General Practitioners Aotearoa has launched a stinging attack on New Zealand First’s new health policy, questioning why a party it previously regarded as supportive of general practice has shifted towards vitamins, nutritional interventions and alternative approaches to preventing illness.
NZ First unveiled the first stage of its Make NZ Healthy plan at the weekend, setting out 15 proposals centred on preventing chronic disease. They include a review of dietary guidelines, greater focus on metabolic health, health coaches in primary care, research into nutritional interventions for mental illness, a review of vitamin D levels and hospital trials of intravenous vitamin C around surgery.
But General Practitioners Aotearoa says the announcement represents a significant change in direction and has criticised the strength of evidence behind several proposals. Spokesperson Dr Buzz Burrell says the organisation supports greater investment in prevention and measures to reduce the administrative burden on GPs, but believes the overall package fails to address some of the most pressing problems confronting primary healthcare.
The organisation points to GP shortages, poverty, smoking, alcohol harm and access to medicines as areas requiring greater attention. It is also concerned NZ First has not consulted sufficiently with frontline general practitioners, saying it is the only governing coalition party that has not met with the organisation to discuss health policy.
NZ First argues its policy represents a shift away from treating sickness after it develops and towards preventing chronic disease in the first place. The party says medicines remain essential but believes more research and funding should be directed towards nutrition, lifestyle and early intervention.
The criticism comes as pressure on general practice remains a major health issue. A new national target introduced in July aims for more than 80 percent of New Zealanders to be able to access a general practice appointment within one week by 2030.
With health shaping up as a major Election 2026 issue, the dispute opens another debate over where scarce health dollars should go — frontline primary care, medicines and treatment, or a greater investment in prevention.
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