ACT on Campus
Encyclopedia
ACT on Campus is the autonomous youth wing of the ACT Party; a classical liberal political party in New Zealand.
and was originally called 'Prebble's Rebels' after former ACT Party leader Richard Prebble
.
On 28 November 2000, the group's name was changed to 'ACTivists' (2) and became ACT on Campus in 2004.
ACT on Campus membership is open to anyone under-30 or in full time study. The organisation operates on all university campuses in New Zealand and regularly receives national media attention for their campaigns.
ban, joining the Libertarianz
in promoting an anti-BZP ban petition and catching out anti BZP campaigner Jacqui Dean
with the well known Dihydrogen monoxide hoax
. When interviewed on the radio by Marcus Lush on September 14, 2007, Jacqui Dean
referred to the members of ACT on Campus as "left wingers" and suggested that there were no lessons to be learned from her attempts to call for a ban on water.
In 2008, the Auckland Branch of ACT on Campus protested the banning of BZP by selling BZP alongside AOC memberships, annoying Progressive Party
leader Jim Anderton
.
On April 1, 2008 (The Day after the BZP ban) Act On Campus announced a sale of BZP in defiance of the new law, at midday this was revealed to be a hoax, drawing attention to a press release attacking the BZP ban and challenging Jim Anderton's 'hypothetical' youth supporters to a debate on the viability of prohibition.
and Hon Heather Roy
; the bill is currently going through the Whole Committee stage of the House where it will be debated and then read a third time before its likely passing into law due to a combined campaign of Act on Campus and Young Nationals at getting National Party
Members of Parliament to support the bill, which was ensured when the second reading of the bill was passed and National committed to the passage of the legislation into law. The bill has a commencement date of the 1 January 2012 and will take effect then once the Royal Assent has been granted by the Governor-General
. The bill has been opposed by the NZUSA, which has lost several important funding member bodies, since information about its behaviour was made public; likewise, individual student unions and associations have made claims that the Bill will reduce service due to the end of compulsory membership and compulsory fees. Evidence about the numbers of voting members and several scandals around some of these associations and their executive teams have also been raised as reasons for the Bill's support by Act, Act on Campus, Young Nationals and the National Party.
2004
2005
2006 Drinking Age
2007 Jacqui Dean DHMO Hoax
2007 Essay Competition
2008 Electoral Finance Act
2008 BZP and Party Pills
2008 Student Loans/Alloance/Debt
2009 Voluntary Student Membership
2010 Earth Hour
2010 OUSA Wasteful spending
Description
ACT on Campus was first formed in 1996 at the Victoria University of WellingtonVictoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
and was originally called 'Prebble's Rebels' after former ACT Party leader Richard Prebble
Richard Prebble
Richard William Prebble CBE, born 7 February 1948, was for many years a member of the New Zealand Parliament. Initially a member of the Labour Party, he joined the newly formed ACT New Zealand party under Roger Douglas in 1996.-Early and personal life:...
.
On 28 November 2000, the group's name was changed to 'ACTivists' (2) and became ACT on Campus in 2004.
ACT on Campus membership is open to anyone under-30 or in full time study. The organisation operates on all university campuses in New Zealand and regularly receives national media attention for their campaigns.
Keep It 18 - Liquor Laws
ACT on Campus received further national attention in late 2006, as part of the Keep It 18 campaign. Headed by Wellington student Christopher Bishop, the campaign included the youth wings of ACT, the Greens, National and Labour and was widely followed by the media. While polls showed the public largely in favour of raising the drinking age back from 18 to 20, the bill, sponsored by Labour MP Martin Gallagher, was convincingly defeated on its second reading. A notable part of the campaign was petition in the form of a large calico banner. ACT on Campus members had the banner signed by thousands of students on several campuses before presenting it to Members of Parliament in Wellington.Party Pills - BZP Ban
In 2007 they have been active in fighting the proposed BZPBenzylpiperazine
Benzylpiperazine is a recreational drug with euphoric, stimulant properties. The effects produced by BZP are comparable to those produced by amphetamine. Adverse effects have been reported following its use including acute psychosis, renal toxicity, and seizures...
ban, joining the Libertarianz
Libertarianz
Libertarianz is a political party in New Zealand that advocates libertarianism, favouring self-government and limiting the power of the government over the individual. Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism is a major influence on the party...
in promoting an anti-BZP ban petition and catching out anti BZP campaigner Jacqui Dean
Jacqui Dean
Jacqueline Isobel Dean is a New Zealand politician and the current Member of Parliament for the Waitaki electorate.-Early career:Dean has worked in a number of roles, including professional acting...
with the well known Dihydrogen monoxide hoax
Dihydrogen monoxide hoax
In the dihydrogen monoxide hoax, water is called by an unfamiliar name, "dihydrogen monoxide", followed by a listing of real negative effects of this chemical, in an attempt to convince people that it should be carefully regulated, labeled as hazardous, or banned...
. When interviewed on the radio by Marcus Lush on September 14, 2007, Jacqui Dean
Jacqui Dean
Jacqueline Isobel Dean is a New Zealand politician and the current Member of Parliament for the Waitaki electorate.-Early career:Dean has worked in a number of roles, including professional acting...
referred to the members of ACT on Campus as "left wingers" and suggested that there were no lessons to be learned from her attempts to call for a ban on water.
In 2008, the Auckland Branch of ACT on Campus protested the banning of BZP by selling BZP alongside AOC memberships, annoying Progressive Party
New Zealand Progressive Party
Jim Anderton's Progressive Party , is a New Zealand political party generally somewhat to the left of its ally, the Labour Party....
leader Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton
James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton , is the leader of the Progressive Party, a New Zealand political party. He has served in Parliament since 1984. He served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002 and is currently also the sitting Father of the House, the longest...
.
On April 1, 2008 (The Day after the BZP ban) Act On Campus announced a sale of BZP in defiance of the new law, at midday this was revealed to be a hoax, drawing attention to a press release attacking the BZP ban and challenging Jim Anderton's 'hypothetical' youth supporters to a debate on the viability of prohibition.
Voluntary student membership
Act on Campus have been primary supporters of the Education (Freedom of Association) Bill by Sir Roger DouglasRoger Douglas
Sir Roger Owen Douglas , is a New Zealand politician who formerly served as a senior New Zealand Labour Party Cabinet minister. He became arguably best-known for his prominent role in the radical economic restructuring undertaken by the Fourth Labour Government during the 1980s...
and Hon Heather Roy
Heather Roy
Heather Roy , is a New Zealand politician and has served as an ACT Member of Parliament since 2002. From 2006 until 17 August 2010, Roy was ACT's Deputy Leader...
; the bill is currently going through the Whole Committee stage of the House where it will be debated and then read a third time before its likely passing into law due to a combined campaign of Act on Campus and Young Nationals at getting National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
Members of Parliament to support the bill, which was ensured when the second reading of the bill was passed and National committed to the passage of the legislation into law. The bill has a commencement date of the 1 January 2012 and will take effect then once the Royal Assent has been granted by the Governor-General
Governor-General
A Governor-General, is a vice-regal person of a monarch in an independent realm or a major colonial circonscription. Depending on the political arrangement of the territory, a Governor General can be a governor of high rank, or a principal governor ranking above "ordinary" governors.- Current uses...
. The bill has been opposed by the NZUSA, which has lost several important funding member bodies, since information about its behaviour was made public; likewise, individual student unions and associations have made claims that the Bill will reduce service due to the end of compulsory membership and compulsory fees. Evidence about the numbers of voting members and several scandals around some of these associations and their executive teams have also been raised as reasons for the Bill's support by Act, Act on Campus, Young Nationals and the National Party.
National Executive
- President - Peter McCaffrey (2011)
- Vice-President - Lukas Schroeter (2010)
- Treasurer - Sam Bonner (2009–2010)
- Secretary - Andy Moore (2010)
Regional Presidents
- Auckland President - Rayneil Narsey (2010)
- Waikato President - Jackson Tutahi (2010)
- Wellington President - Cameron Loughlin (2010)
- Canterbury President - Gareth Veale (2011)
- Otago President - Chris Laing (2010)
President
- Rick Giles (2009)
- Mike Bridge (2007–2008)
- Helen Simpson (2006)
- Mike Collins (2005)
- Gavin Middleton (2001–2002)
- Clint Heine (1998–2000)
- Will De Cleene (1997)
- Rupert Wakeman (1996)
Vice-President
- Peter McCaffrey (2009)
- Rick Giles (2008)
- Trent Bellingham (2007)
- Andrew Falloon (2006)
- Gavin Middleton (2000)
Auckland President
- Jonathan Spence (2009)
- Ben Smith (2008)
- Alan Pearce (2007)
- Helen Simpson (2006)
- David Seymour (2004-05)
- Stuart Wilson (2000–2002)
Wellington President
- Peter McCaffrey (2007–2009)
- Mike Bridge (2006)
- Hannah Collins (2005)
- Lucas Nagorcka (2002)
- Nick Archer (1999)
Canterbury President
- Rick Giles (2009)
- Scott Carnie (2007)
- Andrew Falloon (2005–2006)
- Andrea Kennedy (2002)
Otago President
- Warren Jones (2007–2009)
- Doug Fraser (2005–2006)
- Matt Dwyer (2002)
- Sean Doherty (2001)
- Clint Heine (1996–2000)
Media coverage
ACT on Campus have often gained media coverage for their campaigns:2004
2005
2006 Drinking Age
2007 Jacqui Dean DHMO Hoax
2007 Essay Competition
2008 Electoral Finance Act
2008 BZP and Party Pills
- TV3 - ACT on Campus entices new members with party pills
- ONE News - Act youth tempt with party pills
- Newztalk ZB - ACT's youth wing in party pill stunt
- NZ Herald - Anderton slams Act cut-price party pill sales
2008 Student Loans/Alloance/Debt
- TV3 - Otago students concerned over debts as they enter workforce (Interview with ACT on Campus member Warren Jones)
- TVNZ - Reaction to Labour's tertiary policy
2009 Voluntary Student Membership
- The Dominion Post - Student union blindsided
- Otago Daily Times - Student association Bill angers some
- The Dominion Post - Students buy into big rebuild
2010 Earth Hour
- New Zealand Herald - Earth Hour not without its grinches
- TV3 - Kiwis ready to switch off for Earth Hour
2010 OUSA Wasteful spending