Party policies: Health

Maori Party

A free, high-quality primary health care system is essential, backed up by more money for public health. Families need to be assured of decent incomes and healthy housing. Services need to be culturally safe and responsive. Maori determination of priorities and service provision is critical.

Progressive Party

Genuinely free GP visits and free prescriptions for those under 18 and over 65, ensure Maori communities participate in decision-making on health issues, extend education programmes and treatment services for those suffering mental illness and encourage mental health services that meet Maori needs. Would raise alcohol purchasing age to 20 and rejects change to legal status of cannabis.

National Party

Health services should be funded according to need, rather than race. National will allow people to exercise choice, individual responsibility and take advantage of a dynamic private sector complementing a strong public health system.

Act Party

No one should have priority treatment based on race alone, but Act recognises poor health needs addressing. Act opposed Labour's special cheaper doctor visits just for Maori and Pacific Islanders. There are 180,000 on waiting lists, and doctors visits are too costly for many. Act would address these and other health needs by using all our hospitals and professionals.

New Zealand First

Healthcare for Maori and others must be based on needs and not race. In the last financial year more than $100 million was spent on Maori-only initiatives in health. This is wrong. Our policies such as free healthcare for under sixes and the Golden Age Card for seniors are colour blind and needs-based.

Green Party

The best way to improve Maori health is to make services more accessible by helping Maori to manage their own health needs through initiatives such as marae-based clinics. The Greens also support additional funding for research into Maori health issues to try to narrow the gaps.

United Future

No specific Maori health policy but wants to extend low GP fees to all so that parents pay no more than $20, schoolchildren cost no more than $10 and under-6s are free.

Labour

Labour supports Maori aspirations to have more say about their own health, reducing inequalities, making services more available and appropriate, and to supporting whole-of-government initiatives.