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'''David Breen Seymour''' (born 24 June 1983) is a New Zealand politician. He is the leader of [[ACT New Zealand]] and the [[New Zealand Parliament|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Epsom (New Zealand electorate)|Epsom]]. He currently serves as the [[Minister for Regulation]] in the [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand]].
'''David Breen Seymour''' (born 24 June 1983) is a New Zealand politician. He is the leader of [[ACT New Zealand]] and the [[New Zealand Parliament|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Epsom (New Zealand electorate)|Epsom]]. He currently serves as the [[Minister for Regulation]] in the [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand]].


Seymour joined ACT as a student at the [[University of Auckland]]. Seymour worked in [[public policy]] in Canada during the 2000s,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/01/act_decisions.html |title=ACT decisions |publisher=Kiwiblog |date=31 January 2014 |access-date=11 March 2014 |archive-date=12 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212143017/https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/01/act_decisions.html |url-status=live }}</ref> before returning to New Zealand and standing unsuccessfully for election to Parliament in 2005 and 2011. He entered the [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in {{NZ election link year|2014}} as ACT's sole MP, after which he replaced [[Jamie Whyte]] as party leader. In 2018 he appeared in a television dance contest, ''[[Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)|Dancing With the Stars]]''. Seymour's End of Life Choice bill was selected from the members' ballot on 8 June 2017 and was put to a [[2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum|referendum]] in October 2020 in conjunction with the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]]. It passed with 65.91% and came into force as the [[End of Life Choice Act 2019]] a year after the referendum.
Seymour joined ACT as a student at the [[University of Auckland]]. Seymour worked for conservative think tanks in Canada during the 2000s,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Day |first1=Simon |title=ACT hopefuls state their case |url=http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9669010/ACT-hopefuls-state-their-case |access-date=11 February 2024 |work=www.stuff.co.nz |date=30 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/01/act_decisions.html |title=ACT decisions |publisher=Kiwiblog |date=31 January 2014 |access-date=11 March 2014 |archive-date=12 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212143017/https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/01/act_decisions.html |url-status=live }}</ref> before returning to New Zealand and standing unsuccessfully for election to Parliament in 2005 and 2011. He entered the [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] in {{NZ election link year|2014}} as ACT's sole MP, after which he replaced [[Jamie Whyte]] as party leader. In 2018 he appeared in a television dance contest, ''[[Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)|Dancing With the Stars]]''. Seymour's End of Life Choice bill was selected from the members' ballot on 8 June 2017 and was put to a [[2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum|referendum]] in October 2020 in conjunction with the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]]. It passed with 65.91% and came into force as the [[End of Life Choice Act 2019]] a year after the referendum.


Seymour was re-elected in {{NZ election link year|2017}}, and led ACT to one of its best results in the 2020, winning ten seats. In {{NZ election link year|2023}}, Seymour was re-elected and the ACT Party increased its representation to 11 seats, the best result in the party's history. ACT subsequently formed a [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand|coalition government]] with the [[New Zealand National Party|National]] and [[New Zealand First]] parties. Under the coalition arrangement, Seymour will assume the position of [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|deputy prime minister]] from 31 May 2025, replacing [[Winston Peters]].
Seymour was re-elected in {{NZ election link year|2017}}, and led ACT to one of its best results in the 2020, winning ten seats. In {{NZ election link year|2023}}, Seymour was re-elected and the ACT Party increased its representation to 11 seats, the best result in the party's history. ACT subsequently formed a [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand|coalition government]] with the [[New Zealand National Party|National]] and [[New Zealand First]] parties. Under the coalition arrangement, Seymour will assume the position of [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|deputy prime minister]] from 31 May 2025, replacing [[Winston Peters]].

Revision as of 17:15, 11 February 2024

For other people named David Seymour, see David Seymour (disambiguation).

The Honourable
David Seymour
MP
David Seymour in 2023
David Seymour in 2023
1st Minister for Regulation
Incumbent
Assumed office
27 November 2023
Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon
Preceded byOffice established
Leader of ACT New Zealand
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 October 2014
DeputyBrooke van Velden (since 2020)
Beth Houlbrooke (2017–2020)
Kenneth Wang (2014–2017)
Preceded byJamie Whyte
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Epsom
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 September 2014
Preceded byJohn Banks
Majority9,224
Personal details
Born
David Breen Seymour

(1983-06-24) 24 June 1983 (age 41)
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Political partyACT New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Auckland (BA/BE)
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

David Breen Seymour (born 24 June 1983) is a New Zealand politician. He is the leader of ACT New Zealand and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Epsom. He currently serves as the Minister for Regulation in the Sixth National Government of New Zealand.

Seymour joined ACT as a student at the University of Auckland. Seymour worked for conservative think tanks in Canada during the 2000s,[1][2] before returning to New Zealand and standing unsuccessfully for election to Parliament in 2005 and 2011. He entered the House of Representatives in 2014 as ACT's sole MP, after which he replaced Jamie Whyte as party leader. In 2018 he appeared in a television dance contest, Dancing With the Stars. Seymour's End of Life Choice bill was selected from the members' ballot on 8 June 2017 and was put to a referendum in October 2020 in conjunction with the 2020 general election. It passed with 65.91% and came into force as the End of Life Choice Act 2019 a year after the referendum.

Seymour was re-elected in 2017, and led ACT to one of its best results in the 2020, winning ten seats. In 2023, Seymour was re-elected and the ACT Party increased its representation to 11 seats, the best result in the party's history. ACT subsequently formed a coalition government with the National and New Zealand First parties. Under the coalition arrangement, Seymour will assume the position of deputy prime minister from 31 May 2025, replacing Winston Peters.

Early life

Seymour was born in Palmerston North to a Ngāpuhi mother and Pākehā father in 1983.[3] His family moved to Whangārei when Seymour was a child.[4] As a teenager, he went to Auckland Grammar School[5] and, later, the University of Auckland where he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronic) and a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy).[6]

Seymour worked in Canada as a policy analyst for five years for the Frontier Centre for Public Policy and the Manning Centre.[7]

Early political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2014–2017 51st Epsom none ACT
2017–2020 52nd Epsom 1 ACT
2020–2023 53rd Epsom 1 ACT
2023–present 54th Epsom 1 ACT

ACT activism and candidacy

Seymour is a long-time member of ACT, initially becoming involved in the political party through ACT on Campus while studying at Auckland University.[8] While there, he became leader of the student organisation.[9]

Seymour first stood for ACT in 2005 in Mt Albert.[10] He was unsuccessful in the electorate, which was held by Helen Clark, who was Prime Minister at the time, and with 1.51% of the party vote ACT returned only two members to parliament, leaving Seymour out.[11]

At the 2011 general election, Seymour stood for ACT in the Auckland Central electorate, but the electorate was retained by National's Nikki Kaye.[12] With 1.07% of the party vote,[13] ACT was unable to return any list MPs to parliament, and John Banks, who had retained the Epsom seat for ACT, was the party's only sitting member.[14]

Path to leadership, 2011–2014

After the 2011 election, Seymour worked as a ministerial adviser for Banks, who was appointed an Associate Minister of Education for the John Key-led National government. Seymour assisted with the development of the government's Partnership Schools legislation.[15][16]

In late 2013, John Banks resigned from his ministerial positions following criminal charges in relation to electoral returns in his bid for the Auckland mayoralty in 2010.[17] In June 2014 he announced he would resign from ACT Party leadership and not contest Epsom in the 2014 election.[18]

Seymour, alongside Jamie Whyte (on the right), during a press conference announcing their selections as the Epsom candidate and party leader respectively, 2014

In February 2014, at the same time that Jamie Whyte was made leader of the ACT Party, Seymour won the nomination to stand as the party's candidate for Epsom.[19] The electorate had already proven strategically important for ACT. Seymour's selection for Epsom, over former deputy leader and party president John Boscawen,[8] was described by political commentators as the "clean slate" choice[20] and a "fresh face".[21][22] Seymour was the first confirmed candidate for the Epsom electorate,[23][24] and at an Epsom public meeting during his campaign he was described as "the most popular with the crowd" and "the star of the night, intelligent, witty and articulate".[25][26]

During the 2014 election campaign, Seymour released a campaign video online which the ACT Party described as going "viral" after it received around 35,000 views. Seymour said of the video: "I think it was just totally real, we didn't set out to make it funny or make it a viral video, it was just me being me, that combination with rather retro production values ... you wouldn't want to watch it standing up."[27] Seymour was endorsed for the Epsom electorate by Prime Minister John Key, despite Key's National colleague Paul Goldsmith also contesting the electorate.[28]

First term, 2014–2017

At the election, Seymour was elected for the Epsom electorate with a majority of 4,250 votes.[27][29] Jamie Whyte did not win in his bid for the Pakuranga electorate, and Seymour replaced Whyte as the leader of ACT on 3 October 2014.[30][31]

Ministerial portfolios

National returned as a minority government with ACT in confidence and supply in 2014, and Seymour was appointed parliamentary under-secretary to the Minister of Education and Minister of Regulatory Reform on 29 September 2014, as a result of National's confidence and supply agreement with ACT. Seymour was given responsibility for partnership schools, and reforms to the Resource Management Act 1991 and other regulation.[32]

In October 2015, a Labour Party member's bill to make parliamentary under-secretaries subject to the Official Information Act passed its first reading in Parliament. Seymour accused the bill of personally attacking him, and said it was not necessary because under-secretaries did not have decision-making powers.[33] Nonetheless, Seymour was one of 109 members of Parliament who voted in favour of the legislation at its third reading in June 2016.[34]

Contracts in the second round of applications for charter (partnership) schools were completed on 11 September 2014.[35] In January 2016, the contract was terminated for a Northland charter school from the first round, Te Pūmanawa o te Wairua.[36] Seymour continued to support the policy and push for more charter schools to be established.[37]

End of Life Choice Bill

On 6 June 2015, Seymour confirmed that he was preparing a member's bill known as the End of Life Choice Bill that would legalise assisted dying. This bill was in response to the decision in Seales v Attorney-General that stated only parliament had the ability to address assisted suicide laws.[38] On 14 October 2015, Seymour lodged the End of Life Choice Bill into the member's ballot, launched a website promoting his bill, and released an ACT-commissioned poll of 2800 people showing 66% public support in favour of legalising assisted dying.[39]

Sale and Supply of Alcohol legislation

In August 2015, Seymour introduced a member's bill to allow bars and rugby clubs to extend their bar trading hours when they are televising games from the Rugby World Cup. Most games, due to the time difference between New Zealand and England, started between 4 am and 6 am New Zealand Time, meaning that alcohol would not usually have been allowed to be sold. Despite opposition from the Green Party and the Māori Party, Seymour's bill passed all three readings, meaning that bars and rugby clubs were allowed to open for Rugby World Cup games.[40]

LGBTI cross-party group

In 2015, Seymour became a member of a cross-party group initiated by Jan Logie to look at and advocate for LGBTI rights. The group also included: Catherine Delahunty (Green), Chris Bishop (National), Denis O'Rourke (NZ First), Denise Roche (Green), James Shaw (Green), Kevin Hague (Green), Louisa Wall (Labour), Nanaia Mahuta (Labour), Paul Foster-Bell (National), and Trevor Mallard (Labour).[41]

Legalisation of Uber drivers and ride-sharing drivers

On 4 August 2017, Seymour and Transport Minister Simon Bridges helped to make Uber become part of New Zealand's transport system.[42] This also opened other ride-sharing apps like DiDi and Ola to enter and co-exist in the market.

Second term, 2017–2020

David Seymour getting a parking ticket
David Seymour's electorate car at the Viaduct Harbour, May 2018

Seymour was re-elected to Parliament for Epsom in the 2017 general election as the sole ACT Member of Parliament.[43]

End of Life Choice Act

Main article: End of Life Choice Act 2019

On 8 June 2017, Seymour's bill was selected from the members' ballot.[44] The bill was debated at its first reading on 13 December 2017, and passed with 76 votes in favour and 44 against.[45] It was then reviewed by the Justice Select Committee. It reappeared before the House for a second reading 26 June 2019 and passed, with 70 votes in favour, 50 opposed.[46][47] An amendment to the bill, which included the requirement that it be approved by a binding referendum before it would take effect, passed prior to its third reading with 63 votes in favour and 57 opposed.[48] The bill reappeared before the House and passed its third reading on 13 November 2019 with 69 votes in favour and 51 votes against.[49]

In an interview on the day of the third reading, Seymour said that he was confident that the public would vote to put the act into law, noting that "there was overwhelming support and it should easily pass the referendum."[50] The act was approved in the 2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum, which was held in conjunction with the 2020 general election, with a 65.91% of voters in favour of the act.[51]

Gun control, 2019

Seymour was the sole Member of Parliament to oppose the Labour-led coalition government's Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act 2019, which bans all semi-automatic firearms used during the Christchurch mosque shootings that occurred on 15 March 2019. Although he missed an initial procedural vote on the bill, he still cast a No vote when voting on the actual bill took place with a final result of 119 to 1. Seymour criticised the urgency of the government's gun control legislation.[52][53][54]

Zero Carbon Act 2019

Despite announcing that the ACT party would vote against the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act, Seymour was absent from the vote on the bill's third reading. This allowed it to pass into law with unanimous support, 119–0, drawing the attention of local media.[55]

Abortion Legislation Act 2020

Seymour supported the Abortion Legislation Act 2020 but argued that "safe zones", which would have established 150-metre protest-free areas around abortion clinics, would infringe upon freedom of expression.[56] Prior to the third reading of the bill on 10 March 2020, Seymour successfully included an amendment eliminating safe zones around abortion clinics.[57][58][59] The bill passed its third reading on 18 March, receiving royal assent on 23 March.[60] Safe zones were eventually reinstated through the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Act 2022, which Seymour supported.[61]

Coronavirus pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Seymour served as a member of the Epidemic Response Committee from 25 March 2020.[62]

Third term, 2020–2023

David Seymour speaking in Palmerston North, July 2023

During the 2020 New Zealand general election, Seymour contested the Epsom electorate and was re-elected by a margin of 9,224 votes.[63] In addition, ACT won eight percent of the popular vote, winning ten seats in Parliament (with nine on the party list).[64] In the much expanded caucus, Seymour held the specific portfolios of Finance and COVID-19 Response spokespersons, while remaining leader of the ACT party.[65]

Seymour's third member's bill to be debated in Parliament, the Regulatory Standards Bill, was drawn from the ballot in June 2021. It proposed stricter rules around government regulation making but failed its first reading in July 2021 without the support of the Labour government.[66] Following that bill's introduction, but before its defeat, Seymour announced his next member's bill would establish a legislative framework for four-year terms of Parliament.[67]

Coronavirus pandemic

Following the Delta variant outbreak that began in August 2021, Seymour released ACT's COVID 3.0 strategy, which advocated replacing the government's elimination strategy with a "harm minimisation" strategy that focused on isolating infected individuals and easing border restrictions for travellers from low risk countries.[68] In November 2021, Seymour advocated a regular testing regime for unvaccinated workers instead of the government's vaccine mandate for education, health and hospitality workers.[69]

In December 2021, Seymour opposed the proposed joint Police and Māori iwi (tribal) checkpoints that screened travellers from Auckland heading into the Northland region from 15 December, arguing they would restrict people's freedom of movement. These checkpoints were located at State Highway 1 in Uretiti and State Highway 12 near Maungaturoto through the initiative of former Mana Movement leader Hone Harawira's Tai Tokerau Border Control. Seymour's criticisms were echoed by National Party leader Christopher Luxon and New Zealand First politicians Winston Peters and Shane Jones.[70][71] In response, Labour's deputy leader and Te Tai Tokerau Member of Parliament Kelvin Davis alleged that criticism of the iwi-led checkpoints was motivated by anti-Māori racism.[72]

2022 "arrogant prick" incident

In mid December 2022, Seymour questioned Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the Parliamentary Question time about various issues including hate speech and the Three Waters reform programme. Following the session, Ardern was recorded on a hot mic calling Seymour an "arrogant prick". Since New Zealand parliamentary debates are televised, the comment was aired on television during Question Time. Ardern later issued a personal apology to Seymour for her remark.[73][74] The two politicians subsequently reconciled and joined forces to raise NZ$60,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation by auctioning a signed and framed copy of the Prime Minister's remark.[75]

Fourth term, 2023–present

David Seymour with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon after their appointments at Government House on 27 November 2023.

During the 2023 New Zealand general election held on 14 October, Seymour was re-elected in Epsom by a margin of 8,142 votes.[76] ACT won 8.64 percent of the popular vote and gained 11 seats in Parliament.[77] Following the election, ACT entered into coalition talks with the National and New Zealand First parties to form a new government.[78][79]

On 24 November, the three parties concluded coalition talks and reached an agreement on both policy issues and ministerial portfolios. Seymour welcomed the conclusion of negotiations and expressed confidence that ACT had secured a favourable coalition deal. He also told The New Zealand Herald that the Government would announce a 100-day plan that could include repealing some legislation passed by the outgoing Labour government.[80]

As part of the coalition negotiations, Seymour will share the position of deputy prime minister with Peters for the term of the 54th New Zealand Parliament. Peters will serve as deputy prime minister until 31 May 2025, and then Seymour will assume the office until the conclusion of the term.[81] He is the 1st minister for regulation,[82] a portfolio proposed by Seymour.[83] In addition, Seymour was also appointed as an associate minister of education (partnership schools), finance, and health (Pharmac).[84]

Political views and controversies

Seymour has embraced libertarian social policies since becoming party leader, such as supporting the legalisation of euthanasia, and introducing the End of Life Choice Act 2019.[85][86][87][88][89] He has emerged as a vocal opponent of co-governance with Māori, and supports raising the retirement age and enacting tax cuts.[90][91][92] Seymour has increasingly caused controversy for his outspoken views, which include comparing co-governance with apartheid,[93][94] opposing Māori vaccination prioritisation,[95][96] and a joke about sending Guy Fawkes to blow up the Ministry of Pacific Peoples.[97][98]

2019 Hong Kong protests

Seymour has defended the rights of pro-democracy protesters in New Zealand during the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests. He criticised the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland for praising the actions of Chinese students who had allegedly assaulted a Hong Kong student activist erecting a Lennon Wall at the University of Auckland on 29 July 2019.[99] Seymour also spoke at a pro-Hong Kong democracy rally at the University of Auckland on 6 August 2019.[100][101] Seymour's defence of free speech was praised by blogger Martyn "Bomber" Bradbury.[102]

2023 Israel–Hamas war

In response to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Seymour as ACT Party leader issued a statement expressing solidarity with Israel and condemning Hamas' terrorist actions. He also criticised the Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta for not explicitly condemning Hamas in her statement expressing concern at the violence.[103][104] In response, Prime Minister Hipkins issued a statement condemning Hamas for targeting civilians and taking hostages in violation of international humantiarian principles. Hipkins stated that Israel had a right to self-defence but denied that Mahuta was out of step with New Zealand foreign policy, stating it was a matter of timing.[105]

Co-governance

Since 2021, Seymour has been a vocal opponent of co-governance initiatives. In Parliament, he has opposed Three Waters,[106] He Puapua,[107] the Māori Health Authority and the Rotorua District Council (Representation Arrangements) Bill. He said: "The net result [of co-governance] is that someone who's not accountable to the wider community gets the right to say 'no' because of their birth. It's a recipe for frustration at best and resentment and division at worst."[108] After Seymour proposed to abolish the Ministry of Māori Development, Labour MP Willie Jackson labelled Seymour a "useless Maori" and "that [he] would 'do anything' for votes."[94]

Seymour advocates for a referendum on co-governance and defining the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.[109][110][111] He has argued, "I think there is a real need for us to have a genuine, high-quality conversation around co-governance."[112] His opinions were supported by Christopher Luxon, who said that New Zealanders should be able to raise concerns without being shut down, but that National did not believe a referendum was necessary.[112]

Criticism of hate speech laws

In mid-May 2019, Seymour generated widespread criticism, including from MPs from all of the other parties, when he stated in a radio interview that Green Party list MP Golriz Ghahraman was a "menace to freedom in [New Zealand]." Critics suggested Seymour's association of Ghahraman's support for hate speech laws with suppression of free speech by dictators like Mao Zedong and Adolf Hitler was inappropriate. Seymour argued that he had merely "attacked her views".[113][114]

Seymour's concern is that the strengthening of hate speech laws is "divisive and dangerous" since the power of the state could be used by the majority to "silence unpopular views". He believes, if the law is strengthened, that what is considered hate speech will become "too subjective" and open to being abused.[115]

Public release of Māori vaccination code

In September 2021, Seymour caused a controversy after releasing a special COVID-19 vaccination appointment access code meant exclusively for Māori people in Auckland to his followers on Twitter.[95] The code was intended for the population that is the least vaccinated and most at-risk for COVID-19 demographic in New Zealand.[116][117] The code offered priority access for Māori who wished to be vaccinated by Whānau Waipareira (a Māori social services agency) at the Trusts Arena in West Auckland.[118] While the move was supported by right-wing groups,[119] it was criticised by Whānau Waipareira CEO John Tamihere and Seymour was faced with allegations of racism towards Māori despite his own Māori heritage.[120][121]

Seymour defended his actions, stating that "access to vaccination has been the same for people of all ethnic backgrounds." He alleged that the code was a move by the government that suggested "Māori people have trouble making a booking".[122] He told media that "the virus doesn’t discriminate on race, so neither should the roll out."[96]

Ministry for Pacific Peoples remarks

On 17 August 2023, Seymour joked about bombing the Ministry for Pacific Peoples during an interview with Newstalk ZB following revelations about wasteful spending by the Ministry earlier in August. During the interview, Seymour claimed "in his fantasy' he would "send a guy like Guy Fawkes" into the Ministry's headquarters and "it'd all be over", apparently implying he would have it blown up.[123] This was a reference to the Gunpowder Plot, planned in 1605 by English Catholic plotters but foiled at the last minute.[124] ACT has campaigned for the abolition of the Ministry, alongside the Human Rights Commission and Ministry for Women.[125] Seymour's remarks were criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni and former National Party minister Alfred Ngaro as inflammatory and insensitive towards Pasifika New Zealanders.[125][97] Te Pāti Māori leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer accused him of hate speech.[126] Prime Minister Chris Hipkins condemned Seymour's comments, ‘should be ashamed of himself’.[127] Seymour refused to apologise for his remarks, claiming he was joking.[97]

Someone subsequently filed a Police report against Seymour for his remarks, but no offence was identified.[98]

Personal life

Seymour is of Ngāpuhi Māori descent on his mother's side,[128][129] with his Māori ancestors coming from the Tauwhara marae of the Ngāti Rēhia hapū near Waimate North.[130]

Dancing With the Stars

Seymour appeared on the seventh series of Dancing with the Stars. He competed to raise funds for Kidsline, a youth telephone counselling service. His professional dancing partner was Amelia McGregor.[131] Despite harsh criticism from the judges,[132] he finished 5th.[133]

Electoral history

2005 election

2005 general election: Mount Albert[134]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
Labour Green tickY Helen Clark 20,918 66.55 -1.94 17,501 54.33 +2.53
National Ravi Musuku 6,169 19.63 8,488 26.35 +13.33
Green Jon Carapiet 1,485 4.72 -0.67 2,985 9.27 -1.35
NZ First Julian Batchelor 746 2.37 1,089 3.38 -3.01
ACT David Seymour 746 2.37 651 2.02 -5.09
United Future New Zealand Tony Gordon 529 1.68 649 2.01 -3.28
Progressive Jenny Wilson 407 1.29 525 1.59 -0.10
Destiny Anne Williamson 337 1.07 157 0.49
Independent Jim Bagnall 83 0.26
Anti-Capitalist Daphna Whitmore 79 0.25 -0.15
Independent Anthony Ravlich 47 0.15
Direct Democracy Howard Ponga 30 0.10 10 0.03
Independent Erik Taylor 29 0.09
Māori Party   168 0.52
Legalise Cannabis   43 0.13 -0.40
Christian Heritage   40 0.12 -0.89
Alliance   22 0.07 -1.69
Family Rights   20 0.06
Libertarianz   19 0.06
RONZ   8 0.02
99 MP   6 0.02
Democrats   3 0.01
One NZ   0 0.00 -0.01
Informal votes 316 130
Total valid votes 31,747 32,342
Labour hold Majority 14,749

2011 election

2011 general election: Auckland Central[135]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
National Green tickY Nikki Kaye 15,038 45.39 +2.48 14,447 42.24 +2.15
Labour Jacinda Ardern 14,321 43.23 +4.69 8,590 25.11 –9.44
Green Denise Roche 2,903 8.76 –4.66 7,797 22.79 +7.33
NZ First Allen Davies 412 1.24 +1.24 1,403 4.10 +1.81
Conservative Stephen Greenfield 238 0.72 +0.72 280 0.82 +0.82
ACT David Seymour 149 0.45 –1.25 404 1.18 –2.95
Human Rights Anthony van den Heuval 68 0.21 +0.01
Māori Party   562 1.64 +0.71
Mana   237 0.69 +0.69
Democrats   202 0.59 +0.56
Legalise Cannabis   146 0.43 +0.14
United Future   75 0.22 –0.46
Libertarianz   53 0.15 +0.08
Alliance   10 0.03 –0.002
Informal votes 352 164
Total valid votes 33,129 34,206
National hold Majority 717 2.16 –2.21

2014 election

2014 general election: Epsom[136]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
ACT David Seymour 15,966 43.08 −1.02 1,023 2.72 +0.17
National Paul Goldsmith 11,716 31.61 −6.19 23,904 63.45 −1.07
Labour Michael Wood 3,470 9.36 −1.09 5,045 13.39 −2.16
Green Julie Anne Genter 3,021 8.15 +2.14 4,706 12.49 +0.46
Conservative Christine Rankin 1,725 4.65 +3.70 932 2.47 +1.35
NZ First Cliff Lyon 621 1.68 +1.68 1,308 3.47 +0.86
Mana Patrick O'Dea 106 0.29 +0.11
Independent Grace Haden 59 0.16 +0.16
Independent Matthew Goode 37 0.10 −0.06
Independent Susanna Kruger 31 0.08 +0.08
Independent Adam Holland 21 0.06 +0.06
Internet Mana   312 0.83 +0.67[a]
Māori Party   174 0.46 −0.13
Legalise Cannabis   76 0.20 −0.12
United Future New Zealand   61 0.16 −0.16
Civilian   17 0.05 +0.05
Democrats   10 0.03 +0.01
Ban 1080   7 0.02 +0.02
Focus   4 0.01 +0.01
Independent Coalition   3 0.01 +0.01
Informal votes 286 93
Total valid votes 37,059 37,675
Turnout 37,768 78.09 +2.36
ACT hold Majority 4,250 11.28 +4.98

2017 election

2017 general election: Epsom[137]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
ACT Green tickY David Seymour 16,505 43.17 +0.09 696 1.78 −0.94
National Paul Goldsmith 10,986 28.73 −2.87 22,875 58.64 −4.41
Labour David Parker 7,067 18.49 +9.13 9,575 24.55 +11.16
Green Barry Coates 2,785 7.28 −0.87 3,263 8.37 −4.13
NZ First Julian Paul 657 1.72 +0.22 1,229 3.15 −0.32
Conservative Leighton Baker 230 0.60 −4.05 80 0.20 −2.27
Opportunities   1,043 2.67 —
Māori Party   124 0.32 −0.14
Legalise Cannabis   38 0.10 −0.10
People's Party   34 0.09 —
United Future New Zealand   24 0.06 −0.10
Ban 1080   9 0.02 0.00
Democrats   7 0.02 −0.01
Outdoors   7 0.02 —
Internet   6 0.02 −0.81[b]
Mana Party   6 0.02 −0.81[c]
Informal votes 317 76
Total valid votes 38,230 39,008
Turnout 39,092
ACT hold Majority 5,519 14.44 +3.16

2020 election

2020 general election: Epsom[138]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
ACT Green tickY David Seymour 19,500 46.97 +3.80 4,355 10.36 +8.58
Labour Camilla Belich 10,276 24.75 +6.26 15,078 35.87 +11.32
National Paul Goldsmith 6,397 15.41 −13.32 15,668 37.27 −21.37
Green Kyle MacDonald 3,101 7.47 +0.19 4,596 10.93 +2.56
Opportunities Adriana Christie 889 2.14 — 822 1.95 +1.75
TEA Noel Jiang 337 0.81 — 112 0.26 —
New Conservative Norman Sutton 231 0.79 +0.19 211 0.50 +0.30
Advance NZ Faith-Joy Aaron 166 0.39 — 147 0.34 —
Sustainable NZ Shannon Withers 72 0.17 — 30 0.07 —
Outdoors Maia Prochazka 31 0.07 — 7 0.01 −0.19
Not A Party Finn Harris 24 0.05 —
NZ First   609 1.44 −1.71
Māori Party   108 0.25 −0.07
Legalise Cannabis   38 0.08 −0.02
ONE   27 0.06 —
Social Credit   8 0.01 —
Vision NZ   8 0.01 —
Heartland   6 0.01 —
Informal votes 484 203
Total valid votes 41,508 42,031
Turnout 42,311 82.84
ACT hold Majority 9,224 22.22 +7.78

2023 election

2023 general election: Epsom[139]
Notes:

Blue background denotes the winner of the electorate vote.
Pink background denotes a candidate elected from their party list.
Yellow background denotes an electorate win by a list member, or other incumbent.
A Green tickY or Red XN denotes status of any incumbent, win or lose respectively.

Party Candidate Votes % ±% Party votes % ±%
ACT Green tickY David Seymour 17,826 44.43 -2.54 5,041 12.40 +2.04
National Paul Goldsmith 9,684 24.14 +8.73 20,948 51.54 +14.27
Labour Camilla Belich 6,189 15.42 -9.33 5,945 14.62 -21.25
Green Lawrence Xu-Nan 3,537 8.81 +1.34 5,507 13.55 +2.62
Opportunities Nina Asu 1,803 4.49 +2.35 1,307 3.21 +1.26
NZ First Tanya Unkovich 573 1.42 — 1,059 2.60 +1.16
NZ Loyal Anna Rotheray 164 0.40 — 123 0.30 —
Te Pāti Māori   299 0.73 +0.48
NewZeal   76 0.18 −+0.12
Legalise Cannabis   66 0.16 —
Freedoms NZ   34 0.08 —
New Conservatives   28 0.06 -0.44
Women's Rights   26 0.06 —
DemocracyNZ   16 0.03 —
New Nation   5 0.01 —
Leighton Baker Party   2 0.00 —
Informal votes 339 109
Total valid votes 40,115 40,637
ACT hold Majority 8,142 20.29 -1.93

Notes

  1. ^ 2014 Internet Mana swing is relative to the votes for Mana in 2011; it shared a party list with Internet in the 2014 election.
  2. ^ 2017 Internet Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with Mana Party in the 2014 election
  3. ^ 2017 Mana Party swing is relative to the votes for Internet-Mana in 2014; it shared a party list with the Internet Party in the 2014 election

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to David Seymour (New Zealand politician).
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Epsom
2014–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
New office Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Education
2014–2017 		Office abolished
Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Regulatory Reform
2014–2017
Minister for Regulation
2023–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of ACT New Zealand
2014–present 		Incumbent
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