David Seymour (New Zealand politician)  David Breen Seymour (born 24 June 1983) is a New Zealand politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Epsom and Leader of ACT New Zealand since 2014. A graduate of the University of Auckland, Seymour worked in public policy in Canada, before returning to New Zealand and contesting for election to Parliament. He entered the House of Representatives in as ACT's sole MP, after which he was elected as party leader, replacing Jamie Whyte. Seymour has embraced libertarian policies since becoming party leader; he supports the legalisation of assisted dying and has introduced a bill on this issue. Seymour has appeared extensively on television during his leadership. In November 2015 Seymour was named the 'Trans Tasman 2015 Politician Of The Year'. Seymour went to the University of Auckland where he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronic) and a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy). Seymour is of Ngāpuhi Māori descent on his mother's side, with his Māori ancestors coming from the Tauwhara marae of the Ngāti Rēhia hapū near Waimate North. He worked in Canada as a Policy Analyst for five years for Frontier Centre for Public Policy and the Manning Centre. Seymour is a long time member of ACT New Zealand, initially becoming involved in the political party as a leader of ACT on Campus. He first stood for ACT in in Mt Albert against Helen Clark, who was Prime Minister at the time. At the 2011 election, he stood for ACT in the electorate, which was retained by National's Nikki Kaye. After this election, Seymour worked as a ministerial adviser for ACT's successful candidate, John Banks, who was appointed an Associate Minister of Education for the John Key-led National government. Seymour assisted with the development of the government's Partnership Schools legislation. In February 2014, Seymour contested and won the nomination to stand as the ACT Party candidate for Epsom in the 2014 general election. This electorate is seen as strategically important for both ACT and coalition partners National; an ACT victory in Epsom was essential to a National-led government after both the and elections. Seymour's selection, over former ACT New Zealand deputy leader John Boscawen, was seen by political commentators as "clean slate" choice and a "fresh face", At an Epsom public meeting during this campaign he was seen as "the most popular with the crowd" and "the star of the night, intelligent, witty and articulate".