From Reform to Rupture

How National, ACT and NZ First Are Rewriting New Zealand’s Future

By Dr Harpreet Singh | drhsinghnz.substack.com | FB: @DrHSinghNZ

New Zealand is being reshaped at a speed and scale unseen in modern history. The changes driven by National, ACT and New Zealand First are not just policies for today. They are frameworks that will define our democracy, economy and society for generations. - Dr Harpreet Singh

When Christopher Luxon’s National Party formed a coalition with ACT and New Zealand First in late 2023, they promised a reset. What New Zealand got instead was a political earthquake that is reshaping public services, democratic norms and social cohesion at breakneck speed.

A Government in a Hurry

Within days of taking office, the Luxon-led government unveiled a 100-day plan that read like a demolition blueprint: repeal Fair Pay Agreements, scrap the Smokefree generation law, dismantle Three Waters and gut Labour’s resource management reforms. By February 2024, most of these promises were law, pushed through under urgency and bypassing full public scrutiny.

This pace is not accidental. It mirrors the playbook of global libertarian networks such as the Atlas Network, which champions rapid deregulation, shrinking the state and prioritising property rights over collective protections. ACT leader David Seymour, now Minister for Regulation, has openly embraced this philosophy, pushing for a Regulatory Standards Bill that elevates property rights above social and environmental considerations.

Public Services Under Siege

The coalition’s fiscal mantra, “cut waste, fund the frontline”, has translated into thousands of job losses across ministries. By mid-2024, over 2,000 roles were gone, with proposals covering nearly 6,000 positions. Entire policy teams have vanished, leaving agencies reliant on consultants while frontline staff struggle under mounting pressure.

Health and education tell the story starkly. Despite headline-grabbing investments, hospitals face shortfalls of up to $2 billion, elective surgery backlogs persist and nurses joined nationwide strikes in 2025. Schools saw $2.5 billion in new funding, but specialist roles in literacy and Māori education are being axed, and charter schools, privately run but publicly funded, are back, fragmenting the system.

Local government is not spared. Repealing Three Waters dumped billions in infrastructure liability back onto councils, forcing them to borrow heavily or hike rates. Smaller councils now teeter on the brink of insolvency.

Democracy on the Back Foot

Perhaps the most alarming trend is the erosion of democratic norms. The Fast-track Approvals Act centralises power in ministers’ hands, curtails consultation and strips appeal rights, effectively sidelining communities and environmental safeguards. Legal scholars call it “Muldoonism on steroids.”

Then came the Treaty Principles Bill, ACT’s flagship attempt to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi and subject it to a referendum. Over 300,000 submissions, 90 percent opposed, flooded Parliament, alongside mass protests and a nine-day hīkoi. Though defeated in April 2025, the episode exposed a willingness to gamble with constitutional stability and Māori rights for ideological gain.

Meanwhile, the government is considering protest restrictions that would require advance notification and allow police to impose conditions. Civil liberties advocates warn this could chill dissent.

Social Cohesion Unravelling

Policies framed as “equal rights” have rolled back Māori-focused initiatives, disestablished the Māori Health Authority and reduced te reo Māori in official settings. Combined with welfare sanctions that impose money-management cards and compulsory work experience, these measures deepen hardship and fuel cultural tension.

Gender equity is also under fire. Amendments narrowing pay equity claims signal a retreat from structural fairness, drawing condemnation from unions and rights groups.

Media and Civic Space Shrinking

Democracy depends on a robust fourth estate, but public media is in crisis. Scrapping the RNZ-TVNZ merger avoided structural upheaval but left both broadcasters financially fragile. TVNZ has axed flagship programmes, RNZ survives on modest boosts. Analysts warn of declining local journalism and a weakened watchdog role, just as executive power expands.

The Bigger Picture

This is not just a policy shift. It is an ideological project. Luxon’s National Party provides the platform, Seymour’s ACT supplies the libertarian zeal and Winston Peters’ NZ First adds populist muscle. Together, they are remaking New Zealand in the image of small-government orthodoxy, fast, deep and with scant regard for consensus.

The consequences are profound. Democratic integrity is weakened by urgency lawmaking and curtailed participation. Public trust is eroding as consultation shrinks and executive power grows. Social cohesion is strained by cultural flashpoints and equity rollbacks. Public services are hollowed out by austerity and ideological restructuring.