---
title: "PF048 · Captured AI answers"
publisher: "Onsomble Limited"
publication: "NZBrands.ai"
edition: 1
collected_on: "2026-10-05"
html_url: "https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/1/questions/10cc9db9-a3fd-4d0c-9dbb-4819c2338bee/"
---

# PF048 · Captured AI answers

Edition 1 · answers collected 5 October 2026.

[Read on NZBrands.ai](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/1/questions/10cc9db9-a3fd-4d0c-9dbb-4819c2338bee/)

## Question

I have a long-term health condition that limits my ability to work. I rely on income support and need regular medical appointments. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about supported employment and flexible work for people with health conditions?

Question ID: 10cc9db9-a3fd-4d0c-9dbb-4819c2338bee. Report reference: PF048.

Issue: Jobs and unemployment. Voter: Person unable to work because of long-term illness.

[Source record (JSON)](https://nzbrands.ai/data/nz-election-2026/editions/1/answers/10cc9db9-a3fd-4d0c-9dbb-4819c2338bee.json)

## How to read this evidence

The answers below are shown as the assistants gave them, not a verified account or NZBrands.ai voting advice. They may contain errors or outdated claims. A recorded source association is not necessarily a link shown to the reader.

Captured 5 October 2026. 4 answers were saved for this question. Missing answers have not been filled in.

[Study methodology and limitations](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/1/method.md)

## ChatGPT · asked nationally

Answer ID: 99c458c4-0bd9-4796-95da-b53b8c2f884b. Captured 5 October 2026.

**Begin captured answer — shown as given, not verified**

If your main concerns are **keeping income support while working as much as your health allows, access to supported employment, flexible hours/working arrangements, and affordable medical care**, the 2026 party positions differ quite a bit.

One important distinction: New Zealand already lets employees request changes to **hours, days, location and other working arrangements**, including arrangements that can help manage health conditions. Employers must consider requests in good faith, although they can decline them for specified reasons. [Flexible working | Employment New Zealand](https://www.employment.govt.nz/fair-work-practices/flexible-work?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

## What the major parties are proposing

| Party | Supported employment / welfare | Flexible work & disability | Healthcare relevant to you |
|---|---|---|---|
| **National** | Focuses on getting people into work and maintaining a sustainable welfare system. Its government has introduced and passed new Disability Support Services legislation, alongside nationally consistent assessments and greater choice over flexible disability funding. [Foundational legislation strengthens support | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260901-louiseupston?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | I found less emphasis in National's 2026 election material on a new right to flexible work specifically for people with health conditions. | National's broader health programme is focused on increasing capacity and medicines/access rather than a specific chronic-condition employment package. |
| **Labour** | Has pledged to repeal the 2026 Disability Support Services legislation and replace it with legislation developed with disabled people, emphasising independence, choice and certainty. [Release: Labour will scrap harmful disability Bill](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-will-scrap-harmful-disability-bill/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) It also proposes Māori-led training with mentoring and employer connections. [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | I did not find a major 2026 Labour proposal specifically creating a new flexible-work entitlement for people with health conditions. | **Three free GP visits a year for everyone**, free prescriptions from July 2027, and a programme intended to increase GP capacity. [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) |
| **Green** | Places strong emphasis on disabled people's dignity, autonomy, accessibility and adequate support. Its 2026 manifesto calls for an accessible Aotearoa and says disabled people and whānau should have the services they need. [Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | Greens have explicitly supported employment-law reform allowing **flexible working arrangements, including working from home**, rather than leaving flexibility entirely to employer discretion. [Government undermines public service with WFH crackdown - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/government_undermines_public_service_with_wfh_crackdown?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | Their manifesto emphasises accessible, adequately supported healthcare and removing barriers to essential services for disabled people. [Manifesto 2026 - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com) |
| **ACT** | This is the most significant change if you're receiving a health-related benefit. ACT proposes **independent medical certification** for health/disability benefits and phased reassessment of existing Jobseeker Health Condition/Disability and Supported Living Payment recipients. It says genuinely enduring conditions could receive long-term arrangements. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-announces-policy-to-make-benefits-a-hand-up-not-a-way-of-life?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | ACT's emphasis is more on assessing capacity for work and moving people toward employment where possible than on expanding flexible-work rights. | Its proposal specifically affects how eligibility for health-related benefits is medically assessed. |
| **NZ First** | Its published policy material says people with disabilities who want to work should receive better support for both employers and employees. In July 2026 it also introduced an **Accessibility Standards Bill**, intended to remove practical barriers to participation, including employment. [Establishing an Accessible New Zealand for everyone - New Zealand First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/establishing_an_accessible_new_zealand_for_everyone?utm_source=chatgpt.com) | The Accessibility Standards proposal could improve accessibility generally, but I haven't found a specific 2026 NZ First commitment to a new flexible-hours/work-from-home entitlement. | Its health proposals include improving access to primary and specialist care, including additional GP capacity and digital health clinics. [2023 Election Policies - NZ First](https://www.nzfirst.nz/2023_policies?utm_source=chatgpt.com) |

### The issues that may matter most in your situation

**1. Can you work a little without losing the safety net?**  
This is an important area to scrutinise beyond the headline phrase "supporting people into work." ACT's 2026 proposal would introduce new medical assessments and reassessments for people already receiving health-related benefits. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-announces-policy-to-make-benefits-a-hand-up-not-a-way-of-life?utm_source=chatgpt.com) National has also pursued a stronger work-focused welfare approach, while the Greens have criticised recent moves affecting sick and disabled people on Jobseeker Support. [Incentivising work and independence | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/news/incentivising-work-and-independence?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

**2. Can you work *differently* rather than simply work or not work?**  
Current NZ employment law already recognises flexibility as potentially useful for managing health conditions. [Types of flexible work | Employment New Zealand](https://www.employment.govt.nz/fair-work-practices/flexible-work/types-of-flexible-work?utm_source=chatgpt.com) The Greens are the clearest among these parties in advocating a broader legal right to flexible working, including working from home. [Government undermines public service with WFH crackdown - Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand](https://www.greens.org.nz/government_undermines_public_service_with_wfh_crackdown?utm_source=chatgpt.com) I found less specific 2026 policy from the other parties on this particular question.

**3. What happens to disability support itself?**  
This is another major dividing line. National has legislated a new framework for Disability Support Services and says it is intended to make the system more consistent and sustainable while retaining existing eligibility and support. [Foundational legislation strengthens support | National Party](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260901-louiseupston?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Labour says it would repeal that legislation and develop a replacement with disabled people and carers. [Release: Labour will scrap harmful disability Bill](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-will-scrap-harmful-disability-bill/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

**4. What about the cost of your regular appointments?**  
Labour's proposal is particularly direct: three GP visits per year free for everyone and free prescriptions from July 2027. [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) This could be relevant if frequent GP care or medication costs are part of your household budget. Other parties have different approaches to primary care and medicines.

### One thing I'd check before deciding

For someone in your circumstances, I would look at **four separate questions rather than simply asking which party is "best for disabled people":**

- **Benefit security:** What happens if you can work 5, 10 or 20 hours a week, but cannot sustain full-time work?
- **Medical certification:** Who decides whether your condition limits your capacity to work, and how often can that decision be revisited?
- **Workplace flexibility:** Can you require or negotiate reduced hours, remote work, flexible days, breaks or adjustments?
- **Support costs:** Who pays for appointments, prescriptions, transport, workplace modifications, job coaching and other costs associated with working?

Those distinctions are particularly important because **"supporting disabled people into employment" can mean very different things**—from voluntary job coaching and workplace adjustments to stronger obligations to seek work and reassessment of benefits.

For context, the government's existing employment system already offers job coaching, workplace assessments, modification grants and other assistance for disabled people and people with health conditions seeking or retaining employment. [Employment for disabled people | Employment New Zealand](https://www.employment.govt.nz/starting-employment/hiring/hiring-disabled-people?utm_source=chatgpt.com)

If you'd like, I can next make a **side-by-side comparison of National, Labour, Greens, ACT and NZ First specifically on benefits, part-time work, medical reviews, prescription/GP costs, and flexible/remote work**, using their 2026 policies and legislation rather than general party positioning.

**End captured answer**

## Gemini · asked nationally

Answer ID: 47907511-5ab4-4373-83ce-c4e3dbed96d7. Captured 5 October 2026.

**Begin captured answer — shown as given, not verified**

For voters navigating the 2026 New Zealand general election who rely on income support and manage long-term health conditions or disabilities, political parties offer contrasting philosophies on welfare, workplace flexibility, and supported employment. 

The proposals and approaches across the political spectrum generally fall into distinct camps:

### Parties on the Left and Rights-Based Frameworks
* **The Green Party & Te Pāti Māori:** These parties approach supported employment and income support through a rights-based model grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. They emphasize removing structural and workplace barriers rather than requiring individuals to adapt to rigid systems. 
  * **Employment:** Strong support for funded supported employment pathways, inclusive workplaces, and addressing systemic barriers to recruitment and retention.
  * **Welfare & Income:** Proposals focus on adequate income support (such as moving toward a Guaranteed Minimum Income or higher baseline benefits) and reforming or removing partnered means-testing so that people with health conditions are not financially penalized.
* **The Labour Party:** Labour’s platform generally aligns with the *Enabling Good Lives* framework, emphasizing individual choice, control, and accessible public services. 
  * **Employment & Welfare:** Labour advocates for protecting income support adequacy, improving training/job support funding, and streamlining assistance to ensure people can transition into part-time or flexible work without instantly losing financial stability or health access.

### Parties in Government / Centrist-Right Approach
* **The National Party & NZ First:** The National-led approach leans toward administrative stability, national consistency, and implementing the refreshed *New Zealand Disability Strategy (2026–2030)*, which touches on cross-sector employment and health outcomes.
  * **Employment & Support:** Rather than major benefit overhauls, their focus centers on managing disability support funding efficiently, supporting vocational and general training pathways, and maintaining standard employment assistance through the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). 
  * **Flexibility:** Policy emphasizes practical workforce participation where possible, though with less emphasis on enforceable legal mandates for workplace accessibility.

### Parties Advocating Welfare and Medical Reform
* **The ACT Party:** ACT takes an individual responsibility and economic-efficiency approach, focusing heavily on reducing long-term benefit dependency.
  * **Medical Certification & Reassessment:** ACT has proposed tightening medical certification for health-related benefits by transitioning to an independent pool of MSD-designated doctors for assessments, alongside a phased reassessment of long-term Jobseeker (Health Condition or Disability) and Supported Living Payment recipients—while aiming to carve out long-term arrangements for those with genuine, enduring conditions.
  * **Employment:** Their framework prioritizes shifting people into active work where capable through stricter obligations and streamlined requirements, favoring individual choice and simpler economic settings over rights-based benefit expansions.

---

### Key Considerations When Comparing Options
When reviewing party manifestos ahead of the November 7, 2026 election, you may wish to weigh how different parties handle:
1. **Benefit Abatement and Thresholds:** How easily you can trial part-time or flexible hours without triggering sudden benefit reductions or administrative debt traps.
2. **Medical Assessment Processes:** Whether a party proposes making medical reviews more stringent or streamlining them to reduce stress.
3. **Workplace Accommodations:** Whether policies focus on compelling employers to provide flexible arrangements and remove structural barriers, or on encouraging individual job-seeking efforts.

Are there specific aspects of income support or workplace flexibility (such as benefit abatement rules or medical review processes) that matter most to your situation?

**End captured answer**

## Google AI Mode · asked nationally

Answer ID: 4e07e8a9-12b4-41e4-ad6d-8b44bc74f2ce. Captured 5 October 2026.

**Begin captured answer — shown as given, not verified**

When considering your vote in the _2026 New Zealand general election_ regarding supported employment, flexible work, and income support for people with long-term health conditions, the political landscape presents distinct philosophical approaches. Parties approach this intersection of welfare, health, and labour market participation through different lenses, ranging from work-obligation frameworks to structural barrier-removal and universal income models.

Overview of Party Positions

 * * **National Party**
 * **Approach:** Focuses on general economic management, fiscal restraint, and administrative tightening within the welfare system.
 * **Employment & Support:** While National has overseen broader investments in learning support within education, the party does not feature a specific dedicated disability employment package. Their welfare framework generally emphasizes moving people into work where possible while managing public spending, aligned with recent moves toward more centralized and structured medical assessments for benefit eligibility.

 * **ACT Party**
 * **Approach:** Centres its welfare policy on tightening criteria, personal responsibility, and reducing reliance on the benefit system.
 * **Employment & Support:** ACT advocates for stricter, independent medical certification for health-related benefits via an MSD-approved pool of designated doctors (moving options previously established by the government to a mandatory requirement). Their approach prioritizes participation and obligations to work rather than introducing targeted structural packages for workplace accessibility or customized flexible accommodations.

 * **Green Party**
 * **Approach:** Frames disability and health support as a matter of human rights and structural reform.
 * **Employment & Support:** The Greens focus heavily on **removing structural and workplace barriers** rather than expecting disabled people or those with health conditions to adapt to rigid environments. They advocate for expanding supported employment pathways, implementing enforceable accessibility standards, and reforming income support by removing punitive sanctions and partnered means testing so individuals are not penalized for a partner's income.

 * **Labour Party**
 * **Approach:** Focuses on incremental support, public service delivery, and strengthening educational transitions into work.
 * **Employment & Support:** Labour historically emphasizes expanding learning support and vocational assistance, though community advocates note that significant gaps remain in school-to-employment transitions and comprehensive benefit overhauls. Their policy orientation generally supports maintaining or improving core safety nets rather than systemic contraction.

 * **Te Pāti Māori**
 * **Approach:** Advocates for culturally grounded, whānau-centred structural welfare reform.
 * **Employment & Support:** Frames employment around meaningful participation and Māori economic development, while pushing to make income support easier and less degrading to access, shifting away from rigid bureaucratic categories that fail to fit individual realities.

 * **The Opportunities Party (TOP)** _(Minor party platform)_
 * **Approach:** Proposes radical overhaul of the welfare system via a **Universal Basic Income (citizen's income)**.
 * **Employment & Support:** Proposes replacing standard benefits like the Supported Living Payment with a universal citizen's income paired with a specific universal disability allowance, designed to provide baseline security regardless of work status alongside needs-based top-ups. [The Spinoff]

 *

If you'd like, I can:

 * * Detail how specific parties propose changing **benefit abatement rates or income thresholds**

 * Outline proposals regarding **transport and medical cost subsidies** (such as Total Mobility)

 * Look into how parties plan to handle **medical reviews and MSD obligations**

 *

Let me know what aspect of these policies is most important for your **day-to-day security and routine**.

**End captured answer**

## Google AI Overviews · asked nationally

Answer ID: b3c1c640-6ab3-41d5-96b8-a36fc5d269ea. Captured 5 October 2026.

**Begin captured answer — shown as given, not verified**

As you consider your vote for the **2026 New Zealand general election** , the major political parties offer distinct approaches regarding **supported employment, welfare conditions, and workplace barriers** for people living with long-term health conditions.

Because your situation involves balancing income support with the need for regular medical appointments, the core differences across party platforms center around whether they prioritize **tightening benefit compliance and administrative stability** or **expanding worker protections and removing structural barriers**.

* * *

🏛️ The Governing Coalition (National & ACT)

The current government focuses primarily on maintaining the financial stability of the welfare and disability support sectors, while introducing stricter parameters around health-related benefit eligibility.

 * **National Party:** National does not propose a standalone disability employment manifesto for 2026. Instead, its approach relies on broad economic participation and system reforms, such as the _Disability Support Services Bill_ , designed to establish a sustainable legislative and funding framework for long-term support. Their framework emphasizes keeping individuals connected to the workforce where possible, but places less focus on mandated flexible work accommodations.

 * **ACT Party:** ACT's policy heavily centers on welfare reform and personal responsibility. To ensure support goes strictly to those with enduring conditions, ACT proposes **tightening medical certification**. This includes making it mandatory for all health and disability benefits to be independently reviewed and issued by an MSD-approved pool of designated doctors (rather than relying solely on a personal GP). However, they do support long-term, stable support structures without constant re-testing for those with verified, permanent health conditions.

🌹 Labour Party

Labour approaches disability and health-related employment through a rights-based framework, with specific commitments aimed at reducing financial disincentives to work.

 * **Replacing Exemptions:** Labour pledges to completely phase out minimum wage exemptions for disabled or health-limited workers, replacing them with a wage supplement so everyone receives at least the minimum wage.

 * **Supported Employment:** They propose implementing a comprehensive _Disability Employment Action Plan_ aligned with _Enabling Good Lives_ principles, which changes how employment services are contracted to better support self-employment and tailored job placements.

 * **Removing Barriers:** Labour's platform includes reviewing the current benefit abatement regimes to ensure that taking on part-time or flexible work does not penalize your income support. They also aim to reduce bureaucratic compliance for individuals with permanent or long-term impairments.

🌿 Green Party

The Green Party focuses entirely on removing structural and workplace barriers, framing flexible work and income support as fundamental rights.

 * **Workplace Accommodations:** The Greens actively advocate for universal workplace accessibility and fully funded inclusive environments. They propose stronger legal protections for flexible working arrangements, making it easier for individuals to adjust their hours around medical appointments or symptom fluctuations without risking their job security.

 * **Opposing Strict Compliance:** The party strongly opposes the coalition's tightened Jobseeker eligibility rules, arguing that penalizing or over-monitoring sick and disabled individuals harms mental and physical health. They support decoupling income support from intense compliance measures to provide a more compassionate safety net.

* * *

📊 Direct Comparison Overview

Policy Focus| National / ACT Coalition| Labour Party| Green Party
---|---|---|---
**Employment Stance**| Focuses on general economic participation; less emphasis on legislative workplace accommodations.| Pledges to replace minimum wage exemptions with supplements; expands tailored employment plans.| Focuses on legally removing structural barriers and enforcing accessible workplaces.
**Income Support & Rules**| Mandates independent MSD-approved doctor pools for benefit certification to tighten compliance.| Promises to review the abatement regime so working part-time doesn't unfairly cut your benefit.| Advocates for removing strict compliance testing and separating income support from sanctions.
**Flexible Work Support**| Prefers direct business-to-employee arrangements without new government mandates.| Aims to reduce compliance and promote best practices in public/private sectors.| Pushes for universal rights to flexible work to accommodate chronic health needs.

* * *

To help look at how these policies might impact you directly, would you like more information on what parties are promising regarding **public healthcare funding and doctor visit costs** , or how the **benefit abatement thresholds** currently work if you choose to work part-time?

**End captured answer**

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