Town Hall puts Aotearoa New Zealand health workforce reform and election priorities in focus

Six political parties joined an online Town Hall event in early October 2026, moderated by RACP Aotearoa New Zealand President, Associate Professor Janak de Zoysa. They discussed plans for Aotearoa New Zealand's health workforce and respond to the College's key election priorities.

The event provided members with an opportunity to hear directly from party representatives and elevate the priorities outlined in the College's Let Us Care election statement. This included the need for a 10-year health workforce plan, sustainable working conditions, and stronger rural and regional training pathways.

Discussions highlighted broad support from participating parties for a long-term workforce strategy that would extend beyond election cycles and provide greater certainty for workforce planning and healthcare delivery.

The Town Hall also served as an important platform for the College's advocacy, showcasing the urgency of addressing workforce shortages and strengthening training pathways to support equitable access to care across Aotearoa New Zealand. Following the event, the College wrote to all political parties seeking formal commitments to its priorities through coalition agreements or 100-day plans, helping to translate support into meaningful action.

Additional questions raised by members that could not be addressed during the Town Hall have been provided to participating parties, and written responses will be shared with members once received.

The time to act is now

Support our advocacy efforts through the Let Us Care advocacy pack, which includes resources and template correspondence to help engage local politicians on workforce challenges, patient needs and community priorities.