When the National-led coalition swept into power in 2023, it promised decisive action. It delivered—but not in the way many hoped. In its race to “cut red tape,” “boost productivity,” and “restore order,” the government systematically dismantled some of the most forward-thinking, socially progressive, and environmentally sound initiatives New Zealand has seen in decades. What’s left is a vision for Aotearoa that looks backward, not forward—driven by ideology, not evidence.

Here’s a breakdown of the key initiatives they’ve scrapped, rewritten, or forced through under urgency—and why each one is a disaster in its own right.

Let’s Get Wellington Moving – Cancelled

This programme aimed to deliver a livable, modern capital with reliable public transport and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Its cancellation not only robs Wellingtonians of safer streets and sustainable transport—it signals that the government has no credible plan for reducing car dependency or urban emissions.

Interislander and Ferry Services – Downgraded

The rejection of modern, lower-emission ferries in favour of second-hand vessels is a textbook case of short-term thinking. Reliable, greener maritime transport is vital for a country built on islands. Instead, we get more breakdowns and more emissions—along with millions already wasted on sunk costs.

Smokefree Generation Law – Repealed

New Zealand was poised to become a global leader with world-first legislation phasing out tobacco sales for future generations. This was repealed in favour of—what exactly? More smokers, more preventable deaths, and higher public health costs. A victory for the tobacco lobby. A loss for everyone else.

Te Reo and Māori Wards – Undermined and Repealed

By scrapping Māori wards and repealing the Ngāi Tahu Representation Act, the government has dealt a blow to Māori self-determination. These moves are not about fairness—they are about silencing Indigenous voices in governance and returning to a monocultural default that no longer reflects the country’s reality.

Clean Car Discount / EV Rebate – Gone

In a time of climate emergency, removing incentives for electric vehicle adoption is almost criminally irresponsible. The so-called “ute tax” was unpopular with some—but effective. Its repeal slows the transition to low-emission transport and locks in car-based emissions for another generation.

Fair Pay Agreements – Repealed

Fair Pay Agreements aimed to lift wages and standardise working conditions in sectors where employees had little bargaining power. Their removal shifts power back to employers and exacerbates inequality. Workers in essential, low-paid industries will be hit hardest.

90-Day Trial for All Businesses – Reinstated

Extending the 90-day trial period to all employers weakens job security, especially for vulnerable workers. It provides cover for exploitation and churn, undermining long-term employment relationships and productivity.

Oil and Gas Exploration – Reopened

Reintroducing exploration in the middle of a climate crisis is indefensible. With no pathway for fossil fuels to coexist with net-zero commitments, this is a political gesture that places ideology above planetary survival.

Three Waters – Dismantled

The original Three Waters reform addressed critical issues around drinking water safety, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. Its dismantling means New Zealand remains exposed to water contamination risks, fragmented governance, and underinvestment in essential services.

Nuclear US Ships – Access Reopened

Allowing visits by nuclear-powered US vessels subtly but significantly undermines New Zealand’s proud anti-nuclear stance—a stance that has been central to our foreign identity since the 1980s. It’s a diplomatic regression masked as pragmatism.

Cycling and Pedestrian Projects – Defunded

Slashing investment in active transport—cycling, walking, and pedestrian safety—represents a direct attack on sustainable city planning. It will lock New Zealanders into car dependency, worsen congestion, and make urban life more dangerous and unpleasant.

RMA Repeal – Replaced with Weaker Legislation

The Natural and Built Environment Act and the Spatial Planning Act, part of the RMA replacement package, were axed. These laws were an attempt to modernise resource management with stronger environmental protections. Their replacement prioritises development over nature, threatening long-term ecological resilience.

Therapeutic Products Act – Suspended

Originally intended to bring New Zealand’s regulation of medicines and medical devices into the 21st century, this act’s scrapping opens the door to regulatory backsliding and makes us more reliant on outdated systems that lag behind global best practice.

Reserve Bank Act Changes – Dual Mandate Removed

Shifting the Reserve Bank's focus solely to inflation, scrapping its employment mandate, narrows economic thinking. It ignores the reality that economic stability is multi-dimensional, and jobs matter as much as price stability for most New Zealanders.

Freshwater Regulations – Rolled Back

Replacing the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management and related standards puts New Zealand’s already vulnerable rivers, lakes, and wetlands at greater risk. It pleases industrial lobbyists but punishes ecosystems, future generations, and rural communities that depend on clean water.

Fuel Tax and Auckland Light Rail – Axed

The removal of the Auckland fuel tax and scrapping of light rail plans may offer short-term political wins, but they erode the city’s long-term transport resilience and climate ambitions. Sprawl, congestion, and car reliance will only intensify.

Māori Health Authority – To Be Abolished

Set up to address chronic health inequities, the Māori Health Authority was a long-overdue recognition of systemic failure. Its dismantling reverts to a one-size-fits-all model that has never worked for Māori. This is more than a policy change—it’s a statement of disregard.

Tax Cuts for Landlords – Prioritised

Amid all the cuts and repeals, one policy remains untouched: restoring interest deductibility for landlords. In a housing crisis, this subsidy to property investors is galling. It does nothing to build homes, house the homeless, or improve rental quality. It is, however, a clear nod to the government’s base.

Foreign Affairs: Winston Peters Returns

The reappointment of Winston Peters signals a shift back to transactional foreign policy—less visionary, more transactional. His return raises concerns about our stance on China, the Pacific, and New Zealand’s independent foreign identity.

Public Services and Education: Targets Without Resources

Talk of shorter hospital wait times and better education outcomes rings hollow when paired with cuts to funding and staff morale. Reintroducing partnership schools and drilling basics like reading and math sounds appealing—but risks reducing education to rote learning, not critical thinking.

Regulatory Overhaul: Goodbye Productivity Commission

Scrapping the Productivity Commission to fund a new regulatory review body shows the government isn’t anti-bureaucracy—it’s just replacing the existing one with something ideologically aligned. The goal is deregulation, not better outcomes.

Conclusion: A Government of Subtractions

National’s 2023 programme is not a platform for building the future—it’s a demolition job. One by one, critical institutions and policies have been torn down, replaced with vague promises, cynical short-termism, and economic dogma.

The worst part? Many of these rollbacks will take years to undo. And by then, it might be too late.