Let’s make groceries affordable again

Party: ACT

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

Date Received: 2025-11-23 17:33

HTML Version

Dear [Name],

It’s been another week of putting your values into action. ACT is delivering practical solutions for cheaper groceries, standing up for free speech online, and putting child safety ahead of ideology.

And after watching the All Blacks play with real intent and discipline this morning, it’s a good reminder of what happens when Kiwis focus on performance over excuses. That’s the spirit ACT is bringing to government.

While we often wish the Government would go further to defend your rights and respect your efforts, we're proud of our role as a constructive partner in the Coalition, keeping the focus on results, not politics.

Let’s make groceries affordable again

Grocery prices are far too high. And we know one way to reduce prices is to increase competition, such as by having overseas supermarket chains set up shop in New Zealand.

It turns out one significant barrier to new supermarkets entering the New Zealand market is the cost of having to re-label pre-packaged products to comply with specific local labelling rules.

In comes Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard. Andrew is set to trial digital labelling via on-shelf QR codes:

“Physical labelling can be a costly barrier. If we can introduce digital labelling to provide additional flexibility – we should. It’s about fixing what matters.” – Andrew Hoggard

This is a small but practical proposal that takes advantage of some basic tech to cut costs.

It’s also a good example of how ACT approaches cost-of-living issues: instead of scaring businesses stiff with reactionary, Wellington-led interventions, we’re focused on making it easier to do business and compete.

David responds to Winston Peters

Last Thursday was an historic day as the Regulatory Standards Bill finally passed into law. This is a twenty-year ACT project to expose the real costs of new red tape.

Politicians are great at publicising their good intentions – but what about the practical effects of their laws on real people? The Regulatory Standards Act means lawmakers must now explain how their proposals stack up against basic standards, like respect for property rights.

Of course, this week the media was more interested in the politics surrounding the Regulatory Standards Act than in what the law actually does. Despite voting for the bill last week, Winston Peters is now saying New Zealand First wants to repeal it.

If you're interested to hear David's unedited response, you can listen to his full interview with Heather du Plessis-Allan on the matter.

Puberty blockers: putting evidence ahead of ideology

The Government has suspended the prescription of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria.

As ACT's Children's spokesperson Karen Chhour explained:

“In recent years the world has rushed to put young people on a medical pathway without the evidence to show that it’s safe or effective.

“The Government's decision aligns us with the United Kingdom, which is now conducting clinical trials after the independent Cass Review found uncertainty regarding the safety and effectiveness of puberty blockers for young people.” – Karen Chhour

The thing is, growing up can be challenging and confusing – and using puberty blockers to deal with gender identity issues can have lifelong effects that some young people may later regret.

New Zealand has finally stopped following the international trend of “just do it and hope for the best” when it comes to kids’ health. For too long, activists have been running ahead of the science, with young people caught in the middle. That stops now.

A little bone for the media – It’s time to ditch the BSA

New Zealand was a very different place in the '80s. The average house cost about $35,000, there was no Super Rugby, ACT didn’t exist yet, and Kiwis had only a handful of radio stations and TV channels to choose from.

And yet the state still governs the media with a law passed in 1989 – the Broadcasting Act and its Broadcasting Standards Authority.

The BSA is funded by both you, the taxpayer, and by media outlets via levies. And while we’ve got plenty of criticisms of the media, we’re more than happy to throw them a bone and save them some cash by abolishing the BSA.

That’s why ACT’s very own Laura McClure has lodged a bill to repeal the Broadcasting Standards Authority. As she puts it:

“These days, people have endless choice… If someone doesn't like what they see or hear, they can tune in to something else.”

The irrelevance of the BSA was recently brought into focus:

“The BSA’s attempt earlier this year to expand its remit into online media… was an attempt to counter its own irrelevance with massive overreach.” – Laura McClure

That's right, an unelected body wanted to grant itself the power to regulate what people can say on podcasts and livestreams. We won't stand for it.

If you back Laura's bill, you can sign our petition here.

The Greens attempt to torch New Zealand's reputation

Have the Green Party learned nothing from the 2018 oil and gas ban fiasco? They may as well have put up a sign at the international terminal at the airport saying 'go away, we don’t want your money'.

But now they’ve come back with something even worse.

At least under the oil and gas ban, companies with existing permits could continue to operate. But this week the Greens openly threatened to rip up consents that applicants have lawfully obtained via the fast-track system.

As Simon Court said:

“They are prepared to wreck New Zealand's reputation as a secure place to do business if it wins them votes.”

“ACT backs Kiwi miners. Instead, the Greens prefer dictators and despots to mine for us – because how else would the Greens get their cellphones, iPads and wind turbines without mining?” – Simon Court

We already knew the Greens didn’t believe in property rights – now it seems they don’t believe in the sanctity of contracts either.

Meanwhile, ACT is focused on keeping New Zealand a place where businesses can invest, build, and employ. That’s why we’re reforming overseas investment and resource management law, to make this country a secure, predictable place to get things done.

Until next week

Whether it’s holding regulators accountable, opening the door to supermarket competition, protecting kids with evidence-based policy, or clearing out outdated bureaucracies like the BSA, ACT is advancing the real change Kiwis voted for.

Thanks for standing with us [Name]. We’ll be back next week with more of the work the media won’t bother to mention – but that makes a real difference to New Zealanders’ lives.

👉 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.

This email was sent to [Email]

You can update your email preferences here

Authorised by C Purves, Suite 2.5, 27 Gillies Avenue, Newmarket, Auckland 1023

Text Version

<https://www.act.org.nz/>Dear [Name], <https://action.act.org.nz/>
It’s been another week of putting your values into action. ACT is delivering practical solutions for cheaper groceries, standing up for free speech online, and putting child safety ahead of ideology.
And after watching the All Blacks play with real intent and discipline this morning, it’s a good reminder of what happens when Kiwis focus on performance over excuses. That’s the spirit ACT is bringing to government.
While we often wish the Government would go further to defend your rights and respect your efforts, we're proud of our role as a constructive partner in the Coalition, keeping the focus on results, not politics.
Let’s make groceries affordable again
Grocery prices are far too high. And we know one way to reduce prices is to increase competition, such as by having overseas supermarket chains set up shop in New Zealand.
It turns out one significant barrier to new supermarkets entering the New Zealand market is the cost of having to re-label pre-packaged products to comply with specific local labelling rules.
In comes Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard. Andrew is set to trial digital labelling <https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/digital-trial-boost-supermarket-competition> via on-shelf QR codes:
“Physical labelling can be a costly barrier. If we can introduce digital labelling to provide additional flexibility – we should. It’s about fixing what matters.” – Andrew Hoggard
This is a small but practical proposal that takes advantage of some basic tech to cut costs.
It’s also a good example of how ACT approaches cost-of-living issues: instead of scaring businesses stiff with reactionary, Wellington-led interventions, we’re focused on making it easier to do business and compete.
David responds to Winston Peters
<https://www.iheart.com/podcast/24837940/episode/308102790/ Thursday was an historic day as the Regulatory Standards Bill finally passed into law. This is a twenty-year ACT project to expose the real costs of new red tape.
Politicians are great at publicising their good intentions – but what about the practical effects of their laws on real people? The Regulatory Standards Act means lawmakers must now explain how their proposals stack up against basic standards, like respect for property rights.
Of course, this week the media was more interested in the politics surrounding the Regulatory Standards Act than in what the law actually does. Despite voting for the bill last week, Winston Peters is now saying New Zealand First wants to repeal it.
If you're interested to hear David's unedited response, you can listen to his full interview with Heather du Plessis-Allan on the matter <https://www.iheart.com/podcast/24837940/episode/308102790/
Puberty blockers: putting evidence ahead of ideology
<https://www.youtube.com/watch Government has suspended the prescription of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria.
As ACT's Children's spokesperson Karen Chhour explained:
“In recent years the world has rushed to put young people on a medical pathway without the evidence to show that it’s safe or effective.
“The Government's decision aligns us with the United Kingdom, which is now conducting clinical trials after the independent Cass Review found uncertainty regarding the safety and effectiveness of puberty blockers for young people.” – Karen Chhour
The thing is, growing up can be challenging and confusing – and using puberty blockers to deal with gender identity issues can have lifelong effects that some young people may later regret.
New Zealand has finally stopped following the international trend of “just do it and hope for the best” when it comes to kids’ health. For too long, activists have been running ahead of the science, with young people caught in the middle. That stops now.
A little bone for the media – It’s time to ditch the BSA
<https://www.youtube.com/watch Zealand was a very different place in the '80s. The average house cost about $35,000, there was no Super Rugby, ACT didn’t exist yet, and Kiwis had only a handful of radio stations and TV channels to choose from.
And yet the state still governs the media with a law passed in 1989 – the Broadcasting Act and its Broadcasting Standards Authority.
The BSA is funded by both you, the taxpayer, and by media outlets via levies. And while we’ve got plenty of criticisms of the media, we’re more than happy to throw them a bone and save them some cash by abolishing the BSA.
That’s why ACT’s very own Laura McClure has lodged a bill to repeal the Broadcasting Standards Authority. As she puts it:
“These days, people have endless choice… If someone doesn't like what they see or hear, they can tune in to something else.”
The irrelevance of the BSA was recently brought into focus:
“The BSA’s attempt earlier this year to expand its remit into online media… was an attempt to counter its own irrelevance with massive overreach.” – Laura McClure
That's right, an unelected body wanted to grant itself the power to regulate what people can say on podcasts and livestreams. We won't stand for it.
If you back Laura's bill, you can sign our petition here. <https://action.act.org.nz/scrap_the_broadcasting_standards_authority>
The Greens attempt to torch New Zealand's reputation
Have the Green Party learned nothing from the 2018 oil and gas ban fiasco? They may as well have put up a sign at the international terminal at the airport saying 'go away, we don’t want your money'.
But now they’ve come back with something even worse.
At least under the oil and gas ban, companies with existing permits could continue to operate. But this week the Greens openly threatened to rip up consents that applicants have lawfully obtained via the fast-track system.
As Simon Court said:
“They are prepared to wreck New Zealand's reputation as a secure place to do business if it wins them votes.”
“ACT backs Kiwi miners. Instead, the Greens prefer dictators and despots to mine for us – because how else would the Greens get their cellphones, iPads and wind turbines without mining?” – Simon Court
We already knew the Greens didn’t believe in property rights – now it seems they don’t believe in the sanctity of contracts either.
Meanwhile, ACT is focused on keeping New Zealand a place where businesses can invest, build, and employ. That’s why we’re reforming overseas investment and resource management law, to make this country a secure, predictable place to get things done.
Until next week
Whether it’s holding regulators accountable, opening the door to supermarket competition, protecting kids with evidence-based policy, or clearing out outdated bureaucracies like the BSA, ACT is advancing the real change Kiwis voted for.
Thanks for standing with us [Name]. We’ll be back next week with more of the work the media won’t bother to mention – but that makes a real difference to New Zealanders’ lives.
👉 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