Association of Consumers and Taxpayers

The Association of Consumers and Taxpayers is a New Zealand lobby group promoting free market economics.

It is best known for its entry into politics, a move which saw it form the ACT New Zealand political party. However, the association and the party are not the same organisation, despite the similarity of names. Officially, ACT New Zealand should never be referred to as "the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers" — according to the party's constitution, "ACT New Zealand" is its full name, not merely an abbreviation.

History

The Association of Consumers and Taxpayers was founded in 1993 by Roger Douglas and Derek Quigley, former ministers in Labour Party and National Party governments, respectively. ACT New Zealand, the political party, was founded at its first annual general meeting held the following year.

Present day

The Association of Consumers and Taxpayers still exists on paper although there is little substance to it. It holds its annual general meetings during the annual general meetings of ACT New Zealand and the members of the Board of Trustees also serve as board members of the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers as well.