# Person unable to work because of long-term illness

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 7 · 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/7#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/7/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/7/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/7/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/7/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/7/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 | 13 | 20 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 16 | 20 |
| TOP | 10 | 20 |

## Party names across this voter’s topics

Compare the parties named in answers about this voter’s main concerns. The table compares 20 answers from each edition.

The coloured bars show whether statements about a party were positive, neutral, negative or mixed. 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 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | ACT | 4 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Poverty and welfare | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| Poverty and welfare | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Poverty and welfare | TOP | 1 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Healthcare | National | 4 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 1 | 2 |
| Healthcare | Labour | 4 | 4 | 13 | 15 | 1 | 2 |
| Healthcare | Greens | 4 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| Healthcare | ACT | 4 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Healthcare | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Healthcare | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
| Healthcare | TOP | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | National | 4 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Labour | 4 | 4 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Greens | 4 | 4 | 15 | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | ACT | 4 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Cost of living | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Cost of living | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jobs and unemployment | National | 4 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 4 | 1 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Labour | 4 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 0 | 3 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Greens | 4 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | ACT | 4 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | NZ First | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Jobs and unemployment | Te Pāti Māori | 3 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Jobs and unemployment | TOP | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 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 | 1 | 19 | 2 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Labour | 4 | 4 | 8 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Greens | 4 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | ACT | 4 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Democratic institutions and rights | TOP | 2 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 0 |

## How Gemini’s answer changed

The long-term illness answer replaced The Opportunity Party with NZ First and added ACT’s approach to medical certificates. It grouped Labour more closely with the Greens on benefit increases and individual support.

Both answers contrasted work requirements with a stronger safety net, without checking which support this person could receive.

Gemini: “* **Income Support:** Historically, Labour has adjusted main benefit levels following expert advisory recommendations, though comprehensive structural overhauls of disability and sickness income support remain limited.”

[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

Gemini: “* **Medical Certification & Structure:** ACT, for instance, has emphasized requirements for independent medical certification for health and disability-related benefits alongside phased reassessments of existing recipients.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/9848363a-8b49-4e5d-88ec-42dcd509ed02.md) · Answer ID: f0e393f5-e3f6-493a-9ccb-0d631163ec9d

## Websites cited in these answers

Compare the websites cited in answers for this voter situation. Choose a topic to see its sources.

### ChatGPT

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 4 |
| labour.org.nz | 3 |
| thedlist.co.nz | 3 |
| dpa.org.nz | 1 |
| greens.org.nz | 1 |
| minterellison.co.nz | 1 |
| national.org.nz | 1 |
| nzmj.org.nz | 1 |
| nzrda.org.nz | 1 |
| opportunity.org.nz | 1 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| drnz.co.nz | 3 |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 2 |
| opportunity.org.nz | 2 |
| thedlist.co.nz | 2 |
| blindlowvision.org.nz | 1 |
| buildara.nz | 1 |
| dpa.org.nz | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| nzmj.org.nz | 1 |
| policy.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 3 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| labour.org.nz | 2 |
| policy.nz | 2 |
| rnz.co.nz | 2 |
| national.org.nz | 1 |
| nzbrands.ai | 1 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 5 |
| policy.nz | 5 |
| facebook.com | 4 |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 3 |
| drnz.co.nz | 3 |
| national.org.nz | 3 |
| blindlowvision.org.nz | 2 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| nzherald.co.nz | 2 |
| nzrda.org.nz | 2 |

Each website counts once per answer. The comparison covers 20 answers from each edition; 20 of this edition’s answers included citations. Other includes websites we have not yet classified.

[Previous: Worker recently made redundant](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/voters/s08)

[Next: Café owner with a small team](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/voters/s10)