# Question 76: I have a mobility impairment, rent and want to keep living independently. I rely on accessible transport and support services. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do party policies differ on access to healthcare and disability-related services?

Collected 2 November 2026

[NZ Election 2026 · Edition 8 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8)

## ChatGPT

Answer ID: a3e89992-8c87-49c4-803b-fdb313e992be

# New Zealand 2026 election: healthcare and disability services

Your circumstances raise several important questions for the 2026 election: whether you can access healthcare when you need it, afford to live independently while renting, get reliable accessible transport, and receive disability support without having to fight for it.

For your situation, I would compare party policies across five areas:

1. Healthcare access: GP appointments, specialist treatment, hospital waiting times, prescription costs and dental care.
2. Disability support: Personal care, home support, equipment, assessments and funding.
3. Independent living: Support to remain in your own rental home rather than having to move into residential care.
4. Accessible transport: Public transport accessibility, Total Mobility, mobility parking and transport assistance.
5. Housing and financial security: Accessible rental housing, housing modifications, accommodation assistance and the additional costs associated with disability.

An important distinction is between a party's existing government record, policies it has formally announced for 2026, and general promises that have not yet been translated into funded commitments.

## 1. How the parties differ

The following comparison covers the main parties and TOP, using policies available as at 1 November 2026. The election is scheduled for 7 November 2026.

One useful independent source is CCS Disability Action. Its 30 October election analysis examines party commitments from a disability perspective, rather than looking only at general health or welfare promises. [Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)[How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?](https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/30-09-2026/how-do-the-different-parties-fare-on-disability-issues-this-election)

### Disability support and independent living

| Party | Main approach and commitments |
| --- | --- |
| National | Focuses on financial stability, consistent assessments and some restored flexibility in disability funding. Supports the Disability Strategy 2026–2030. |
| Labour | Promises to repeal and rewrite the Disability Support Services Act, working with disabled people, families and carers. Supports Enabling Good Lives principles. |
| Green Party | Supports greater choice and control over individualised funding, fewer bureaucratic barriers and a rights-based disability support system. |
| ACT | Emphasises individualised funding, personal choice and reducing bureaucracy. Supported the Disability Support Services Act. |
| New Zealand First | Has not published a detailed standalone disability support programme. Supported the Disability Support Services Act. |
| Te Pāti Māori | Emphasises self-determination, Māori-led disability services and the rights of tāngata hauā and whānau hauā. |
| The Opportunities Party (TOP) | Proposes wider income-support reform, including a citizen's income and a separate disability allowance. |

Sources: [Disability Policies of New Zealand’s Political Parties – 2026](https://drnz.co.nz/disability-policies-of-new-zealands-political-parties-2026/)[Party policies, simplified: Disability policy](https://thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-disability-policy/)[How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?](https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/30-09-2026/how-do-the-different-parties-fare-on-disability-issues-this-election)

### What does this mean for someone renting and living independently?

The important difference is not simply how much money a party promises to spend. It is how the party proposes to give you control over the support you receive.

For example:

- Individualised funding can give you greater control over arranging the assistance you need.
- Reliable personal-care and home-support funding can help you remain in your own home.
- Flexible support arrangements can matter if your needs change or you need assistance outside conventional working hours.
- Clear assessment and appeal processes can matter if your funding is reduced or your circumstances are misunderstood.

The parties differ in their approaches to funding, legislation and individual choice. These are particularly important issues to examine before deciding how much confidence to place in their promises.

## 2. Healthcare access

Here are some of the more concrete healthcare commitments.

| Party | Healthcare approach |
| --- | --- |
| National | Focuses on general health-system performance, access to treatment and improving health services. Disability-specific healthcare commitments are less prominent in its election platform. |
| Labour | Promises three free GP visits annually through a Medicard, free prescriptions from July 2027, and other measures to reduce healthcare costs. |
| Green Party | Promises additional health funding, accessible public healthcare, prevention and earlier diagnosis, and support for disability-related medical costs. |
| ACT | Emphasises healthcare efficiency, performance and reducing administrative barriers. |
| New Zealand First | Focuses on prevention, metabolic health, primary care and reducing administrative burdens on GPs. |
| Te Pāti Māori | Emphasises Māori-led, holistic and culturally appropriate healthcare. |
| TOP | Includes healthcare access and reducing discrimination against disabled people within its wider reform approach. |

[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy)[How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?](https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/30-09-2026/how-do-the-different-parties-fare-on-disability-issues-this-election)

### Labour's specific healthcare commitments

Labour has announced:

- Three free GP visits per person per year.
- Removal of the $5 prescription charge from 1 July 2027.
- Free maternity scans.
- Free cervical screening for eligible people aged 25–69.

These are general population commitments, rather than disability-specific entitlements. [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy)

### Green Party's specific healthcare commitments

The Greens have proposed:

- An additional $3 billion in health funding.
- More accessible public health services.
- Greater emphasis on prevention, early screening and diagnosis.
- Income support that recognises disability-related medical and living costs, regardless of relationship status.

[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)

For your circumstances, I would pay particular attention to whether a party addresses the cost of GP visits, specialist appointments, prescriptions, allied health services and transport to medical appointments.

A policy that improves general hospital waiting times does not necessarily solve the practical difficulties of getting to appointments or receiving ongoing disability-related healthcare.

## 3. Accessible transport

This is an especially important area if you depend on taxis, mobility vehicles or public transport to maintain your independence.

There are three particularly relevant party proposals.

![Total Mobility scheme](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/oSm_pqrKaoeU_hkCNrn5LQ948jJN0u937icMFfJfo3BK1GdTiQkgK7eLxoIxqsNLthmgZhjlvpCRrvNm2rm5tNB1faVQPZTw_KUkR2_vJMPVjM2LYnTKrpe8d9GsOfJ6dP-tmb38Zrs6LQOxie3RksvHHQoesAd1UrIGl5kjjcc?purpose=inline)

Green Party – Total Mobility

Promises to restore the government subsidy for Total Mobility to 75%, up from the 65% level reported in its election analysis, and increase the number of mobility vehicles available.

![Accessible Travel](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/l2gCXtmADp7s6vZ8Oslw2YRjnXmIi-_AwnKMsjoIbfbBQQv9tarweueDsWCdUHMPEv-pwYV1hmtdefFVDV1xnobN_af9UZrL0tfGMEcaM-UO3NtIQMF-7zn4H-giC7oeSAJkKSZOxn2h6dL9720h129hgE57VHvqB1c3m1nif3E?purpose=inline)

Labour – public transport costs

Promises a weekly public transport fare cap of $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 elsewhere, from 1 July 2027.

![Glen Innes Station pedestrian bridge](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/N8UkFQIlpycjgiThKqFAulKPYEcAljKhBePisY9qxipdp-wFP-o4p-XR_RdACJFf60QQWJkC_Tq0ok1HZfM55I4ahVMDkkzSbBXlMBKC_d1PdzWUb4APixaSE3Hk5i-E0R6rFfcFAukB9l9iKYKkEAPzLMVbYbozTmJVAHozkHI?purpose=inline)

The Opportunities Party – free transport

Promises free public transport for everyone, alongside wider accessibility measures.

[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)

Other parties have different emphases:

- National: Its published disability-related transport commitments are limited. Its Auckland transport safety proposal is not specifically an accessibility policy.
- ACT: Has not identified a comparable disability-specific transport commitment.
- New Zealand First: Focuses on rail network improvements and regional connections.
- Te Pāti Māori: Supports embedding accessibility in public infrastructure and government buildings.

An important distinction: Cheaper or free public transport does not automatically mean accessible transport. You need to know whether buses and trains are physically accessible, whether stations have working lifts, whether mobility equipment can be accommodated, and whether services operate when you need them.

The Total Mobility subsidy is particularly worth examining because it directly affects the cost of accessible taxi travel.

## 4. Housing, renting and staying independent

For someone who rents, housing policy should be considered alongside disability policy.

You need to know whether you can remain in your home, whether it can accommodate your mobility needs, and whether you can afford it.

| Party | Relevant housing commitments |
| --- | --- |
| National | General housing supply measures, including expanded granny-flat rules. No specific enforceable accessible-housing commitment identified. |
| Labour | At least 25% of new Kāinga Ora homes to meet accessible design standards; more social housing; stronger rental protections. |
| Greens | Universal design standards for public and private housing, more accessible public housing and stronger rental standards. |
| ACT | Focuses on increasing housing supply and reducing regulation; no specific accessible-housing standards identified. |
| NZ First | General housing supply and social housing policies, without a detailed disability-specific accessibility programme. |
| Te Pāti Māori | All new government builds to accommodate all whānau; increased social housing and investment in Māori housing. |
| TOP | Supports accessible public housing and wider housing reform. |

[Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)[How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?](https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/30-09-2026/how-do-the-different-parties-fare-on-disability-issues-this-election)[Disability Policies of New Zealand’s Political Parties – 2026](https://drnz.co.nz/disability-policies-of-new-zealands-political-parties-2026/)

Some particularly relevant distinctions:

- Labour's proposed accessible-housing target applies to new Kāinga Ora builds, not all private rental properties.
- The Greens' proposed universal design standards extend to public and private housing.
- Te Pāti Māori's commitment concerns government builds and its wider approach to housing accessibility.
- None of these proposals should be assumed to give you an automatic right to modify your current rental property.

I would also examine rental security, rent increases, accessibility modifications, warm and dry housing, and the availability of social housing for people with mobility impairments.

## 5. Disability legislation: an important election difference

A major issue in this election is the Disability Support Services Act 2026.

The legislation was passed in September 2026. Parties have taken different positions:

| Party | Position |
| --- | --- |
| National | Supported the legislation and intends to continue its disability strategy. |
| ACT | Supported the legislation. |
| NZ First | Supported the legislation. |
| Labour | Promises to repeal and replace it, involving disabled people and their organisations in developing a new framework. |
| Greens | Opposed it and proposes stronger disability rights legislation. |
| Te Pāti Māori | Opposed it and supports Māori-led disability services and greater self-determination. |
| TOP | Has not provided a detailed position on the legislation. |

[Party policies, simplified: Disability policy](https://thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-disability-policy/)[How do the different parties fare on disability issues this election?](https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/30-09-2026/how-do-the-different-parties-fare-on-disability-issues-this-election)

This matters because disability support legislation influences how support is assessed, funded and delivered.

In particular, you may want to examine:

- Whether funding can be used flexibly.
- Whether you can choose your own support workers.
- Whether you can receive assistance that enables you to remain at home.
- Whether your support can be reviewed or reduced without adequate consultation.
- Whether there are independent complaint and appeal processes.

## 6. What I would look for when comparing party promises

Given your priorities, I would use the following questions to assess each party's actual commitments.

| Your priority | Question to ask |
| --- | --- |
| Staying independent | Will I be able to continue living in my own home with adequate support? |
| Personal assistance | Will I have reliable funding for personal care and household assistance? |
| Accessible transport | Will I be able to afford taxis and access reliable mobility transport? |
| Healthcare | Will I be able to afford GP visits, prescriptions and specialist appointments? |
| Rental security | Will I be able to find and retain an accessible, warm rental home? |
| Disability funding | Will I have more control over how my support funding is spent? |
| Financial security | Will disability-related extra costs be recognised in income support? |
| Fair treatment | Will I have enforceable rights and independent ways to challenge decisions? |

I would also distinguish between a commitment to introduce a policy and a commitment that specifies its funding, implementation date and eligibility requirements.

## 7. Where to check the policies yourself

These sources provide useful opportunities to examine the parties' positions directly.

- [CCS Disability Action – 2026 election policy analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Particularly useful for healthcare, transport, housing and disability support.
- [The D\*List – simplified disability policy comparison](https://thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-disability-policy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). Includes responses from political parties on disability issues.
- [Disability Responsiveness New Zealand – party policy report](https://drnz.co.nz/disability-policies-of-new-zealands-political-parties-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com).
- [Labour's official policy platform](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy?utm_source=chatgpt.com).

The CCS Disability Action analysis was published on 30 October, so it is particularly useful for checking the latest publicly announced commitments before election day. Parties may still update their policies. [Election 2026: Political Parties Policy Analysis](https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/policy-analysis-2026)[Party policies, simplified: Disability policy](https://thedlist.co.nz/newsfeed/party-policies-simplified-disability-policy/)

## My overall observation

There are some substantial differences between the parties:

- The Greens have specific proposals concerning Total Mobility subsidies, accessible housing, disability-related costs and enforceable accessibility standards.
- Labour has specific proposals concerning disability legislation, GP affordability, prescription charges, accessible Kāinga Ora housing and public transport fares.
- National emphasises funding stability, national consistency and its existing disability strategy.
- ACT emphasises individualised funding and reduced bureaucracy, alongside tighter medical reassessment requirements for some benefits.
- Te Pāti Māori emphasises Māori-led disability services and self-determination.
- TOP proposes broader income reform and free public transport.
- New Zealand First has fewer detailed disability-specific commitments, with greater emphasis on general health and transport policies.

These are differences in policy direction, not an assessment of which party will deliver the best outcomes.

One issue I would pay particular attention to is whether a party's policies allow you to remain living independently in a rental home, with sufficient personal support and affordable accessible transport. That is a more specific test than simply asking which party promises to improve disability services.

I can also prepare a more focused comparison of which parties have the clearest commitments on keeping disabled renters independent, including personal-care funding, Total Mobility, housing accessibility and financial assistance.

## Gemini

Answer ID: 3f15118c-79b0-4f71-98f0-ff50a077409c

When considering your vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election with a focus on maintaining independent living, accessible transport, and support services, New Zealand’s political parties offer distinctly different philosophies and approaches. 

A breakdown of how the major parties approach disability support, healthcare access, and independent living highlights these differences:

---

### 1. Labour Party
* **Disability Support Framework:** Takes a rights-based, equity-focused approach aligned with the *Enabling Good Lives* principles and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Labour has committed to repealing recent controversial government disability legislation changes and maintaining focus on individualised support.
* **Healthcare Access:** Focuses heavily on reducing primary care cost barriers. Key proposals include introducing a **"Medicard"** providing three free GP visits annually for everyone entitled to publicly funded healthcare, and reinstating free prescriptions for all funded medicines. They also propose free maternity scans and more care options outside of hospitals.

### 2. National Party
* **Disability Support Framework:** Guided by the *New Zealand Disability Strategy (2026–2030)*, which identifies health as a core priority area. National generally focuses on streamlining systems toward nationally consistent assessments and allocations while attempting to restore flexibility within existing funding models.
* **Healthcare Access:** Focuses on strengthening workforce capacity, rebuilding infrastructure, and reducing waitlists through targeted investments in primary and secondary care facilities to improve physical and geographical access.

### 3. Green Party
* **Disability Support Framework:** Features an explicitly rights-based and equity-driven platform framed around the view that disability stems from societal barriers rather than individual impairments. They advocate for expanding individualised funding, removing rigid deficit-based assessments, and establishing easily accessible, timely income support to cover all disability-related living and medical expenses (specifically addressing relationship-status benefit penalties, sometimes called the "love tax").
* **Healthcare Access:** Emphasises eliminating cost and cultural barriers to disability-specific and general healthcare, ensuring health outcomes are equitable, and better integrating disability support with wider health and mental wellbeing services.

### 4. ACT Party
* **Disability Support Framework:** Grounded in principles of individual responsibility, smaller government, and administrative efficiency. Rather than a centralized rights framework, ACT favours simplified, individualised (cash-like) funding models given directly to individuals to choose their own providers, backed by clearer rules and tighter spending oversight.
* **Healthcare Access:** Focuses on economic mechanisms to support primary care—such as providing ongoing funding boosts to General Practices to reward appointments and extended hours—rather than universal free-care schemes.

### 5. Te Pāti Māori & New Zealand First
* **Te Pāti Māori:** Focuses on Māori-led, whānau-centred holistic health and support systems where disability is embedded into broader community wellbeing. They support free primary healthcare, extensive structural overhauls, and enhanced funding transferred to community-led networks.
* **New Zealand First:** Typically addresses disability issues indirectly through general health, senior citizen services, and public health funding rather than as an independent standalone policy category, emphasizing regional and rural public health accessibility.

---

### Key Questions to Weigh for Independent Living:
* **Funding & Control:** Do you prefer individualised, direct funding models that give you maximum personal purchasing choice (favored by ACT/Greens/Labour's framework), or streamlined, nationally consistent agency allocation models (favored by National)?
* **Cost Barriers:** Are your primary concerns financial (such as the cost of GP visits, prescriptions, and disability-specific equipment), making policies like free primary care visits (Labour/Te Pāti Māori) crucial to you?
* **System Integration:** Are you looking for parties that promise a "Tell Us Once" approach to streamline how health, disability support, and social agencies share information without forcing you to constantly re-explain your needs?

Are there specific aspects of independent living—such as accessible housing, public transport infrastructure, or support worker workforce shortages—that will most heavily influence your vote?

## Google AI Mode

Answer ID: 5ae01bca-b4a7-4a5e-a26f-910ebf6e35ff

For voters navigating the 2026 New Zealand general election who live with a mobility impairment, rent independently, and rely on community and transport support, political parties offer distinct approaches across healthcare, disability support systems, and accessibility.

Party positions generally reflect varying philosophies on central versus localized service delivery, funding mechanisms, and direct cost-of-living relief.

* * *

1\. Healthcare Access and Cost Reductions

 * **Labour Party & Left-Leaning Parties (e.g., Green Party, Te Pāti Māori):**
 * Focus heavily on reducing direct financial barriers to primary care. Proposals include expanding free or low-cost GP visits (such as targeted schemes for specific demographics or incremental steps toward universal free visits) and removing or lowering prescription charges.
 * Emphasize strengthening public health infrastructure, community care, and lifting overall public health funding relative to GDP.

 * **National Party & Governing/Centre-Right Parties:**
 * Focus more on efficiency, target-driven delivery within the health system (such as reducing waitlists), expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists and other allied health professionals to improve primary access, and funding subsidized medicines through Pharmac.

2\. Disability Support Services and System Integration

 * **System Reform and Streamlining:**
 * Some parties (highlighted in sector breakdowns like those from Blind Low Vision NZ) advocate for a "Tell Us Once" cross-agency approach to reduce the burden on individuals with long-term support needs repeating their information across health, education, and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
 * Proposals also include allowing disabled individuals to choose their own "navigators" to guide them through complex health and disability support systems, alongside tailored improvements for Māori with disabilities.

 * **Funding and Workforce:**
 * Debates center on the operational funding models for disability support services, ensuring adequate resourcing for non-residential independent living, and workforce stability for home-and-community support workers. Left blocs generally push for direct state investment increases, while centre-right approaches lean toward administrative streamlining and service accountability.

3\. Accessible Transport and Independent Living (Renting)

 * **Accessible Transport:**
 * Policies affecting public transport accessibility (such as wheelchair-accessible urban fleets, rail/bus infrastructure upgrades, and Total Mobility scheme funding) fall under broader transport and regional development portfolios. Left-leaning and green parties typically advocate for higher subsidies and investment in public and active transport networks, while centre-right parties focus on roading efficiency alongside public transport maintenance.

 * **Housing and Renting Independence:**
 * For independent renters with mobility needs, policies addressing renter rights, accommodation supplement adjustments, and the supply of accessible social/public housing are critical. Left-of-centre and minor parties (like the Greens and Te Pāti Māori) place a strong emphasis on expanding social housing stock, boosting income support or welfare adequacy for disabled people facing higher living costs, and introducing stronger tenancy protections. Right-of-centre parties focus on boosting overall housing supply through regulatory reform and economic management to ease rental market pressures.

* * *

Where to Read More and Compare

To review specific, up-to-the-minute commitments and compare side-by-side party declarations on health, disability inclusion, and transport:

 * Explore the neutral Policy.nz 2026 Election Guide to filter stances on Health Policies and Community and Inclusion.

 * Read the Blind Low Vision NZ Election Resource for a detailed breakdown of how specific parties responded regarding accessibility, health, and independent living rights.

## AI Overviews

Answer ID: 44bea773-7649-48e3-80bd-0f445c82a89f

In the 2026 New Zealand general election, political parties present significantly different frameworks for managing healthcare, disability support, independent living, and accessible infrastructure.

The primary policy differences focus on whether to centralize and standardize the existing system for financial stability, or to implement a rights-based, fully funded overhaul with strict accessibility mandates.

* * *

🏛️ The Governing Parties: National and ACT

The current government's approach centers on fiscal sustainability, national consistency, and localized individual control rather than creating standalone disability manifestos.

 * **Disability Support Services Act 2026:** National and ACT passed the Disability Support Services Act 2026 to establish a firm legislative framework for public funding. ACT backed this to increase transparency and security over the previous system, while National emphasizes that it clarifies what support is available and how funding decisions are made.

 * **Flexible Funding and Assessments:** In response to sector concerns, the government adjusted flexible funding regulations to ease certain purchasing restrictions—giving people more control over supports like respite care—while maintaining structural budget oversight. A nationwide consistent assessment and allocation process was deployed to eliminate regional inequities.

 * **Strategic Planning:** National launched the **New Zealand Disability Strategy 2026–2030** , focusing on measurable actions across employment, education, and making the existing health system more inclusive.

 * **Healthcare Logistics:** The Coalition aims to make healthcare funding go further by expanding the subsidized medicine list via Pharmac and increasing the clinical scope of pharmacists and physician associates. National also dismantled Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority) in favor of a single integrated national health system.

 * **Renting & Transport:** No enforceable accessible-housing requirements or disability-specific public transport accessibility mandates are included in National's current election platform.

🌹 Labour Party

Labour’s platform focuses on a rights-based approach, promising greater state intervention to reduce the cost of living and explicitly targeting independent living barriers.

 * **Repealing the 2026 DSS Legislation:** Labour has pledged to **repeal the Disability Support Services Act**. They plan to entirely redraft the framework alongside disabled people and representative organizations to build an explicitly rights-based system.

 * **Independent Living & Welfare:** Labour intends to end annual benefit reviews for individuals with permanent and verified disabilities. To support care teams, they have pledged to reinstate pay equity legislation and provide an immediate $4 per hour pay rise for care and support workers.

 * **Accessible Renting:** Labour aims to directly address accessible housing shortages by requiring **at least 25% of all new Kāinga Ora (social housing) builds to be fully accessible**.

 * **Primary Healthcare:** Under their new "Medicard" policy, Labour promises **three free GP visits per year** alongside the complete removal of the $5 prescription copayment fee.

 * **Transport:** Labour proposes a nationwide $20 weekly public transport fare cap to alleviate travel costs.

🌿 Green Party

The Green Party offers the most structurally transformative, rights-based policy platform, linking disability support directly to sweeping reforms in housing, transit, and income.

 * **Systemic Overhaul & Healthcare:** The Greens plan to add the explicit "right to health and welfare" directly into the Bill of Rights Act. They support a "Tell Us Once" system so individuals with long-term disabilities do not have to repeatedly prove eligibility, and they advocate for the right to choose an independent navigator to manage care across agencies.

 * **Fare-Free Accessible Transport:** The Greens' Transport Policy mandates making **urban public transport completely fare-free for disabled people** , Total Mobility cardholders, and low-income individuals. They also promise to co-design all new public infrastructure alongside the disabled community to guarantee accessibility standards are legally met.

 * **Enforceable Housing Standards:** For renters, the Greens propose setting robust, universal design standards for both public and private housing. They plan to enforce the Healthy Homes Standards via an independently certified Rental Warrant of Fitness to protect tenants from subpar living conditions.

 * **Welfare Transformation:** They propose a "Citizen’s Income" providing up to $370 weekly to adults, supplemented by dedicated top-up support specifically designed to cover the additional cost of living with a disability.

🦋 Te Pāti Māori

Te Pāti Māori strongly opposed the government’s 2026 DSS Act, warning that it opens the door to means-testing for essential support. They advocate for a **Māori-led disability authority** to design and oversee services, removing institutional silos between ACC, health, and social services so no individual falls through the cracks.

* * *

📊 Quick Comparison

Policy Area| National / ACT| Labour| Green Party
---|---|---|---
**DSS Framework**| Created & maintain the **DSS Act 2026** for budget stability.| Promise to **repeal and redraft** the DSS Act with community input.| Rights-based system featuring self-chosen care navigators.
**Healthcare Cost**| Expanding subsidized medicines; maximizing scopes of practice.| **3 free GP visits/year** via Medicard; free prescriptions.| Universal, free diagnosis and treatment; health added to Bill of Rights.
**Rental Housing**| Refreshed 2026–2030 strategy to review social housing accessibility.| Legislate that **25% of new Kāinga Ora builds** must be accessible.| Compulsory **Rental Warrant of Fitness** ; universal design standards.
**Public Transport**| Focus on broad economic funding stability over targeted transit subsidies.| **$20 weekly public transport cap** across the board.| **Fare-free public transport** for disabled people and mobility cardholders.

* * *

If you want to look into how these platforms impact your specific situation further, let me know:

 * Which **region or type of transport** you rely on most?

 * If you want details on **how to access accessible voting options** for this election cycle?