ACT Party leader David Seymour takes aim at parliamentary allies, opponents - but especially Labour

"Lock Labour Out."

That's that message from ACT leader David Seymour, who has taken aim at opposition parties - and even his own coalition partners - at a party rally in Auckland.

Seymour also announced new welfare policy focussed on "personal responsibility" and the "value of work", and the party's plan to slash the number of government departments from 43 to just 19.

Speaking to supporters at Shed 10 on Auckland's waterfront, Seymour said his party had two missions this election year - "Lock Labour out" and unlock New Zealand's potential.

"No other party can say the next three things - we're not Labour, we've never worked with Labour, we're not Labour-lite," he said.

During speech, Seymour hit out at all political parties currently in parliament - except his own - even giving their leaders and MPs nicknames - "Hana Haka Party", "Business Class Chlöe", "Cynical Chris Hipkins", "Wily Winnie" and "Clever Chris" from National.

Seymour said Te Pāti Māori's "toxic mix of racism and socialism" had no place in society.

"Three years, six MPs and the best they could do for Māori is a haka on TikTok," he said.

"The only good policy they support is charter schools and we had to do that one for them. With half a dozen Māori charter schools, ACT has done more to unlock Māori potential than the party which named itself after the race, which - by the way - is disgraceful."

The Green Party had done about as much for the environment as Te Pāti Māori had for Māori, Seymour said.

"They've given up saving pūkeko, so they can save Palestinians instead. When they're not leading antisemitic chants, they're flying business class, paid for by corporate lobbyists."

He also took aim at the party's plan to introduce new taxes on wealth, inheritance and corporations.

"Every tax grows over time. If you think they're taxing 'other people', it's only a matter of time until 'other people' includes you.

"The Green Party's message can be summed up in one line - Your problems are caused by other people's success, but if you vote for us, we'll tax them and give it to you.

"Tall-poppy syndrome is the dark underbelly of our national character, but the Greens want to make it official government policy. New Zealand needs the opposite."

He accused Labour of practicing a "cynical" kind of politics.

"Every policy is a feel-good headline about something being 'free', with no idea how they'll pay for it. At this point, they're up to $18 billion of unfunded promises.

"The word for that kind of politics is cynical. Three years in power at any cost and Labour costs a lot."

Even Seymour's coalition partners were not spared ridicule. He pointed to an old cartoon hanging on a wall in parliament, depicting Winston Peters as a first five-eighth standing behind a rugby scrum.

"The No.8 pops up to ask the halfback, 'How do you know which way he'll go?'

"That cartoon is 30 years old, but it's still a great question. Would you bet your economic future he won't run down the blindside again?

"Soon we may all be forced to take the bet."

He likened the National Party to "Labour lite", pointing to the difference his party has made around the decision-making table.

"On guns, the Zero Carbon Act and the earthquake law, we saw the power of one. ACT voted against the whole parliament. 119-1.

"When I was elected as a sole ACT MP in government with National, serious RMA [Resource Management Act] reform was not an option. Instead, National voted with the Māori Party to make the RMA even worse with Iwi Participation Agreements... the difference is ACT at the cabinet table and you did it by putting us there."

New welfare policy

The party announced its new welfare policy, which it said would restore personal responsibility, fairness and the "value of work" to the country's benefit system.

ACT wants to tighten up medical certification for health-related benefits, including:

Making all health and disability benefits independently issued by an MSD-approved pool of designated doctors. A person's GP or specialist will still be able to provide medical history, clinical notes and supporting evidence.

Assessments will be made against clear, objective criteria, rather than leaving major long-term benefit decisions to discretion.

Health Condition or Disability and Supported Living Payment recipients will be reassessed against the new criteria on a phased basis and reassessment would begin with mental-health-related grants made after the pandemic, where much growth had occurred.

ACT would make long-term arrangements for those with a genuine, enduring disability or health condition mandatory.

The party also proposes "managed assistance" for long-term Jobseeker recipients by making electronic money management system mandatory for Jobseeker Support Work Ready recipients who remain on a benefit for more than four months.

The benefit would be delivered through an electronic payment card directed to essentials, such as groceries, rent, power, transport, health and childcare. The card would block spending on alcohol, gambling, tobacco and cash withdrawals.

The party would also allow for modified arrangements, where money management would risk safety or block access to necessities.

Seymour said welfare should "unlock potential, not trap it".

"New Zealanders believe in helping people through tough times, but the deal has to be fair. If you can work, you should be taking real steps toward work and taxpayer support should go to the essentials it was intended to fund."

"The number of people on Jobseeker benefits has increased 73 percent in the past 10 years. Jobseeker benefits alone now cost more than we spending on policing and twice as much as the medicines budget."

"Behind those numbers are real people whose potential is being wasted. Every person who could work, but is left on welfare, is a life held back, a family with fewer opportunities and a country that is poorer than it needs to be."

Slashing government departments, ministers

Seymour also pledged that, if elected, his party would push for "smaller, more efficient government", promising to slash the number of government departments from 43 to 19 and the number of ministers from 28 to just 18.

Each department would report to one minister and that minister could appoint a chief executive for a fixed term. Those chief executives could be removed by ministers for non-performance or "policy misalignment", but would retain the right to return to a lower classified role within the public service.

However, operational independence for agencies like Police, NZ Security Intelligence Service and NZ Defence Force would be protected by law.

Nicole McKee was also announced as new deputy leader, taking over from departing Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden, who will retire from politics at the November election.