# 2026 Party Position Matrix — Home Care, Carers and Community Support | Field | Detail | | ------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Type** | Party position matrix — home care, unpaid carers, community support, and transport | | **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 **home and community support services (HCSS), unpaid carers, home care workforce, community transport, social connection, and age-friendly communities**. The data is extracted from party profiles, issue briefs, and portfolio profiles in this Knowledge Base. **Context:** Home and community support services enable older people to age in place. The home support services review is active under Health NZ. The Carers Strategy is being implemented. The home care workforce faces chronic underfunding and pay disparity with equivalent roles in aged residential care and hospitals. Community transport and social isolation programmes are growing policy areas. All parties rhetorically support ageing in place. --- ## Matrix | Issue | National | Labour | ACT | NZ First | Greens | Te Pāti Māori | Evidence Quality | Notes | | --------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **HCSS funding model** | Home support services review active; incremental adjustments to contract rates. Current model maintained without major reform. | Support increased HCSS funding; more responsive system. Would review funding model to address shortfalls. | Market-based solutions; reduce bureaucracy. Favours individualised funding models. | Support increased home care investment as part of aged care plan. NZ First seniors focus includes home care. | Support fully funded public home care system; not-for-profit delivery model. | Support Māori-led home care services; culturally appropriate HCSS for kaumātua. | 🟡 **General commitments** — limited specific funding model proposals | HCSS funding review underway; workforce and demand pressures | | **Carer support subsidy rates** | Current subsidy rates maintained. MSD administers carer support payments. No increase identified. | Would increase carer support subsidy rates — Labour supportive of unpaid carers. | No specific commitment; market-based approach to care. | Support improved carer support as part of seniors investment — NZ First values unpaid carers. | Support increased carer support rates; recognise unpaid carers' contribution. | Support increased carer support for whānau carers of kaumātua. | 🟡 **Broad support for carers** — limited specific rate commitments | Carer support is a cross-party consensus issue (Campaign Relevance Map) | | **Carers Strategy implementation** | Better Later Life strategy includes carer support. Current implementation pace moderate. | Would prioritise Carers Strategy funding and implementation. | No specific position. | Support Carers Strategy as part of seniors portfolio. Minister Costello coordinates. | Support comprehensive Carers Strategy with dedicated funding. | Support Carers Strategy that recognises whānau care models. | 🟡 **General support** — limited specific implementation commitments | Carers Strategy is current government policy; implementation pace is moderate | | | **Home care workforce pay / conditions** | Health workforce plan underway. **Pay equity scrapped May 2025; 10-year bar on new claims legislated.** $400M health underspend banked in Budget 2026 instead of restoring pay equity. Temporary mileage increase (82.5¢/km) provided Apr 2026. | Support pay parity for home care workers; would restore pay equity claims; opposes 10-year bar. | Market-based; reduce regulatory barriers to workforce participation. | Support better pay and conditions; Minister Costello coordinates workforce review. | **Strongest advocate** — support pay parity; opposes 10-year bar; calls pay equity stripping a "shameful breach of human rights." | Support Māori workforce development; culturally appropriate employment. | 🟠 **Election wedge** — pay equity scrapping and 10-year bar make this a live campaign issue | Home support workers lost $27,728/yr each; unions (PSA/E tū) taking Health NZ to court over travel costs. Workers threatening to leave for Australia. | | **Respite care access** | Current respite care services maintained; no specific expansion identified. | Would increase respite care funding and availability. | Market-based; no specific commitment. | Support respite care as part of seniors care investment. | Support expanded publicly funded respite care. | Support culturally appropriate respite care for kaumātua and whānau carers. | 🟡 **Broad support** — limited specific expansion commitments | Respite care is critical for carer wellbeing; access is limited | | **Home modification funding** | Current subsidies available through MSD, ACC, and other programmes. No expansion identified. | Would likely expand home modification subsidies for older people. | Market-based; oppose new subsidies. | Support home modifications for seniors as part of ageing in place. | Support expanded home modification funding. | Support modifications that enable kaumātua to age in place within their communities. | ⚠️ **Limited specific policy across all parties** | Enables ageing in place; current funding is limited and fragmented | | **NASC funding / capacity** | Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) services funded through Health NZ. Current capacity under pressure. | Would increase NASC funding and capacity. | Support efficiency improvements; reduce bureaucracy. | Support NASC capacity as part of aged care investment. | Support increased NASC capacity in public system. | Support culturally appropriate NASC assessment for Māori; Māori assessors. | ⚠️ **Limited specific policy** — NASC capacity issue acknowledged | NASC is gateway to home care and ARC; capacity constraints cause delays | | **interRAI consistency** | interRAI assessment tool used nationally; consistency improvement ongoing. Health NZ manages. | Would support interRAI consistency improvements. | No specific position. | Support assessment consistency as part of care quality focus. | Support consistent interRAI implementation across all regions. | Support interRAI adapted for cultural safety and Māori assessment needs. | ⚠️ **Limited specific policy** — technical issue; parties have limited positions | interRAI is the standard assessment tool; regional variation exists | | **Community transport for older people** | Current community transport services; SuperGold Card off-peak public transport free. No major expansion. | Would enhance community transport options for older people. | Market-based; reduce government involvement in transport. | **Support community transport** — NZ First rural/provincial focus means transport access is important for seniors. | Support expanded free public transport (all ages); enhanced community transport. | Support community transport for kaumātua in rural and remote areas. | 🟡 **NZ First and Greens most supportive** — others general | Transport access is critical for social connection and health access | | **Social connection / loneliness programmes** | Better Later Life strategy includes social connection. Age-friendly communities expansion ongoing. No specific programme target. | Would invest in social connection programmes for older people. | No specific position — community-led solutions. | Support social connection programmes as part of seniors wellbeing. Minister Costello promotes. | Support funded social connection programmes; community-based approaches. | Support intergenerational programmes that connect kaumātua with whānau. | 🟡 **General support** — limited specific programme commitments | Loneliness is a growing public health concern for older people | | **Age-Friendly Communities** | Age-friendly communities expansion ongoing (Office for Seniors). More councils signing up. | Support Age-Friendly Communities programme expansion. | No specific position — local government responsibility. | Support as part of seniors portfolio. Minister Costello promotes. | Strong support for Age-Friendly Communities; local government funding. | Support Age-Friendly Communities that are culturally appropriate for Māori. | ✅ **Confirmed** — current government programme; all parties support | Age-friendly communities have cross-party support (Campaign Relevance Map) | | **SuperGold Card transport concessions** | Current free off-peak public transport maintained. Supported. | Enhanced benefits — would expand. | May review value for money; could means-test. | **Enhance — rates rebate a priority** (NZ First signature policy). Transport concessions part of SuperGold. | Enhanced benefits; part of expanded free public transport (all ages). | Support retention and enhancement for Māori seniors. | ✅ **NZ First confirmed** on rates rebate enhancement; others general | SuperGold Card is universally popular; enhancement widely supported | | **Rural home care access** | Current service delivery; rural access challenges acknowledged. No specific rural home care target. | Would prioritise rural health and home care funding. | Market-based; reduce barriers to rural service provision. | **Strong rural/provincial focus** — NZ First core demographic. Rural home care access is priority. | Support equitable rural access through public funding. | Support rural home care for kaumātua in remote Māori communities. | ✅ **NZ First confirmed** — rural focus is party differentiator | Rural home care access is significantly worse than urban | --- ## Key Insights | Insight | Detail | | ------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Home care workforce crisis** | **🟠 Election wedge** — pay equity scrapped (May 2025), 10-year legislative bar on new claims, workers losing $27,728/yr each, unions suing Health NZ, Budget 2026 banked $400M underspend instead of restoring pay equity. Workers threatening to leave for Australia. | | **Rural home care champion** | NZ First — rural/provincial seniors are core demographic; transport and care access prioritised | | **Carer support consensus** | Cross-party agreement on valuing unpaid carers; limited specific funding commitments | | **SuperGold Card universal support** | All parties support retention; NZ First most ambitious with rates rebate | | **Community transport gap** | Limited detailed policy across parties despite transport being critical for seniors | | **Social isolation growing** | All parties acknowledge issue but few have specific programme commitments | | **Age-Friendly Communities strong** | Cross-party consensus; current government programme has broad support | | **NASC/interRAI technical** | Limited party policy attention to these system-level issues | --- ## Cross-Party Consensus Analysis | Issue | Consensus Level | Notes | | ----------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | | Carer support (unpaid carers) | **High** | All parties recognise value; rate commitments differ | | Age-Friendly Communities | **High** | Non-controversial; all parties support | | Social connection | **High** | Broad support for addressing loneliness | | SuperGold Card | **High** | All support retention; NZ First most ambitious | | Home modifications | **High** | Broad support principle; funding detail limited | | Respite care | **High** | All parties support; funding detail varies | | **Home care workforce** | **Low** — **Election wedge.** National's scrapping of pay equity + 10-year bar vs Labour/Greens pledge to restore creates clear dividing line. Budget 2026 outcome ($400M underspend) has hardened positions. | | Community transport | **Medium** | Support varies by party; urban/rural divide | | HCSS funding model reform | **Medium** | Incremental vs transformational approaches differ | --- ## 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` | | Issue Brief — Housing Insecurity | `11_Issue_Briefs_for_Campaigning/2026 Issue Brief - Housing Insecurity Among Older New Zealanders.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` | | Social Development Portfolio Profile | `04_Ministers_and_Portfolios/2026 Portfolio Profile - Social Development and Employment.md` | | Campaign Relevance Map | `00_CAMPAIGN_RELEVANCE_MAP.md` | --- _Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — Political & Campaign Intelligence layer_ _Last updated: 10 June 2026 (Prompt 33 findings — pay equity, Budget 2026, legal action)_