Latest news with #Seymour
Otago Daily Times
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Seymour reflects on past in first speech as deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour. Photo: RNZ In his first public address since being sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, Act leader David Seymour reflected on the past decade with supporters at a party event on Sunday. Seymour took over the role from Winston Peters on Saturday. The speech chronicled Act's journey from the political low point of the 2014 election to its current position in government. Seymour recalled what he described as "the wicked old days" when Act's support hovered near 1 percent and survival seemed uncertain. "Most of the time, it seemed bloody impossible," he said, referring to financial struggles, internal turmoil, and public scepticism that at one point left the party with just $7000 in its account. He thanked longstanding supporters, including volunteers, donors, and former party leaders, acknowledging many by name. Seymour made particular note of John Banks' role in stabilising the party during a turbulent period and the personal support of figures like the late Lindsay Ferguson and donor Dame Jenny Gibbs. His also used his first speech to take a swipe at the Opposition, and said his party was Labour's worst nightmare. Seymour likened early political hardships to the experience of being a long-shot contestant on Dancing with the Stars. He highlighted Act's role in the current coalition government and the work done by MPs on policies covering firearms law, property rights, health and safety reform, and education. Seymour closed his remarks by reaffirming Act's commitment to its founding principles, quoting Edmund Hillary saying "This today is only base camp".
Kiwiblog
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Kiwiblog
TPM now threatening violence
The Herald reports: Act leader David Seymour is condemning an 'immature' challenge to a charity fight from prominent Treaty activist Eru Kapa-Kingi. In a video posted to social media yesterday, Kapa-Kingi took exception to Seymour calling his mother, Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, an 'idiot' during the House's debate on the Regulatory Standards Bill last week. 'David Seymour crossed a line when he attacked my mum in Parliament. This just got personal,' Kapa-Kingi said. He said Seymour was clearly unaware of the rule that should someone talk 'smack' about a person's mother, 'then you're bound to get slapped up'. … Kapa-Kingi, also a Professional Teaching Fellow with the University of Auckland, then raised the possibility of a 'charity fight' between the pair, in which he promised to devote all funds to pro-Treaty initiatives, should he win. Kapa-Kingi threatens violence against Seymour, because he called another MP an idiot in the House. He is or was a Vice-President of Te Pati Maori, was on their payroll, and was a candidate for them at the last election. A party of threatened violence and extremism.
NZ Herald
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Act leader David Seymour to make celebratory speech as New Deputy Prime Minister
David Seymour has been sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, succeeding Winston Peters. Seymour's appointment marks a milestone for the Act Party, which now has 11 MPs. He is set to outline his vision for the country at a celebratory brunch in Auckland this morning. New Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour is holding a brunch with supporters and party members this morning to celebrate his fresh appointment. Seymour, leader of the Act Party and a Cabinet Minister, is expected to outline his vision for the country for his 18-month tenure as deputy Prime Minster and beyond. The address, taking place in Auckland, will be live-streamed at the top of this article from 10.45am. Seymour drove himself to the venue, Hyundai Marine Sports Centre, on Auckland's Tamaki Drive, and pro-Palestine protesters chased his car as he pulled in. Seymour was sworn in as deputy Prime Minister yesterday at Government House in Auckland, taking over from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. The Act leader was joined by family members, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro. Kiro congratulated Seymour, and Luxon called it a 'great privilege'. The Act Party called it a 'historic milestone'. 'Not only for Seymour personally, but for the Act Party, which has grown from a caucus of one in 2014 to 11 MPs and seats at the Cabinet table in 2025.' In a speech after the swearing-in ceremony, Seymour said he would be judged he would be judged by how much was delivered for the people of New Zealand – 'all of the people, those who support Act and those who don't.' 'If I proved anything, it's that anyone can dance, not always that well, but well enough to earn people's respect and give a lot of entertainment along the way,' he said, in reference to his stint on Dancing With The Stars. Seymour is the 21st person to hold New Zealand's deputy prime ministership. His predecessor, NZ First leader Winston Peters, has held the role three times. Several deputies have gone on to become Prime Minister, including Keith Holyoake, Jack Marshall, Robert Muldoon, Geoffrey Palmer, Helen Clark and Bill English. On the deputy prime ministership, Seymour told the Front Page this week, 'It's one of those things you probably didn't think would happen in your life, but here we are'. 'I think it's good for New Zealand. It shows if you're a bit quirky but if your heart's in the right place and you put in the work, as Crowded House say, 'You can get somewhere'.' Seymour was first elected to Parliament as MP for Epsom in 2014. The Act Party's sole MP would become its leader. Just over a decade later, he sits beside 10 others after leading the party to its best result ever in the 2023 general election. His latest tenure in the Beehive hasn't come without controversy. His Treaty Principles Bill, which Act heralded as a 'promise of equal rights for all New Zealanders' was fiercely criticised for its perceived impact on Māori rights. It was one of the drivers behind a massive hīkoi to Parliament in November, where tens of thousands of people rallied in protest. It received an unprecedented amount of public submissions, more than 300,000. Despite it being dead in the water at the start (coalition partners had always intended to vote it down), Seymour said he was not at all surprised it created so much backlash. This week, Nicola Willis claimed ignorance about the importance of today to the Government on Heather du Plessis-Allan's Newstalk ZB Drive show. Du Plessis-Allan told her it was the day Seymour became Deputy PM. 'You can imagine it is not marked as an enormous love heart on my calendar,' Willis said, claiming not much would change. Du Plessis-Allan replied: 'I want to say 'stop pretending' but I know you have to pretend because you have to work with the guy'. Seymour is the Minister for Regulation and the Associate Minister of Health, Finance, Education, and Justice. Before politics, he worked as an electrical engineer in New Zealand and for private sector think tanks in Canada.
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
New Zealand swears in new deputy prime minister
ACT Party Leader David Seymour has been sworn in as New Zealand deputy prime minister. Photo: AAP WELLINGTON: David Seymour, leader of the libertarian ACT New Zealand party, was sworn in as deputy prime minister on Saturday (May 31), taking the role from Winston Peters in a deal struck when the three-party coalition government was formed in 2023. His party was behind last year's controversial move to enshrine a narrower interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi that it says discriminates against non-Indigenous citizens, though the bill failed in parliament. Seymour was appointed in a ceremony at Auckland's Government House, a spokesperson told Reuters. ACT New Zealand is the junior partner in the centre-right ruling coalition that also includes the Peters-led New Zealand First and the National Party, led by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. In parliament since 2014, Seymour will retain the role of regulation minister, tasked to assess rules in the Pacific nation of 5.3 million and keep the position of associate minister of health, finance, and education. Seymour has also driven efforts to legalise euthanasia, voted to legalise abortion in 2020 and attended a pro-Hong Kong democracy protest in Auckland in 2019. ACT New Zealand wants a smaller role for government and a bigger role for free markets, it says on its website. - Reuters
1News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- 1News
'Don't worry': David Seymour takes the reins as deputy prime minister
David Seymour has taken over from Winston Peters as deputy prime minister. A ceremony marking the ACT leader's transition took place at noon at Government House in Auckland. Seymour vowed to keep speaking freely, as he takes over the role at the halfway point of the current Government. He said the transition – in most respects – would be "business as usual", adding, "I've actually been the acting prime minister several times and we're all still here, so don't worry". Seymour admitted he felt the position was largely symbolic. ADVERTISEMENT "Any position in politics is only an opportunity to be good and do good, and I will be judged by how much we deliver for the people of New Zealand," he said. "All of the people, those who support ACT and those who don't. "However, I also believe that for many people who never ever thought an ACT leader could be deputy prime minister, there is some significance in the position." Reflecting on his career to this point, he poked fun at his history. "If I've proved anything, it's that anyone can dance, not always that well, but well enough to earn people's respect and give a lot of entertainment along the way." Seymour was featured on Dancing with the Stars NZ in 2018, in which he finished fifth. Seymour's first task as deputy prime minister was to confront media questions about cabinet minister Chris Bishop's behaviour at Thursday night's Aotearoa Music Awards. Bishop acknowledged he should have kept his comments to himself, after saying "what a load of crap" during Stan Walker's performance, which prominently featured Toitū Te Tiriti banners. ADVERTISEMENT Musician Don McGlashan confronted Bishop, telling him to "shut up, you d***head". Seymour denied the hubbub had distracted from his big day. "Only the people watching or reading your news can decide that, and I suspect that there'll be people who think Bish was absolutely right," he said. "People who think he was wrong, people who don't care... each person will make up their own mind. "Just because you become a senior minister, it doesn't mean you should stop having opinions and it might well be that, based on [what] Chris saw in that moment, he was correct. It may be that people will agree with him." Despite his elevated position, Seymour promised to remain "quirky", although declined to elaborate on what that meant. "Well, the great thing about quirkiness is it's spontaneous, it sometimes just happens. Anyone who plans to be quirky is, to quote Don McGlashan, a bit of a d***head." By Felix Walton of
