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The ACT Party on Race Relations and Immigration
Act says it supports a strict timetable for settlement. In June 2004 leader Rodney Hide introduced the Treaty of Waitangi (Final Settlement of Claims) Bill, arguing in the House that, “we should apply the second discipline that all claims should be settled in 10 years. Surely to goodness, with the goodwill of the Māori people and with the goodwill of the Government, we could do that in 10 years”.
Act policy is to repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act because it takes away proeprty rights. Former Act MP Richard Prebble spoke against the bill in 2004, saying, “ACT is a party that believes in private property rights, the rule of law, the citizens’ right to go to court for justice, and one law for all. This bill violates all these principles... The bill is bad law.” When the law was passed Act MP Ken Shirley told the House, “This legislation is unnecessary, precipitate, an overreaction, fraudulent, and based on smoke and mirrors... It is bad legislation, and it will be divisive for New Zealand society”.
Act opposes the retention of the Maori seats. In 2004 leader Rodney Hide said “These seats are an anachronism and are racist. People should not be granted special voting privileges based on their ethnicity. We’d be horrified at the thought of white-only seats. The Maori seats are just as wrong.”
The Act party says “Immigrants bring new hopes, new ideas, skills and entrepreneurial attitudes”. New Zealand, it believes, “should be aiming for net inflows of around 30-40,000 persons per year. We should be aiming to attract the ablest and most productive people (while making allowance for refugees, and family reunion cases)”.