Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation
Budget 2026 doesn’t move the dial on child poverty rates – CPAG
Source: Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
Budget 2026 – College of GPs: Budget 2026 misses the opportunity to invest in a sustainable, accessible and affordable primary care
Source: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners
Health – IHACPA releases Support at Home pricing and costing advice
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28 May 2026 – The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) has released the Support at Home Pricing Advice 2026–27 and the Support at Home Cost Collection 2025 Final Report.
The pricing advice was developed based on IHACPA’s annual cost collection and after extensive public consultation, ensuring IHACPA’s advice is directly informed by the costs of delivering in-home aged care services. To inform the pricing advice, IHACPA’s Support at Home Cost Collection 2025 captured and analysed detailed cost data from 135 services, covering over 35,000 clients to produce a comprehensive dataset. This cost collection prioritised participation from providers who had not previously taken part, as well as those delivering services to underrepresented groups. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and rural and remote populations. As part of the public consultation held from 11 June to 18 July 2025, IHACPA received 220 submissions from a wide range of stakeholders. This includes submissions from in-home aged care participants and their families, carers and representatives, providers and the aged care workforce, government departments and agencies, researchers and peak bodies.
IHACPA’s Chair, Mr David Tune AO PSM said, ‘We’re pleased to release our pricing and costing advice for the Support at Home service list. This work is central to supporting older people to stay at home for longer together with access to quality aged care services that meets their needs.’
‘IHACPA’s pricing advice is grounded in evidence, informed by real cost data and direct engagement across the sector. I would like to thank everyone who participated in our cost collections and consultation last year. Stakeholder feedback is vital to ensuring our advice reflects not only financial considerations, but also the practical aspects of delivering in-home aged care,’ Mr Tune added.
Key elements of IHACPA’s pricing advice include:
In developing this advice, IHACPA accounted for recent Fair Work Commission decisions, superannuation guarantee increases, and the indexation of historical cost data.
IHACPA’s pricing advice to the Australian Government helps inform funding decisions for Support at Home.
The recommended prices in IHACPA’s pricing advice do not present a price cap, benchmark or guidance for aged care providers when setting their prices. The Minister for Health and Ageing is responsible for determining price caps for in-home aged care services and the timing of announcement for prices for services on the Support at Home service list.
More information
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Budget 2026 – ProCare welcomes expansion to bowel screening but acknowledges the equity gap that remains
ProCare is pleased to see the Government move to lower the age for free bowel screening, improving access to early detection and preventative care for thousands more New Zealanders this year.
The age for screening is expected to be lowered to 56 this September, following a drop to 58 years in March 2026.
Expanding eligibility means more people can take part in screening earlier, helping to detect any issues sooner when they’re easier to treat, and reducing the likelihood of people developing serious illness.
Bindi Nowell, Chief Executive at ProCare says, “Keeping care in the community, and making sure as many people have the opportunity to get their health checks sooner, is always a win for primary care. Our teams in general practice are constantly looking for ways to keep their populations healthy, so expansions like these are always positive.”
“Previously, Māori and Pacific people have had access to free bowel screening from 50 years, which was a great equity move to support these communities who are often affected by bowel cancer at a younger age. Today’s announcement of lowering to 56 is welcome, but we want to acknowledge the gap in equity that we're still not addressing.”
“We’ll be supporting for our general practices to let their patients know about the changes, so as many people as possible can access screening sooner.”
About ProCare
As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz
Budget 2026: where are the solutions to climate, biodiversity and fuel crisis? – Greenpeace
Source: Greenpeace
- The National Party’s original fiscal plan released in 2023 included $2.1 billion in revenue, over four years, from Emissions Trading Scheme auctions. But these auctions have largely failed due to the weakening of climate policy leaving a large hole in the Government’s revenue.
- The Government is allocating $200 million to subsidise oil and gas exploration.
- The fiscal impact of the Government decision to weaken the Clean Car Standard directly cost the Government $264 million.
- The fiscal impact of subsidising agribusiness climate pollution, by keeping them out of the ETS, is hard to quantify but will be hundreds of millions.
- The $23 billion liability for failing to meet the Paris climate agreement.
Budget 2026 – Budget misses opportunity to respond to growing mental health need – Mental Health Commission
Source: Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
Budget 2026 – Primary care overlooked again in Budget 2026 – despite known results from investment in primary care – ProCare
Primary care has once again been left behind in Budget 2026, with limited clear, targeted investment to match the growing burden of disease through aging, the increasing complexity of patient care, and constrained access to secondary care.
While the Government has committed more than $33 billion to health overall, nearly half of that funding continues to be directed toward hospitals and specialist services, reinforcing a system that prioritises treating illness over preventing it.
ProCare says this approach risks entrenching pressure across the health system rather than relieving it.
Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare says: “General practice is the front door of the health system – but it continues to be funded as if it’s an afterthought.
“Research has shown that for every dollar invested in primary care results in between $13 and $15 in savings in secondary care, so we question why primary care continues to be overlooked,” says Norwell.
“Without stronger investment in primary care, we will continue to see pressure build in emergency departments and hospital services. We simply cannot hospitalise our way out of this,” continues Norwell.
“We need a stronger focus on planned, proactive care that deliberately shifts services into primary and community settings, improving access, reducing waiting times, and keeping people well in their communities,” she points out.
Positive step for community services card holders
Budget 26 announced an increase of $800,000 additional funding for Community Services Card holders and people aged 65 and over, who are exempt from the Budget 2024 savings initiative to reintroduce the $5 prescription co-payment for those aged 14 years and over.
ProCare acknowledges this as a step in the right direction, particularly initiatives aimed at improving access through community-based care.
“This is a positive step for equity in primary care. Removing cost barriers for those who need support most helps ensure people can access the medicines they rely on, without financial pressure,” says Norwell.
“Maintaining these exemptions will help improve access to pharmaceuticals, particularly for older people and those on lower incomes, and supports better health outcomes by enabling people to manage conditions early and consistently,” points out Norwell.
Demand rising, workforce stretched
General practice continues to face increasing patient complexity, workforce shortages, financial pressure on practices, and growing unmet need across communities. Without targeted investment, access will continue to deteriorate.
“New Zealand needs a long-term health strategy that recognises growing demand and backs primary care as the foundation of the system; supported by smart investment in workforce, digital tools, and reduced administrative burden,” points out Norwell.
“At the same time, we must shift care closer to home through better planned, community-based services and a more streamlined system, improving access, reducing pressure on hospitals, and delivering better value for patients and taxpayers,” concludes Norwell.
About ProCare
As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz
