# Question 48: 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?

Collected 23 October 2026

[NZ Election 2026 · Edition 5 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5)

## ChatGPT

Answer ID: e4121a95-301e-41c4-b318-a6b1f666c016

# New Zealand 2026 election: supported employment and flexible work

If a long-term health condition limits how much you can work, the key election issues are not just whether parties promise more jobs. They include whether you can work within your health limits, keep your income support if your capacity fluctuates, attend regular medical appointments, and get help finding or retaining suitable employment.

For the 2026 New Zealand general election, it is useful to compare party policies across five areas:

- Supported employment: help finding work, ongoing job coaching, and support to stay employed.
- Flexible work: part-time hours, remote work, flexible scheduling, and adjustments for fluctuating symptoms.
- Income support: how benefits interact with part-time or irregular earnings.
- Medical access: being able to attend appointments without unreasonable pressure from employment obligations.
- Employer responsibilities: incentives and practical support for employers to accommodate disabled people and people with chronic health conditions.

An important distinction is that a party may support disabled people into work without promising that every person will be able to work, or that benefits will be protected when someone's health deteriorates. Those are separate policy questions.

## What the parties are proposing

As of 22 October 2026, the following comparison draws on parties' published policies and a disability-sector election questionnaire published on 21 October. Some parties have not published detailed policies for every issue, so a lack of a specific commitment should not be read as opposition to the idea. [Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/)[Party policies, simplified: Employment](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/)

The comparison below focuses on New Zealand-wide policies, not electorate-specific candidates.

### Employment and workplace flexibility

![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)

### National

National says it will continue supporting the New Zealand Disability Strategy's employment goals, including meaningful work and careers for disabled people. Its wider approach includes maintaining disability support services and restoring some flexibility in disability funding. The current published comparison identifies no specific new disability-employment package. [Party policies, simplified: Employment](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/)[Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/)

Still to clarify: dedicated job coaching, flexible-hours commitments, and protection of income support when health limits working hours.

![South Island Election Conference 2026](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/_spFKDBqOMVPoo8r35YLoGFwljs_-WWe4ur9fdZCfekzAxaUPGA75u8rI9uxOUTssI2hUZN1r4Zu1AeDrcNaxz3uHoFIyWjDpanT5s-KJ87QzxSu1uNjNL4MOHSuazRZuTy_TzC6aN4wxHHoyU_DhzMFuMCMjNBTtg2xRxOZL6c?purpose=inline)

### Labour

Labour commits to helping disabled people move into open employment and supporting employers to hire disabled people. Its disability policy also proposes defining reasonable accommodation in the Human Rights Act and treating the denial of such accommodation as discrimination. It would end annual benefit renewals for people with verified permanent disabilities. [Disability](https://www.labour.org.nz/disability)[Party policies, simplified: Employment](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/)

Still to clarify: specific entitlements to remote work or flexible hours, and how its employment plans would work for people with fluctuating or limited capacity.

![Green Party NZ (@NZGreens) on X](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/xwoeA3rTn5Pu0UL1uRc6X_g8ADsfUTe55rxQEjXC_rnFR_6TPTr_9eG0LsowNOdFRtax24qB8h-LRfUtZEf42T0CC5OclOZ5katbFJAYxs0cZRyqDBlGNgF_8AV_5WTCbYonGIqLGuK095lLGrkBVw3L8vdsA06tLHVNuCJquuc?purpose=inline)

### Green Party

The Greens propose making the public service a leader in disability-responsive employment, with resources and training to meet access needs and address ableism. Their broader disability platform supports supported-employment pathways, fair pay, removing workplace barriers, stronger accessibility standards and higher income support. [Party policies, simplified: Employment](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/)[Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/)

Still to clarify: the precise delivery model and funding for employment support, and specific guarantees around flexible schedules.

![New Zealand Legislative Election Winner 2026 Odds | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/jofoEEdOXv6HOQzupGnQLgXlZKKPYTzvN6g4IUMlN6xdqX4l_qH5-Y0A3to5ytO5w95eGsg-WLInlnku5FmW0VEyKqhTiAqcZSbr_Z1e_uNyqacdq4zniDKhRNRugVUCsz1-CYpZeG4nO7sLuQKEQlQMBgJCAoyH3nC76yYHd6E?purpose=inline)

### ACT

ACT has described its approach as removing barriers to employment, encouraging flexible workplaces and targeting support according to each person's circumstances. However, it did not provide specific new employment policies in the recent disability-employment questionnaire. Its broader welfare approach emphasises workforce participation and benefit obligations. [Party policies, simplified: Employment](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/)[Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/)

Still to clarify: what practical support employers would receive, and how obligations would accommodate illness, treatment and changing capacity.

![New Zealand legislative election winner? Predictions & Od... 2026 | Polymarket](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/UmXClDd76aKEk_XyXfEEacFBHXO18HFMG1Im-weRm7tb64uGzBsRK3vWPXuiFN2zaWaNznb7eSDIJucKOhlXtwb6Lq-BYR6oxisKzHsWTxF5AsiLmtcNGDNtwCsXzgIuSp2vW4pa6pAda-tTriG23zKX1ZuknQ81HGh411pqRkM?purpose=inline)

### New Zealand First

NZ First says it prioritises economic independence and meaningful employment opportunities for disabled people. However, it did not set out a specific new employment programme in its response to the questionnaire. Its wider disability policy detail is limited. [Party policies, simplified: Employment](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/)[Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/)

Still to clarify: dedicated supported-employment services, flexible-work arrangements and income-support rules.

![Te Pāti Māori - Party for Party vote - NZ Election 2023 - Policy.nz](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/wTV9hxAOYzs4MX6hnGtj_ELeSR1VPbP9l046HOwhp2UZZtCfc8KwwZVB0-2n6Iinr3uWiRyM4dEa2cD5LOOtdlAjSgoNQ0gG9QXoJwemLTDmXMMEl5IUWheogu0GzYSG6_D0Qtx7eW7Xz-IH5QOBxQf00r7YeBj1geAzgX4aFok?purpose=inline)

### Te Pāti Māori

Te Pāti Māori says it would resource the Enabling Good Lives approach to support meaningful employment pathways for disabled whānau. Its broader disability approach centres self-determination, whānau wellbeing and Māori-led services. It also commits to abolishing the minimum-wage exemption for disabled workers. [Party policies, simplified: Employment](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/)[Disability Policies of NZ Political Parties](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/)

Still to clarify: detailed nationwide delivery plans for flexible work and employment support for people with chronic health conditions.

![](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/KZ1zP60v_ZeHHj3ij4DA2sVh6oX86DHN4x_RGhm63IEKbj8P_3phlgxON0_dzBqruxZt_piBvLSwWYOzxGtRjeiBIDJnBczyBauAihY7VhbFruy9Xq4tPeGbXtvfFHap7T9ZV_eOqtHyttigv_yv7jT6ibug6IoPJMJnJ8SLOeE?purpose=inline)

### The Opportunities Party (TOP)

TOP's October disability position statement proposes exploring ways to let people work without unfairly losing income support, improving employer support to hire and retain disabled workers, and ending the minimum-wage exemption. It also proposes a Citizens' Income and Disability Allowance as part of wider income reform. TOP did not respond to the recent employment questionnaire. [Opportunity Disability Position Statement - October 2026](https://www.opportunity.org.nz/disability_statement)[Party policies, simplified: Employment](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/)

Still to clarify: how these proposals would be implemented, their funding and the exact effect on existing benefits.

## What could matter most for your circumstances?

The party statements above are only part of the picture. For someone who relies on income support and attends regular medical appointments, these are the policy differences worth investigating most closely.

| Issue | What to look for in party policy |
| --- | --- |
| Working limited hours | Whether part-time work is actively supported, including when you can manage only a few hours a week. |
| Variable health | Whether employment support can accommodate flare-ups, fatigue, pain, or periods when you cannot work. |
| Medical appointments | Whether work obligations can be adjusted around treatment and recovery. |
| Benefit security | How much you can earn before your benefit changes, and whether temporary reductions in capacity risk reassessment or sanctions. |
| Workplace adjustments | Whether employers would receive practical or financial help to provide remote work, flexible start times, breaks or reduced hours. |
| Ongoing support | Whether job coaching and employment services continue after you start a job, rather than ending once you are placed. |

These are questions to put to every party rather than assumptions about what their policies will deliver.

## A particularly important distinction: supported employment versus work obligations

A policy encouraging people to enter employment is different from a policy that helps people work safely and sustainably within their medical limits.

For example, if you can work 10 hours a week when your condition is stable but only 3 hours during a flare-up, it matters whether a policy offers:

- An employment service that can find suitable part-time work and help negotiate adjustments.
- A way to change hours temporarily without losing the job.
- Clear rules about how your earnings affect your benefit.
- Appropriate exemptions or adjustments to employment obligations when your health prevents you from meeting them.

The parties' public statements do not all spell out these details. In particular, a general commitment to flexible workplaces does not necessarily establish a right to flexible hours, and a promise to help people into work does not by itself guarantee that their income support will be protected.

## Where to check the details before voting

These sources provide useful starting points for comparing the proposals and checking for new announcements:

- [The D\*List — 2026 party employment policy comparison](https://www.thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-employment/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — recent responses from parties about employment opportunities for disabled people.
- [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand's party-policy comparison](https://deafblindassociation.nz/disability-policies-of-nz-political-parties/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — a broader comparison of disability policy, including income support and accessibility.
- [Labour's disability policy](https://www.labour.org.nz/disability?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — specific proposals on employment, reasonable accommodation and benefit renewals.
- [TOP's disability position statement](https://www.opportunity.org.nz/disability_statement?utm_source=chatgpt.com) — proposals on employment, income security and employer support.

## One final consideration

You do not have to be able to work full-time for employment policy to be relevant to you. Equally, you should not have to pursue employment at the expense of your health.

When you compare party policies, it may help to distinguish between support to work when you are able, protection when you are not, and access to healthcare regardless of employment status. These are related but separate policy areas.

If you want to go further, I can also compare the parties specifically on benefit rules, income thresholds, medical exemptions and whether you could try part-time work without putting your financial security at risk. That may be especially useful alongside the employment comparison above.

## Gemini

Answer ID: 33fc0277-0361-40b6-be7d-3053aef28d1d

As you weigh your vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election, political parties have put forward distinct approaches regarding supported employment, workplace flexibility, and income support for people managing long-term health conditions or disabilities. 

Different parties approach these issues through contrasting lenses—ranging from rights-based workplace adaptation models to economic participation and welfare obligations.

---

### Key Party Approaches to Supported Employment and Workplace Barriers

*   **Green Party:** 
    *   **Focus:** Frames employment policy heavily around removing structural and workplace barriers rather than requiring individuals to adapt. 
    *   **Proposals:** Supports fully funded supported employment pathways, ensuring the public service acts as a leader in disability-responsive employment, and ending the minimum wage exemption for disabled workers. They also push for strengthened accessibility legislation with enforceable standards.
*   **Labour Party:**
    *   **Focus:** Approaches disability and employment through a rights-based, equity-focused lens grounded in the *Enabling Good Lives* principles.
    *   **Proposals:** Focuses on equitable employment frameworks and has commitments centered on co-designing disability support legislation with the sector, alongside broader commitments to fair pay and uplifting core care and support workforces. 
*   **Te Pāti Māori:**
    *   **Focus:** Advocates for structural and systemic changes to reduce poverty and uphold tangata whaikaha (disabled Māori) and disabled New Zealanders.
    *   **Proposals:** Supports resourcing the *Enabling Good Lives* kaupapa, abolishing the minimum wage exemption for disabled people, and aligning workplace support with broader structural welfare reform.
*   **The Opportunities Party (TOP):**
    *   **Focus:** Focuses on economic security and removing disincentives to work.
    *   **Proposals:** Proposes ending the minimum wage exemption for disabled workers and providing better business support to help employers recruit and retain disabled or health-impacted staff without losing basic financial security.
*   **National Party:**
    *   **Focus:** Centres its approach on economic participation, administrative consistency, and keeping support systems fiscally sustainable.
    *   **Proposals:** Relies on broader disability strategies (such as the refreshed New Zealand Disability Strategy) and supporting employment pathways, alongside reviewing carer packages and streamlining support mechanisms, though with less emphasis on sweeping new workplace mandates.
*   **ACT New Zealand:**
    *   **Focus:** Emphasizes general workforce participation and economic efficiency.
    *   **Proposals:** Focuses less on targeted workplace accessibility barriers or structural employment mandates, instead favoring individualized targeting of support and tighter welfare-to-work obligations.
*   **New Zealand First:**
    *   **Focus:** Prioritizes economic independence and general vocational opportunities, often addressing disability and health-related needs within broader senior or health frameworks.

---

### Income Support and Medical Appointments

Managing frequent medical appointments alongside income support (such as the Supported Living Payment or Main Benefits) is another key point of divergence among parties:

*   **Welfare & Benefit Levels:** Parties like the **Greens** and **Te Pāti Māori** advocate for significant benefit increases or structural income guarantees, arguing that current main benefit levels do not adequately cover living and medical costs. Conversely, parties like **ACT** emphasize reduced reliance on income support and stricter obligations, while **National** maintains standard welfare settings focused on fiscal management.
*   **Partnered Means Testing:** Advocacy groups have strongly pushed to remove partner income testing for the Supported Living Payment so that individuals do not face financial penalties simply for entering or maintaining a relationship. The **Greens** support reforming or removing partnered means testing, whereas centre-right parties generally retain standard relationship-based welfare thresholds.
*   **Disability Allowance and Health Costs:** The **Greens** and **Labour** support expanding access to financial assistance for health-related costs (such as prescriptions and doctor visits), with some parties proposing specific measures like free primary healthcare visits or expanded allowances to ease the financial burden of regular medical appointments.

---

Are there specific aspects of support—such as transport accessibility, funding for assistive technology, or rules around benefit stand-downs—that are most critical for your situation?

## Google AI Mode

Answer ID: 8014af02-e10a-4513-8b9c-39a12fcf11d0

Ahead of the November 7, 2026 general election, _New Zealand's_ political parties have approached welfare, supported employment, and flexible work through distinct philosophical lenses. While some focus on welfare reform and individualized funding choices, others propose sweeping income redesigns or rights-based legislation.

The key positions and proposals from major parties relevant to income support, health conditions, and employment flexibility include:

 * * **The National Party:** Focuses heavily on financial stability, consistent nationwide assessment processes, and funding choices within disability support. Rather than a specific separate disability employment package, National's approach emphasizes integrating disability support into broader health and workforce goals (such as increasing the number of disabled people working within the health sector) while maintaining existing flexible funding rules with eased purchasing restrictions.

 * **The Labour Party:** Proposes systemic overhauls to rights-based legislation, including repealing the recent Disability Support Services Act and replacing it with co-designed frameworks built alongside disabled and health-compromised communities. Labour generally emphasizes strengthening public support structures and equitable access rather than tightening work obligations for those with significant health barriers. [The Spinoff]

 * **The Green Party:** Advocates for timely, dignified income support, implementing a Te Tiriti-based disability rights framework, and introducing enforceable accessibility standards across workplaces and public infrastructure. Their welfare platform generally opposes punitive work-test obligations for people with chronic illness or disabilities, prioritizing secure baseline support and removing barriers to participation. [The Spinoff]

 * **The Opportunities Party (TOP):** Proposes replacing traditional categories of income support (including the Supported Living Payment) with a universal basic income (or citizen's income) of up to $370 a week for all eligible New Zealanders over 18. This would be paired with a universal disability allowance projected to provide an additional ≈ $6,000 a year, alongside needs-based top-ups, which they argue removes the complex and stressful bureaucratic hurdles associated with traditional benefit classifications and work tests. [The Spinoff]

 * **Te Pāti Māori:** Focuses on resourcing the _Enabling Good Lives_ kaupapa to ensure self-determination and meaningful employment pathways tailored to disabled individuals and their whānau.

 * **ACT New Zealand & New Zealand First:** Generally emphasize fiscal restraint, streamlining administrative costs, and ensuring welfare frameworks encourage transitions into work where capability allows, though neither has tabled a major standalone flexible employment package specifically for chronic health conditions this cycle.

 *

Would you like to explore how these policies might affect **specific benefit categories** (such as the Supported Living Payment vs. Jobseeker Support with a medical deferral), or would you like resources on **voter comparison tools** to check your alignment?

## AI Overviews

Answer ID: e748f668-5228-40f2-92a6-55d57379a005

For the **2026 New Zealand general election** , political parties have presented distinct approaches regarding **supported employment** , **income support** , and workplace rights for individuals navigating long-term health conditions.

Here is a direct comparison of what the major parties propose to address your needs:

**Party Policy Comparison**

**Political Party**| **Supported Employment & Workplace Inclusion**| **Income Support & Welfare Commitments**| **Health Appointments & Accessibility**
---|---|---|---
**National Party**| • **Implements the Disability Strategy 2026–2030** to expand "disability-confident" employers.
• Focuses public services on increasing the employment of disabled people.| • Focuses on **financial stability** and streamlining regional assessments.
• No new standalone disability income package.| • Delivered a refreshed **health priority framework** within general health delivery.
• Focuses on workforce training to make health services easier to use.
**Labour Party**| • Focuses on returning the Reserve Bank to a **dual mandate** maximizing sustainable employment.
• Rebuilds disability frameworks alongside the community.| • **Pledges to end annual benefit renewals** for people with verified permanent disabilities.
• Vows to repeal the current coalition's Disability Support Services legislation.| • Introduces the **"Medicard" scheme** providing three free doctor's visits per year.
• Reintroduces **free prescriptions** to lower medical costs.
**Green Party**| • Pledges that the **public service will lead** in disability-responsive employment.
• Supports abolishing the minimum wage exemption for disabled workers.| • Backs **significantly higher income support** and a broader overhaul of welfare structures.
• Proposes abolishing benefit sanctions entirely.| • Promises a **"Tell Us Once" system** so individuals with long-term conditions don't repeat stories or tests.
• Streamlines care coordination across MSD, ACC, and Health NZ.
**The Opportunities Party (TOP)**| • Aims to **end the minimum wage exemption** for disabled workers.
• Restores and reopens paused pay equity claims for carers.| • Proposes structural reform with a **Universal Basic Income (Citizen’s Income)** up to $370/week.
• Pairs UBI with a distinct **universal disability allowance** (~$6,000/year).| • Emphasizes structural financial support to let individuals manage their own medical/living costs independently.

* * *

**Key Takeaways for Your Situation**

 * **If you prioritize income certainty & avoiding bureaucracy:** Labour's proposal to end annual medical renewals for permanent conditions or [TOP's](https://www.opportunity.org.nz/disability_statement) universal basic income path offer distinct ways to ease welfare compliance.

 * **If you want flexible, supportive healthcare integration:** The [Green Party's](https://www.greens.org.nz/manifesto_2026) "Tell Us Once" health coordination platform aims to significantly reduce the energy needed to manage appointments across different government services.

 * **If you want immediate cost relief for check-ups:** [Labour](https://www.labour.org.nz/our-policies/) is explicitly campaigning on free prescriptions and capped free GP visits.

If you would like to explore further, let me know:

 * Would you like more details on **how specific minor parties** (like ACT or Te Pāti Māori) approach welfare or employment?

 * Do you want to see the specific details of the **New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026–2030** currently being implemented?