Labour loved excuses. ACT prefers results.

Party: ACT

Sender: ACT New Zealand I ACTion <[email protected]>

Date Received: 2025-09-26 18:28

HTML Version

Dear [Name],

You deserve a government that delivers results.

This week, ACT has done exactly that: cutting through bureaucracy to make practical reforms and deliver efficient services. From medicines that save lives, to fairer leave for workers, faster justice in the courts, and polytechs focused on skills not ideology, we're fixing what matters.

Let's crack into it.

Listen to Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden’s interview with Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Government’s changes to the Holidays Act.

A fairer deal for workers and employers

The Holidays Act has been a nightmare – billions wasted, employers confused, and workers missing out on what they’re owed. Successive governments dithered for years, leaving New Zealanders tangled in payroll confusion.

As Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Brooke van Velden has done what the bureaucracy couldn’t: delivered a solution.

“Full-time and part-time workers will start earning annual and sick leave in direct proportion to the hours they work.

“Parents returning from parental leave will no longer be penalised with lower pay if they take annual leave, sick leave can be taken in hours to match real life, and employers will finally have certainty with straightforward rules they can understand and apply.” – Brooke van Velden.

The scale of the old system’s failure was staggering. As of August, Health NZ had already paid out more than $544 million in remediation to 72,296 employees, with the health sector’s liability alone estimated at over $2 billion.

Under the old law, workers had to wait 12 months for annual leave and six months for sick leave, regardless of how many hours they worked. Under the new system, both annual and sick leave will accrue from day one, based on actual hours worked.

Replacing the Holidays Act will make life easier for workers and simpler for employers. It's a badly needed fix, delivered by ACT.

Medicines that save lives

This week Pharmac announced its proposal to fund five new treatments for multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, eye conditions, and lung cancer. Up to 1,700 New Zealanders could benefit in the first year alone, rising to 4,000 by year five.

“For many New Zealanders, funding for pharmaceuticals is life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely” – David Seymour

The proposal includes:

Faricimab – for certain eye conditions
Entrectinib – for lung cancer
Subcutaneous ocrelizumab – for multiple sclerosis
Combined subcutaneous pertuzumab with trastuzumab – for metastatic breast cancer
Ongoing access to bevacizumab – for certain eye conditions

These treatments don’t just change lives, they also free up the health system. Smarter delivery will save an estimated 12,800 hospital infusion hours by year five, giving doctors and nurses more time to treat patients.

How did we get here? First, ACT found savings across government in successive Budgets. Then, with David Seymour as Minister responsible for Pharmac, we delivered a record $604 million investment in medicines.

Thousands of New Zealanders are already benefiting from expanded access to cancer medicines and other treatments, with more life-changing options on the way. It shows how we can spend smarter to maximise results.

Listen to Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee’s interview with Mike Hosking on civil cases in the District Court dropping by 20% in the year to July.

Justice delivered, not justice delayed

Justice delayed is justice denied – and in recent years the system was in gridlock. Families have waited years for coroners’ findings. Civil disputes dragged on. Victims were left hanging.

Nicole McKee’s fixes to the Courts system are making a real difference to clear backlogs.

District Court (civil cases): Active caseloads are down 20% in the past year, and the average time cases sit in the system has fallen by 36%.
Disputes Tribunal: More than 900 extra cases were completed in the past year, with aged cases (over 180 days) down by 21%.
Coroners Court: Active cases have reduced by 15%, thanks to new associate coroners and clinical advisors helping families get closure sooner.

Nicole McKee says the goal is simple:

“Every day a case drags on is another day of stress for families, victims, and businesses. That’s why we’re focused on fixing what matters and getting the courts moving again.”

Clearing the backlog shows what happens when you focus on outcomes, not excuses.

Changes to the government’s polytech legislation: removing a Treaty clause and DEI provisions for polytech leadership

Polytechs focused on skills, not ideology

Polytechs should be equipping New Zealanders with practical skills that lead to great careers. But recently we’ve seen ideology creeping into vocational training – from tikanga lessons shoehorned into possum-trapping to Treaty content in equestrian care.

ACT pushed back.

The Government is replacing the legislation that governs polytechs, and because of ACT’s scrutiny at the select committee stage – led by Dr Parmjeet Parmar and Laura McClure – key changes have been secured:

Removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provisions for polytech leadership.
Scrapping a Treaty clause that had nothing to do with teaching trades.

These reforms mean polytechs can get back to their real purpose: preparing New Zealanders with the skills employers actually need, not pushing political agendas.

Free speech isn’t ‘disruption’

Local democracy is meant to be simple: councillors are elected to speak freely, challenge bad ideas, and represent their communities. But Wellington can’t help itself – it wants to write the rules and tilt the playing field.

The Minister of Local Government asked the Local Government Commission to draft a Code of Conduct to protect free speech. Instead, what came back looks like a gag order.

It would force councillors into a so-called Treaty “partnership” stance, mandate "education" sessions, then bury them under vague rules about being “inclusive” and avoiding “disruption.” This is Wellington waffle designed to shut people up.

ACT’s Cameron Luxton has written to the Commission warning the draft undermines democracy. If it isn’t fixed, ACT will take it straight to the Minister, who is set to consider the draft later this year.

A Code of Conduct should protect free speech, not punish it. Councillors aren’t elected to be compliant — they’re elected to represent you.

Have your say: submissions on the draft Code close today. Email [Email] with your feedback.

In the weeks to come, we’ll be showcasing some of the hard work our candidates are doing out on the campaign trail – Here's our Papakura Local Board caniddiate Prasad Gawande

Until Next Week

Every week ACT is proving that politics doesn’t have to be about spin, excuses, or ideology. It can be about delivery.

David Seymour is getting lifesaving medicines into the hands of patients. Brooke van Velden is making work fairer and simpler for both workers and employers. Nicole McKee is unclogging the courts so families get closure and victims see justice. Dr Parmjeet Parmar is keeping polytechs focused on real skills, not political agendas.

That’s the difference ACT brings to the government: listening to New Zealanders, respecting the taxpayer, and fixing what matters.

👉 Say g'day at our next event

Thanks,

Team ACT

DONATE TODAY

[Name], if you like what we're doing, and wish to support us, please consider donating. As a grassroots movement, we rely on the support from Kiwis like you.

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Text Version

<https://www.act.org.nz/>Dear [Name], <https://action.act.org.nz/>
You deserve a government that delivers results.
This week, ACT has done exactly that: cutting through bureaucracy to make practical reforms and deliver efficient services. From medicines that save lives, to fairer leave for workers, faster justice in the courts, and polytechs focused on skills not ideology, we're fixing what matters.
Let's crack into it.
<https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/brooke-van-velden-workplace-relations-minister-on-the-governments-changes-to-the-holidays-act/>Listen to Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden’s interview with Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Government’s changes to the Holidays Act.
A fairer deal for workers and employers
The Holidays Act has been a nightmare – billions wasted, employers confused, and workers missing out on what they’re owed. Successive governments dithered for years, leaving New Zealanders tangled in payroll confusion.
As Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Brooke van Velden has done what the bureaucracy couldn’t: delivered a solution.
“Full-time and part-time workers will start earning annual and sick leave in direct proportion to the hours they work.
“Parents returning from parental leave will no longer be penalised with lower pay if they take annual leave, sick leave can be taken in hours to match real life, and employers will finally have certainty with straightforward rules they can understand and apply.” – Brooke vanVelden.
The scale of the old system’s failure was staggering. As of August, Health NZ had already paid out more than $544 million in remediation to 72,296 employees, with the health sector’s liability alone estimated at over $2 billion.
Under the old law, workers had to wait 12 months for annual leave and six months for sick leave, regardless of how many hours they worked. Under the new system, both annual and sick leave will accrue from day one, based on actual hours worked.
Replacing the Holidays Act will make life easier for workers and simpler for employers. It's a badly needed fix, delivered by ACT.
Medicines that save lives
This week Pharmac announced its proposal to fund five new treatments for multiple sclerosis, breast cancer, eye conditions, and lung cancer. Up to 1,700 New Zealanders could benefit in the first year alone, rising to 4,000 by year five.
“For many New Zealanders, funding for pharmaceuticals is life or death, or the difference between a life of pain and suffering or living freely” – David Seymour
The proposal includes:
- Faricimab – for certain eye conditions
- Entrectinib – for lung cancer
- Subcutaneous ocrelizumab – for multiple sclerosis
- Combined subcutaneous pertuzumab with trastuzumab – for metastatic breast cancer
- Ongoing access to bevacizumab – for certain eye conditions
These treatments don’t just change lives, they also free up the health system. Smarter delivery will save an estimated 12,800 hospital infusion hours by year five, giving doctors and nurses more time to treat patients.
How did we get here? First, ACT found savings across government in successive Budgets. Then, with David Seymour as Minister responsible for Pharmac, we delivered a record $604 million investment in medicines.
Thousands of New Zealanders are already benefiting from expanded access to cancer medicines and other treatments, with more life-changing options on the way. It shows how we can spend smarter to maximise results.
<https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/nicole-mckee-associate-justice-minister-on-the-number-of-active-civil-cases-dropping-by-20/>Listen to Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee’s interview with Mike Hosking on civil cases in the District Court dropping by 20% in the year to July.
Justice delivered, not justice delayed
Justice delayed is justice denied – and in recent years the system was in gridlock. Families have waited years for coroners’ findings. Civil disputes dragged on. Victims were left hanging.
Nicole McKee’s fixes to the Courts system are making a real difference to clear backlogs.
- District Court (civil cases): Active caseloads are down 20% in the past year, and the average time cases sit in the system has fallen by 36%.
- Disputes Tribunal: More than 900 extra cases were completed in the past year, with aged cases (over 180 days) down by 21%.
- Coroners Court: Active cases have reduced by 15%, thanks to new associate coroners and clinical advisors helping families get closure sooner.
Nicole McKee says the goal is simple:
“Every day a case drags on is another day of stress for families, victims, and businesses. That’s why we’re focused on fixing what matters and getting the courts moving again.”
Clearing the backlog shows what happens when you focus on outcomes, not excuses.
Changes to the government’s polytech legislation: removing a Treaty clause and DEI provisions for polytech leadership
Polytechs focused on skills, not ideology
Polytechs should be equipping New Zealanders with practical skills that lead to great careers. But recently we’ve seen ideology creeping into vocational training – from tikanga lessons shoehorned into possum-trapping to Treaty content in equestrian care.
ACT pushed back.
The Government is replacing the legislation that governs polytechs, and because of ACT’s scrutiny at the select committee stage – led by Dr Parmjeet Parmar and Laura McClure – key changes have been secured:
- Removing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) provisions for polytech leadership.
- Scrapping a Treaty clause that had nothing to do with teaching trades.
These reforms mean polytechs can get back to their real purpose: preparing New Zealanders with the skills employers actually need, not pushing political agendas.
Free speech isn’t ‘disruption’
Local democracy is meant to be simple: councillors are elected to speak freely, challenge bad ideas, and represent their communities. But Wellington can’t help itself – it wants to write the rules and tilt the playing field.
The Minister of Local Government asked the Local Government Commission to draft a Code of Conduct to protect free speech. Instead, what came back looks like a gag order.
It would force councillors into a so-called Treaty “partnership” stance, mandate "education" sessions, then bury them under vague rules about being “inclusive” and avoiding “disruption.” This is Wellington waffle designed to shut people up.
ACT’s Cameron Luxton has written to the Commission warning the draft undermines democracy. If it isn’t fixed, ACT will take it straight to the Minister, who is set to consider the draft later this year.
A Code of Conduct should protect free speech, not punish it. Councillors aren’t elected to be compliant — they’re elected to represent you.
Have your say: submissions on the draft Code close today. Email [Email] <mailto:[Email]> with your feedback.
In the weeks to come, we’ll be showcasing some of the hard work our candidates are doing out on the campaign trail – Here's <https://www.actlocal.nz/prasadgawande> <https://www.actlocal.nz/prasadgawande> our <https://www.actlocal.nz/prasadgawande>Papakura Local Board caniddiate <https://www.actlocal.nz/prasadgawande>Prasad Gawande <https://www.actlocal.nz/prasadgawande> <https://www.actlocal.nz/prasadgawande>
Until Next Week
Every week ACT is proving that politics doesn’t have to be about spin, excuses, or ideology. It can be about delivery.
David Seymour is getting lifesaving medicines into the hands of patients. Brooke van Velden is making work fairer and simpler for both workers and employers. Nicole McKee is unclogging the courts so families get closure and victims see justice. Dr Parmjeet Parmar is keeping polytechs focused on real skills, not political agendas.
That’s the difference ACT brings to the government: listening to New Zealanders, respecting the taxpayer, and fixing what matters.
👉 Say g'day at our next event <https://action.act.org.nz/events>
Thanks,
Team ACT
<https://action.act.org.nz/donate>DONATE TODAY <https://action.act.org.nz/donate>[Name], if you like what we're doing, and wish to support us, please consider donating. As a grassroots movement, we rely on the support from Kiwis like you.
This email was sent to [Email] <https://action.act.org.nz/unsubscribe>
You can update your email preferences here <https://action.act.org.nz/unsubscribe>
Authorised by C Purves, Suite 2.5, 27 Gillies Avenue, Newmarket, Auckland 1023