• Nearly 1500 roles cut at Health New Zealand, including Māori and Pacific public health advisers and smoking cessation support.
• 47% reduction in Health NZ’s data and digital workforce and 24% cut to the National Public Health Service.
• Cuts coincide with a whooping cough epidemic, disproportionately affecting Māori and Pasifika babies, further straining the system.

The Luxon government’s sweeping healthcare cuts threaten the integrity of New Zealand’s public health system. These decisions not only endanger frontline services but also risk worsening inequities for Māori and Pasifika communities. Public health services are already under immense pressure, and further reductions will deepen the crisis, leaving vulnerable populations unsupported.

We, the undersigned, demand:

1. An immediate halt to Health New Zealand’s job cuts.
2. Protection of critical public health roles, particularly those supporting Māori and Pasifika communities.
3. A commitment to transparent and sustainable healthcare policies that strengthen, not undermine, public health.

Healthcare is not a luxury—it is a fundamental right. These cuts represent a short-sighted cost-saving approach at the expense of long-term health outcomes. The government must act now to ensure a robust, equitable healthcare system for all New Zealanders.

We need 5,000 signatures to hold the Luxon government accountable and demand urgent action to address healthcare issues once and for all.