In a healthy economy, effort and reward go together. Kiwis are doing the hard work part, but as prices rise the rewards are getting uneven, and farther away. In a healthy economy, someone who does everything right should end up comfortable, but that just isn’t true for too many people today.
Economic mismanagement takes many forms. Government waste means more tax without the services and infrastructure people need. Excess bureaucracy means more time getting permission to do things, and less time to actually do them. Government borrowing and money printing in recent years have driven up prices, but not wages.
A healthier economy is about better economic management. Less waste, less bureaucracy, and more opportunity. It starts with the right values. ACT believes it’s good to succeed. Business is not evil, it’s a form of cooperation where people trade value for value and get stronger together.
A healthier economy is about using the enormous resources New Zealand has to ensure all citizens’ wellbeing. The policies in this section are ideas for making New Zealand a wealthier, healthier society.
ACT's Policies for a Healthier Economy:
- Our Budget for Middle New Zealand would cut the 30% income tax rate to 17.5% and abolish the 39% rate, while returning the Government's book to surplus.
- Our Build Like the Boomers plan for infrastructure and housing reform would get New Zealand moving again.
- Our regulatory reforms would ease the burden on New Zealand's agriculture sector.
- Our Energy policy would make the most of New Zealand's bountiful resources, while conserving natural beauty.
- Our changes to employment law would lower the barriers to employment and make it easier for small businesses to hire