Budget 2026: $35 million boost announced for ambulance services

New Zealand’s government has allocated $35 million over four years in Budget 2026 to strengthen road ambulance services, with a focus on Auckland. Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello revealed the funding during a pre-Budget announcement, highlighting the need to improve response times, workforce support, and infrastructure. The investment includes two new ambulance hubs in Auckland—one confirmed in South Auckland—to centralize operations, reduce administrative delays, and improve vehicle maintenance. An electronic Patient Clinical Record system will enable real-time patient data sharing between ambulance services and health providers, enhancing coordination. Additional funding will support frontline ambulance crews, 111 call handlers, and recruitment of volunteers, particularly in rural and high-deprivation areas. A new clinical hub staffed by paramedics and nurses will provide telephone advice, aiming to reduce avoidable emergency department transports by 23,000 annually by 2029-30. Demand for ambulance services is expected to rise by 95,000 incidents over the next four years, reaching an estimated 735,000 incidents. Costello noted that the funding aligns with the National-NZ First Coalition Agreement and follows $77.7 million in additional funding since 2023, bringing total spending to $452 million for 2025-26. The government also plans to negotiate a four-year contract to address cost pressures and further boost road ambulance services. Costello described the new hubs as a ‘game changer,’ improving efficiency by centralizing administrative tasks and ensuring crews remain operational without losing local capacity.