David Seymour’s privatisation comments push his agenda back into spotlight

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon returned to the political stage from his summer break with two words on his lips: economic growth.

From his Cabinet reshuffle to the National Party caucus retreat to his State of the Nation address, that phrase was recited on repeat. It has been well memorised, and one could not be mistaken about Luxon’s priority for 2025.

And then all of a sudden, just as the Prime Minister would have thought he had successfully set the narrative for the year, David Seymour entered from stage right.

The Herald revealed last week that the Act leader – and soon-to-be deputy Prime Minister – would blow open the conversation about privatisation with his State of the Nation speech. And boy, did he.

Seymour would have known his comments about potentially selling off state assets and giving Kiwis more choice about health and education funding would stir a debate. He said in his address there had been “massive reporting about the big P-word”.

“Everyone gets squeamish and says ‘privatisation’,” he said, whispering that last word.

David Seymour delivering his State of the Nation speech. Photo / Alex Burton

Fast-forward a few days, during which Opposition parties had begun calling for him to rule out asset sales, and the Government’s announcements of a new investment agency, science reforms and “digital nomad” visa changes were being overshadowed.

While National may want to eventually campaign on asset sales and Treasury has been reviewing whether assets are delivering on their purpose, Luxon doesn’t want Kiwis to be distracted from his current message.

“I’m really sorry, but we’re not talking about asset sales, we’re talking about economic growth,” Luxon pushed back on Tuesday morning after several questions from media about his stance on selling off state assets.

“You’re having a conversation that is not happening this term. I don’t know how to be any clearer with you about it. I’ve said to you we’re not talking about asset sales this term. It’s not on our agenda.”

He may claim to not be talking about it – but his future deputy Prime Minister certainly was.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon didn't want to talk about asset sales today. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Asked by the Herald if he felt he had successfully put asset sales back on the agenda, Seymour said his party had put the need for a “more mature conversation” on to the agenda.

“We need to be able to look at our balance sheet and say, ‘we own $570 billion-odd worth of assets, are they delivering for New Zealanders?’”

Seymour has repeatedly said this term that the Government wouldn’t be going as far as it is in the likes of cutting government spending without the inclusion of his party.

He framed Act in his speech last week as a “change-maker”, those people with a pioneering spirit who “don’t just believe it is possible to make a difference in our lives, we believe it’s an obligation”.

They were up against the “majority for mediocrity”, Seymour said. This “tribe” blamed others for their problems and looked for politicians who would cut down tall poppies.

So which was National? Well, the Act leader thought they straddled both.

“The thing about the Act Party is we are purely here to put in place the policies we think are right whether they are popular or not.”

Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill hung over Luxon throughout 2024, sparking one of the biggest protests in New Zealand’s history and clearly affecting relations between the Crown and Māori.

Luxon will hope Seymour’s latest headline-grabbing endeavour won’t do the same in 2025.

Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald press gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub press gallery office.