Waiting lists, medicine funding and the structure of the health system are all in play.
Pharmac decides which medicines are publicly funded within a fixed budget. New Zealand funds fewer modern medicines than many comparable countries.
ACT wants Pharmac's share of health spending raised to 12% by 2033, but says this would be funded within the health budget, not by higher taxes. Source
UnconfirmedThe Greens would fund a significant uplift in health spending from new wealth and corporate taxes; no Pharmac-specific commitment was found. Source
UnconfirmedLabour would use new revenue for health such as free GP visits and prescriptions; Hipkins welcomed more medicines funding but no specific Pharmac pledge was found. Source
National points to Pharmac funding increases in government but has pledged no new taxes, so it rejects funding medicines through higher taxes. Source
UnconfirmedNZ First previously promised more medicines funding, but no 2026 Pharmac policy or position on raising taxes for it was found. Source
Te Pāti Māori's health policy calls for more Pharmac funding, and its 2026 tax plan raises revenue from wealth and high-income taxes. Source
UnconfirmedOpportunity seeks a 10-year cross-party health plan with more funding for workers and primary care; no Pharmac-specific position was found. Source
Health New Zealand already outsources some procedures. Supporters say this clears backlogs quickly; opponents say it draws staff and money away from public hospitals.
ACT has long backed contracting private hospitals for elective surgery and supported 10-year contracts, saying the approach should go further. Source
The Greens favour investment in publicly delivered care and have criticised growing reliance on private hospitals for elective procedures. Source
Labour has criticised how outsourcing leaves complex cases waiting longer, but has not ruled out using private capacity to cut waitlists. Source
National's health minister expanded the Elective Boost through private providers and directed long-term private hospital contracts to cut waitlists. Source
UnconfirmedNZ First prioritises guaranteed maximum surgery waiting times and is part of the government expanding private outsourcing; no specific statement on private hospitals found. Source
UnconfirmedNo public position on outsourcing surgery to private hospitals was found; the party focuses on funding Māori-led and kaupapa Māori services. Source
UnconfirmedNo public position on paying private hospitals was found; Opportunity's health bottom line is a cross-party 10-year plan. Source
Te Aka Whai Ora was set up in 2022 and disestablished in 2024. Debate continues over whether a dedicated agency improves Māori health outcomes.
ACT voted to disestablish Te Aka Whai Ora in 2024 and opposes separate race-based health agencies. Source
The Greens opposed scrapping the Māori Health Authority as a breach of Te Tiriti and previously sought to strengthen it. Source
Labour created the authority but has not promised to restore it; its Māori campaign chair opposes reviving it, favouring direct funding of Māori providers. Source
National's government disestablished Te Aka Whai Ora in 2024 and favours a single health system. Source
NZ First voted with its coalition partners to disestablish the Māori Health Authority in 2024. Source
Te Pāti Māori opposed the authority's abolition and has called for it to have more power and a larger share of health funding. Source
UnconfirmedNo public position on a separate Māori health authority was found. Source