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David Seymour

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The Honourable
David Seymour
MP
David Seymour in 2023
David Seymour in 2023
1st Minister for Regulation
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byOffice established
7th Leader of ACT New Zealand
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 October 2014
Deputy
Preceded byJamie Whyte
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Epsom
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 September 2014
Preceded byJohn Banks
Majority9,224
Personal details
Born
David Breen Seymour

(1983-06-24) 24 June 1983 (age 41)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Political partyACT New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Auckland (BA/BE)
OccupationPolitician
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

David Breen Seymour (born 24 June 1983) is a New Zealand politician who has been the Leader of ACT New Zealand and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Epsom since 2014. He currently serves as the 1st Minister for Regulation in the Sixth National Government under Christopher Luxon.

Seymour spent his early years in Whangārei and joined ACT as a student at the University of Auckland. Following his graduation, he worked in the engineering industry. Subsequently, working for conservative think tanks in Canada during the 2000s,[1][2] before returning to New Zealand and standing unsuccessfully for election to Parliament in 2005 and 2011. He entered the House of Representatives in 2014 as ACT's sole MP, after which he replaced Jamie Whyte as party leader. In 2018 he appeared in a television dance contest, Dancing With the Stars. Seymour's End of Life Choice bill was selected from the members' ballot on 8 June 2017 and was put to a referendum in October 2020 in conjunction with the 2020 general election. It passed with 65.91% and came into force as the End of Life Choice Act 2019 a year after the referendum.

Seymour was re-elected in 2017, and led ACT to one of its best results in the 2020 election, winning ten seats. In the 2023 general election, Seymour was re-elected and the ACT Party increased its representation to 11 seats, the best result in the party's history. ACT subsequently formed a coalition government with the National and New Zealand First parties. Under the coalition arrangement, Seymour will assume the position of deputy prime minister from 31 May 2025, replacing Winston Peters.

Seymour's outspoken views on various issues have sparked reactions from across the political spectrum, including controversy. During the 2023 general election he campaigned on, and has since pushed for, a referendum on the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, which proposes several changes to the principles, including a revision to remove any references to Māori people from the treaty's use in law, instead referring to "all New Zealanders".[3][4][5][6]

Early life

[edit]

Seymour was born in Palmerston North to a Ngāpuhi mother and Pākehā father in 1983.[7] His family moved to Whangārei when Seymour was a child.[8] Seymour's mother identified as Pākehā until she discovered Ngāpuhi roots when her son was seven.[9] As a teenager, Seymour went to Auckland Grammar School[10] and, later, the University of Auckland where he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronic) and a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy).[11] Following his graduation from university, Seymour worked in the engineering sector.[12]

Seymour worked in Canada as a policy analyst for five years for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy and the Manning Centre.[13]

Early political career

[edit]
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2014–2017 51st Epsom none ACT
2017–2020 52nd Epsom 1 ACT
2020–2023 53rd Epsom 1 ACT
2023–present 54th Epsom 1 ACT

ACT activism and candidacy

[edit]

Seymour is a long-time member of ACT, initially becoming involved in the political party through ACT on Campus while studying at Auckland University.[14] While there, he became leader of the student organisation.[12]

Seymour contested three elections before his eventual success in 2014. He first stood for ACT in 2005 in Mt Albert and was also ranked 37th on the party list.[15][16] He was unsuccessful in the electorate, which was held by Helen Clark, the prime minister at the time, and with 1.51% of the party vote ACT returned only two members to parliament, leaving Seymour out.[17] While living in Canada, Seymour contested the 2008 election for ACT as list-only candidate, ranked 55th.[18][19]

At the 2011 general election, Seymour stood for ACT in the Auckland Central electorate, but the electorate was retained by National's Nikki Kaye.[20] Seymour was ranked fifth on the party list,[21] but with 1.07% of the party vote,[22] ACT was unable to return any list MPs to parliament, and John Banks, who had retained the Epsom seat for ACT, was the party's only sitting member.[22]

Path to leadership, 2011–2014

[edit]

After the 2011 election, Seymour worked as a ministerial adviser for Banks, who was appointed an Associate Minister of Education for the John Key-led National government. Seymour assisted with the development of the government's Partnership Schools legislation.[23][24]

In late 2013, John Banks resigned from his ministerial positions following criminal charges in relation to electoral returns in his bid for the Auckland mayoralty in 2010.[25] In June 2014 he announced he would resign from ACT Party leadership and not contest Epsom in the 2014 election.[26]

Seymour, alongside Jamie Whyte (on the right), during a press conference announcing their selections as the Epsom candidate and party leader respectively, 2014

In February 2014, at the same time that Jamie Whyte was made leader of the ACT Party, Seymour won the nomination to stand as the party's candidate for Epsom.[27] The electorate had already proven strategically important for ACT. Seymour's selection for Epsom, over former deputy leader and party president John Boscawen,[14] was described by political commentators as the "clean slate" choice[28] and a "fresh face".[29][30] Seymour was the first confirmed candidate for the Epsom electorate,[31][32] and at an Epsom public meeting during his campaign he was described as "the most popular with the crowd" and "the star of the night, intelligent, witty and articulate".[33][34]

During the 2014 election campaign, Seymour released a campaign video online which the ACT Party described as going "viral" after it received around 35,000 views. Seymour said of the video: "I think it was just totally real, we didn't set out to make it funny or make it a viral video, it was just me being me, that combination with rather retro production values ... you wouldn't want to watch it standing up."[35] Seymour was endorsed for the Epsom electorate by Prime Minister John Key, despite Key's National colleague Paul Goldsmith also contesting the electorate.[36]

First term, 2014–2017

[edit]

At the election, Seymour was elected for the Epsom electorate with a majority of 4,250 votes.[35][37] Jamie Whyte did not win in his bid for the Pakuranga electorate, and Seymour replaced Whyte as the leader of ACT on 3 October 2014.[38][39]

Ministerial portfolios

[edit]

National returned as a minority government with ACT in confidence and supply in 2014, and Seymour was appointed parliamentary under-secretary to the Minister of Education and Minister of Regulatory Reform on 29 September 2014, as a result of National's confidence and supply agreement with ACT. Seymour was given responsibility for partnership schools, and reforms to the Resource Management Act 1991 and other regulation.[40]

In October 2015, a Labour Party member's bill to make parliamentary under-secretaries subject to the Official Information Act passed its first reading in Parliament. Seymour accused the bill of personally attacking him, and said it was not necessary because under-secretaries did not have decision-making powers.[41] Nonetheless, Seymour was one of 109 members of Parliament who voted in favour of the legislation at its third reading in June 2016.[42]

Contracts in the second round of applications for charter (partnership) schools were completed on 11 September 2014.[43] In January 2016, the contract was terminated for a Northland charter school from the first round, Te Pūmanawa o te Wairua.[44] Seymour continued to support the policy and push for more charter schools to be established.[45]

End of Life Choice Bill

[edit]
Main article: End of Life Choice Act 2019

On 6 June 2015, Seymour confirmed that he was preparing a member's bill known as the End of Life Choice Bill that would legalise assisted dying. This bill was in response to the decision in Seales v Attorney-General that stated only parliament had the ability to address assisted suicide laws.[46] On 14 October 2015, Seymour lodged the End of Life Choice Bill into the member's ballot, launched a website promoting his bill, and released an ACT-commissioned poll of 2800 people showing 66% public support in favour of legalising assisted dying.[47] The bill passed its first reading 76–44 in December 2017 and its second reading 70–50 in June 2019.[48][49] In the committee of the whole House, support from the New Zealand First party became conditional on a referendum to decide whether the law should come into force.[50] An amendment to require a referendum passed 69–51,[51] and the bill passed its third reading with the same numbers on 13 November.[52] The bill received royal assent on 16 November 2019, becoming the End of Life Choice Act 2019. A referendum was held on 17 October 2020. The vote was held in conjunction with the 2020 general election, and official results were released on 6 November 2020. It was accepted by New Zealand voters, with 65.1% in support and 33.7% opposed.[53]

Sale and Supply of Alcohol legislation

[edit]

In August 2015, Seymour introduced a member's bill to allow bars and rugby clubs to extend their bar trading hours when they are televising games from the Rugby World Cup. Most games, due to the time difference between New Zealand and England, started between 4 am and 6 am New Zealand Time, meaning that alcohol would not usually have been allowed to be sold. Despite opposition from the Green Party and the Māori Party, Seymour's bill passed all three readings, meaning that bars and rugby clubs were allowed to open for Rugby World Cup games.[54]

LGBTI cross-party group

[edit]

In 2015, Seymour became a member of a cross-party group initiated by Jan Logie to look at and advocate for LGBTI rights. The group also included: Catherine Delahunty (Green), Chris Bishop (National), Denis O'Rourke (NZ First), Denise Roche (Green), James Shaw (Green), Kevin Hague (Green), Louisa Wall (Labour), Nanaia Mahuta (Labour), Paul Foster-Bell (National), and Trevor Mallard (Labour).[55]

Legalisation of Uber drivers and ride-sharing drivers

[edit]

On 4 August 2017, Seymour and Transport Minister Simon Bridges helped to make Uber become part of New Zealand's transport system.[56] This also opened other ride-sharing apps like DiDi and Ola to enter and co-exist in the market.

Second term, 2017–2020

[edit]
David Seymour getting a parking ticket
David Seymour's electorate car at the Viaduct Harbour, May 2018

Seymour was re-elected to Parliament for Epsom in the 2017 general election as the sole ACT Member of Parliament.[57]

End of Life Choice Act

[edit]
Main article: End of Life Choice Act 2019

On 8 June 2017, Seymour's bill was selected from the members' ballot.[58] The bill was debated at its first reading on 13 December 2017, and passed with 76 votes in favour and 44 against.[59] It was then reviewed by the Justice Select Committee. It reappeared before the House for a second reading 26 June 2019 and passed, with 70 votes in favour, 50 opposed.[60][61] An amendment to the bill, which included the requirement that it be approved by a binding referendum before it would take effect, passed prior to its third reading with 63 votes in favour and 57 opposed.[62] The bill reappeared before the House and passed its third reading on 13 November 2019 with 69 votes in favour and 51 votes against.[63]

In an interview on the day of the third reading, Seymour said that he was confident that the public would vote to put the act into law, noting that "there was overwhelming support and it should easily pass the referendum."[64] The act was approved in the 2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum, which was held in conjunction with the 2020 general election, with a 65.91% of voters in favour of the act.[65]

Gun control, 2019

[edit]

Seymour was the sole Member of Parliament to oppose the Labour-led coalition government's Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019, which bans all semi-automatic firearms used during the Christchurch mosque shootings that occurred on 15 March 2019. Although he missed an initial procedural vote on the bill, he still cast a No vote when voting on the actual bill took place with a final result of 119 to 1. Seymour criticised the urgency of the government's gun control legislation.[66][67][68]

Zero Carbon Act 2019

[edit]

Despite announcing that the ACT party would vote against the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act, Seymour was absent from the vote on the bill's third reading. This allowed it to pass into law with unanimous support, 119–0, drawing the attention of local media.[69]

Abortion Legislation Act 2020

[edit]

Seymour supported the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 but argued that "safe zones", which would have established 150-metre protest-free areas around abortion clinics, would infringe upon freedom of expression.[70] Prior to the third reading of the bill on 10 March 2020, Seymour successfully included an amendment eliminating safe zones around abortion clinics.[71][72][73] The bill passed its third reading on 18 March, receiving royal assent on 23 March.[74] Safe zones were eventually reinstated through the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Act 2022, which Seymour supported.[75]

Coronavirus pandemic

[edit]

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Seymour served as a member of the Epidemic Response Committee from 25 March 2020.[76]

Third term, 2020–2023

[edit]
David Seymour speaking in Palmerston North, July 2023

During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Seymour contested the Epsom electorate and was re-elected by a margin of 9,224 votes.[77] In addition, ACT won eight percent of the popular vote, winning ten seats in Parliament (with nine on the party list).[78] In the much expanded caucus, Seymour held the specific portfolios of Finance and COVID-19 Response spokespersons, while remaining leader of the ACT party.[79]

Seymour's third member's bill to be debated in Parliament, the Regulatory Standards Bill, was drawn from the ballot in June 2021. It proposed stricter rules around government regulation making but failed its first reading in July 2021 without the support of the Labour government.[80] Following that bill's introduction, but before its defeat, Seymour announced his next member's bill would establish a legislative framework for four-year terms of Parliament.[81]

Coronavirus pandemic

[edit]

Following the Delta variant outbreak that began in August 2021, Seymour released ACT's COVID 3.0 strategy, which advocated replacing the government's elimination strategy with a "harm minimisation" strategy that focused on isolating infected individuals and easing border restrictions for travellers from low risk countries.[82] In November 2021, Seymour advocated a regular testing regime for unvaccinated workers instead of the government's vaccine mandate for education, health and hospitality workers.[83]

In December 2021, Seymour opposed the proposed joint Police and Māori iwi (tribal) checkpoints that screened travellers from Auckland heading into the Northland region from 15 December, arguing they would restrict people's freedom of movement. These checkpoints were located at State Highway 1 in Uretiti and State Highway 12 near Maungaturoto through the initiative of former Mana Movement leader Hone Harawira's Tai Tokerau Border Control. Seymour's criticisms were echoed by National Party leader Christopher Luxon and New Zealand First politicians Winston Peters and Shane Jones.[84][85] In response, Labour's deputy leader and Te Tai Tokerau Member of Parliament Kelvin Davis alleged that criticism of the iwi-led checkpoints was motivated by anti-Māori racism.[86]

2022 "arrogant prick" incident

[edit]

In mid December 2022, Seymour questioned Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the Parliamentary Question time about various issues including hate speech and the Three Waters reform programme. Following the session, Ardern was recorded on a hot mic calling Seymour an "arrogant prick". Since New Zealand parliamentary debates are televised, the comment was aired on television during Question Time. Ardern later issued a personal apology to Seymour for her remark.[87][88] The two politicians subsequently reconciled and joined forces to raise NZ$60,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation by auctioning a signed and framed copy of the Prime Minister's remark.[89]

Fourth term, 2023–present

[edit]
David Seymour with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon after their appointments at Government House on 27 November 2023.

During the 2023 New Zealand general election held on 14 October, Seymour was re-elected in Epsom by a margin of 8,142 votes.[90] ACT won 8.64 percent of the popular vote and gained 11 seats in Parliament.[91] Following the election, ACT entered into coalition talks with the National and New Zealand First parties to form a new government.[92][93]

On 24 November, the three parties concluded coalition talks and reached an agreement on both policy issues and ministerial portfolios. Seymour welcomed the conclusion of negotiations and expressed confidence that ACT had secured a favourable coalition deal. He also told The New Zealand Herald that the Government would announce a 100-day plan that could include repealing some legislation passed by the outgoing Labour government.[94]

As part of the coalition negotiations, Seymour will share the position of deputy prime minister with Peters for the term of the 54th New Zealand Parliament. Peters will serve as deputy prime minister until 31 May 2025, and then Seymour will assume the office until the conclusion of the term.[95] He is the 1st minister for regulation,[96] a portfolio proposed by Seymour.[97] In addition, Seymour was also appointed as an associate minister of education (partnership schools), finance, and health (Pharmac).[98]

Associate education

[edit]

In early March 2024 Seymour, in his capacity as Associate Minister of Education, confirmed that the $350 million Government-funded school lunch programme "Ka Ora, Ka Ako" would be reviewed prior to the 2024 New Zealand budget. He claimed there was no evidence that the school lunch programme had improved school achievement and attendance. Seymour cited a 2023 Treasury report which found that 12 percent of lunches (roughly 10,000 a day) were wasted. He has also suggested imposing fines on parents for truancy. The contract is due to expire at the end of 2024.[99] The school lunch programme serves 220,000 students across New Zealand.[100]

In response, Porirua College deputy principal John Topp and attendance officer Mose Skipworth defended the school lunches programme and said that scrapping it would lead to an increase in truancy.[99] In response, the Health Coalition Aotearoa sought a meeting with Seymour to argue for the school lunch programme, arguing that scaling back or shutting down the programme would worsen hardship and poor educational outcomes among deprived children.[100][101]

On 14 March 2024, Seymour visited Freyberg High School in Palmerston North and met with staff members including Principal Graeme Williams to discuss truancy. Towards the end of the visit, several students staged a haka (war dance) Ka Mate to protest against the Government's proposal to slash the free school lunch programme Ka Ora, Ka Ako and perceived anti-Māori policies. One student waving the National Māori flag also spat near Seymour.[102][103] In response, Principal Graeme Williams condemned the students' behaviour as "totally unacceptable" and stated that those responsible would be subject to disciplinary procedures.[103] Seymour said that one or two students failed to respect Tikanga Māori/Māori cultural values including hospitality and that the students were being affected by "torrents of information that isn't quite true."[103] Seymour also expressed interest in meeting Freyberg High School students on his next visit.[102] Following a 7,000-strong petition supporting the students, Williams announced that the school would not discipline the students involved in the protest but would instead work with the local iwi (tribe) Ngāti Ruanui Tumu Whakaae, the Ministry of Education, and board of trustees to implement a restorative process to address the incident.[104]

In early April 2024, Seymour created an eight-member "Charter School/Kura Hourua Establishment Board" to facilitate the reintroduction of charter schools. The Board is headed by St Cuthbert's College principal Justine Mahon, with other notable members including Glen Denham and Professor Elizabeth Rata. The Board aims to reestablish charter schools by 2025.[105] On 16 April, Seymour announced several changes to the early childhood education sector including easing teaching qualification requirements, allowing the government to decide the location of early childhood centres, and introducing mandatory reporting of child abuse.[106]

On 1 May 2024, Seymour confirmed that the Government would continue to fund the previous Labour Government's free school lunches programme for a few years until the completion of a review into the programme.[107] On 8 May, Seymour announced the Government's modified school lunch programme, which would cost NZ$234.8 million for the 2025 school year. Under the revised scheme, 10,000 pre-schoolers in low-equity, non-profit early childhood centres would be eligible for free morning tea and lunch five days a week at a cost of NZ$4 million. While the school lunch programme would remained unchanged for primary school students in 2025, the school lunch programme for intermediate and high school students would be bulk-purchased by the Government and delivered to schools.[108]

On 14 May, Seymour announced that the Government would allocate NZ$153 million from the 2024 budget to convert 35 state schools into charter schools and establish 15 new charter schools between 2025 and 2026.[109] Labour's education spokesperson Jan Tinetti, Green education spokesperson Lawrence Xu-Nan, the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) and the Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA), objected to the Government's charter school plans on the grounds that they were "profit-driven," would divert funding from overwhelmed state schools, disadvantaged children with behavioural issues and disabilities and did not have to hire qualified teachers.[110][111] By contrast, Innovative Education Consultants head consultant Alwyn Poole and St Stephen's School co-principal Nathan Durie welcomed the reintroduction of charter schools, arguing that they would meet the needs of children and bring flexibility to the educational system.[110][111]

In late September 2024, Seymour confirmed that the Government would prosecute parents for persistent truancy and remove teacher-only days during school term time.[112] In mid-October 2024, Seymour released details of the Government's revised free school lunch programme, which would be launched in Term 1 2024. Seymour said that the revamped programme would save NZ$130 million a year, with meals costing an average of NZ$3. Meals would consist of chicken katsu, butter chicken, lasagne, chicken pasta salad and wraps. Meals for students in Years 0 to 9 would be an average of 240 grams while meals for older students would be at least 300g with additional items including fruit, yoghurt or muesli bars. Schools would receive funding and resources to either prepare their meals internally, iwi/hapū providers and external suppliers including Gilmours, Foodstuffs, Watties and Hellers.[113][114]

Associate finance

[edit]

On 10 March 2024, Seymour announced that the Government would restore interest deductions on residential investment properties.[115]

Associate health (Pharmac)

[edit]

In mid-July 2024, Associate Health Minister Seymour had instructed the pharmaceutical purchasing agency Pharmac to stop factorising the Treaty of Waitangi in its decisions, writing that "Pharmac's role should focus on delivering improved health outcomes underpinned by robust data and evidence, in accordance with its statutory responsibilities. This should serve all New Zealanders based on actual need, without assigning their background as a proxy of need."[116] While Seymour's directive was supported Pharmac board chair Paula Bennett and Patient Voice Aotearoa chair Malcolm Mulholland, it was criticised by former Māori Health Authority clinical lead Dr Rawiri McKree Jansen, who said that the Government could do more to improve Māori access to health services and medicines.[117]

Acting prime minister

[edit]

Seymour served as acting prime minister from 14 to 20 July 2024 during Prime Minister Luxon's personal leave following his trip to the US. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters was unavailable for the role as he was visiting Japan and South Korea at the time.[118] As acting prime minister, Seymour toured the Government's Military-Style Academy Pilot for youth offenders with Children's Minister Karen Chhour and the media on 20 July.[119]

Political views and controversies

[edit]

Seymour has embraced libertarian social policies since becoming party leader, such as supporting the legalisation of euthanasia, and introducing the End of Life Choice Act 2019.[120][121][122][123][124] He has emerged as a vocal opponent of co-governance with Māori, and supports raising the retirement age and enacting tax cuts.[125][126][127] Seymour has increasingly caused controversy for his outspoken views, which include comparing co-governance with apartheid,[128][129] opposing Māori vaccination prioritisation,[130][131] and a joke about sending Guy Fawkes to blow up the Ministry of Pacific Peoples.[132][133]

2019 Hong Kong protests

[edit]

Seymour has defended the rights of pro-democracy protesters in New Zealand during the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests. He criticised the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland for praising the actions of Chinese students who had allegedly assaulted a Hong Kong student activist erecting a Lennon Wall at the University of Auckland on 29 July 2019.[134] Seymour also spoke at a pro-Hong Kong democracy rally at the University of Auckland on 6 August 2019.[135][136] Seymour's defence of free speech was praised by blogger Martyn "Bomber" Bradbury.[137]

Israel–Hamas war

[edit]

In response to the Israel–Hamas war, Seymour as ACT Party leader issued a statement expressing solidarity with Israel and condemning Hamas' actions as terrorism. He also criticised the Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta for not explicitly condemning Hamas in her statement expressing concern at the violence.[138][139] In response, Prime Minister Hipkins issued a statement condemning Hamas for targeting civilians and taking hostages in violation of international humantiarian principles. Hipkins stated that Israel had a right to self-defence but denied that Mahuta was out of step with New Zealand foreign policy, stating it was a matter of timing.[140]

Co-governance

[edit]

Since 2021, Seymour has been a vocal opponent of co-governance initiatives, a term referring to Māori people and the Crown sharing decision-making. In Parliament, he has opposed Three Waters,[141] He Puapua,[142] the Māori Health Authority and the Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill. He said: "The net result [of co-governance] is that someone who's not accountable to the wider community gets the right to say 'no' because of their birth. It's a recipe for frustration at best and resentment and division at worst."[143] After Seymour proposed to abolish the Ministry of Māori Development, Labour MP Willie Jackson labelled Seymour a "useless Maori" and "that [he] would 'do anything' for votes."[129]

During the 2023 electoral campaign, both Seymour and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters campaigned against co-governance.[144] Seymour advocates for a referendum on co-governance that would wholly redefine the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi to remove any reference to Māori.[145][146][147] There has been strong opposition to the proposed referendum by those who view it as divisive or potentially causing civil disorder, and it is highly unpopular on the political left – especially among Māori, but also within the centre-right of the National Party (former prime minister Jim Bolger is such an opponent).[3][4][5] Seymour has defended his views by has argued, "I think there is a real need for us to have a genuine, high-quality conversation around co-governance."[148] His opinions were partially supported by Christopher Luxon; however, Luxon also said that the National Party did not believe a referendum was necessary.[148]

On 19 January 2024, a draft of the ACT party's Treaty Principles Bill was leaked.[6] The principles of the Treaty in the original Māori text were redefined as:

Kawanatanga katoa o o ratou whenua: the New Zealand Government has the right to govern all New Zealanders

Ki nga tangata katoa o Nu Tireni te tino rangatiratanga o o ratou whenua o rataou kainga me o ratou taonga katoa: the New Zealand government will honour all New Zealanders in the chieftainship of their land and property

A ratou nga tikanga katoa rite tahi: all New Zealanders are equal under the law with the same rights and duties

The difference between Seymour's revision of the principles and the Māori text was his conflation of tangata ("people", in this case referring to Māori and more specifically Māori chiefs) with New Zealanders today in general, regardless of ethnicity. This was met with criticism from many Māori political figures, including Māori Party co-leaders Debbie-Ngarewa Packer and Rawiri Waititi,[6] as well as from academics, such as Michael Belgrave, a historian and Massey University professor, “Anyone who knows anything about this topic wouldn't come up with this policy... [Act] don't have any understanding of the 50 years of Treaty principles debate”.[6] Leaked advice from the Ministry of Justice suggested that the bill was "highly contentious" due to "the fundamental constitutional nature of the subject matter and the lack of consultation with the public on the policy development prior to Select Committee".[149]

Paul Goldsmith, the Minister of Justice, subsequently appeared on television to re-confirm prime minister Christopher Luxon's position on the proposed bill, saying that “the coalition agreement is clear that the government will support a bill on Treaty principles to first reading. However, Christopher Luxon has been clear that National has no intention to support it beyond that.”[6]

A poll conducted in February 2024 showed 36% in support of a referendum, with 35% opposed, the rest undecided.[150][151]

Criticism of hate speech laws

[edit]

In mid-May 2019, Seymour generated widespread criticism, including from MPs from all of the other parties, when he stated in a radio interview that Green Party list MP Golriz Ghahraman was a "menace to freedom in [New Zealand]." Critics suggested Seymour's association of Ghahraman's support for hate speech laws with suppression of free speech by dictators like Mao Zedong and Adolf Hitler was inappropriate. Seymour argued that he had merely "attacked her views".[152][153]

Seymour's concern is that the strengthening of hate speech laws is "divisive and dangerous" since the power of the state could be used by the majority to "silence unpopular views". He believes, if the law is strengthened, that what is considered hate speech will become "too subjective" and open to being abused.[154]

Public release of Māori vaccination code

[edit]

In September 2021, Seymour caused a controversy after releasing a special COVID-19 vaccination appointment access code meant exclusively for Māori people in Auckland to his followers on Twitter.[130] The code was intended for the population that is the least vaccinated and most at-risk for COVID-19 demographic in New Zealand.[155][156] The code offered priority access for Māori who wished to be vaccinated by Whānau Waipareira (a Māori social services agency) at the Trusts Arena in West Auckland.[157] While the move was supported by right-wing groups,[158] it was criticised by Whānau Waipareira CEO John Tamihere and Seymour was faced with allegations of racism towards Māori despite his own Māori heritage.[159][160]

Seymour defended his actions, stating that "access to vaccination has been the same for people of all ethnic backgrounds." He alleged that the code was a move by the government that suggested "Māori people have trouble making a booking".[161] He told media that "the virus doesn't discriminate on race, so neither should the roll out."[131]

Ministry for Pacific Peoples remarks

[edit]

On 17 August 2023, Seymour joked about bombing the Ministry for Pacific Peoples during an interview with Newstalk ZB following revelations about wasteful spending by the Ministry earlier in August. During the interview, Seymour claimed "in his fantasy' he would "send a guy like Guy Fawkes" into the Ministry's headquarters and "it'd all be over", apparently implying he would have it blown up.[162] This was a reference to the Gunpowder Plot, planned in 1605 by English Catholic plotters but foiled at the last minute.[163] ACT has campaigned for the abolition of the Ministry, alongside the Human Rights Commission and Ministry for Women.[164] Seymour's remarks were criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni and former National Party minister Alfred Ngaro as inflammatory and insensitive towards Pasifika New Zealanders.[164][132] Te Pāti Māori leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer accused him of hate speech.[165] Prime Minister Chris Hipkins condemned Seymour's comments, ‘should be ashamed of himself’.[166] Seymour refused to apologise for his remarks, claiming he was joking.[132]

Someone subsequently filed a Police report against Seymour for his remarks, but no offence was identified.[133]

[edit]

In a 2023 interview with Mihingarangi Forbes, Seymour was questioned about his links to the Atlas Network, an American think tank and policy institute known for its climate change denial. Seymour firmly denounced Forbes' line of questioning and described his supposed connection to the group as a "crazy conspiracy theory".[167]

However, Seymour does in fact have links to the Atlas Network; during his work for the Canadian conservative think tanks Frontier Centre for Public Policy and the Manning Centre, he was a graduate of the Atlas Networks' 2008 "MBA for Think Tanks" program.[168] Seymour also featured in their Autumn 2008 year-in-review magazine.[168] A clip of Seymour during his time working for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, in which he went on television and spoke in a deliberately acquired Canadian accent, subsequently went viral.[169] In his 2021 Waitangi Day speech, available on the ACT Party website, Seymour also referred to "my old friends at the Atlas Network".[170]

Seymour accepts the scientific consensus on climate change, and has denied the ACT Party is contributing to climate change denial, a former policy he has since disavowed.[171]

School lunches

[edit]

Seymour shrank the budget for free school lunches, a programme introduced by the previous Sixth Labour Government that he has long opposed.[172] On 8 May 2024, Seymour had launched a modified NZ$234.8 million school lunch programme for the 2025 school year. While the school lunch programme would remained unchanged for primary school students, the school lunch programme for intermediate and high school students would be bulk-purchased by the Government and delivered to schools. During the press announcement, Seymour stated that the bulk-purchased food would consist of sandwiches and fruit rather than quinoa, couscous, and hummus. When asked about food items such as sushi, Seymour said "If you don't get that sushi's woke, then I don't know how to wake you up, but the key message here is that we are introducing the kinds of foods that are put in the lunchboxes of children, the other 75 percent of kids, who rely on their parents to send their lunch."[108] Labour's education spokesperson Jan Tinetti welcomed the retention of the school lunch programme but expressed concerns about changes to the secondary school lunch programme. Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chair Professor Boyd Swinburn questioned the nutritional value of bulk-purchased foods while Dish Magazine editor Sarah Tuck defended the nutritional value of quinoa and sushi.[173][174]

Personal life

[edit]

Seymour is of Ngāpuhi Māori descent on his mother's side,[175][176] with his Māori ancestors coming from the Tauwhara marae of the Ngāti Rēhia hapū near Waimate North.[177]

Dancing With the Stars

[edit]

Seymour appeared on the seventh series of Dancing with the Stars. He competed to raise funds for Kidsline, a youth telephone counselling service. His professional dancing partner was Amelia McGregor.[178] Despite harsh criticism from the judges,[179] he finished 5th.[180]

Electoral history

[edit]

2005 election

[edit]
2005 general election: Mount Albert[181]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Helen Clark 20,918 66.55 -1.94 17,501 54.33 +2.53
National Ravi Musuku 6,169 19.63 8,488 26.35 +13.33
Green Jon Carapiet 1,485 4.72 -0.67 2,985 9.27 -1.35
NZ First Julian Batchelor 746 2.37 1,089 3.38 -3.01
ACT David Seymour 746 2.37 651 2.02 -5.09
United Future New Zealand Tony Gordon 529 1.68 649 2.01 -3.28
Progressive Jenny Wilson 407 1.29 525 1.59 -0.10
Destiny Anne Williamson 337 1.07 157 0.49
Independent Jim Bagnall 83 0.26
Anti-Capitalist Daphna Whitmore 79 0.25 -0.15
Independent Anthony Ravlich 47 0.15
Direct Democracy Howard Ponga 30 0.10 10 0.03
Independent Erik Taylor 29 0.09
Māori Party   168 0.52
Legalise Cannabis   43 0.13 -0.40
Christian Heritage   40 0.12 -0.89
Alliance   22 0.07 -1.69
Family Rights   20 0.06
Libertarianz   19 0.06
RONZ   8 0.02
99 MP   6 0.02
Democrats   3 0.01
One NZ   0 0.00 -0.01
Informal votes 316 130
Total valid votes 31,747 32,342
Labour hold Majority 14,749

2011 election

[edit]
2011 general election: Auckland Central[182]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Green tickY Nikki Kaye 15,038 45.39 +2.48 14,447 42.24 +2.15
Labour Jacinda Ardern 14,321 43.23 +4.69 8,590 25.11 –9.44
Green Denise Roche 2,903 8.76 –4.66 7,797 22.79 +7.33
NZ First Allen Davies 412 1.24 +1.24 1,403 4.10 +1.81
Conservative Stephen Greenfield 238 0.72 +0.72 280 0.82 +0.82
ACT David Seymour 149 0.45 –1.25 404 1.18 –2.95
Human Rights Anthony van den Heuval 68 0.21 +0.01
Māori Party   562 1.64 +0.71
Mana   237 0.69 +0.69
Democrats   202 0.59 +0.56
Legalise Cannabis   146 0.43 +0.14
United Future   75 0.22 –0.46
Libertarianz   53 0.15 +0.08
Alliance   10 0.03 –0.002
Informal votes 352 164
Total valid votes 33,129 34,206
National hold Majority 717 2.16 –2.21

2014 election

[edit]
2014 general election: Epsom[183]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
ACT David Seymour 15,966 43.08 −1.02 1,023 2.72 +0.17
National Paul Goldsmith 11,716 31.61 −6.19 23,904 63.45 −1.07
Labour Michael Wood 3,470 9.36 −1.09 5,045 13.39 −2.16
Green Julie Anne Genter 3,021 8.15 +2.14 4,706 12.49 +0.46
Conservative Christine Rankin 1,725 4.65 +3.70 932 2.47 +1.35
NZ First Cliff Lyon 621 1.68 +1.68 1,308 3.47 +0.86
Mana Patrick O'Dea 106 0.29 +0.11
Independent Grace Haden 59 0.16 +0.16
Independent Matthew Goode 37 0.10 −0.06
Independent Susanna Kruger 31 0.08 +0.08
Independent Adam Holland 21 0.06 +0.06
Internet Mana   312 0.83 +0.67[a]
Māori Party   174 0.46 −0.13
Legalise Cannabis   76 0.20 −0.12
United Future New Zealand   61 0.16 −0.16
Civilian   17 0.05 +0.05
Democrats   10 0.03 +0.01
Ban 1080   7 0.02 +0.02
Focus   4 0.01 +0.01
Independent Coalition   3 0.01 +0.01
Informal votes 286 93
Total valid votes 37,059 37,675
Turnout 37,768 78.09 +2.36
ACT hold Majority 4,250 11.28 +4.98

2017 election

[edit]
2017 general election: Epsom[184]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
ACT Green tickY David Seymour 16,505 43.17 +0.09 696 1.78 −0.94
National Paul Goldsmith 10,986 28.73 −2.87 22,875 58.64 −4.41
Labour David Parker 7,067 18.49 +9.13 9,575 24.55 +11.16
Green Barry Coates 2,785 7.28 −0.87 3,263 8.37 −4.13
NZ First Julian Paul 657 1.72 +0.22 1,229 3.15 −0.32
Conservative Leighton Baker 230 0.60 −4.05 80 0.20 −2.27
Opportunities   1,043 2.67 —
Māori Party   124 0.32 −0.14
Legalise Cannabis   38 0.10 −0.10
People's Party   34 0.09 —
United Future New Zealand   24 0.06 −0.10
Ban 1080   9 0.02 0.00
Democrats   7 0.02 −0.01
Outdoors   7 0.02 —
Internet   6 0.02 −0.81[b]
Mana Party   6 0.02 −0.81[c]
Informal votes 317 76
Total valid votes 38,230 39,008
Turnout 39,092
ACT hold Majority 5,519 14.44 +3.16

2020 election

[edit]
2020 general election: Epsom[185]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
ACT Green tickY David Seymour 19,500 46.97 +3.80 4,355 10.36 +8.58
Labour Camilla Belich 10,276 24.75 +6.26 15,078 35.87 +11.32
National Paul Goldsmith 6,397 15.41 −13.32 15,668 37.27 −21.37
Green Kyle MacDonald 3,101 7.47 +0.19 4,596 10.93 +2.56
Opportunities Adriana Christie 889 2.14 — 822 1.95 +1.75
TEA Noel Jiang 337 0.81 — 112 0.26 —
New Conservative Norman Sutton 231 0.79 +0.19 211 0.50 +0.30
Advance NZ Faith-Joy Aaron 166 0.39 — 147 0.34 —
Sustainable NZ Shannon Withers 72 0.17 — 30 0.07 —
Outdoors Maia Prochazka 31 0.07 — 7 0.01 −0.19
Not A Party Finn Harris 24 0.05 —
NZ First   609 1.44 −1.71
Māori Party   108 0.25 −0.07
Legalise Cannabis   38 0.08 −0.02
ONE   27 0.06 —
Social Credit   8 0.01 —
Vision NZ   8 0.01 —
Heartland   6 0.01 —
Informal votes 484 203
Total valid votes 41,508 42,031
Turnout 42,311 82.84
ACT hold Majority 9,224 22.22 +7.78

2023 election

[edit]
2023 general election: Epsom[186]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
ACT Green tickY David Seymour 17,826 44.43 -2.54 5,041 12.40 +2.04
National Paul Goldsmith 9,684 24.14 +8.73 20,948 51.54 +14.27
Labour Camilla Belich 6,189 15.42 -9.33 5,945 14.62 -21.25
Green Lawrence Xu-Nan 3,537 8.81 +1.34 5,507 13.55 +2.62
Opportunities Nina Asu 1,803 4.49 +2.35 1,307 3.21 +1.26
NZ First Tanya Unkovich 573 1.42 — 1,059 2.60 +1.16
NZ Loyal Anna Rotheray 164 0.40 — 123 0.30 —
Te Pāti Māori   299 0.73 +0.48
NewZeal   76 0.18 −+0.12
Legalise Cannabis   66 0.16 —
Freedoms NZ   34 0.08 —
New Conservatives   28 0.06 -0.44
Women's Rights   26 0.06 —
DemocracyNZ   16 0.03 —
New Nation   5 0.01 —
Leighton Baker Party   2 0.00 —
Informal votes 339 109
Total valid votes 40,115 40,637
ACT hold Majority 8,142 20.29 -1.93

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for Mana in 2011; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.
  2. ^ 2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election
  3. ^ 2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election

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[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Seymour (New Zealand politician).
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Epsom
2014–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
New office Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Education
2014–2017 		Office abolished
Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Regulatory Reform
2014–2017
Minister for Regulation
2023–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of ACT New Zealand
2014–present 		Incumbent
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