The ACT Party has released its candidate list for the November 7 general election, featuring a mix of sitting ministers, sector leaders and several high-profile newcomers.
According to a report by Stuff, party leader David Seymour announced the list alongside ACT Party President John Windsor, highlighting the range of experience among candidates from fields including agriculture, education, law, health and small business.
“ACT is brimming with talent, and we’ve got a team of New Zealanders ready to build on what we’ve achieved this term and unlock New Zealand’s potential,” Mr Seymour said, as quoted by Stuff.
A notable change in the rankings sees Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard move up to third place, reflecting his role in advocating for the rural sector and reducing regulatory burdens.
Among the party’s new candidates are former broadcaster Paul Henry, ranked fourth, legal expert James Christmas, former school principal Iain Murray and intellectual property lawyer Antonia Modkova, Stuff has reported.
Seymour said ACT had delivered significant achievements in government, including reforms to regulation, law and order measures, tax policies and reducing government spending by $14 billion.
According to Stuff, the party is campaigning on three key priorities: controlling government expenditure, reducing compliance costs to encourage economic growth and promoting equal rights under the law.
ACT Party President John Windsor said the calibre of candidates reflected the party’s growth in recent election cycles.
"ACT has been steadily growing for the past couple of elections, and every election there are more talented candidates wanting to put their hand up to represent ACT," Mr Windsor stated, as quoted by Stuff.
The top 10 candidates on ACT’s list are David Seymour, Nicole McKee, Andrew Hoggard, Paul Henry, Karen Chhour, Todd Stephenson, James Christmas, Simon Court, Laura McClure and Parmjeet Parmar.
Other candidates include former MPs, community leaders, business figures and professionals from a range of sectors, as ACT seeks to expand its support base ahead of the election, Stuff has reported.
The full list contains 46 candidates, with the party aiming to build on its current parliamentary representation and retain its role in government following the election.