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March 26, 2026
#national: ACT’s Nicole McKee fronts on firearms, alcohol harm, fuel pressures and caucus reset
Dale Husband
Posted On March 26, 2026
ACT MP Nicole McKee has stepped in for party leader David Seymour, addressing a range of issues spanning public safety, cost-of-living pressures, and internal party changes.
On firearms, McKee points to the importance of maintaining a strong licensing system while ensuring responsible gun ownership remains at the centre of policy. In reflecting on international incidents such as the Bondi Beach shooting late last year, the emphasis is on understanding how enforcement, monitoring, and early intervention can be strengthened without undermining law-abiding firearm users. The discussion reinforces ACT’s long-held position that compliance, accountability, and effective oversight are critical to public safety.
McKee also highlights the broader context of public safety, including the role alcohol plays in contributing to harm. She signals that intoxication continues to intersect with violence, accidents, and disorder, placing pressure on frontline services. The issue raises questions about whether current settings adequately address alcohol-related harm, particularly in communities already experiencing high levels of vulnerability. While firearms and alcohol are often treated separately in policy, the overlap in risk factors is increasingly part of the wider safety conversation.
On the cost of living, ACT is pointing to fuel prices as a key driver of financial strain for households. McKee outlines the party’s focus on easing pressure through measures that could include reviewing fuel taxes and charges, while still maintaining investment in transport infrastructure. The challenge, she suggests, is balancing immediate relief for whānau with the long-term need to fund roads, public transport, and essential services.
The issue is particularly acute as rising fuel costs continue to flow through to food prices, freight, and everyday expenses, compounding pressures on families already managing tight budgets.
Within the ACT caucus, attention is also on the departure of Brooke van Velden, with McKee indicating the party is adjusting its internal responsibilities and portfolio allocations. Her resignation marks a shift in how ACT will organise its policy priorities moving forward, with the caucus expected to redistribute key areas of focus while maintaining its broader agenda.
Despite the change, the party is signalling continuity in its direction, with an emphasis on economic management, regulatory reform, and individual responsibility remaining central themes.
As McKee steps into the acting leadership role, the focus remains on positioning ACT as responsive to immediate concerns such as public safety and cost of living, while navigating internal transitions and maintaining momentum ahead of the next phase of the political cycle.
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