From NZ Herald · · 3m
Election 2026 Campaign Diary: Seymour plays to strength and Hipkins doesn't disagree
Act leader David Seymour focuses on medicines policy while Labour's Chris Hipkins acknowledges his role in Pharmac.
In brief
Act leader David Seymour focuses on medicines policy while Labour's Chris Hipkins acknowledges his role in Pharmac. David Seymour's Act Party pledges 1% of new health spending annually for medicines to match Australia by 2033, with Labour's Chris Hipkins conceding no disagreement on the approach. Originally reported…
Seymour's medicines policy focus
Act leader David Seymour is campaigning on a positive policy area where his party has performed strongly: medicines and Pharmac.
“We haven’t been the newest, we’re not the biggest, we’re not the loudest but, gee, we’ve certainly had our head down and our bum up.”
1% health spending pledge
Seymour has released a new policy to dedicate 1% of new health spending each year to medicines, aiming for parity with Australia by 2033.
Health spending comparison
New Zealand spends 4.9% of its health budget annually on medicines while Australia spends 12.2%.
Hipkins' acknowledgment
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has given Seymour veiled credit in his role as the minister in charge of Pharmac.
“By and large, I think medicines policy just needs more money but the overall approach to managing medicines I am not going to argue with.”
Seymour's 2023 campaign
Seymour's campaign was more fraught in 2023, particularly his push for the Treaty Principles Bill despite the turmoil it created.
Engineered overhang game
Te Pāti Māori is engineering an overhang to advantage the centre left by encouraging supporters to vote for Labour or the Greens.
Labour's stance
Labour has consistently opposed the engineered overhang strategy and is running a two-tick campaign in every seat.
Shane Jones' fishing plan
New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones plans to reward party volunteers with fishing trips before election results.
Seymour's party assessment
Seymour described his Act Party's record as 'not the newest, not the biggest, not the loudest but we’ve certainly had our head down and our bum up.'
“We haven’t been the newest, we’re not the biggest, we’re not the loudest but, gee, we’ve certainly had our head down and our bum up.”
Te Pāti Māori's strategy
Te Pāti Māori needs Labour and the Greens' permission to engineer an overhang, but Labour has not granted it.
Seymour's 2026 campaign
Seymour is campaigning on a positive policy area where Act has performed strongly: medicines and Pharmac.
Seymour's policy timeline
Seymour has released a new policy for a second term to dedicate 1% of new health spending each year to medicines.
Health spending gap
New Zealand spends 4.9% of its health budget annually on medicines while Australia spends 12.2%.
Hipkins' policy stance
Hipkins stated that medicines policy just needs more money but he will not argue with the overall approach to managing medicines.
“By and large, I think medicines policy just needs more money but the overall approach to managing medicines I am not going to argue with.”
Seymour's 2023 challenges
Seymour faced challenges in 2023, particularly his push for the Treaty Principles Bill despite the turmoil it created.
Seymour's campaign strategy
Seymour is reinforcing his 1% health spending pledge for medicines to match Australia by 2033.
The big picture
David Seymour's Act Party pledges 1% of new health spending annually for medicines to match Australia by 2033, with Labour's Chris Hipkins conceding no disagreement on the approach.
