ADVOCACY
Reports and submissions
List of Services
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Analysing the political party’s positions on the use of allied health
As the election nears, AHANZ asked political parties to explain how their health policies would recognise and make better use of New Zealand’s allied health workforce.
Our questions were based on AHANZ’s four key advocacy priorities and asked parties about greater use of allied health in community-based care, prevention and early intervention, building a sustainable allied health workforce, and longer-term health system reform.
We reviewed each response to provide members with an at-a-glance picture of how closely each party’s approach aligns with AHANZ’s advocacy priorities:
• Strong alignment - the party clearly supports or proposes something AHANZ is seeking.
• Different or partial approach - the party addresses the issue, but takes a different route or does not go as far as AHANZ.
• Not addressed - the response does not meaningfully address an AHANZ priority.
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Election 2026: Where do the parties stand on allied health
Ahead of the 2026 election, AHANZ asked political parties how they would make better use of New Zealand’s allied health workforce. We asked about four areas central to AHANZ’s advocacy: community-based multidisciplinary care, prevention and early intervention, building a sustainable allied health workforce, and long-term health system reform.
The matrix below provides an at-a-glance summary of how directly each party’s response addresses these priorities. It is intended as a factual comparison, not an endorsement or ranking of parties. Members are encouraged to read a summary of the parties’ responses (here) alongside the summary when considering their respective health policies.
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Targeted consultation on proposed changes to streamline and update ACC regulations
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand (AHANZ) represents more than 40 allied health professions across Aotearoa New Zealand, including both ACC funded professions (e.g., physiotherapists, occupational therapists, podiatrists) and professions not currently recognised within ACC pathways (e.g., music therapists, art therapists, diversional and recreational therapists, play therapists, clinical exercise physiologists, among others). AHANZ’s membership reflects the breadth of the modern health workforce and the growing importance of psychosocial, rehabilitative, and therapeutic professions.
We welcome MBIE’s targeted consultation and appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback.
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AHANZ Case Study Template
AHANZ Modality Case Study Template
This case study will describe your modality in general terms to someone who doesn’t know anything about your profession. It will explain what you do as a profession, your training and qualifications, how you practice, who you work with, and how. It should be no longer than 800 words. It can be supported with a real example in a patient story – see template in link below.
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Patient Story Template
AHANZ Patient Story Template
Use this template to guide you to ‘tell a story’ about a patient who benefited from your services. The whole story should only need about 300-400 words. Your patient story should be linked to your modality case study – see template in link below.
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AHANZ Members' Advocacy Toolkit
Election 2026: Allied Health at the heart of a thriving health system.
Introduction: AHANZ’s Advocacy Strategy for 2026
New Zealand’s health system is under increasing strain. Waiting times are growing, workforce shortages are worsening, and too many people struggle to access the care and support they need. Much of this pressure is preventable.
Allied health professionals play a critical role in keeping people well, supporting recovery, and enabling people to live healthy, independent lives in their communities. Despite this impact, allied health remains under-recognised in health policy, planning and funding.
AHANZ believes New Zealand needs a health system that not only responds to illness, but actively supports wellbeing and enables people to live their healthiest lives. Allied health is central to that future.
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AHANZ Policy Manifesto 2026
Allied Health: The Heart of a Thriving Health System
New Zealanders deserve a health system that does not just respond to illness, but actively supports wellness. Currently, our system is under pressure, and many people are waiting too long for the care and support they need. We believe much of this pressure is preventable.
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AHANZ Strategic Plan Summary
2026 - 2028
Vision
Optimum health and wellbeing for all New Zealanders.
Mission
Ensuring allied health professions are recognised and contribute to their full potential to enable New Zealanders to enjoy health and wellbeing
Context
The Executive Committee have reviewed the existing Strategic Plan and agree that there is still much work to be done to complete it. Accordingly, this new plan takes account of relevant outstanding commitments and proposes revised priorities for the forthcoming three years.
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GENERAL ELECTION 2026 AHANZ ADVOCACY POSITIONS
Every New Zealander deserves timely access to the right health care in their own community.
To achieve this, allied health must be recognised and embedded as an essential part of tier 1 community and primary services—not an optional add-on.
Allied health professionals are trained and ready to ease pressure on the GP workforce while improving outcomes and patient experience. As our population grows and ages, the health system must shift from treating illness to actively keeping people well, with allied health funded as a frontline prevention workforce delivering health promotion, early intervention, and rehabilitation.
To plan effectively, allied health must also be visible in national health data and workforce planning. And above all, access to care must not be a postcode lottery—New Zealand’s 30,000-strong allied health workforce can help deliver equitable, locally grounded services, but only if resourced to reach those currently missing out.
To read the four priorities AHANZ proposes to achieve this click below to download the documents.
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Hidden in Plain Sight: Optimising the allied health professions for better, more sustainable integrated care
June 2021