---
title: "Person unable to work because of long-term illness"
publisher: "Onsomble Limited"
publication: "NZBrands.ai"
edition: 2
collected_on: "2026-10-12"
html_url: "https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/voters/s09/"
---

# Person unable to work because of long-term illness

Edition 2 · answers collected 12 October 2026.

[Read on NZBrands.ai](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/voters/s09/)

I have a long-term health condition that limits my ability to work. I rely on income support and need regular medical appointments.

This is a designed voter situation, not a representative sample or a finding about everyone in that group.

## What they asked

### PF045 · Poverty and welfare

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. How would parties change income support and work obligations for people who cannot work because of illness?

Study-assigned priority: Major. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Support level and eligibility affect basic security.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/9848363a-8b49-4e5d-88ec-42dcd509ed02.md)

### PF046 · Healthcare

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. How do parties compare on affordable GP care, specialist access and medicines for people with long-term conditions?

Study-assigned priority: Major. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Regular treatment and medicine access are direct needs.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/098b293d-250e-46a2-af25-36f1d5e7a888.md)

### PF047 · Cost of living

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 party policies would help people on a fixed benefit afford food, housing and power?

Study-assigned priority: Major. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: A limited income must cover essential costs.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/391326d1-546b-4d3e-a492-f7bfb7ca44bc.md)

### PF048 · Jobs and unemployment

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?

Study-assigned priority: Secondary. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Some suitable work may be possible if conditions improve.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/10cc9db9-a3fd-4d0c-9dbb-4819c2338bee.md)

### PF049 · Democratic institutions and rights

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 say about disability rights and fair treatment when dealing with government services?

Study-assigned priority: Secondary. This is a design assumption, not a measured preference. Reason: Service access and fair treatment are explicit concerns to test.

[Read the captured answers (Markdown)](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/8e109cca-692b-4809-a3f5-aa7e37845a95.md)

## Which parties AI put in front of this voter

Of the 20 answers this voter received, 9 left out at least one of the six parties in Parliament. NZ First and Te Pāti Māori were named least often, in 14 of 20.

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers collected |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 19 | 20 |
| Labour | 19 | 20 |
| Greens | 18 | 20 |
| ACT | 18 | 20 |
| NZ First | 14 | 20 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 14 | 20 |
| Opportunity | 6 | 20 |

## Issue by issue

## Poverty and welfare

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 2 | 18 | 3 | 1 |
| Labour | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 10 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Greens | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 7 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| ACT | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 0 | 21 | 3 | 1 |
| NZ First | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Healthcare

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 6 | 10 | 2 | 2 |
| Labour | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 13 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
| Greens | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| ACT | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 3 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| NZ First | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |

## Cost of living

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| Labour | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Greens | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| ACT | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| NZ First | 3 | 4 | 75.0% | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 0 | 4 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Jobs and unemployment

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 3 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| Labour | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 10 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| Greens | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 13 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| ACT | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 1 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| NZ First | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |

## Democratic institutions and rights

| Party | Answers naming party | Answers on issue | Share | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| National | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Labour | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Greens | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| ACT | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| NZ First | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 100.0% | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Opportunity | 2 | 4 | 50.0% | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |

## How the assistants handled this voter’s main question

The medical-verification versus income-adequacy contrast persists.

5 October: ACT was associated with independent medical certification and cashless-card controls; the left parties with benefit adequacy and lower administrative hurdles.

12 October: The same basic six-party division remains, with more detail about phased reassessments and enduring conditions, but no cashless-card example.

The immediate decision remains who assesses medical capacity and how support is protected. The narrative changes its emphasis without changing the central policy divide.

Gemini · 5 October 2026 · Earlier answer

> cashless debit cards

[Full captured answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/1/questions/9848363a-8b49-4e5d-88ec-42dcd509ed02/#answer-c36c9e81-f5a7-4d55-a667-823ef2333ecd)

Gemini · 12 October 2026 · Refreshed answer

> long-term arrangements would remain for those with genuine, enduring conditions

[Full captured answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/questions/9848363a-8b49-4e5d-88ec-42dcd509ed02/#answer-e9dc8d4d-e359-401b-9de2-88c8c06dcb60)

## Sources recorded against the answers

## ChatGPT

| Answers collected | Answers with sources recorded | Answers showing a link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | 5 | 5 |

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| act.org.nz | 2 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |
| national.org.nz | 2 |
| nzfirst.nz | 2 |
| workandincome.govt.nz | 2 |
| disabilitysupport.govt.nz | 1 |
| elections.nz | 1 |
| healthnz.govt.nz | 1 |
| nzmj.org.nz | 1 |

Publisher counts sum recorded website/answer associations; one answer can contribute to several websites and publisher types.

| Publisher type | Recorded associations |
| --- | --- |
| Party websites | 11 |
| Government | 6 |
| News | 1 |
| Comparison sites | 1 |
| Advocacy groups | 1 |
| Businesses | 0 |
| Social media | 0 |
| Other | 1 |

## Gemini

| Answers collected | Answers with sources recorded | Answers showing a link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | 5 | 1 |

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| nzmj.org.nz | 3 |
| apex.org.nz | 2 |
| act.org.nz | 1 |
| blindlowvision.org.nz | 1 |
| dpa.org.nz | 1 |
| facebook.com | 1 |
| inclusiveworld.org.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| nzvotecheck.com | 1 |
| raredisorders.org.nz | 1 |

Publisher counts sum recorded website/answer associations; one answer can contribute to several websites and publisher types.

| Publisher type | Recorded associations |
| --- | --- |
| Party websites | 2 |
| Government | 0 |
| News | 0 |
| Comparison sites | 2 |
| Advocacy groups | 6 |
| Businesses | 0 |
| Social media | 1 |
| Other | 3 |

## Google AI Mode

| Answers collected | Answers with sources recorded | Answers showing a link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | 5 | 0 |

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| rnz.co.nz | 4 |
| drnz.co.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |
| phcc.org.nz | 2 |
| policy.nz | 2 |
| 1news.co.nz | 1 |
| apex.org.nz | 1 |
| beehive.govt.nz | 1 |
| blindlowvision.org.nz | 1 |
| greens.org.nz | 1 |

Publisher counts sum recorded website/answer associations; one answer can contribute to several websites and publisher types.

| Publisher type | Recorded associations |
| --- | --- |
| Party websites | 4 |
| Government | 2 |
| News | 6 |
| Comparison sites | 2 |
| Advocacy groups | 4 |
| Businesses | 2 |
| Social media | 0 |
| Other | 1 |

## Google AI Overviews

| Answers collected | Answers with sources recorded | Answers showing a link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | 5 | 1 |

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 5 |
| national.org.nz | 5 |
| rnz.co.nz | 5 |
| facebook.com | 4 |
| waateanews.com | 4 |
| 1news.co.nz | 3 |
| drnz.co.nz | 3 |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| huhana62.substack.com | 3 |
| nzherald.co.nz | 3 |

Publisher counts sum recorded website/answer associations; one answer can contribute to several websites and publisher types.

| Publisher type | Recorded associations |
| --- | --- |
| Party websites | 15 |
| Government | 1 |
| News | 20 |
| Comparison sites | 6 |
| Advocacy groups | 6 |
| Businesses | 5 |
| Social media | 6 |
| Other | 3 |

## Interpretation limits

Authored situations are not a representative population sample. Consumer answers can vary across reruns, retrieval conditions, interface versions and timing. One collection per edition records snapshots rather than isolating causes. The report makes no statistical-significance claim, infers no voter persuasion and does not convert presence into support. Verified developments are distinguished from altered AI descriptions.

A design change should be recorded as a new catalogue version. Preserved gaps prevent missing coverage from becoming an apparent substantive shift.

[Read the complete methodology](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/2/method.md)

## Publication and corrections

Published and funded by Onsomble Limited. NZBrands.ai takes no view on any party or policy.

[Independence](https://nzbrands.ai/about/independence/) · [Corrections](https://nzbrands.ai/about/corrections/) · [Contact](https://nzbrands.ai/about/contact/)