What the new Dunedin Hospital will deliver — and what it means for patients travelling from across Otago and Southland

There are two separate issues worth examining as you consider your vote in the 2026 general election:

1. Hospital capacity and services: Will the new Dunedin Hospital actually improve access to specialist treatment, reduce waiting times and provide the services people in the Southern region need?
2. The cost of getting treatment: What will happen to people who live in places such as Invercargill, Gore, Queenstown, Wānaka, Alexandra, Oamaru and rural Southland, and must travel to Dunedin for specialist appointments?

The second issue is particularly important. A new hospital in Dunedin does not automatically make specialist healthcare accessible to someone who lives several hours away.

Here is the position based on information available as at 30 October 2026.

1. What the new Dunedin Hospital will actually deliver

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The project, known as Project Whakatuputupu, is being delivered in two main stages.

Facility	Expected delivery
Outpatient building (Whare Mātūtū)	Opened to patients in October 2026
Inpatient building	Scheduled to open in 2031

The outpatient building is a five-storey, 15,000-square-metre facility. It brings together specialist clinics, diagnostic imaging, day surgery and medical infusion services. New Dunedin HospitalNew Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday

Health New Zealand estimates that, once fully staffed and operational, the outpatient facility will provide capacity for approximately:

• 1,700 additional day-surgery procedures annually.
• 13,300 additional medical imaging appointments annually.
• 2,700 additional medical day-stay appointments annually. New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building opens to patients on Monday

The future inpatient building is intended to provide:

• An emergency department.
• Intensive care.
• Operating theatres.
• Inpatient wards.
• Other hospital services.

An important distinction: these are planned capacity increases, not a guarantee that every patient will receive an appointment sooner. Staffing, specialist availability, funding and the number of operating sessions will all influence what patients experience.

The existing hospital will also continue to provide some services during the transition.

2. The travel problem: what assistance exists now?

This is where the practical differences between a hospital building and a functioning regional health service become important.

Health New Zealand currently operates the National Travel Assistance (NTA) Scheme. It helps eligible patients who must travel significant distances or attend specialist appointments frequently.

However, eligibility is conditional.

Current eligibility rules

For an adult, the main qualifying circumstances include:

Circumstance	Eligibility threshold
Long-distance travel	More than 350 km one way per visit
Frequent appointments	At least 6 visits in 6 months, travelling more than 50 km one way
Community Services Card holder	More than 80 km one way
Very frequent appointments	At least 22 specialist visits in 2 months

You must also have been referred by another specialist, rather than simply having a GP referral, and both specialists must be part of publicly funded services. National Travel AssistanceNational Travel Assistance (NTA)

This is an important limitation for people in the lower South Island.

For example, someone travelling from Invercargill, Gore or Central Otago may have substantial transport expenses, but may not automatically qualify under the long-distance criterion. The frequent-visit and Community Services Card provisions can make a difference.

What does the scheme pay?

Current temporary rate

Mileage reimbursement

$0.44

per kilometre

Motel accommodation

$140

maximum per night

Staying with family

$35

per night

Public transport

Full cost

with supporting receipts

The 44-cent mileage rate is a temporary 30% increase introduced on 2 April 2026. It is scheduled to last up to 12 months, or until petrol prices remain below $3 per litre for four consecutive weeks. Accommodation generally requires a home address at least 100 km from the treatment facility.

Source: Health New Zealand, National Travel Assistance. National Travel Assistance (NTA)National Travel Assistance (NTA)

There can also be assistance with a support person's travel costs when a specialist considers that person clinically necessary.

What transport is available to Dunedin?

There are already some regional services:

• Hato Hone St John Waka Ora health shuttles operate from Cromwell, Gore, Hokonui, Invercargill, Northern Southland and Oamaru, among other locations.
• Coast Line Tours operates weekday transport between Oamaru and Dunedin Hospital.
• Door2Door provides private transport from Oamaru.

These services are listed by Health New Zealand. Dunedin HospitalNew Dunedin Hospital Outpatients

For shuttle information, St John can be contacted on 0800 103 046.

The important question for the election is whether these services will be expanded, made more frequent, or supported with additional funding.

3. What are the political parties proposing for patients who travel?

I have compared the available 2026 election policies and announcements, paying particular attention to patient travel, regional healthcare and specialist access.

One finding is worth emphasising:

I have not found a clearly specified, region-wide 2026 election commitment from the major parties to guarantee improved travel assistance for people travelling to Dunedin for specialist care.

There are relevant policies, but they address different parts of the problem.

National Party

Current government policy and election direction

National's record includes an $18 million annual funding boost to the National Travel Assistance Scheme, announced in 2024.

The changes included:

• Increasing mileage reimbursement from 28 to 34 cents per kilometre.
• Increasing motel accommodation assistance from $100 to $140 per night.
• Increasing the allowance for staying with family or friends from $25 to $35 per night.
• Introducing more flexible payment options, including prepayment.

In April 2026, the Government temporarily increased eligible patients' mileage reimbursement to 44 cents per kilometre. Wedd's WeeklyNational Travel Assistance (NTA)

National's wider 2026 health programme emphasises hospital capacity, additional procedures, medicines, workforce and health targets. 2026 Election Policy SummariesElection 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

What remains unclear: Whether National would make the temporary mileage increase permanent, broaden eligibility, or increase accommodation and support-person assistance.

Labour Party

Labour's 2026 manifesto focuses on:

• Three free GP visits each year.
• Free prescriptions.
• More available GP appointments.
• Hospital repairs and stronger frontline services.
• Cheaper public transport, with a $10 weekly fare cap outside Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Its manifesto also proposes freezing fuel tax for three years. labour.org.nzlabour.org.nz

These measures could reduce some healthcare and transport costs.

However, I could not identify a specific commitment in Labour's published manifesto to increase National Travel Assistance, change its distance thresholds, guarantee accommodation subsidies or expand patient shuttles to Dunedin.

The question to put to Labour: Would it retain the 44-cent temporary mileage rate and make it permanent, and would it improve support for people who need repeated specialist appointments?

Green Party

The Greens have proposed a substantial expansion of publicly funded healthcare, including free and accessible diagnosis and treatment, stronger rural health services, and investment in the health workforce. 2026 Election Policy SummariesElection 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

There is also a potentially relevant transport commitment announced on 4 October 2026.

The Greens propose:

• Free bus and train travel for Community Services Card holders and certain other groups.
• A maximum $2 adult bus and train fare.
• More frequent inter-regional bus services.
• Passenger rail between Christchurch and Dunedin, with a potential extension to Invercargill.
• Better rural public transport services. Green Party launches the transport plan to combat fossil fuel crisisGreen Party launches the transport plan to combat fossil fuel crisis

For someone travelling from Southland or further into Otago, better regional transport connections could make a difference.

However, passenger rail and cheaper public transport are not the same as reimbursing the cost of medically necessary travel.

I could not verify a specific Green commitment to increase the NTA mileage allowance or accommodation subsidy for specialist patients.

ACT Party

ACT's published 2026 health policies include:

• Increasing medicine funding towards Australian levels.
• Giving pharmacists a greater role in managing everyday and long-term health conditions.
• Using private healthcare providers to help reduce public waiting lists.
• Establishing a national cancer centre with campuses in Auckland and Christchurch. 2026 Election Policy SummariesElection 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

These policies concern treatment availability, medicines and healthcare delivery.

I could not identify a specific ACT commitment to increase regional patient travel subsidies or accommodation support.

New Zealand First

NZ First's 2026 health proposals include:

• An additional $1.3 billion for medicines.
• A proposed $925 million annual GP-controlled waiting-list reduction fund.
• Recruiting more doctors internationally.
• More emphasis on preventive healthcare and primary care. Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

The waiting-list proposal is relevant because it aims to give patients access to specialist consultations and operations sooner.

However, I could not identify a specific commitment to increase travel assistance for people who must reach Dunedin for those appointments.

Other parties

Two other parties are also worth examining:

• Te Pāti Māori: Its health proposals emphasise prevention, whānau wellbeing, Māori-led healthcare and culturally accessible services.
• The Opportunities Party (TOP): Proposes a cross-party 10-year health plan, with increased health spending and greater investment in primary care. 2026 Election Policy SummariesElection 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

I could not verify specific Dunedin patient-travel subsidy commitments from either party.

4. Comparing the parties on the issues that matter to regional patients

This table separates explicit policies from gaps in published commitments.

Party	Published 2026 direction	Specific regional patient-travel commitment identified?
National	Retaining and increasing healthcare capacity; existing NTA improvements	No new long-term commitment identified
Labour	Free GP care, prescriptions and cheaper public transport	No specific NTA change identified
Greens	Free healthcare, rural services and better regional transport	No specific NTA change identified
ACT	Medicines, private-sector capacity and shorter waiting lists	No specific NTA change identified
NZ First	Medicines, waiting-list reduction and doctor recruitment	No specific NTA change identified
Te Pāti Māori	Māori-led healthcare and prevention	No specific NTA change identified
TOP	Long-term health funding and primary care	No specific NTA change identified

This is not a claim that parties would refuse to provide further assistance. It means I could not find a sufficiently specific published commitment to treat as a promise.

The wider policy comparisons are also discussed in the 9 October 2026 New Zealand Medical Journal election analysis. Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery2026 Election Policy Summaries

5. The questions I would put to every Otago and Southland election candidate

I think this is where your concerns deserve particular attention.

Rather than asking candidates whether they support the new hospital, I would ask them to explain what patients will actually experience.

Here are seven questions you could take to a public meeting or send to local candidates.

Questions about regional patient access

1. Will you make the temporary 44-cent-per-kilometre National Travel Assistance rate permanent?
2. Will you lower the 350 km one-way eligibility threshold for adults, so people travelling shorter but still substantial distances to Dunedin can qualify?
3. Will you expand eligibility for patients with chronic conditions who need regular specialist appointments, even when they do not meet the current frequency requirements?
4. Will you increase accommodation assistance and provide better support for people who need to stay overnight before or after treatment?
5. Will you guarantee adequate assistance for a support person when someone has a disability, mobility difficulties or a serious long-term condition?
6. Will you increase funding for regional health shuttles, including services from Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes, Southland and rural communities?
7. Will you ensure that the new Dunedin Hospital has sufficient specialist staff and operating funding to deliver the promised additional appointments and procedures?

6. What I would watch particularly closely as a Dunedin resident

There are three things I would distinguish when assessing election promises.

First: building capacity versus delivering treatment.

The new outpatient building is already receiving patients, but the inpatient building is not scheduled to open until 2031. Additional clinical capacity needs to be matched by doctors, nurses, technicians and funding.

Second: regional access versus simply having a regional hospital.

Dunedin is the specialist centre for a very large geographical area. People outside Dunedin need practical ways to reach it. Better specialist services do not remove the cost of petrol, accommodation, meals, lost income and arranging someone to accompany them.

Third: assistance for people with ongoing conditions.

Someone who needs several appointments every year faces a different financial burden from someone who travels once for an operation.

I would particularly look for a policy that recognises the cumulative costs of chronic illness, rather than concentrating assistance only on people who travel exceptionally long distances.

7. Sources to help you check the promises

These are useful primary sources and independent policy comparisons:

• Health New Zealand – New Dunedin Hospital project
• Health New Zealand – National Travel Assistance eligibility and rates
• APEX – 2026 election health policy comparison
• New Zealand Medical Journal – Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery
• Labour – 2026 election manifesto
• Greens – 2026 transport policy

My overall assessment

The most important gap in the published policies I examined is the absence of a clear commitment to make specialist healthcare financially accessible to people who must travel to Dunedin repeatedly.

There are commitments relating to hospital construction, healthcare funding, medicines, waiting lists and public transport. But these do not necessarily resolve the problem of a patient having to find the money to travel to an appointment.

I would make regional patient travel assistance a separate issue when evaluating candidates, rather than assuming that support for the new hospital automatically means support for the people who depend on it.

One particularly important question is whether a person with a long-term health condition should have to meet an exceptionally high travel threshold before receiving meaningful financial assistance.

That is a legitimate question for every party seeking your vote.

I can also help you take this one step further by preparing a Dunedin and Southern-region election comparison, looking specifically at what National, Labour, the Greens, ACT and NZ First say about the future of Dunedin Hospital, specialist waiting lists, regional services and patient travel subsidies, with the actual commitments distinguished from promises that are still missing.

Dunedin's new hospital and patient travel: what it means for Otago and Southland

For someone living with a long-term health condition, there are two separate questions worth examining before the 2026 election:

1. What will the new Dunedin hospital actually provide? Will it improve access to specialist care, diagnostics, surgery and ongoing treatment?
2. How will patients get to that care? What will parties do for people in places such as Oamaru, Balclutha, Gore, Queenstown, Invercargill and rural Southland who must travel to Dunedin for specialist appointments?

The second question is particularly important. A modern hospital in Dunedin does not, by itself, solve the cost, distance, accommodation and practical difficulties of repeatedly travelling for treatment.

I'll separate confirmed hospital plans from political promises, and distinguish specific patient-travel policies from general health funding announcements.

1. What the new Dunedin Hospital will deliver

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The project, officially called Project Whakatuputupu, is being delivered in two stages.

Stage	What patients will get	Timing
Outpatient building	Specialist clinics, imaging, day procedures and diagnostic services	Opening in 2026
Inpatient building	Hospital wards, emergency department, operating theatres, ICU and surgical services	2031

The outpatient building is a particularly important development for people who regularly attend specialist appointments.

It is a $440 million, five-storey facility covering approximately 15,000 square metres. Services include:

• Orthopaedics.
• Ophthalmology.
• Respiratory medicine.
• Children's and women's health.
• Radiology and imaging, including MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound.
• Day surgery and specialist outpatient clinics.

Once fully operational, the Government estimates the additional annual capacity will include:

• 1,700 more day-surgical procedures.
• 13,300 more medical imaging appointments.
• 2,700 more medical day-stay appointments.

These are projected additional service volumes, not guaranteed individual appointment entitlements. New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building officially opensNew Dunedin Hospital

What is still to come?

The inpatient building is scheduled for 2031. It is planned to have:

• 351 beds initially, with expansion capacity to 404.
• 22 operating theatres, expandable to 24.
• 58 emergency department spaces.
• Intensive care and high-dependency facilities.
• Short-stay surgical beds and inpatient wards.

An important distinction: the outpatient building is a real facility entering service now, whereas the inpatient building and its full capacity remain future commitments. Some services will continue operating from the existing hospital in the meantime. New Dunedin HospitalDecision reached on Dunedin Hospital

What this means for patients

There are potential benefits:

• More diagnostic appointments could mean less waiting for scans.
• Co-located clinics and imaging could reduce the need to visit multiple hospital locations.
• More day-surgery capacity could improve access to procedures.
• Shared electronic records could make it easier for clinicians to coordinate care.

However, a new building cannot automatically provide more specialists, nurses or treatment appointments if there are insufficient staff.

And for someone travelling from elsewhere in the Southern region, the new hospital could mean more appointments in Dunedin, not necessarily fewer journeys.

That makes patient travel policy a separate election issue.

2. What travel assistance is available now?

The existing government scheme is called National Travel Assistance (NTA).

It is administered by Health New Zealand and helps eligible patients with travel and accommodation expenses when they need publicly funded specialist treatment away from home.

The current rules are important because they determine who actually benefits.

Eligibility

Generally, you must:

• Be referred to the specialist or treatment facility by another specialist, rather than simply by your GP.
• Be accessing publicly funded treatment.
• Meet at least one of the distance or frequency thresholds.

For adults, the main thresholds include:

Circumstances	Eligibility threshold
Frequent specialist visits	At least 6 visits in 6 months, travelling over 50km each way
Long-distance travel	More than 350km each way
Community Services Card holder	More than 80km each way
Very frequent appointments	At least 22 visits in 2 months

There are different thresholds for children. National Travel Assistance (NTA)

How much assistance is available?

CURRENT RATES FOR ELIGIBLE PATIENTS · OCTOBER 2026

Expense	Current assistance
Private vehicle mileage	44 cents/km temporarily
Commercial accommodation	Up to $140/night
Staying with family or friends	$35/night
Public transport	Full eligible fare
Approved air travel	Full eligible fare

The mileage rate increased temporarily from 34 to 44 cents per kilometre from 2 April 2026. The increase is due to end after up to 12 months or when petrol prices meet the specified reduction condition.

Accommodation assistance generally requires living at least 100km from the treatment facility.

A support person's transport and accommodation may also be covered when eligibility requirements are met. National Travel Assistance (NTA)National Travel Assistance

Why the rules matter in Otago and Southland

Consider someone travelling from:

• Oamaru to Dunedin.
• Balclutha to Dunedin.
• Gore to Dunedin.
• Queenstown to Dunedin.
• Invercargill to Dunedin.

The distance and frequency requirements can make a substantial difference.

For example, an adult travelling from Oamaru for a specialist appointment may not qualify under the 350km long-distance threshold. They may qualify under the frequent-appointment threshold, or the lower distance threshold if they hold a Community Services Card.

Someone making repeated journeys for a chronic condition could therefore face considerable expenses even when the treatment itself is publicly funded.

There is another particularly important gap: the first specialist assessment and GP appointments are not covered by NTA.

The practical question for parties is whether they would change these eligibility rules, increase the reimbursements, or provide additional regional transport and accommodation services.

3. What are the political parties proposing for travelling patients?

This is where the election comparison becomes interesting.

I have looked at published 2026 party policies and election health-policy comparisons. One important finding is that I could not identify a specific, published commitment from the major parties to substantially reform National Travel Assistance specifically for people travelling to regional specialist centres such as Dunedin.

That is different from saying parties have no health policies. They have plenty. But general health spending and patient travel subsidies are not the same thing.

Here is how the published positions relate to your concern.

National

Current governing party

National's health programme emphasises:

• Increasing hospital and elective treatment capacity.
• Health targets and reducing waiting times.
• Increasing the availability of diagnostic equipment.
• Investment in hospitals, including the Dunedin redevelopment.
• Digital healthcare and online consultations.

National also points to its investment in the Dunedin hospital outpatient building and the additional treatment capacity it is expected to provide.

Patient travel: I have not found a specific 2026 National commitment to lower NTA eligibility thresholds, permanently increase mileage reimbursement, or provide additional accommodation support for Southern patients.

Its existing temporary increase in mileage reimbursement is relevant, but it is not the same as a permanent reform of the scheme. National is delivering quality healthcareElection 2026 and health: promises, priorities and deliveryNational Travel Assistance (NTA)

Labour

Labour's 2026 programme includes:

• Three free GP appointments annually through its proposed Medicard.
• Removal of the $5 prescription charge from July 2027.
• Free referred maternity scans from July 2028.
• Free cervical screening.
• More support for general practice and graduate nurses.
• A hospital repair and improvement programme.

Labour also proposes a public transport fare cap of $10 per week outside Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, including regional locations.

Patient travel: The fare cap could help with eligible public transport journeys, but it is not a dedicated medical travel subsidy. It does not promise to pay for petrol, accommodation, taxis or repeated private-car journeys to Dunedin.

I have not identified a specific Labour commitment to overhaul NTA eligibility or increase its accommodation allowance. Labour's 2026 Election PoliciesLabour's Cost of Living PlanNZ Election 2026 Health Policies for Resident Doctors

Green Party

The Greens' health programme places emphasis on:

• More publicly funded healthcare.
• Stronger primary and community healthcare.
• Improved access to essential services.
• Preventive healthcare and reducing health inequalities.
• More comprehensive public health provision.

Patient travel: I have not found a specific published commitment addressing mileage reimbursement, accommodation thresholds or regular journeys to Dunedin for specialist care.

Its broader approach to publicly funded and accessible healthcare is relevant, but it should not be confused with a specific travel-support promise. Policies for Party vote - NZ Election 2026Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

ACT

ACT's published health priorities include:

• Increasing funding for medicines.
• Giving pharmacists greater ability to manage some health conditions.
• Increasing the health workforce.
• Improving access to mental health services.
• Greater use of different healthcare providers.

Patient travel: I have not identified a specific commitment to extend NTA or introduce additional travel assistance for rural and regional specialist patients. NZ Election 2026 Health Policies for Resident DoctorsElection 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

New Zealand First

NZ First proposes:

• An additional $1.3 billion for medicines through a new medicines agency.
• A $925 million annual GP-controlled Waitlist Reduction Fund for purchasing specialist consultations and operations.
• Recruiting more doctors.
• Nurse practitioner-led digital health clinics in areas with difficulty accessing services.
• Greater emphasis on prevention.

Its proposed Waitlist Reduction Fund is particularly relevant to specialist access, although it is not a patient travel subsidy.

Patient travel: I have not found a specific commitment to increase mileage payments, broaden accommodation assistance or change NTA eligibility. Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and deliveryNZ Election 2026 Health Policies for Resident Doctors

Te Pāti Māori

Its health policies emphasise:

• Rebuilding Māori-led health governance and services.
• Greater investment in prevention and whānau wellbeing.
• Culturally safe healthcare.
• Improving Māori access to health services and health outcomes.

Patient travel: I have not identified a specific published commitment to reform the national patient travel reimbursement scheme. Its focus on accessible, community-centred healthcare is relevant to regional access, but does not establish a particular travel entitlement. Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and deliveryNZ Election 2026 Health Policies for Resident Doctors

Opportunity Party

Opportunity proposes a 10-year cross-party health plan, with increased public health expenditure and more investment in primary and preventive care.

Patient travel: I have not identified a specific published commitment to increase NTA reimbursement or provide additional regional accommodation support. Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and delivery

4. Comparing the parties on the issues that affect travelling patients

This table distinguishes actual published commitments from areas where I could not identify a specific proposal.

Party	Hospital and specialist access approach	Specific NTA reform identified?
National	Hospital capacity, targets, digital health	Not identified
Labour	Affordable primary care, hospital improvements	Not identified
Greens	Public healthcare and community care	Not identified
ACT	Medicines, workforce and provider choice	Not identified
NZ First	Waiting-list fund, medicines and recruitment	Not identified
Te Pāti Māori	Māori-led and community-centred care	Not identified
Opportunity	Long-term health planning and primary care	Not identified

This is not a ranking of parties. It is an indication of where their published policies do and do not address your particular concern.

Sources for the comparison include the October 2026 analysis in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the NZ Resident Doctors Association's election policy summaries, and the parties' published policy material. Election 2026 and health: promises, priorities and deliveryNZ Election 2026 Health Policies for Resident DoctorsLabour's 2026 Election PoliciesNational is delivering quality healthcare

5. What should you ask candidates before voting?

I think there are five particularly important questions for people living outside Dunedin who rely on specialist treatment.

1. Will you permanently increase the mileage reimbursement?

The current 44 cents per kilometre is temporary. Will you retain it, increase it or return to 34 cents?

2. Will you lower the distance thresholds?

Should adults travelling more than 80km for publicly funded specialist treatment qualify, rather than having to travel 350km unless they meet another eligibility category?

3. Will you help people who have chronic conditions and frequent appointments?

Will patients receive support earlier, rather than having to accumulate six appointments in six months before qualifying?

4. Will you increase accommodation support?

Will the $140 nightly allowance be increased to reflect actual accommodation costs in Dunedin? Will the 100km accommodation threshold be reviewed?

5. Will you provide better regional transport options?

Could the Government fund:

• Hospital shuttle services from regional towns.
• More wheelchair-accessible transport.
• Transport for people who cannot safely drive after treatment.
• Accommodation facilities for patients and caregivers.
• Telehealth appointments where clinically appropriate.

These are concrete proposals that candidates could commit to and be held accountable for.

6. Where to check the policies and contact candidates

These are useful resources for checking the original commitments rather than relying entirely on campaign statements.

• Policy.nz – Compare 2026 party health policies.
• Health NZ – National Travel Assistance rules and payments.
• Health NZ – New Dunedin Hospital project.
• New Zealand Medical Journal – Election 2026 health policies and delivery.
• Vote NZ – Election and voting information.

The 2026 general election is scheduled for Saturday 7 November.

My suggested focus for your election decision

There is a distinction I would keep firmly in mind:

Building a better hospital in Dunedin is one commitment. Making sure people throughout Otago and Southland can afford to access that hospital is another.

For someone with a long-term condition, the cost of treatment is not necessarily the only financial burden. It can be the repeated petrol costs, lost income, accommodation, meals, parking and the need for someone to accompany you.

A party might promise more specialist appointments, but if a patient cannot afford to travel to those appointments, the promise does not necessarily translate into accessible healthcare.

I would particularly look for a commitment to make National Travel Assistance more generous and accessible, alongside commitments to improve specialist waiting times and staffing.

One further thing I can help with: I can prepare a more detailed Otago–Southland election comparison focused specifically on patient travel, including what each party would need to change to make regular trips to Dunedin affordable for people with chronic health conditions. That would also help identify the questions worth putting directly to your Dunedin electorate candidates.