spending and existing tax bases rather than new taxes on assets or investmentact.org.nz
- • Fund council tourism infrastructure through the Local Tourism Dividend rather than introducing a bed taxact.org.nz
- • Apply a 12-month bright-line exemption so qualifying personal digital-asset gains are tax-free after one year, and exempt low-value crypto purchases from tax complianceact.org.nz
- • [RNZ news source] Support delaying fuel-tax increases while topping up the National Land Transport Fund from other taxes so road maintenance continuesrnz.co.nz
- • Ring-fence National Land Transport Fund maintenance and renewal funding and make non-functional art, monuments and decorative amenities ineligible for road-user fundingact.org.nz
- • Limit state schools to three compulsory branded uniform items and require generic alternatives for common itemsact.org.nz
- • Let children use available seats on existing rural school-bus routes, reducing family fuel and travel costsact.org.nz
- • Strengthen property rights and require clearer limits on government interference with property and investmentact.org.nz
- • Add a $6-a-day infrastructure surcharge to temporary work visas, expected to raise about $80 million annuallyact.org.nz
- • Return $1 to councils for every commercial guest night through a Local Tourism Dividend funded from existing tourism revenue, without a new bed taxact.org.nz
- • Reduce compulsory school-uniform costs through generic alternatives and a three-item cap on branded itemsact.org.nz
- • Reduce compulsory school-uniform costs through generic alternatives and a three-item cap on branded itemsact.org.nz
- • Allow children to use spare seats on rural school buses even when attending a school other than their nearest schoolact.org.nz
- • Cap compulsory branded school-uniform items at three and require generic alternatives for common clothingact.org.nz
- • Introduce an Open Seat Rule for rural school buses and fund additional capacity from within the existing education budgetact.org.nz
- • [RNZ news source] Disestablish the Climate Change Commission and transfer its monitoring and reporting functions to existing bodiesrnz.co.nz
- • [RNZ news source] Treat the “climate emergency” as over and favour practical protections such as coastal defences, raised roads and homes, stormwater upgrades and stopbanks over restrictive planning based on extreme scenariosrnz.co.nz
- • Abolish the Climate Change Commission and transfer emissions monitoring and reporting to the responsible ministryact.org.nz
- • Rebuild fish stocks through nationwide shellfish limits, higher penalties, fisheries-management changes and ending scallop dredging in closed fisheriesstuff.co.nz
- • Repeal the Zero Carbon Act, scrap the current Net Zero target and benchmark New Zealand’s emissions cap against major trading partnersact.org.nz
- • Require MSD-approved independent doctors to certify health and disability benefits, with phased reassessment of existing recipientsact.org.nz
- • Put Jobseeker Support Work Ready payments onto an essentials-only electronic card after four months, with safety and necessity carve-outsact.org.nz
- • Prevent professional regulators disciplining members for lawful private expression and require regulators to remain politically neutralact.org.nz
- • Support the revised pay-equity law, arguing it returns the system to a workable, affordable model focused on genuine sex-based discriminationrnz.co.nz
- • Require health-related benefits to be assessed by MSD-approved designated doctors and use an essentials-only payment card for Jobseeker Work Ready recipients remaining on benefit longer than four months, with safety and access exemptionsact.org.nz
- • Close the medicines-access gap with Australia by increasing access to modern medicinesact.org.nz
- • Let accredited pharmacies treat more everyday conditions, monitor stable chronic conditions, order tests and pilot skin-lesion checksact.org.nz
- • Build a National Cancer Centre with campuses in Auckland and Christchurch, combining treatment, research, clinical trials and specialist expertiseact.org.nz
- • Increase Pharmac’s share of the health budget by one percentage point annually, aiming to close the medicines gap with Australia by 2033act.org.nz
- • [Stuff news source] End Māori and Pacific medical-school admissions pathways, arguing the review did not justify race-based selection; universities say all students meet the same graduation standardsstuff.co.nz
Speeches and coverage
Stories and statements that name David Seymour, updated automatically as they are published.
- 10 Aug 2026Newstalk ZBLeader interviewDavid Seymour on National’s tax signals
Seymour explained ACT’s opposition to potential fuel, accommodation and bank taxes.
- 4 Jun 2025RNZRegulatory policySeymour defends Regulatory Standards Bill
David Seymour defended ACT's flagship regulatory legislation against Treaty, consultation and retrospective-law criticism.
- 4 Jun 2025RNZRegulatory policy controversySeymour claims bots drove opposition submissions
David Seymour claimed automated campaigns inflated opposition to the Regulatory Standards Bill; the Ministry for Regulation said it had used a robust analysis and reported no bot interference.
- 4 Mar 2025RNZSchool lunch programmeSeymour sets term-two target to fix school lunch problems
After reports of late, inedible and unsuitable meals, David Seymour said quality-control problems in the revamped school lunch programme should be addressed by the start of term two.
- 17 Nov 2024RNZTreaty policyPrincipals criticise Seymour's hīkoi claims
School leaders described ACT leader David Seymour's comments about student participation in the Treaty hīkoi as inflammatory.
- 29 Sept 2024RNZEducation policyCharter-school applications assessed ahead of relaunch
ACT's David Seymour outlined progress toward re-establishing charter schools and the number of applications likely to proceed.
- 16 Aug 2024Official party siteTreaty policyACT statement on Treaty Principles Bill
David Seymour defended the proposed bill following Waitangi Tribunal criticism.
- 15 Aug 2024RNZCharter schoolsCharter-school programme receives 78 applications
David Seymour said 68 applications sought to establish new charter schools and 10 sought to convert state schools, ahead of initial openings planned for 2025 or 2026.
- 16 Oct 2023RNZCoalition negotiationsSeymour calls for early talks and political stability
With special votes still outstanding, David Seymour urged early coalition negotiations so a National–ACT-led government could agree common ground and begin implementing policy promptly.
Recent ACT speeches and statements
- 4 Sept 2026Official party sitePolicy releaseKeep New Zealand Moving
Six reforms to improve transport value: publish lowest-cost safe options, plan capacity for growth, protect maintenance funding, require equal treatment in procurement, exclude non-functional art from road funding, and avoid vehicle rules that raise family costs.
- 2 Sept 2026Official party siteParty releaseLabour promises to protect the bureaucracy, whatever the cost
ACT argued Labour’s public-service position amounted to a blank cheque for bureaucracy, contrasting it with ACT’s proposal for 18 ministers and 19 departments and warning Labour’s spending plans would require taxes, debt or later cuts.
- 1 Sept 2026Official party sitePolicy releasePut reside back in resident
Physical-presence requirements proposed for resident visa travel rights.
- 27 Aug 2026Official party sitePolicy releaseScrap the Climate Change Commission
ACT proposal to abolish the commission and move functions to a ministry.
- 22 Aug 2026Official party sitePolicy releaseA Starship for Cancer
ACT's national cancer-centre proposal.
- 3 Aug 2026Official party sitePolicy releaseDisrupt the Class, Leave the Class
ACT classroom discipline and teacher-authority proposal.
- 9 Jul 2026Official party sitePolicy releaseThree strikes for repeat burglars
ACT proposal for a minimum sentence after three burglary convictions.
- 28 Jun 2026RNZCampaign conferenceACT launches welfare and smaller-government policies
At its 2026 conference ACT proposed designated doctors for health-related benefits, payment cards for some long-term Jobseekers, 19 government departments and 18 ministers.