Latest news with #ACTNewZealand
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Business Owner Nathan Atkins To Stand With ACT Local In Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward
ACT Local has named Nathan Atkins — a local business owner and director, as its candidate for the Kaiapoi-Woodend Ward for the Waimakariri District Council in this year's local election. With a background in competitive sport, a degree in exercise science, and over a decade managing fitness businesses across Asia, Nathan brings a strong track record of leadership, discipline, and working with people from all walks of life. His time abroad taught him how to build and run successful organisations, while staying focused on outcomes and serving the needs of his community. Now based back in his hometown, Nathan has become a familiar face in Kaiapoi-Woodend — not just as a Strength and Conditioning Coach, but as someone people trust to lead, listen, and solve problems. 'I'm running to bring practical, disciplined leadership to local government, the kind that focuses on outcomes, not ideology. Through my experience as a competitive athlete, business owner, and coach, I've learned how to lead teams, make tough decisions, and stay focused on long-term goals. I want to put those skills to work for our community, making sure we invest wisely, listen to locals, and deliver the core services people actually rely on. It's time for councils to get back to basics and treat ratepayers with the respect they deserve.' – Nathan Atkins Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects. When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting: Fixing the basics Cutting the waste Ending race-based politics Restoring accountability ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says: ' ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take control on behalf of ratepayers — to restore accountability and deliver real value for money. ACT Local is about getting the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and respecting the people who pay the bills. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture." – Cameron Luxton
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Local Transport Specialist, James Ebbett, Selected As ACT Local Candidate For Central Hawke's Bay Election
Press Release – ACT New Zealand ACT Local has selected James Ebbett a transport specialist with over 13 years of experience working for some of New Zealand's largest transport companies, as its candidate for the Aramoana-Ruahine Ward, in the upcoming Central Hawke's Bay District Council Election. Born and raised in Hawke's Bay, James Ebbett returned with his wife after gaining experience in Auckland and overseas with a multinational transport company. With over 13 years in the transport and logistics sector, he brings a strong understanding of infrastructure and the challenges facing local of work, James enjoys fishing, Weber barbecuing, and spending time at the beach with his family and Bernese Mountain Dog. He's standing to bring industry expertise, local insight, and common sense to the Central Hawke's Bay District Council. 'I'm standing to rein in unsustainable rate increases by keeping council focused on core infrastructure — reliable roads, working water systems, and spending that actually makes sense. Ratepayers deserve better than constant cost hikes caused by distraction and waste.' – James Ebbett Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects. When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting: Fixing the basics Cutting the waste Ending race-based politics Restoring accountability ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says: 'ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take back control, restore accountability, and deliver real value for money…ACT Local is about doing the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and treating ratepayers with respect. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture.'
Scoop
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Local Transport Specialist, James Ebbett, Selected As ACT Local Candidate For Central Hawke's Bay Election
ACT Local has selected James Ebbett a transport specialist with over 13 years of experience working for some of New Zealand's largest transport companies, as its candidate for the Aramoana-Ruahine Ward, in the upcoming Central Hawke's Bay District Council Election. Born and raised in Hawke's Bay, James Ebbett returned with his wife after gaining experience in Auckland and overseas with a multinational transport company. With over 13 years in the transport and logistics sector, he brings a strong understanding of infrastructure and the challenges facing local of work, James enjoys fishing, Weber barbecuing, and spending time at the beach with his family and Bernese Mountain Dog. He's standing to bring industry expertise, local insight, and common sense to the Central Hawke's Bay District Council. 'I'm standing to rein in unsustainable rate increases by keeping council focused on core infrastructure — reliable roads, working water systems, and spending that actually makes sense. Ratepayers deserve better than constant cost hikes caused by distraction and waste.' – James Ebbett Earlier this year, ACT New Zealand announced it would be standing Common Sense Candidates for local government for the first time — after hearing from New Zealanders across the country who are sick of rising rates, ballooning budgets, and councils that ignore the basics while chasing ideological vanity projects. When you vote ACT Local, you know what you're getting: Fixing the basics Cutting the waste Ending race-based politics Restoring accountability ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says: 'ACT Local candidates are community-minded Kiwis who've had enough of wasteful councils treating ratepayers like ATMs. It's time to take back control, restore accountability, and deliver real value for Local is about doing the basics right: maintaining roads, keeping streets clean, and treating ratepayers with respect. Our candidates won't divide people by race or get distracted by climate vanity projects. They're here to serve, not lecture."
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
ACT Launches Petition To Dump Te Mana o te Wai
Press Release – ACT New Zealand Instead of clear metrics like nitrate levels or sedimentation rates, councils are being asked to assess spiritual values that cannot be measured or contested, says ACT Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron. ACT is at Fieldays this week, garnering farmers' support for the campaign to scrap the vague, spiritual concept of Te Mana o te Wai and allow regional councils to set their own freshwater standards by scrapping national bottom lines. The party has launched a petition at and is collecting signatures on the ground. 'All Te Mana o te Wai achieves is to drive up costs on users and add uncertainty and ambiguity to consenting. ACT believes the Government should scrap Te Mana o te Wai and national bottom lines, allowing regional councils to set their own standards,' says ACT Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron. 'The vague concept of 'Te Mana o te Wai' replaces scientific benchmarks with a subjective idea of the mana of the water that leads to co-governance and unequal treatment based on who someone's ancestors were. 'Instead of clear metrics like nitrate levels or sedimentation rates, councils are being asked to assess spiritual values that cannot be measured or contested. 'Kiwi farmers are the best in the world. They're forecast to return $59.9 billion in export revenue and make up 10% of GDP. We simply can't afford to burden them with spiritual malarky dreamed up in Wellington. 'It means iwi have a right of veto over how water is used. The National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020 requires Te Mana o te Wai to apply to the consenting of all projects involving freshwater management. Consenting is now subject to consideration of mauri, or the 'life-force' of water. 'It has led to water users making large one-off and on-going payments for 'cultural monitoring' services which do nothing for the environment but add costs to consumer and business power bills. 'Is requiring farmers to comply with a spiritual concept going to make them farm better? Of course not. It means they'll have to employ a cultural consultant and waste time and money that could instead be spent improving their farming practices. That's what happens when we regulate water quality based on superstition not science. 'Farmers just want to grow food and look after their land, incorporating spiritual concepts isn't necessary for them to do that. 'ACT is dedicated to real change. We cannot continue with a policy that burdens our farmers unnecessarily. We campaigned on a complete overhaul of the NPS-FM to remove subjective concepts and ensure that our freshwater management is scientifically sound and adapted to the needs of local communities. 'New Zealanders never voted for co-governance. Yet under Te Mana o te Wai, it's being imposed on every dam, drain, and ditch. We need to bring common sense back and let farmers farm.'
Scoop
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
ACT Launches Petition To Dump Te Mana o te Wai
Press Release – ACT New Zealand Instead of clear metrics like nitrate levels or sedimentation rates, councils are being asked to assess spiritual values that cannot be measured or contested, says ACT Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron. ACT is at Fieldays this week, garnering farmers' support for the campaign to scrap the vague, spiritual concept of Te Mana o te Wai and allow regional councils to set their own freshwater standards by scrapping national bottom lines. The party has launched a petition at and is collecting signatures on the ground. 'All Te Mana o te Wai achieves is to drive up costs on users and add uncertainty and ambiguity to consenting. ACT believes the Government should scrap Te Mana o te Wai and national bottom lines, allowing regional councils to set their own standards,' says ACT Agriculture spokesperson Mark Cameron. 'The vague concept of 'Te Mana o te Wai' replaces scientific benchmarks with a subjective idea of the mana of the water that leads to co-governance and unequal treatment based on who someone's ancestors were. 'Instead of clear metrics like nitrate levels or sedimentation rates, councils are being asked to assess spiritual values that cannot be measured or contested. 'Kiwi farmers are the best in the world. They're forecast to return $59.9 billion in export revenue and make up 10% of GDP. We simply can't afford to burden them with spiritual malarky dreamed up in Wellington. 'It means iwi have a right of veto over how water is used. The National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020 requires Te Mana o te Wai to apply to the consenting of all projects involving freshwater management. Consenting is now subject to consideration of mauri, or the 'life-force' of water. 'It has led to water users making large one-off and on-going payments for 'cultural monitoring' services which do nothing for the environment but add costs to consumer and business power bills. 'Is requiring farmers to comply with a spiritual concept going to make them farm better? Of course not. It means they'll have to employ a cultural consultant and waste time and money that could instead be spent improving their farming practices. That's what happens when we regulate water quality based on superstition not science. 'Farmers just want to grow food and look after their land, incorporating spiritual concepts isn't necessary for them to do that. 'ACT is dedicated to real change. We cannot continue with a policy that burdens our farmers unnecessarily. We campaigned on a complete overhaul of the NPS-FM to remove subjective concepts and ensure that our freshwater management is scientifically sound and adapted to the needs of local communities. 'New Zealanders never voted for co-governance. Yet under Te Mana o te Wai, it's being imposed on every dam, drain, and ditch. We need to bring common sense back and let farmers farm.'
