The last week of Parliament – ACT still driving change – NZ Political Email Archive

The last week of Parliament – ACT still driving change

Party: ACT

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

Date Received: 2025-12-19 17:40

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Dear [Name],

As Parliament wrapped up its final sitting week for the year, ACT MPs weren’t winding down, they were still busy delivering for you, the New Zealand taxpayer.

From streamlining government departments, to faster passports, to cutting pointless regulations for restaurants, and restoring sanity to earthquake rules, it’s been a week of results.

Before we get into it, we want to acknowledge those beyond the Beehive. We’re thinking of New Zealand’s Jewish community and sending our love to friends and family in Bondi. In difficult moments, we stand together.

Now here’s what ACT has been delivering in the final week of Parliament for the year 👇

A little less bureaucracy, a lot more progress

ACT has long said that New Zealand has too many Ministries, and too many Ministers.

Back in May, David laid this out to the Tauranga Business Chamber.

“We currently have 82 ministerial portfolios... held by 28 ministers. And under them, we have 41 separate government departments”

By comparison:

“Ireland, a country with the same-sized population as New Zealand has sixteen ministries.”

That’s the benchmark ACT is working toward. And this week marked a step in the right direction as the Coalition moves to merge four ministries into one.

On Tuesday, the Government announced the new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), bringing together Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Transport, and key local government functions into a single agency.

That matters because Wellington has spent years treating these parts of government as completely separate – even though in the real world they’re closely connected. Bringing them together makes it easier to deliver housing growth, infrastructure, congestion pricing, water reform, regional deals, and planning reform that actually works.

ACT would go further – much further. Ideally, no minister would have more than two departments, no department would have more than one minister.

That’s how you get real accountability. It makes it clear who's in charge, and where the buck stops when a department fails.

Brooke in action: Passport processing slashed to just 3 days

If you ever needed an example of ACT MPs being a cut above the rest, this is it.

As a taxpayer, you’re entitled to expect excellent service and delivery for the money you hand over. This year, that’s exactly what Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has delivered.

Thanks to operational improvements led by Brooke and her team, passport processing times have been slashed from 25 days in 2023 to just three days this year – and that’s for all applications, not just urgent ones.

For perspective, that’s among the fastest passport turnaround times in the world. This is what ACT brings to government: high standards, and results that actually make people’s lives easier.

But good ministers don’t just fix problems – they plan ahead.

Brooke is now urging New Zealanders to check their passport expiry dates as we head into summer, with a major surge in demand coming. The Department expects:

Over 1.3 million passports to expire in the next two years
Around 622,000 applications in 2026
Another 759,000 passports expiring in 2027

In other words, if your passport needs renewing soon, you won’t be the only one.

Nicole McKee chips away at the nanny state

Here's a sensible fix to cut red tape and make life easier for some specialist restaurants (and their customers).

Right now, restaurants across New Zealand can serve you a glass of wine with your meal, but if you really like it and want to buy a bottle to take home? Too bad. Even if that same restaurant sells packaged cheeses, slices, and spices, the law prohibits them from holding an off-licence alongside their on-licence.

For most restaurants, this isn't a major issue, but if you want to set up a deli-style business that combines on-site dining and with take-home wine sales, you're out of luck.

ACT's Nicole McKee is changing that.

Nicole will amend the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act so restaurants with on-site retail areas can apply for an off-licence, allowing them to sell take-home alcohol alongside takeaway food or non-alcoholic drinks.

These businesses are already trusted to serve alcohol responsibly. This change just lets them apply to sell it to take home as well – instead of being strangled by pointless red tape.

The end of a decade-long earthquake-strengthening nightmare

Watch highlights of David’s speech on the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill – First Reading

After the Canterbury earthquakes, Parliament acted with the best of intentions. No one wanted a repeat of that tragedy. But good intentions don’t always make good law.

In 2016, Parliament passed sweeping earthquake-strengthening rules. David was the only MP to vote against them – 119 to one – not because he opposed safety, but because he had read the evidence.

The modelling suggested the rules might save three lives in Auckland over 10,000 years. That’s in a city that hasn’t experienced a major earthquake in around 200,000 years.

As David told Parliament this week, the laws “would devastate communities, would devastate individuals, and would devastate the New Zealand economy for no benefits whatsoever.”

That’s exactly what happened. Billions of dollars were spent strengthening buildings that posed little real risk. Provincial main streets emptied out as buildings were declared earthquake-prone. Owners were left with properties they couldn’t sell, insure, or afford to fix.

ACT was ahead of its time in 2016, but now other parties are on board. The Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill passed its first reading this week.

Instead of blanket rules, the system will now focus on buildings that pose the greatest risk to life.

“There hasn't been just personal destruction; there has also been destruction at a national level… These changes today will save $9 billion.” – David Seymour

Until next week

As the year wraps up, thank you for your support.

This final sitting week shows what ACT brings to government: focus, discipline, and results. We’ll be back in the new year continuing to drive real change and fix what matters.

ACT runs on people. If you’re able to support our work, by sharing our message, getting involved, or donating – it helps keep that change moving.

For now, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.

Thanks for standing with ACT.

We’ll see you in the new year.

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/>
As Parliament wrapped up its final sitting week for the year, ACT MPs weren’t winding down, they were still busy delivering for you, the New Zealand taxpayer.
From streamlining government departments, to faster passports, to cutting pointless regulations for restaurants, and restoring sanity to earthquake rules, it’s been a week of results.
Before we get into it, we want to acknowledge those beyond the Beehive. We’re thinking of New Zealand’s Jewish community and sending our love to friends and family in Bondi. In difficult moments, we stand together.
Now here’s what ACT has been delivering in the final week of Parliament for the year 👇
A little less bureaucracy, a lot more progress
<https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/559610/act-s-david-seymour-wants-to-slash-bloated-ministerial-line-up>ACT has long said that New Zealand has too many Ministries, and too many Ministers.
Back in May, David laid this out to the Tauranga Business Chamber. <https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/559610/act-s-david-seymour-wants-to-slash-bloated-ministerial-line-up>
“We currently have 82 ministerial portfolios... held by 28 ministers. And under them, we have 41 separate government departments”
By comparison:
“Ireland, a country with the same-sized population as New Zealand has sixteen ministries.”
That’s the benchmark ACT is working toward. And this week marked a step in the right direction as the Coalition moves to merge four ministries into one.
On Tuesday, the Government announced the new Ministry of Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), bringing together Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Transport, and key local government functions into a single agency.
That matters because Wellington has spent years treating these parts of government as completely separate – even though in the real world they’re closely connected. Bringing them together makes it easier to deliver housing growth, infrastructure, congestion pricing, water reform, regional deals, and planning reform that actually works.
ACT would go further – much further. Ideally, no minister would have more than two departments, no department would have more than one minister.
That’s how you get real accountability. It makes it clear who's in charge, and where the buck stops when a department fails.
Brooke in action: Passport processing slashed to just 3 days
If you ever needed an example of ACT MPs being a cut above the rest, this is it.
As a taxpayer, you’re entitled to expect excellent service and delivery for the money you hand over. This year, that’s exactly what Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has delivered.
Thanks to operational improvements led by Brooke and her team, passport processing times have been slashed from 25 days in 2023 to just three days this year – and that’s for all applications, not just urgent ones.
For perspective, that’s among the fastest passport turnaround times in the world. This is what ACT brings to government: high standards, and results that actually make people’s lives easier.
But good ministers don’t just fix problems – they plan ahead.
Brooke is now urging New Zealanders to check their passport expiry dates as we head into summer, with a major surge in demand coming. The Department expects:
- Over 1.3 million passports to expire in the next two years
- Around 622,000 applications in 2026
- Another 759,000 passports expiring in 2027
In other words, if your passport needs renewing soon, you won’t be the only one.
Nicole McKee chips away at the nanny state
<https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360916735/government-proposes-law-change-so-eateries-can-sell-take-away-alcohol>Here's a sensible fix to cut red tape and make life easier for some specialist restaurants (and their customers).
Right now, restaurants across New Zealand can serve you a glass of wine with your meal, but if you really like it and want to buy a bottle to take home? Too bad. Even if that same restaurant sells packaged cheeses, slices, and spices, the law prohibits them from holding an off-licence alongside their on-licence.
For most restaurants, this isn't a major issue, but if you want to set up a deli-style business that combines on-site dining and with take-home wine sales, you're out of luck.
ACT's Nicole McKee is changing that.
Nicole will amend the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act so restaurants with on-site retail areas can apply for an off-licence, allowing them to sell take-home alcohol alongside takeaway food or non-alcoholic drinks.
These businesses are already trusted to serve alcohol responsibly. This change just lets them apply to sell it to take home as well–instead of being strangled by pointless red tape.
The end of a decade-long earthquake-strengthening nightmare
<https://www.youtube.com/shorts/77uFrbEFqkc>Watch highlights of David’s speech on the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill – First Reading
After the Canterbury earthquakes, Parliament acted with the best of intentions. No one wanted a repeat of that tragedy. But good intentions don’t always make good law.
In 2016, Parliament passed sweeping earthquake-strengthening rules. David was the only MP to vote against them – 119 to one – not because he opposed safety, but because he had read the evidence.
The modelling suggested the rules might save three lives in Auckland over 10,000 years. That’s in a city that hasn’t experienced a major earthquake in around 200,000 years.
As David told Parliament this week, the laws “would devastate communities, would devastate individuals, and would devastate the New Zealand economy for no benefits whatsoever.”
That’s exactly what happened. Billions of dollars were spent strengthening buildings that posed little real risk. Provincial main streets emptied out as buildings were declared earthquake-prone. Owners were left with properties they couldn’t sell, insure, or afford to fix.
ACT was ahead of its time in 2016, but now other parties are on board. The Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Bill passed its first reading this week.
Instead of blanket rules, the system will now focus on buildings that pose the greatest risk to life.
“There hasn't been just personal destruction; there has also been destruction at a national level… These changes today will save $9 billion.” – David Seymour
Until next week
As the year wraps up, thank you for your support.
This final sitting week shows what ACT brings to government: focus, discipline, and results. We’ll be back in the new year continuing to drive real change and fix what matters.
ACT runs on people. If you’re able to support our work, by sharing our message, getting involved, or donating – it helps keep that change moving. <https://action.act.org.nz/donate_warchest>
For now, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
Thanks for standing with ACT.
We’ll see you in the new year.
<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