The waiting list for the waiting list now has a waiting list.
New Zealand's health system was already under strain. National's approach has been to reorganise the bureaucracy, cut costs, and hope nobody notices that actual care is getting worse. People noticed.
The number of people waiting for specialist appointments, surgeries, and diagnostic tests hit record highs under this government. Over 404,800 people were on some form of public hospital waitlist by mid-2025. Health NZ's response was to restructure management — because what sick people really need is a new org chart.
Source: Health NZ quarterly performance reports, RNZ analysis
Health NZ (Te Whatu Ora) ran a $1.4 billion deficit, prompting the government to install a commissioner and implement sweeping cost cuts. Hundreds of corporate and back-office roles were axed — along with, critics argued, a fair number of people who actually kept the system running. The hiring freeze extended to clinical staff in some regions, because apparently nurses are a luxury.
Source: Health NZ annual reports, Stuff and RNZ reporting on Health NZ restructuring
The previous government's $1.9 billion mental health package was already underperforming. National's contribution was to quietly reduce scope and redirect funding, while New Zealand's suicide rate remained among the highest in the OECD. Youth mental health services reported longer wait times and reduced capacity. But at least we got a new mental health awareness week poster.
Source: Mental Health Foundation, Ministry of Health annual reporting
Pharmac, the agency that funds medicines, continued to operate with a budget that hadn't meaningfully kept pace with drug costs. Patients waited longer for funded access to new treatments. Cancer patients were particularly vocal about delays in funding for drugs already approved overseas. The government's position was essentially "we hear you" followed by "anyway."
Source: Pharmac annual reports, patient advocacy group reporting
GP visits remained expensive for many New Zealanders, with fees rising faster than the tax cuts. The promise of cheaper healthcare never quite materialised. Rural areas were hit hardest, with GP shortages forcing some practices to close entirely. Nothing says "fixing the basics" like having no doctor within 50 kilometres.
Source: NZ Medical Association workforce survey, Royal NZ College of GPs