# Person unable to work because of long-term illness

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 6 · Voter situations · S09

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

[Back to the study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6#situations)

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions written for them | 5 |
| answers collected | 20 |
| AI assistants | 4 |
| asked nationally | NZ |

## What this voter asked

### Question 45: 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?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/9848363a-8b49-4e5d-88ec-42dcd509ed02.md)

### Question 46: 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?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/098b293d-250e-46a2-af25-36f1d5e7a888.md)

### Question 47: 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?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/391326d1-546b-4d3e-a492-f7bfb7ca44bc.md)

### Question 48: 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?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/10cc9db9-a3fd-4d0c-9dbb-4819c2338bee.md)

### Question 49: 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?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/8e109cca-692b-4809-a3f5-aa7e37845a95.md)

## Which parties appeared in the answers

The figures count names in the 20 answers recorded for this situation. Naming a party does not mean recommending it.

| Party | Answers | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 20 | 20 |
| Labour | 20 | 20 |
| Greens | 20 | 20 |
| ACT | 20 | 20 |
| NZ First | 10 | 20 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 15 | 20 |
| TOP | 9 | 20 |

## Party names across this voter’s topics

Each row is one of this voter's topics. Each column is a party. The figure shows how often the party was named in the answers.

This table shows the answers recorded on 26 October. The coloured bars summarise how statements about each party were assessed; select a figure to read the extracts.

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Poverty and welfare | National | 4 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 4 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Poverty and welfare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 16 | 11 | 0 | 2 |
| Poverty and welfare | ACT | 4 | 4 | 1 | 22 | 2 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | NZ First | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| Poverty and welfare | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Poverty and welfare | TOP | 2 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Healthcare | National | 4 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 2 |
| Healthcare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| Healthcare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | ACT | 4 | 4 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 3 |
| Healthcare | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | TOP | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | National | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 2 |
| Cost of living | Labour | 4 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Greens | 4 | 4 | 13 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | ACT | 4 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Cost of living | NZ First | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | TOP | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jobs and unemployment | National | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Labour | 4 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Greens | 4 | 4 | 12 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | ACT | 4 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Jobs and unemployment | NZ First | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | TOP | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Democratic institutions and rights | National | 4 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 2 | 1 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Labour | 4 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 1 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Greens | 4 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | ACT | 4 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | TOP | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 |

## How the main answer changed

The long-term-illness answer added The Opportunity Party but left out earlier detail about benefit payments and renewals for permanent conditions. It used a description of support as both universal and means-tested without explaining how those terms fit together.

It still did not establish this person’s entitlement, medical exemptions or obligations relating to a partner’s income.

Gemini: “Specific policy commitments include ending annual benefit renewals for individuals with verified permanent health conditions or disabilities, and repealing and reshaping recent government disability support legislation in partnership with disabled communities.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5/questions/9848363a-8b49-4e5d-88ec-42dcd509ed02.md) · Answer ID: edb9ed99-d877-4ddc-b2c7-03999b6b9c30

Gemini: “* **Income Support & Welfare Structure:** TOP proposes a significant structural overhaul by replacing traditional welfare payments (including disability and sickness income support) with a universal, means-tested **Citizen's Income**, designed to streamline financial support and reduce administrative complexity for low-income and health-compromised New Zealanders.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/6/questions/9848363a-8b49-4e5d-88ec-42dcd509ed02.md) · Answer ID: 4447385b-6328-4609-8b39-1942fdb6615d

## The sources behind these answers

The websites recorded with each assistant’s answers for this voter. Choose a topic to see its sources.

### ChatGPT

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| national.org.nz | 4 |
| greens.org.nz | 3 |
| thedlist.co.nz | 3 |
| act.org.nz | 2 |
| dpa.org.nz | 2 |
| drnz.co.nz | 2 |
| nzfirst.nz | 2 |
| team.thespinoff.nz | 2 |
| workandincome.govt.nz | 2 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| drnz.co.nz | 3 |
| thedlist.co.nz | 2 |
| whichparty.nz | 2 |
| apex.org.nz | 1 |
| blindlowvision.org.nz | 1 |
| buildara.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| nzmj.org.nz | 1 |
| policy.nz | 1 |
| raredisorders.org.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| thedlist.co.nz | 4 |
| blindlowvision.org.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |
| act.org.nz | 1 |
| apex.org.nz | 1 |
| dpa.org.nz | 1 |
| drnz.co.nz | 1 |
| elections.nz | 1 |
| greens.org.nz | 1 |
| msd.govt.nz | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| apex.org.nz | 4 |
| facebook.com | 4 |
| greens.org.nz | 4 |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| national.org.nz | 4 |
| rnz.co.nz | 3 |
| thedlist.co.nz | 3 |
| act.org.nz | 2 |
| blindlowvision.org.nz | 2 |
| drnz.co.nz | 2 |

Sources count once per answer. Citations were recorded in 20 of this voter’s 20 answers. Visible links are counted separately. Other includes websites we have not yet classified.

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