Election 2026
Where do the political parties stand on issues important to rare disorders?
Election 2026
We have written to all the major political parties asking where they stand on our seven priorities for rare. You can read the full document each party received here.
Below are their responses.
Issue 1 – Implement the Rare Disorders Strategy
| Policy Question | |
| Will your party uphold the Minister’s directives above to ensure work progresses on the implementation of the Rare Disorders Strategy? | |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
Yes - the Green Party believes we must invest in and ensure timely and equitable access to the most up-to-date research, procedures, medicines, diagnostics, vaccines and other health technologies—including rare disorder treatments. We know that people with rare disorders in New Zealand struggle to get access to the medicines and healthcare they need, and we’re committed to the implementation of a rare disorders strategy in Aotearoa.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
| Would your party commit funding towards a National Clinical Network for Rare Disorders as part of phase one of the implementation of the Rare Disorders Strategy? | |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party acknowledges the difficulty that people with rare disorders have accessing treatments and healthcare services and further work is needed within our health system to improve outcomes and care. We’ll ensure rare disorders are fully recognised and supported, with equitable access to health and social care, including by exploring whether the establishment of a National Clinical Network will achieve this.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
Issue 2 – Diagnosis
| Policy Question | |
|
Will your party commit to an increase in funding for Genetic Health Services? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
We will investigate increasing funding for Genetic Health Services. The Green Party knows we need universal, free and accessible diagnosis, treatment and management for all illnesses and injuries as part of a robust health system.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
|
Will your party prioritise finalising Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora’s Genomics Strategy and commit funding towards its implementation? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
|
Yes - the Green Party believes we must invest in and ensure timely and equitable access to the most up-to-date research, procedures, medicines, diagnostics, vaccines and other health technologies. We’re committed to finalising and implementing the Genomics Strategy. |
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
|
Will your party support a total legislative ban on genetic discrimination in insurance policies? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party are open to exploring this if in Government.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
|
What is your party’s view on the adoption of new technologies, including AI, to improve diagnostics and health care services? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
We believe AI as a still emerging technology could have a role in the health system to improve diagnostics and healthcare services, but with human oversight and appropriate safeguards in place. We also want to ensure privacy remains a core priority with any use of these services, and where possible, data being held in Aotearoa and not offshore where they are subject to oversight from other Governments.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
Issue 3 – PLANNED PATHWAYS FOR CLINICAL CARE
| Policy Question | |
|
Would your party expect, as part of the implementation of the Rare Disorders Strategy, that Health NZ allocates funding towards a programme or process to identify, adapt, authorise and publish guidelines, standards and pathways for rare disorders in Aotearoa New Zealand? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
Yes.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
Issue 4 – ACCESS TO DISABILITY AND SOCIAL SUPPORTS
| Policy Question | |
|
How would your party ensure the systemic inequities in disability and social supports with respect to rare disorders, are addressed? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party vision for healthcare in New Zealand promotes improved determinants of health, holistic preventive interventions and comprehensive health services that remove health disparities and promotes equity for marginalised groups - including women, Māori, Pasifika, Rainbow, disabled and migrant peoples. We will work toward a public health system which is fully funded, delivering high quality and safe care, which everyone can access in a timely way, including people with rare disorders.
There are also significant disparities in our health and income support systems for disabled people who receive unequal levels of support from Work and Income, ACC and the health system. Our safety net is complex and inadequate. The Green party will end these disparities by transform ACC into an Agency for Comprehensive Care. This will provide a minimum payment of 80% of the full-time minimum wage for everyone not in paid work because of a health condition or disability or health condition, including a rare disorder, regardless of cause.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
Issue 5 – RARE DISORDER MEDICINES/DRUG ACCESS PROGRAMME
| Policy Question | |
|
Would your party instruct Pharmac to establish a separate assessment pathway for rare disorder medicines? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party are committed to increasing funding for Pharmac so that it can invest in new medicines and health care devices to enhance treatment outcomes and quality of life, including Rare Disorders, implementing recommendations from the 2022 and 2025 Pharmac reviews, including making any changes needed to assessment pathways.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
|
Would your party change the statutory objectives for Pharmac’s factors for consideration? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party would consider changing the statutory objectives to enhance outcomes for those underserved by Pharmac, including those with rare disorders.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
|
What is your party’s view on the need to increase the Combined Pharmaceutical Budget’s proportion of health and disability expenditure? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party are committed to increasing funding for Pharmac so that it can invest in new medicines and health care devices to enhance treatment outcomes.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
Issue 6 – RESEARCH
| Policy Question | |
|
Would your party commit to ring-fencing funding specifically for rare disorder research? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party are open to providing ring-fencing funding specifically for rare disorder research.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
Issue 7 – CAPTURING RARE DISORDERS DATA
| Policy Question | |
|
What is your party’s position on requiring Patient Management Systems to be capable of integrating SNOMED – CT or other key coding systems? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party are committed to improving Patient Management Systems and reversing the cuts made to over 1800 roles at the Data and Digital directorate at Te Whatū Ora to support this.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
|
Would your party commit to seeing through the roll out of the Shared Digital Health Record? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
|
Yes - we know that that there is low quantity data available on rare disorders in New Zealand, and that this impacts patient and treatment outcomes. The Green Party will look at ways to improve data collection on rare disorders within our health system, including through the Shared Digital Health Record. |
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
|
Would your party prioritise establishing a regulatory framework for Patient Management Systems to transfer patient data to the Shared Digital Health Record? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party would consider this along with a regulatory framework for patient records that keeps New Zealanders’ data and privacy safe.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
Issue 8 – WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
| Policy Question | |
|
Would your party commit resources to upskill the health workforce on rare disorders through learning modules? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
|
The Green Party would commit to upskilling the health workforce across a range of issues, which can include rare disorders. |
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
| Policy Question | |
|
Will you develop a workforce plan to increase the number of geneticists and genetics counsellors? |
National
Labour
ACT
Green
The Green Party are committed to undertaking improved workforce planning across the health system to ensure we have the doctors, nurses, dentists and specialists we need to serve our people. This would include specialist workforces such as geneticists and genetics counsellors.
NZ First
Te Pati Māori
