# 2026 Party Position Matrix — Health, Dementia and Disability | Field | Detail | | ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Type** | Party position matrix — health, dementia, and disability services for older people | | **Status** | Final (data from party profiles as at June 2026) | | **Date** | June 2026 | | **Classification** | Neutral business/campaign intelligence | --- ## Summary This matrix maps the positions of **all six parties currently represented in Parliament** on key issues relating to **health services for older people, dementia care, and disability support**. The data is extracted from party profiles, issue briefs, and portfolio profiles in this Knowledge Base. **Context:** Older people are the heaviest users of the health system, accounting for ~50% of hospital bed days while being ~16% of the population. Dementia prevalence is rising sharply with population ageing. Disability support services are under review. The health system is undergoing restructuring under the coalition government. Health NZ (Te Whatu Ora) manages service delivery while the Ministry of Health leads policy. --- ## Matrix | Issue | National | Labour | ACT | NZ First | Greens | Te Pāti Māori | Evidence Quality | Notes | | ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Health NZ structure** | Restructuring ongoing; coalition government implementing changes to health system structure. Māori Health Authority (Te Aka Whai Ora) being disestablished. | Oppose disestablishment of Māori Health Authority; support Health NZ model established under Labour. | Support restructuring to reduce bureaucracy; favour private sector involvement. Associate Health Minister Seymour (Regulation) driving reform. | Support practical health system improvements; workforce focus. Minister Costello as Associate Health. | Oppose disestablishment of Māori Health Authority; support fully funded public system; oppose privatisation. | Oppose disestablishment of Māori Health Authority; support Māori health sovereignty. Te Aka Whai Ora critical for Māori health equity. | ✅ **Confirmed** — all parties have stated positions on Health NZ and Māori Health Authority | Major structural reform underway; deeply contested | | **Dementia diagnosis pathways** | Dementia strategy refresh in progress; diagnosis pathways part of broader work. No specific commitment identified. | Would invest in early diagnosis and support pathways. | Market-based solutions; no specific dementia diagnosis policy. | Support dementia care as part of aged care investment plan. | **Dementia strategy is a manifesto commitment** — increased funding for research, support, and care pathways. | Support culturally appropriate dementia diagnosis for Māori; kaumātua-centred approaches. | 🟡 **Greens most specific** — manifesto commitment; others inferred | Early diagnosis improves outcomes; current pathways have gaps | | **Dementia mate wareware action plan** | Strategy refresh in progress; no specific "mate wareware" plan identified beyond general dementia work. | Would develop and fund a comprehensive dementia plan. | No specific position. | Support action as part of aged-care investment. | Support comprehensive dementia strategy including mate wareware (Māori dementia) focus. | **Strongest advocate** — mate wareware (Māori dementia) is a specific concern; culturally appropriate care models needed. | 🟡 **Te Pāti Māori strongest** — others general | Mate wareware is the Māori term for dementia; culturally specific approach needed | | **Psycho-geriatric bed supply** | Mental health funding through Associate Health Minister Doocey; no specific psycho-geriatric bed target. | Would increase mental health funding including specialist older people's beds. | No specific commitment; market-based approach. | Aged-care bed investment likely includes psycho-geriatric component. | Support increased specialist mental health beds for older people. | Support culturally appropriate mental health care for kaumātua. | ⚠️ **No party has specific psycho-geriatric bed target** — general positions only | Known gap in specialist mental health beds for older adults | | **Disability support funding** | Current disability support settings; ongoing review. No specific increase identified. | Support increased funding; more responsive system. Labour introduced disability support improvements while in government. | Market-based; individual choice and control. Less reliance on government funding. | Support disability support as part of seniors investment. | **Increased funding**; rights-based approach for all ages including older people with disabilities. | **Strongest advocacy** — Māori-led disability support; whānau-centred; increased funding. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer leads on disability. | ✅ **Te Pāti Māori and Greens confirmed** — core policy; others general | Disability support for older people interfaces with aged care and home support | | **Health of Older People strategy** | Better Later Life strategy being implemented (led by Office for Seniors). Health component integrated. | Would prioritise older people's health as part of broader health strategy. | No specific older people's health strategy; focus on individual responsibility. | Protect and enhance older people's health services; Minister Costello coordinates. | Support comprehensive older people's health strategy in public system. | Support Māori-specific health strategy for kaumātua; Te Tiriti-based approach. | 🟡 **Limited specific policy** — Better Later Life is the current framework | Better Later Life Action Plan 2025–2028 is current government strategy | | **Free prescriptions age** | Maintained for Community Services Card holders (includes most seniors). No change. | Maintained and expanded — Labour introduced free prescriptions. Support universal free prescriptions. | May support for low-income only; not universal. | Support retention for seniors; free prescriptions kept. | Maintain and expand to universal free prescriptions. | Support retention and expansion for Māori seniors. | ✅ **Confirmed** — all parties support retention for low-income seniors | Divergence on universal vs targeted; Labour and Greens want universal | | **Health NZ wait times** | Health targets to reduce waiting lists; Minister Brown's focus. Current targets in place. | Critical of National's health funding approach; would invest more to reduce wait times. Free GP visits to reduce hospital demand. | Support private sector involvement to reduce wait times; patient choice. | Support health investment to reduce wait times; workforce training focus. | Fully funded public system to eliminate wait times. | Equitable access for Māori; address systemic delays for Māori patients. | ✅ **Confirmed** — all parties prioritise reducing wait times, differ on solution | Wait times affect older people disproportionately; high electoral sensitivity | | **Primary care for older people** | Current CSC subsidies maintained; free prescriptions for seniors. No free GP visits policy. | **Free GP visits for all ages** — core Labour policy. Significant cost saving for seniors. | Favours co-payments / market pricing; oppose universal free primary care. | Support current arrangements; protect seniors' primary care access. | Universal free primary care (all ages). | Support universal free primary care; culturally appropriate for Māori seniors. | ✅ **Labour and Greens confirmed** on free GP visits; others oppose or maintain status quo | Major policy divergence — targeted vs universal approach | | **Palliative care funding** | Current funding model; no specific increase identified. | Would increase palliative care funding as part of health investment. | Market-based; no specific commitment. | Support palliative care as part of aged care investment. | Support increased public palliative care funding. | Support culturally appropriate palliative care for Māori; whānau-centred end-of-life care. | 🟡 **Broad support** — no party opposes palliative care funding; limited specific commitments | Cross-party consensus on importance; Hospice NZ key stakeholder | | **Falls prevention programmes** | ACC/Health NZ joint programme ongoing; current funding maintained. | Would maintain and potentially expand falls prevention. | No specific position. | Support falls prevention as part of seniors health. | Support falls prevention as preventive health priority. | Support falls prevention adapted for Māori communities. | 🟡 **Broad support** — low-cost, high-benefit; cross-party consensus | Falls are a major cause of hospitalisation for older people | | **Hearing aid subsidies** | Current subsidies maintained; no expansion identified. | Would likely expand hearing aid subsidies. | Market-based; oppose new subsidies. | Support hearing aid support for seniors — NZ First generally protective of seniors' health services. | Support expanded hearing aid subsidies as part of public health. | Support access for Māori seniors who face hearing health disparities. | ⚠️ **Limited specific policy across all parties** | Hearing loss is highly prevalent among older people; subsidy coverage is limited | | **Oral health for older people** | Current dental subsidy for low-income; no major change identified. | Would improve oral health access for older people — Labour policy platform. | Market-based; no specific commitment. | Support improved dental access for seniors. | Support expanded public oral health services for older people. | Support culturally appropriate oral health services for Māori seniors. | 🟡 **Labour most supportive** — others general; cross-party consensus growing | Oral health is a growing advocacy issue; costs are a major barrier | | **Mental health services for older adults** | Mental health funding through Associate Health Minister Doocey; older people's mental health included. | Would increase mental health funding including specialist older people's services. | Market-based; no specific commitment for older adults. | Support mental health as part of overall health investment. | Support increased specialist mental health for older people; public model. | Support culturally appropriate mental health for kaumātua. | ⚠️ **Limited specific policy for older adults** — general mental health commitments | Older adults' mental health often overlooked in mental health policy | --- ## Key Insights | Insight | Detail | | ----------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Strongest dementia policy** | Greens — manifesto commitment to dementia strategy, research, and support funding | | **Māori dementia focus** | Te Pāti Māori — mate wareware is a specific cultural concern needing tailored response | | **Free GP visits as dividing line** | Labour/Greens/TPM support universal free GP visits; National/ACT/NZ First maintain targeted model | | **Disability support advocate** | Te Pāti Māori — strongest voice for Māori-led, whānau-centred disability support | | **Health system restructuring contested** | Māori Health Authority disestablishment is deeply opposed by opposition parties and TPM | | **Cross-party consensus** | Dementia care, falls prevention, and palliative care have broad support | | **Policy gaps** | Hearing aid subsidies, older adults' mental health, and oral health lack detailed party commitments | | **Workforce links** | Health workforce shortages affect all areas — dementia care, primary care, palliative care | --- ## Evidence Quality Scale | Symbol | Meaning | | ----------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | ✅ **Confirmed** | Official party policy, manifesto commitment, coalition agreement text, or direct statement | | 🟡 **Inferred** | Clear from party platform, stated positions, or consistent with ideology | | ⚠️ **Unverified** | Not in current party profile — position inferred from general approach | --- ## Sources | Source | Location | | ------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | National Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - National.md` | | Labour Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Labour.md` | | ACT Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - ACT.md` | | NZ First Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - NZ First.md` | | Green Party profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Green Party.md` | | Te Pāti Māori profile | `02_Political_Parties/2026 Party Profile - Te Pati Maori.md` | | Health Portfolio Profile | `04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Health.md` | | Seniors Portfolio Profile | `04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Seniors.md` | | Campaign Relevance Map | `00_CAMPAIGN_RELEVANCE_MAP.md` | | Issue Brief — Aged Residential Care Funding | `11_Issue_Briefs_for_Campaigning/2026 Issue Brief - Aged Residential Care Funding and Political Risk.md` | --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Last updated: June 2026_