New Zealand’s Act Party has formally begun its election campaign, unveiling a new deputy leader and outlining key policy proposals. The party intends to significantly reduce the size of government by halving the number of government departments. A core economic pledge involves restricting expenditure on Jobseeker benefits, a key social welfare program. The campaign launch featured elements reminiscent of rallies associated with former US President Donald Trump, signaling a potentially more populist approach. Act aims to position itself as a fiscally conservative alternative in the upcoming election. The party hopes these policies will resonate with voters concerned about government spending and economic management. This marks a significant step in Act’s bid to increase its parliamentary representation.