# PF049: 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? Collected 19 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 4 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/4) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: 2adc110a-1049-4f91-8750-013abb94393e # New Zealand 2026 election: disability rights, income support and fair treatment For someone living with a long-term health condition, relying on income support and attending regular medical appointments, there are several important differences between the parties' approaches to disability policy. The key issues to compare are: - Income security: whether benefits provide enough to live on, and how rules affect people whose health limits their ability to work. - Fair treatment by government agencies: whether eligibility decisions are transparent, consistent and open to challenge, and whether disabled people are involved in decisions affecting them. - Disability support and independence: whether you have meaningful choice over the support you receive. - Healthcare access: whether appointments, treatment and disability-related services are affordable and accessible. - Accessibility and human rights: whether government services must meet enforceable standards, rather than relying on broad commitments. The 2026 election is scheduled for 7 November. A disability-policy comparison published by Disability Responsiveness New Zealand and the Deafblind Association New Zealand identifies significant differences between the parties, while noting that not all have published a comprehensive disability manifesto. [Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/)[The main parties vying to form New Zealand's next government](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/main-parties-vying-form-new-zealands-next-government-2026-10-12/) ## 1. What the main parties say The following comparison covers National, Labour, the Greens, ACT, New Zealand First, Te Pāti Māori and TOP (The Opportunities Party). It distinguishes announced commitments from broader policy direction where a party has not published a full disability policy. ### National Party ![Will National Party Finish 2nd in New Zealand's 2026 Election?](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/LCDs4P76HEgfCayafHeSga8GCw12Vxs2fPc3toeyLUZ-wmb6UiGRZY6bhdT1xRejtICfUd6GX2BWmI76EkpoWuffTU4g32bP_qUJp29rsfn5_Zvj5THHSYTLHSoo_5_YQyZ3zKE1WIpB4bu7raRltFl5TZFCgCcE0quf_GohkFI?purpose=inline) Main emphasis: consistency, funding stability and clear rules National's approach centres on making disability support more consistent nationwide and keeping the system financially sustainable. It has introduced a national needs-assessment approach and restored some flexibility in individualised funding. - Disability rights and services: The Disability Support Services legislation passed in September 2026. The Government says it provides a clearer framework, improves consistency and recognises choice, safety and dignity. [Disability community informs improvements to DSS Bill](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260813-honlouiseupston)[Foundational legislation strengthens support](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260901-louiseupston) - Income support: National's published disability approach does not set out a major disability-specific benefit increase or a comprehensive reform of disability income support. - Fair treatment: Its emphasis is on consistent assessment processes and clearer rules. The key question for voters is how much protection people would have against restrictive eligibility decisions or future changes to funding. - Healthcare: Disability-specific healthcare commitments are less developed than its broader health programme. Sources: [National's disability support legislation](https://www.national.org.nz/news/260901-louiseupston?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [2026 disability policy comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ### Labour Party ![South Island Election Conference 2026](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_spFKDBqOMVPoo8r35YLoGFwljs_-WWe4ur9fdZCfekzAxaUPGA75u8rI9uxOUTssI2hUZN1r4Zu1AeDrcNaxz3uHoFIyWjDpanT5s-KJ87QzxSu1uNjNL4MOHSuazRZuTy_TzC6aN4wxHHoyU_DhzMFuMCMjNBTtg2xRxOZL6c?purpose=inline) Main emphasis: rights, dignity and co-design Labour says disabled people should have a central role in designing the services and laws that affect them, with disability policy grounded in human rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. - Disability rights and services: Labour has pledged to repeal the Disability Support Services legislation passed by the current Government and replace it with legislation developed alongside disabled people and carers. [Release: Labour will scrap harmful disability Bill](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-rules-out-social-housing-rent-increase/)[Release: National turns flawed disability Bill into law](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-national-turns-flawed-disability-bill-into-law/) - Income support: Labour previously increased main benefit rates, but its record does not include a complete overhaul of the disability income support system. Partner-income rules remain an important issue. - Fair treatment: Its stated approach prioritises self-determination, consultation and safeguards around decisions affecting support. - Healthcare: Labour's broader public-service and health policies emphasise equity, although access barriers for disabled people have persisted. Sources: [Labour's disability legislation commitment](https://www.labour.org.nz/news/release-labour-rules-out-social-housing-rent-increase/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [disability policy comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ### Green Party ![Green Party NZ (@NZGreens) on X](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/xwoeA3rTn5Pu0UL1uRc6X_g8ADsfUTe55rxQEjXC_rnFR_6TPTr_9eG0LsowNOdFRtax24qB8h-LRfUtZEf42T0CC5OclOZ5katbFJAYxs0cZRyqDBlGNgF_8AV_5WTCbYonGIqLGuK095lLGrkBVw3L8vdsA06tLHVNuCJquuc?purpose=inline) Main emphasis: disability rights, income adequacy and enforceable accessibility The Greens advocate for reducing barriers created by institutions and public systems, rather than placing the main burden on disabled individuals to adapt. - Disability rights and services: The Greens oppose the current Government's disability support legislation and support greater choice and control over support, with disabled people involved in decisions. [Greens oppose rushed disability support law changes](https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_oppose_rushed_disability_support_law_changes)[Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/) - Income support: Their proposals include raising benefits, moving toward a Guaranteed Minimum Income, removing punitive welfare sanctions and changing partnered means testing. - Fair treatment: They support stronger accessibility legislation with enforceable standards and deadlines covering areas such as buildings, transport and digital services. - Healthcare: Their platform emphasises accessible, culturally appropriate care and reducing financial barriers to disability-related healthcare. These are policy proposals, not guarantees that every measure would be implemented in full. Their cost and implementation would matter. Sources: [Greens on disability support legislation](https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_oppose_rushed_disability_support_law_changes?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [disability policy comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ### ACT New Zealand ![New Zealand Legislative Election Winner 2026 Odds | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/jofoEEdOXv6HOQzupGnQLgXlZKKPYTzvN6g4IUMlN6xdqX4l_qH5-Y0A3to5ytO5w95eGsg-WLInlnku5FmW0VEyKqhTiAqcZSbr_Z1e_uNyqacdq4zniDKhRNRugVUCsz1-CYpZeG4nO7sLuQKEQlQMBgJCAoyH3nC76yYHd6E?purpose=inline) Main emphasis: individual choice, personal responsibility and spending accountability ACT's wider approach favours less bureaucracy, clearer rules and more direct control over individual funding. - Disability rights and services: ACT favours individualised funding and simpler processes, but has not published a comparably detailed standalone disability-rights programme for 2026. - Income support: Its June 2026 welfare policy emphasises work participation, benefit obligations and reducing long-term reliance on benefits. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-announces-policy-to-make-benefits-a-hand-up-not-a-way-of-life) - Fair treatment: ACT's focus is on transparent rules, accountability and individual responsibility. For someone with a condition that limits work, an important question is how proposed obligations would accommodate fluctuating health or limited work capacity. - Healthcare and accessibility: Its general policies address health-system performance, but the disability policy comparison identifies limited specific commitments on enforceable accessibility standards and disability-related healthcare. Sources: [ACT's welfare policy announcement](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-announces-policy-to-make-benefits-a-hand-up-not-a-way-of-life?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [disability policy comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ### New Zealand First ![New Zealand legislative election winner? Predictions & Od... 2026 | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/UmXClDd76aKEk_XyXfEEacFBHXO18HFMG1Im-weRm7tb64uGzBsRK3vWPXuiFN2zaWaNznb7eSDIJucKOhlXtwb6Lq-BYR6oxisKzHsWTxF5AsiLmtcNGDNtwCsXzgIuSp2vW4pa6pAda-tTriG23zKX1ZuknQ81HGh411pqRkM?purpose=inline) Main emphasis: public services, continuity and practical accessibility New Zealand First has addressed disability less through a comprehensive standalone policy and more through health, community services and related legislation. - Disability rights and services: In July 2026, the party announced an Accessibility Standards Bill intended to address barriers to participation, independence and access to public services. [Establishing an Accessible New Zealand for everyone](https://www.nzfirst.nz/establishing_an_accessible_new_zealand_for_everyone) - Income support: It has not set out a similarly detailed programme to reform income support for working-age disabled people. - Fair treatment: Its accessibility proposal is relevant to whether people can participate in public life and use services. The bill's final legislative status and implementation would need checking. - Healthcare: Its broader platform places emphasis on public healthcare, including access for older people and rural communities. Sources: [New Zealand First's accessibility proposal](https://www.nzfirst.nz/establishing_an_accessible_new_zealand_for_everyone?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [disability policy comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ### Te Pāti Māori ![New Zealand Legislative Election Winner 2026 Odds | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/HHEWLfcjRbgNTl3J7ZI3ahpGFiM337cSMZSj-gfqthhb3O1OJ8vhDGH4x2nBOUQoPRFHldf4E0rUprxmRG4JddGiw5atorslzfs34M-9xbTy2yNYWAjL5wP10lk3C-YjZAm-m43DF6her5QZGf5OtQEw7NLpqO4hrIjzpsWiQm8?purpose=inline) Main emphasis: self-determination, whānau wellbeing and Māori-led services The party's approach places tāngata whaikaha Māori (Māori disabled people) and whānau hauā (disabled people and their families) at the centre of decision-making. - Disability rights and services: It supports Māori-led disability services and transferring more decision-making power to Māori communities and whānau. - Income support: Its wider social-policy direction supports structural changes to reduce poverty and punitive welfare settings, including income-guarantee-style approaches. - Fair treatment: It emphasises dignity, self-determination, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and services designed around community needs. - Healthcare: It advocates Māori-led healthcare and holistic wellbeing, rather than treating disability as a separate issue from other aspects of health and social support. A limitation for comparison is that some proposals have less publicly available technical detail on implementation and costing. Source: [2026 disability policy comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ### TOP — The Opportunities Party ![](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/KZ1zP60v_ZeHHj3ij4DA2sVh6oX86DHN4x_RGhm63IEKbj8P_3phlgxON0_dzBqruxZt_piBvLSwWYOzxGtRjeiBIDJnBczyBauAihY7VhbFruy9Xq4tPeGbXtvfFHap7T9ZV_eOqtHyttigv_yv7jT6ibug6IoPJMJnJ8SLOeE?purpose=inline) Main emphasis: structural reform of income support and housing TOP approaches disability-related disadvantage through changes to the wider economic and social systems, rather than through a single disability-specific programme. - Disability rights and services: TOP supports advocacy for disabled people and co-designing accessibility legislation, but has not published a full disability support system reform programme. - Income support: Its proposed means-tested citizen's income would replace the current welfare system, including disability-related income support, with an income floor. How additional disability-related costs would be covered is an important detail to examine. - Fair treatment: Its approach includes structural reform and proposals for enforceable accessibility standards. - Healthcare: TOP has advocated improving healthcare access and training healthcare workers to reduce bias toward disabled patients. Source: [2026 disability policy comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). ## 2. How the parties differ on the issues that could affect your daily life This table brings the main policy differences together, focusing on the questions most relevant to living with a health condition and relying on public support. | Issue | Parties' published approaches | | --- | --- | | Benefit adequacy | The Greens propose substantial benefit increases and a Guaranteed Minimum Income. TOP proposes a citizen's income. Labour has a record of increasing main benefits but has not proposed a full disability-income overhaul. | | Work obligations and sanctions | ACT emphasises benefit obligations and workforce participation. The Greens propose removing punitive sanctions. Labour, National, NZ First and Te Pāti Māori have different wider welfare approaches; check their latest detailed commitments for specific rules. | | Choice over disability support | National emphasises nationally consistent assessments and funding stability. Labour and the Greens emphasise rights, choice and co-design. ACT emphasises individualised funding and simpler administration. | | Protection against unfair decisions | Labour and the Greens explicitly advocate rights-based approaches and stronger disabled people's involvement in decision-making. National emphasises clearer rules and consistency. Other parties' published commitments vary in detail. | | Accessible public services | The Greens and Te Pāti Māori support strengthening accessibility legislation. NZ First has proposed accessibility standards legislation. TOP supports enforceable standards. National and ACT have not identified comparable commitments in the policy review. | Sources: [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand's 2026 party comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com); [ACT's welfare announcement](https://www.act.org.nz/news/act-announces-policy-to-make-benefits-a-hand-up-not-a-way-of-life?utm_source=chatgpt.com); [NZ First's Accessibility Standards Bill announcement](https://www.nzfirst.nz/establishing_an_accessible_new_zealand_for_everyone?utm_source=chatgpt.com). These differences describe the parties' stated positions, not guaranteed outcomes. A policy's actual impact will depend on its wording, funding, implementation and any agreements negotiated after the election. ## 3. What fair treatment by government services means in practice Beyond general promises about disability rights, it is worth looking at whether a party proposes practical safeguards in the systems you may depend on. Consider these four questions when reading a party's manifesto: - Individual assessment: Would decisions take account of your actual functional limitations, medical evidence and fluctuating health, rather than applying a rigid standard? - Clear explanations: Would you receive understandable reasons for decisions about benefits, funding or access to services? - Review and appeal: Would you have an accessible way to challenge a decision you believe is wrong? - Reasonable accessibility: Would you be able to communicate with agencies and access healthcare and other public services without unnecessary physical, digital or administrative barriers? These are useful tests of policy, rather than claims that any one party has already solved these problems. New Zealand already has some protections. The [Office of the Ombudsman](https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/what-ombudsman-can-help/fair-treatment-disabled-people?utm_source=chatgpt.com) monitors disabled people's rights and can investigate whether government agencies have acted fairly and reasonably. For Work and Income benefit entitlement decisions specifically, the usual route is a Benefit Review Committee and, if necessary, the Social Security Appeal Authority. [Fair treatment for disabled people](https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/what-ombudsman-can-help/fair-treatment-disabled-people)[Complain about an action or decision by an agency](https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/make-complaint/complain-about-action-or-decision-agency) ## 4. How to compare the parties before voting For your circumstances, you might find it useful to look for concrete answers to these questions in each party's latest policy announcements: 1. Will my income remain adequate if my health prevents me from working, or if my capacity to work changes? 2. Will regular medical appointments and health-related expenses be adequately supported? 3. Will disability support decisions be based on my individual needs, with clear reasons and a meaningful right to challenge them? 4. Will government agencies have stronger obligations to provide accessible, respectful and non-discriminatory services? 5. Will the party protect existing disability support, or change the eligibility rules, funding arrangements or conditions? The parties also differ in how much detail they have published. The disability-policy comparison above is useful for identifying those differences, but some assessments are based on broader party positions rather than complete, official 2026 disability manifestos. Check the parties' own websites again before voting. One particularly important distinction: a party can support better disability services without promising higher benefits, and a party can promise higher incomes without setting out detailed safeguards for disability assessments. Those are separate issues worth evaluating separately. The aim is to identify which policies best address the practical problems you want government to solve, rather than relying on general statements about fairness or support. ## Gemini Answer ID: 1f517503-915b-4a78-8f6a-90c1867e579b As you consider your vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election, the approaches of political parties to disability rights, income support, and interactions with government agencies reflect distinct political philosophies. The political landscape broadly splits into parties emphasizing fiscal stability, administrative consistency, and work incentives, versus those advocating for rights-based frameworks, system overhauls, and significant income increases. --- ### National, ACT, and New Zealand First (Center-Right / Coalition Focus) * **Disability Support Services (DSS) & Administration:** The National-led government's approach centers on ensuring financial sustainability and national consistency across the disability support system. National introduced specific legislative frameworks (such as the Disability Support Services legislation) to clarify service boundaries, funding allocations, and support structures, alongside a refreshed New Zealand Disability Strategy (2026–2030). Their focus is on stabilizing spending while restoring some flexibility and choice within existing funding pools. * **Welfare & Government Services:** Parties like ACT and National emphasize tighter benefit obligations, active work incentives, and managing public expenditure. Their focus is on streamlining government bureaucracy and ensuring services remain fiscally targeted, rather than implementing large-scale benefit expansions. New Zealand First maintains a strong focus on protecting core universal entitlements (such as Superannuation), addressing health and social service access through general public service delivery rather than standalone disability income overhauls. --- ### Labour, Green Party, and Te Pāti Māori (Center-Left / Left Focus) * **Rights-Based Frameworks & Support Systems:** The Labour Party takes a rights-based, equity-focused approach aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the *Enabling Good Lives* principles. Labour has committed to repealing recent government disability support legislation in favor of models that maximize individual control. * **Income Support & Welfare Reform:** The Green Party and Te Pāti Māori advocate for structural welfare overhauls. The Greens support substantial main benefit increases (moving toward a livable or guaranteed minimum income), removing punitive benefit sanctions, and reforming partnered means-testing so disabled individuals are not financially penalized based on a partner’s income. They also support expanding individualised funding and reducing rigid, deficit-based assessments. * **Accessibility and Treatment by Government:** Left-leaning parties generally favor enforceable accessibility legislation, co-designed public services, and lower cost barriers for healthcare and medications to ensure disabled people can interact with government agencies with dignity and autonomy. --- ### The Opportunities Party (TOP) * **Service Access & Built Environment:** TOP focuses on practical administrative reforms, such as funding independent advocacy services for disabled people, streamlining neurodivergence assessment pathways, and reforming the Building Code to mandate better universal design and housing accessibility. --- ### Key Questions to Guide Your Vote When evaluating these platforms against your personal situation (relying on income support and navigating regular medical appointments), you may want to look closely at: 1. **Income Security:** Does the party support increasing benefit levels to match the real cost of living and reducing financial penalties (like partner income testing)? 2. **Bureaucratic Experience:** Are they proposing policies that make navigating government agencies and support assessments simpler and less adversarial, or are they tightening eligibility and obligations? 3. **Healthcare and Related Costs:** Do their health policies reduce the out-of-pocket costs of frequent medical appointments, prescriptions, and specialist visits? Are there particular areas—such as how benefits are calculated or the administration of disability support funds—that are most critical to your day-to-day life? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 163d891a-c5e5-49c1-b97b-1ab4946e78fb When considering your vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election with a focus on disability rights, income support, and fair treatment by government agencies (such as the Ministry of Social Development/MSD), New Zealand's political parties present distinct philosophies and policy approaches. Sector summaries (such as those compiled by Disabled Rights New Zealand) outline the primary stances of the major parties regarding income support, welfare, and disability frameworks: 1\. National Party * * **Income Support & Welfare:** Relies on general welfare settings rather than pushing major structural income reforms for beneficiaries. Their approach generally emphasises work-test obligations and active management through MSD, with a focus on moving people off benefits and into work where able. [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand] * **Disability & Services:** Disability-related health and support provisions are generally integrated into their broader health and social sector frameworks. They oversaw the progression of the New Zealand Disability Strategy and NZSL strategies, but do not feature a platform centering on enforceable, mandatory accessibility legislation or dedicated standalone income overhauls for long-term health conditions. [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand] * 2\. Labour Party * * **Income Support & Welfare:** Historically focuses on incremental increases to main benefit levels and targeted cost-of-living assistance. However, they have retained standard partnered means-testing frameworks and have not proposed a complete overhaul of disability-specific income support. [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand] * **Disability & Services:** Generally supports public service accessibility obligations and strengthening health/disability support infrastructure through centralized agencies, emphasizing government stewardship and funding increases for support services rather than market-driven or radical welfare restructuring. * 3\. Green Party * * **Income Support & Welfare:** Advocates for substantial increases to main benefit levels, moving toward a "Guaranteed Minimum Income," and the reform or complete removal of partnered means-testing (which they argue penalizes disabled people and those with long-term conditions who live with a partner). * **Disability & Services:** Frames disability support and fair treatment through a human rights and poverty-reduction lens, pushing for structural changes to make dealing with government income support agencies less punitive and more centered on individual dignity. [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand] * 4\. ACT New Zealand * * **Income Support & Welfare:** Emphasizes stricter work and benefit obligations, greater conditionality, and reducing overall reliance on state income support. They do not support broad-based baseline benefit increases, focusing instead on fiscal restraint and incentivizing workforce participation. * **Disability & Services:** Tends to favor streamlined, cost-effective public service delivery and individual choice, but generally opposes expanded regulatory burdens or sweeping new state-mandated entitlement structures. [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand] * 5\. New Zealand First * * **Income Support & Welfare:** Focuses heavily on protecting and stabilizing New Zealand Superannuation and veteran affairs, with a less pronounced platform regarding working-age beneficiary or specific long-term sickness/disability benefit overhauls. * **Disability & Services:** Prioritizes traditional social order, practical frontline service delivery, and national infrastructure accessibility, but has not put forward a distinct disability-specific income reform package. [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand] * 6\. Te Pāti Māori * * **Income Support & Welfare:** Promotes structural welfare reform rooted in a comprehensive review of the welfare system to eliminate punitive practices. They frame poverty and beneficiary treatment as systemic issues and support income-guarantee models alongside targeted tax-free thresholds (e.g., untaxed income up to $30,000) to assist whānau hauā (disabled Māori) and low-income households. * **Disability & Services:** Emphasizes equity, tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) in health and disability service design, and addressing the compounded barriers faced by disabled Māori and their whānau. * 7\. The Opportunities Party (TOP) * * **Income Support & Welfare:** Proposes replacing conventional, highly conditional welfare and main benefits with a universal or means-tested "citizen's income" designed to simplify support and eliminate the complex, often stressful interactions and tapering rules inherent in traditional MSD benefit structures. [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand] * * * * _Note: For the 2026 election, the Electoral Commission has also published theAccess 2026 Action Plan detailing how voting accessibility itself is being managed, but for broader policy specifics, you can review individual party manifestos directly via the RNZ Election Policy Guide._ ## AI Overviews Answer ID: fcbbcf99-6720-4054-be46-b7c8ab69cc5d For the **2026 New Zealand general election** , political parties offer vastly different approaches to **disability rights, welfare support, and how government agencies like Work and Income (MSD) interact with disabled people**. If you rely on income support and regular medical appointments, the party platforms generally split into three main camps: administrative reform, a strict compliance-based approach, or rights-based systemic changes. A direct comparison of their main policy stances highlights how each party intends to handle income support and public services: Party Comparison on Disability & Welfare Services Political Party| Stance on Welfare & Income Support| Approach to Government Services & Medical Reviews ---|---|--- **National Party**| Focuses on **financial stabilization** of Disability Support Services (DSS) rather than expanding general benefits. Implemented standard single-assessment procedures across Needs Assessment Service Coordination (NASC) agencies.| Emphasizes administrative efficiency. Restored some funding flexibility for users under a managed budget model, removing previous restrictive purchasing guidelines. **ACT Party**| Plans to cut welfare spending by applying **strict objective criteria** to long-term health and disability benefits to reduce overall applicant numbers.| Proposes removing welfare decision-making discretion from personal doctors. All certifications would be issued by an **MSD-approved pool of designated doctors** , though personal medical histories can still be submitted. **Labour Party**| Pledges to **repeal and replace the Government's current Disability Support Services legislation** with a model built directly in partnership with the disability community.| Focuses on a rights-based framework to make interacting with government systems less bureaucratic and fairer for disabled individuals. **Green Party**| Advocates for **significantly increasing income support** and expanding the eligibility criteria for the Disability Allowance.| Demands a Te Tiriti-based disability rights law and **enforceable accessibility standards** across all public infrastructure and government services. **Te Pāti Māori**| Focuses on **tino rangatiratanga (self-determination)** for tāngata whaikaha Māori (Māori with disabilities).| Promotes **Māori-led funding models and services** , aiming to bypass conventional, rigid Crown delivery agencies. **The Opportunities Party (TOP)**| Proposes replacing existing core benefits with a **universal Citizen’s Income of up to $370 a week** , combined with a **$6,000 annual universal disability allowance**.| Aims to allow disabled individuals and their networks to **work without losing their underlying benefit entitlements**. * * * Key Issues for Vulnerable Voters This Election * **Medical Assessments and Reviews:** The debate over who evaluates your capacity to work is a major friction point. While **ACT** seeks to implement phased reassessments using a state-approved independent doctor pool, advocacy groups like [CCS Disability Action](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/) warn that increased review cycles place undue financial and mental stress on individuals who struggle to afford regular GP visits. * **The Legislative Framework:** The current Government's _Disability Support Services Bill_ has drawn mixed reactions. **National** defends the legislative changes as necessary for long-term fiscal stability and national consistency, while **Labour** and the **Greens** have vowed to overwrite it entirely using a co-design process alongside disabled people. If you would like to explore these platforms further or find out about accessible voting options, you can read the Electoral Commission's Access 2026 Action Plan which details quiet voting spaces and telephone dictation services. To help look into specific areas that matter most to you, let me know: * Are you currently on the **Supported Living Payment** or **Jobseeker Support (Health Condition/Disability)**? * Would you like more details on what parties propose regarding **subsidized transport (like the Total Mobility scheme)** or **accessible housing**?