ACT leader David Seymour says Costco’s push to build a store in Christchurch proves that cutting red tape works, and has warned that parties going after business will leave everyone worse off.

The United States bulk retailer is seeking fast-track approval for its first South Island store, on vacant land between Memorial Avenue and Avonhead Road near Christchurch Airport.

“People have now a live demonstration. You put in place fast track. You take away the red tape and the regulation. And guess what? People invest,” Seymour told chrislynchmedia.com, speaking from ACT’s campaign bus near Queenstown.

The Deputy Prime Minister said every other party had an approach to business he described as “the beatings will continue until morale improves”.

“If you go and smash supermarkets, smash banks, smash power companies, smash landlords, smash farmers, guess what? Everyone’s going to be smashed, and no one’s going to be investing in making the world a better place.”

He said the answer to the cost of living was a wealthier New Zealand, with more investment, more innovation, higher incomes and more competitors getting products to market.

“People can take commercial risk, but they shouldn’t have to deal with political uncertainty.”

Costco is a members-only warehouse retailer. It opened its only New Zealand store in west Auckland in 2022 and is planning a second at Drury, in south Auckland.

“They just sell stuff really cheap and in massive amounts. I’m not here to give an advert for them, but they’ll give you two dozen steaks for half the price if you’re prepared to buy that much.”

Shoppers already drove hundreds of kilometres to Costco, making it their big trip every couple of months and filling their freezers, Seymour said.

“This is exciting stuff, but it requires a government that upholds the rights of people to do business.”

Asked about residents’ concerns over traffic and consultation on the airport site, Seymour was unapologetic.

“The balance has been completely wrong for the last 35 years. Too many people have too many rights to say no to too many things, and nothing gets done. Or if it does, it takes years.”

He said the new Woolworths in Halswell took four years to get permission, while the Pak’nSave at Wairau Park in Auckland was a 28-year saga.

“People wonder why there’s not enough competition and groceries aren’t cheap enough. We’ve got to cut the red tape, get the investment and the innovation, and see business as a force for good, which it mainly is.”

Seymour also welcomed an agreement between Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour leader Chris Hipkins to work together on long-term medicines funding.

“It’s fantastic, and the ACT Party has actually got the details to fill in.”

ACT plans to close the gap with Australia by 2033 by putting an extra $300 million a year into medicines for seven years, roughly doubling the current budget of about $1.8 billion.

“If people are sick, that’s unfortunate. You shouldn’t feel that you’re doubly unfortunate because you happen to be born a Kiwi. It should actually be the best thing that can happen to you, being born in New Zealand.”

On Green and Te Pāti Māori candidates posing for selfies with patched Mongrel Mob members, Seymour backed ACT deputy leader Nicole McKee, who has said she will engage with gang members only if they take off their patches and stop offending.

“The number one reason why men leave gangs is because they have a daughter, and they understand what these gangs do to women. That’s why they want nothing to do with them.”

Seymour said it was fine to engage with people, but that should never mean condoning gang behaviour.

He accused Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori of treating gangs as though they were a legitimate and useful part of the community.

“Violent crime got out of control. Gangs got out of control. You can’t trust the left to deal with gangs and violent crime.”

“That’s why it’s so essential we lock Labour out and keep the people that need to be in prison in prison, so that everyone else who just wants to follow the law can be safe.”