Labour to expand limited free dental in stages from under-18s to under-30s by mid 2026. Hipkins pledges to go universal at an unspecified point, but says ‘we can’t afford it now’. (Updated)
Too bad the captain already ruled out a wealth tax that could’ve paid for the whole thing! Although I am seriously glad to see Labour jump on this extremely popular policy and hopefully help generate some enthusiasm amongst both their possible voters but also Green voters who can now point to actual Green policies that will (partially) be implemented in a L+G govt.
Would be interesting to see age breakdowns of popularity of this policy. Anecdotally, I’ve talked to several older people (50+) who have said the free dental was getting them to consider voting Green for the first time in their lives. I hope L’s incrementalism doesn’t cause them to miss out on this group.
One day I hope to see Greens overtake Labour as the chief left wing party in Aotearoa.
Hopefully Labour will steal their policy of paying homeowners to install solar panels next. I’ve heard median swing voters love it when the government uses its money to help make their house values go up and their power bills go down…
If it’s a Labour-led Government with the Greens and TPM in support then it will be a Labour Government with a couple of bits tacked on, where the Greens and TPM are ignored and mollified. As long as both are unable to apply any leverage in the initial negotiations. That’s very hard without the threat of putting the other guys in Government. They would be better off giving support on supply and confidence and staying in Opposition, with the implied threat of bringing the Government down if Labour tries something surprising and egregious. All the while, Greens and TPM could work to win more than Labour at the next election. To be honest, Greens and TPM and TOP should be working together on a long-term strategy to supplant Labour as the party of the left. Labour is no longer left. Its treatment of beneficiaries, the climate, renters, water quality and the economy has been better than National-ACT, but barely, and nowhere near what should be done in the long run. There’s been too many bait and switches since 1984 for those on the left to have much faith anymore.
Absolutely Bernard. No amount of being in coalition with an arrogant "Labour" Party will make the slightest difference. They don't understand the c word. I too think that Greens, TPM and TOP would make an excellent mixture of what serves the true NZ population best, and sooner, rather than later, surplanting Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Greens, a little naive and idealistic but their hearts are in the right place. TPM to keep the peace. TOP to have the courage and economic building blocks towards a future for all Kiwis who will end up with VERY serious issues to contend with in 5 - 10 years. There is no time to play dopey politics, this is a war to try to control an angry climate. And for a war to be won, someone with integrity and true grit has to be in charge. Someone who understands collaborative political leadership.
Actually it is up to the voters to bring about change. If the Greens, TPM and TOP collectively got equivalent or more votes than Labour, then they could work collaboratively to push the progressive policies we all need. It is in our hands.
It’s a good question for us to followup. How much does the fear of the loan, the debt collection process, any interest costs and the hoops themselves stop people from accessing it? And what is the opportunity cost in terms of reduced future liabilities by not making it universal?
Work and Income have two payments for dental treatment. You can get up to $1000 in a 52 week period as a Special Needs Grant (almost always non-recoverable) for emergency dental treatment. You can also get an Advance Payment of Benefit (or Recoverable Assistance Payment for non-beneficiaries), that is recoverable, for dental treatment, which need not be an emergency and can include things like dentures. I can't find the maximum limit for the Advance Payment. There are probably some internal guidelines which can be extended with varying levels of approval from more senior staff. It used to be that you could combine the two, so if you had $1500 of emergency work to be done, you'd get $1000 non-recoverable and $500 as recoverable. I can't find that written down on their website, but is possibly still the case.
To answer Andrew Riddell's questions both are means tested and one is a grant the other is a loan.
Yes - I'm way over 30 and haven't been to a dentist since before Covid due to financial pressures. Hoping my regular brushing, flossing and mouth-washing is working.
There are so many like yourself only much worse and it shows up in the quality of retirement years. It is so shallow for Labour to announce this policy now-- 6 years wasted and drip feed but only if they get elected.
The reason people can't afford dental treatment is the vastly inflated prices that are charged. They are way out of what it actually costs to provide the treatment. I challenge any dentist or orthodontist to spell out a budget that says anything else. Perhaps the time has come for this profession to have some social conscience imposed on it. Governments can arrange for this to happen with public backing. If our dental professionals decide to skip the country, in order to retain profits in Australia, train more, or bring in more (although that is often at the expense of a deserving country who has trained them only to lose them to a richer country such as ourselves).
We know sugar is highly addictive. Labour Govt gifted Chelsea Sugar Factory climate-related funding recently - ok BUT not into a factory who has the sole purpose of profiting from our (here and overseas) sugar addiction in our foods and beverages, which in turn significantly contributes to the downstream consequences of poor oral and general health across the entire life course eg. diabetes, tooth decay. So, in a food system encouraged to unavoidably sweeten our lives from the womb to the tomb and therefore perpetuate ill health and chronic diseases, the Govt surely is obligated to provide free oral healthcare for all to compensate for that structural setting. Further, if root cause analysis were to be applied to this debate, then the source of the addiction would be addressed ie. reduce and then phase out the addition of processed sugar in our food system. Invest in good health rather than the unproductive investment in ill health.
"We know sugar is highly addictive. Labour Govt gifted Chelsea Sugar Factory climate-related funding recently " ... ironic also given that Chelsea Sugar Factory is 75% owned by Wilmer International, the leading global oil palm plantation owner - an industry that is responsible for illegal logging of rainforests, deliberate burning to clear land, .....
I’m curious how that could be done Jono. Where’s the twist? Do it or…or….we’ll…put National in…oh wait…we’ll never do that…so please…pretty please…Labour has talked about it for years and now is saying some vague future time…and we can’t afford it now…even though our net debt is vastly lower than others with AA+ credit ratings….essentially we’re choosing not to because keeping land owners happy with low interest rates is more important than the pain now and the future ignored debt later….
We need a centrist environmental party. The greens are sucking up all the oxygen on the far left and pushing labour into the centre. Even if the greens got more seats than labour, labour would still win the post-election policy negotiation because the greens can't go with anyone else. A labour/national coalition would be more realistic than a greens/anyone-but-labour coalition
Crossbenches and a more antagonistic political relationship would be the only real threat. A precarious third term minority government with Green and TPM hecklers would not be very desirable for Hipkins.
I don't see Labour ever agreeing to universal dental in these negotiations but the boat could certainly be pushed out a bit more on that issue.
I take your point though. I don't think there is any direct electoral solution to the problems we face, the pressure is going to have to come from outside parliament and force a realignment within Labour to proper 21st century social democracy. Or, to force the Greens to overtake Labour as the left major.
Why is age the best way to limit this? Surely some sort of ability to pay assessment would be preferable if you aren't going to make it universal (which would be much better). Plenty of people under 30 with more ability to pay than lots of over 30s.
I like universality as a way to lock it in and avoid the costs and pain of means testing. I also helps lock it in over electoral cycles because the middle class median voters who decide elections like ‘free’ stuff too, and feel it’s fair they get it at the same time as everyone else. It’s why NZ Super has the wide electoral acceptance it does.
Agree with universality and even tax increases to fund high standards. I don't think most high taxpayers mind supporting a collectively funded system, even if they pay in a lot more than they get out. What people really hate is supporting a system that they are excluded from or one that provides substandard services when they need them. A case in point is our public health emergency departments - I don't mind paying for it and never using it but when I do need help, I'll throw all my toys out the cot if you make me sit in the waiting room for 10 hours 🤬
FYI I’ve updated this piece on Labour’s dental policy with a first experimental version of The Kaka Project. I welcome additions and suggestions from paying subscribers in the comments. It’s a living document.
And by the way, I’ve opened this up beyond paying subscribers for public reading and sharing. Thanks to paying subscribers for supporting our public interest journalism on housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa being available in public. We always welcome new subscribers to add to this work. As an example, we have just employed Cathrine Dyer to add to The Kākā’s coverage of climate issues.
The lack of dentists and dental health workers is a real issue. At least this policy is a start which has a realistic chance of being put in place. It is not as fast as it could be but at least it is a good start to be built on. Paid parental leave and its slow progress until now we have discussions on paid leave for partners as well is an example of slow progress made in the right direction. Don't knock it too much?
I dont believe they'd ever fully implement it. What happend to the other years of fees-free tertiary education? Sure maybe they couldn't afford it during covid, but why haven’t they gone back to it now? The conversation has moved on and a second year of fees-free isn't as sexy as something new and shiny. (I don't really care for fees-free, just making the observation that this government doesnt have a track record of following through on policy)
Too bad the captain already ruled out a wealth tax that could’ve paid for the whole thing! Although I am seriously glad to see Labour jump on this extremely popular policy and hopefully help generate some enthusiasm amongst both their possible voters but also Green voters who can now point to actual Green policies that will (partially) be implemented in a L+G govt.
Would be interesting to see age breakdowns of popularity of this policy. Anecdotally, I’ve talked to several older people (50+) who have said the free dental was getting them to consider voting Green for the first time in their lives. I hope L’s incrementalism doesn’t cause them to miss out on this group.
Yes, it's very much a vote of confidence in the Greens policies -- again -- from Labour.
It really would be nice to see a Greens-led coalition, with Te Pati Maori and Labour in support.
Sure seems to be shaping up that way!
One day I hope to see Greens overtake Labour as the chief left wing party in Aotearoa.
Hopefully Labour will steal their policy of paying homeowners to install solar panels next. I’ve heard median swing voters love it when the government uses its money to help make their house values go up and their power bills go down…
If it’s a Labour-led Government with the Greens and TPM in support then it will be a Labour Government with a couple of bits tacked on, where the Greens and TPM are ignored and mollified. As long as both are unable to apply any leverage in the initial negotiations. That’s very hard without the threat of putting the other guys in Government. They would be better off giving support on supply and confidence and staying in Opposition, with the implied threat of bringing the Government down if Labour tries something surprising and egregious. All the while, Greens and TPM could work to win more than Labour at the next election. To be honest, Greens and TPM and TOP should be working together on a long-term strategy to supplant Labour as the party of the left. Labour is no longer left. Its treatment of beneficiaries, the climate, renters, water quality and the economy has been better than National-ACT, but barely, and nowhere near what should be done in the long run. There’s been too many bait and switches since 1984 for those on the left to have much faith anymore.
Absolutely Bernard. No amount of being in coalition with an arrogant "Labour" Party will make the slightest difference. They don't understand the c word. I too think that Greens, TPM and TOP would make an excellent mixture of what serves the true NZ population best, and sooner, rather than later, surplanting Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Greens, a little naive and idealistic but their hearts are in the right place. TPM to keep the peace. TOP to have the courage and economic building blocks towards a future for all Kiwis who will end up with VERY serious issues to contend with in 5 - 10 years. There is no time to play dopey politics, this is a war to try to control an angry climate. And for a war to be won, someone with integrity and true grit has to be in charge. Someone who understands collaborative political leadership.
Actually it is up to the voters to bring about change. If the Greens, TPM and TOP collectively got equivalent or more votes than Labour, then they could work collaboratively to push the progressive policies we all need. It is in our hands.
In a coalition arrangement with Labour.
So they are confining the over 30s who cant afford to see the dentist and countless of the retired population to poor dental health.
Is that a grant or a loan, assuming you get through the demeaning hoops?
(a) is this $1,000 a grant or a loan?
(b) is it means tested?
It’s a good question for us to followup. How much does the fear of the loan, the debt collection process, any interest costs and the hoops themselves stop people from accessing it? And what is the opportunity cost in terms of reduced future liabilities by not making it universal?
Work and Income have two payments for dental treatment. You can get up to $1000 in a 52 week period as a Special Needs Grant (almost always non-recoverable) for emergency dental treatment. You can also get an Advance Payment of Benefit (or Recoverable Assistance Payment for non-beneficiaries), that is recoverable, for dental treatment, which need not be an emergency and can include things like dentures. I can't find the maximum limit for the Advance Payment. There are probably some internal guidelines which can be extended with varying levels of approval from more senior staff. It used to be that you could combine the two, so if you had $1500 of emergency work to be done, you'd get $1000 non-recoverable and $500 as recoverable. I can't find that written down on their website, but is possibly still the case.
To answer Andrew Riddell's questions both are means tested and one is a grant the other is a loan.
Yes - I'm way over 30 and haven't been to a dentist since before Covid due to financial pressures. Hoping my regular brushing, flossing and mouth-washing is working.
David
There are so many like yourself only much worse and it shows up in the quality of retirement years. It is so shallow for Labour to announce this policy now-- 6 years wasted and drip feed but only if they get elected.
Susan is absolutely right here.
The reason people can't afford dental treatment is the vastly inflated prices that are charged. They are way out of what it actually costs to provide the treatment. I challenge any dentist or orthodontist to spell out a budget that says anything else. Perhaps the time has come for this profession to have some social conscience imposed on it. Governments can arrange for this to happen with public backing. If our dental professionals decide to skip the country, in order to retain profits in Australia, train more, or bring in more (although that is often at the expense of a deserving country who has trained them only to lose them to a richer country such as ourselves).
We know sugar is highly addictive. Labour Govt gifted Chelsea Sugar Factory climate-related funding recently - ok BUT not into a factory who has the sole purpose of profiting from our (here and overseas) sugar addiction in our foods and beverages, which in turn significantly contributes to the downstream consequences of poor oral and general health across the entire life course eg. diabetes, tooth decay. So, in a food system encouraged to unavoidably sweeten our lives from the womb to the tomb and therefore perpetuate ill health and chronic diseases, the Govt surely is obligated to provide free oral healthcare for all to compensate for that structural setting. Further, if root cause analysis were to be applied to this debate, then the source of the addiction would be addressed ie. reduce and then phase out the addition of processed sugar in our food system. Invest in good health rather than the unproductive investment in ill health.
"We know sugar is highly addictive. Labour Govt gifted Chelsea Sugar Factory climate-related funding recently " ... ironic also given that Chelsea Sugar Factory is 75% owned by Wilmer International, the leading global oil palm plantation owner - an industry that is responsible for illegal logging of rainforests, deliberate burning to clear land, .....
Well that makes the scenario even more perverse eh. Really a fantastic case study for how not to resolve interconnected public health challenges
The Greens could twist their arm into going further, faster this time without NZF in the way 💚
I’m curious how that could be done Jono. Where’s the twist? Do it or…or….we’ll…put National in…oh wait…we’ll never do that…so please…pretty please…Labour has talked about it for years and now is saying some vague future time…and we can’t afford it now…even though our net debt is vastly lower than others with AA+ credit ratings….essentially we’re choosing not to because keeping land owners happy with low interest rates is more important than the pain now and the future ignored debt later….
We need a centrist environmental party. The greens are sucking up all the oxygen on the far left and pushing labour into the centre. Even if the greens got more seats than labour, labour would still win the post-election policy negotiation because the greens can't go with anyone else. A labour/national coalition would be more realistic than a greens/anyone-but-labour coalition
Crossbenches and a more antagonistic political relationship would be the only real threat. A precarious third term minority government with Green and TPM hecklers would not be very desirable for Hipkins.
I don't see Labour ever agreeing to universal dental in these negotiations but the boat could certainly be pushed out a bit more on that issue.
I take your point though. I don't think there is any direct electoral solution to the problems we face, the pressure is going to have to come from outside parliament and force a realignment within Labour to proper 21st century social democracy. Or, to force the Greens to overtake Labour as the left major.
Why is age the best way to limit this? Surely some sort of ability to pay assessment would be preferable if you aren't going to make it universal (which would be much better). Plenty of people under 30 with more ability to pay than lots of over 30s.
I like universality as a way to lock it in and avoid the costs and pain of means testing. I also helps lock it in over electoral cycles because the middle class median voters who decide elections like ‘free’ stuff too, and feel it’s fair they get it at the same time as everyone else. It’s why NZ Super has the wide electoral acceptance it does.
Agree with universality and even tax increases to fund high standards. I don't think most high taxpayers mind supporting a collectively funded system, even if they pay in a lot more than they get out. What people really hate is supporting a system that they are excluded from or one that provides substandard services when they need them. A case in point is our public health emergency departments - I don't mind paying for it and never using it but when I do need help, I'll throw all my toys out the cot if you make me sit in the waiting room for 10 hours 🤬
Doesn't go far enough, but a good political play. Now all National will talk about and be asked at their campaign launch tomorrow is about this.
We had think big under Muldoon. We are getting think small (niggardly?) under Hipkins.
I quite like that. Thinking small is just as bad as Think Big.
Copying greens’ homework but making it shitter.
'Enshitification' (Cory Doctorow) also seems highly relevant in this context
It's a start of a popular policy, the Greens can claim victory even before voting stated and National will have a hard time attacking it.
If Labour manages to form a govt they can always claim later that the Greens twisted their arm in negotiations and made it universal for all.
Labour, as with their GST-off-fruit-and-veg, underwhelms.
Te Paati Māori calls for free dental and medical care for all families with an income of under $60,000 a year:
“This policy will support over three million people in Aotearoa [to] have access to free primary healthcare.”
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/election-2023-te-pati-maori-looks-to-upsize-maori-health-and-life-expectancy-with-its-election-policy-suite/VM6K7NTKXFCFRH23ZZQNKHZJEI/
Thanks John. That’s useful.
Thanks.
By the way. A fantastic picture in this from Lynn. This is Hipkins and his ‘kitchen cabinet’.
FYI I’ve updated this piece on Labour’s dental policy with a first experimental version of The Kaka Project. I welcome additions and suggestions from paying subscribers in the comments. It’s a living document.
I like this revised format, Bernard. Thank you.
And by the way, I’ve opened this up beyond paying subscribers for public reading and sharing. Thanks to paying subscribers for supporting our public interest journalism on housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa being available in public. We always welcome new subscribers to add to this work. As an example, we have just employed Cathrine Dyer to add to The Kākā’s coverage of climate issues.
The lack of dentists and dental health workers is a real issue. At least this policy is a start which has a realistic chance of being put in place. It is not as fast as it could be but at least it is a good start to be built on. Paid parental leave and its slow progress until now we have discussions on paid leave for partners as well is an example of slow progress made in the right direction. Don't knock it too much?
I dont believe they'd ever fully implement it. What happend to the other years of fees-free tertiary education? Sure maybe they couldn't afford it during covid, but why haven’t they gone back to it now? The conversation has moved on and a second year of fees-free isn't as sexy as something new and shiny. (I don't really care for fees-free, just making the observation that this government doesnt have a track record of following through on policy)
This is great. What this shows is that if you vote left you're going to get movement on dental care regardless if you vote Lab, Green or TPM!
I think it's wise to be cautious on implementation as the difficulties getting the rest of the health workforce has shown.
I'm interested in how realistic the numbers are as the dental association is showing some scepticism.
It looks difficult without that much separate data or research by the looks of it.
Thanks for this work, it's great to get some analysis without the histrionics!