Hauora Taiwhenua Calls For A Commitment To The Health Of Rural Communities
by Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network · SCOOPHauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network has released its 2026 Election Manifesto, calling on every political party to commit to six priorities to improve health outcomes and access to healthcare for rural New Zealand ahead of the 7 November election.
The six commitments are:
1. Ensure rural voices shape health policy and system change
2. Grow and sustain the rural health workforce
3. Recognise the broad clinical skills needed to provide care in rural communities
4. Fund the higher costs of delivering healthcare in rural communities
5. Harness digital technology to strengthen rural health services
6. Invest in rural health knowledge and evidence
The commitments form the basis of Hauora Taiwhenua’s 2026 Election Manifesto and are drawn from the Aotearoa New Zealand Declaration on Rural Health 2026, developed through national and international collaboration at the 21st WONCA World Rural Health Conference.
Hauora Taiwhenua Chief Executive Dr Grant Davidson said the Declaration provides a clear direction for rural health but now requires political action.
"These gaps in health and access to care are serious, measurable and preventable. Rural communities, iwi and health providers are already leading solutions that work. What is needed now is the policy support, investment and political commitment to sustain and expand them."
Dr Davidson said rural health requires an approach that reflects the realities of delivering care across rural and remote communities.
Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
"Rural health is different. Rural clinicians work across broader scopes of practice, often with fewer resources and greater distances from specialist and emergency support. Health policy and funding need to recognise that reality."
The six commitments span the key factors needed to strengthen rural health – from ensuring rural communities have a voice in decisions that affect them, to building and retaining a sustainable workforce, supporting rural clinicians’ broad scopes of practice and recognising the higher costs of delivering care in rural areas.
They also recognise the role of digital technology in improving access to services and the importance of investing in rural health knowledge and evidence to support better decision-making.
Hauora Taiwhenua Chairperson Dr Fiona Bolden said rural communities should be central to decisions about the future of rural health.
"Rural communities know what works, but for too long decisions have been made without rural voices at the table. This election is an opportunity for political parties to listen, make practical commitments and deliver for rural New Zealand."
Dr Davidson said Hauora Taiwhenua would continue working with political parties, rural communities and the wider health sector throughout the election period.
"The next Government must deliver for rural communities. We are asking political parties to put these six commitments at the heart of their health policies and to work with rural communities to turn them into action."
Hauora Taiwhenua is calling on political parties to make rural health a clear priority in their 2026 election policies and set out how they will turn these commitments into action.
Read our 2026 Election Manifesto Rural Health: https://htrhn.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Election-Manifesto-2026.pdf
Advertisement - scroll to continue reading