# Leader of ACT New Zealand

The leader of ACT New Zealand is the highest-ranked political position within ACT New Zealand. The current leader is David Seymour, who became the leader in October 2014. He is the longest serving Act Leader, serving more than 10 years as of 2024.
The leader is appointed by the party board. The leader is not required to be a member of parliament; when the leader is a member of parliament, the party constitution states that the leader is responsible for "the supervision, co-ordination and conduct of the Party’s activities in Parliament." The leader serves until they resign or the board removes them.
The party leader and deputy party leader are ex officio members of the ACT board. The board consists of a maximum of thirteen members, consisting of regional representatives, party MPs, the party president, party vice-president, the party treasurer, and others at the discretion of the board.

## List of leaders

| No. | Leader | Electorate | List Placement | List Placement | Term Start | Term End | Elections Contested |
| 1 | Roger Douglas (b. 1937) | None (was previously a Labour MP; re-elected as the third-ranked ACT list MP in the 2008 election, after leadership term) | None (was previously a Labour MP; re-elected as the third-ranked ACT list MP in the 2008 election, after leadership term) | None (was previously a Labour MP; re-elected as the third-ranked ACT list MP in the 2008 election, after leadership term) | 1994 | 24 March 1996 | None |
| 2 | Richard Prebble (b. 1948) | Wellington Central | 1st | 1996–1999 | 26 March 1996 | 13 June 2004 | 199619992002 |
| 2 | Richard Prebble (b. 1948) | List | 1st | 1999–2005 | 26 March 1996 | 13 June 2004 | 199619992002 |
| 3 | Rodney Hide (b. 1956) | List | 7th | 1996–1999 | 13 June 2004 | 28 April 2011 | 20052008 |
| 3 | Rodney Hide (b. 1956) | List | 5th | 1999–2002 | 13 June 2004 | 28 April 2011 | 20052008 |
| 3 | Rodney Hide (b. 1956) | List | 2nd | 2002–2005 | 13 June 2004 | 28 April 2011 | 20052008 |
| 3 | Rodney Hide (b. 1956) | Epsom | 1st | 2005–2010 | 13 June 2004 | 28 April 2011 | 20052008 |
| 4 | Don Brash (b. 1940) | None (was previously leader of National; was first on the ACT party list for the 2011 election but ACT did not gain enough party votes) | None (was previously leader of National; was first on the ACT party list for the 2011 election but ACT did not gain enough party votes) | None (was previously leader of National; was first on the ACT party list for the 2011 election but ACT did not gain enough party votes) | 28 April 2011 | 26 November 2011 | 2011 |
| 5 | John Banks (b. 1946) | Epsom | 4th | 2011–2014 | 15 February 2012 | 2 February 2014 | None |
| 6 | Jamie Whyte (b. 1965/1966) | None (was first on party list for the 2014 election but ACT did not gain enough party votes) | None (was first on party list for the 2014 election but ACT did not gain enough party votes) | None (was first on party list for the 2014 election but ACT did not gain enough party votes) | 2 February 2014 | 3 October 2014 | 2014 |
| 7 | David Seymour (b. 1983) | Epsom | None | 2014–2017 | 4 October 2014 | incumbent | 201720202023 |
| 7 | David Seymour (b. 1983) | Epsom | 1st | 2017–present | 4 October 2014 | incumbent | 201720202023 |