“It should not be official government policy to be racist.”

ACT Party leader David Seymour has delivered a fierce criticism of Labour’s approach to Māori procurement during an interview with chrislynchmedia.com.

Asked about Labour’s proposal to direct approximately $900 million in government contracts towards Māori businesses, Seymour argued contracts should be awarded on merit rather than ethnicity.

“There’s never been a successful society that succeeded because it divided people by race.”

He pointed to Sri Lanka, Malaysia and South Africa as examples of countries where he believed government policies based on ethnicity had created serious problems.

Seymour also turned his criticism towards the Coalition Government’s financial management, despite ACT being part of it.

“It’s phenomenal how much we’ve just lost control of spending in this government, and worse than the previous one.”

ACT is proposing approximately $22 billion in savings over four years, including returning the public service to its 2017 size, with adjustments for inflation and population growth. Health, education, defence and police would be exempt from the exercise.

The ACT leader also launched an attack on the Green Party’s economic policies, warning that its spending promises could leave taxpayers facing substantial additional interest costs.

Seymour calculated that borrowing approximately $250 billion at an interest rate of five per cent would produce $12.5 billion in annual interest payments. However, that calculation assumes the entire amount would be borrowed and is not a verified forecast of the Greens’ proposed debt.

“That’s really what the Greens are proposing to do: is cut open the golden goose and try and get all the golden eggs straight away.”

He argued New Zealand should instead focus on expanding mining, encouraging overseas investment and making it easier for new supermarket operators to enter the market.

On retirement, Seymour defended ACT’s plan to gradually raise the superannuation eligibility age from 65 to 67, alongside special early access provisions for people who had spent at least 20 years in physically demanding jobs.

He also proposed removing tax on KiwiSaver investment returns, arguing it would leave younger workers substantially better off by retirement.

Healthcare shortages were another major focus, with Seymour questioned about an after hours medical clinic in Rolleston struggling to meet growing patient demand.

“First of all, let’s just save the furniture because at the moment you’re right to say we’re in real trouble.”

ACT is promising $400 million in additional general practice funding over four years to retain existing doctors and attract more into the profession.

Seymour also suggested allowing GPs greater opportunities to undertake private work, similar to arrangements available to some hospital specialists.

Turning to the election, he acknowledged voter frustration with the Government’s economic performance.

“We didn’t factor in that we’d be paying, you know, in some places, four bucks for petrol.”

Seymour also blamed disruption to international trade under US President Donald Trump for undermining the Coalition’s economic ambitions.

However, he argued the Government had made progress on inflation, interest rates, crime and healthcare waiting times, despite continuing challenges.

Asked whether he wanted to remain Deputy Prime Minister if the Coalition secured another term, Seymour said he would be willing to continue serving but was not attached to the position.

“That title’s not my number one priority.”