Story: Political parties

ACT leader and founder, 2008

ACT leader and founder, 2008

ACT founder Roger Douglas (left) returned to the party in 2008, and is seen here with then party leader Rodney Hide launching the party’s policy prior to the 2008 election. Douglas had been minister of finance in the 1984–1990 Labour government, and its economic liberalisation, corporatisation and privatisation of some government departments and agencies became known as 'Rogernomics'. Unhappy at what he saw as a failure to complete the process, Douglas left Labour and, with another ex-Labour cabinet minister, Derek Quigley, set up the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers in 1993, and initiated ACT New Zealand, a political party, in 1994, with Richard Prebble (another ex-Labour cabinet minister) as leader.

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Reference: 161008NZHMMACT5.JPG
Photograph by Mark Mitchell

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How to cite this page:

Jennifer Curtin and Raymond Miller, 'Political parties - Small parties under MMP', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/34331/act-leader-and-founder-2008 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Jennifer Curtin and Raymond Miller, published 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 21 Jul 2015