Heather and Simon discuss health policies in the final week of the election campaign. There is general agreement that nothing being offered will result in the structural reforms and workforce solutions needed to get New Zealand's health system working properly. Although proposed increases to Medical School outputs for doctors will help, the numbers are tiny compared to the shortage of clinicians the country is facing. And it's not just doctors and nurses but every clinical specialisation. Mental health staffing is particularly troubling. The proposals to review how the PHARMAC funding model works is welcomed with the need to access modern biologic medicines. Parties on the centre right are planning to get rid of the newly created separate Maori Health Authority. Other than that, most policies offered are simply tinkering around the edges of health. 

 With the beautiful Havelock marina and the Tui Coffee cart as a backdrop, Heather and Simon discuss the differences in approaches to law and order issues offered up by parties in election 2023.

It seems the left (both liberal and conservative) are focussing their policies on harm minimisation, rehabilitation and alternative approaches The parties of the right (both liberal and conservative) are more focussed on answering public calls to feel 'safer' including more police, tougher courts, more prisons and increased measures for youth offenders and gangs.

There are also vastly differing approaches to firearms legislation and issues relating to children and young people.

The sky backdrop is real - not a green screen. #gomarlborough 

This episode is recorded 'on the road' along State Highway 6 between Havelock and Blenheim. Easy Vote cards and party lists have started appearing in letterboxes around the country.

Heather and Simon discuss some of the so-called micro-parties like Animal Justice, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Democracy NZ, Freedoms NZ, Leighton Baker, New Nation, NewZeal, NZ Loyal and Women's Rights.

The discussion is mostly about party lists and how important it is for voters to do their research on the candidates being offered up. However, there is also a reminder not to write someone off because they said something or liked a post 10 or more years ago. People are entitled to an opinion and to change their minds.

Early voting is only days away.