The government has announced a funding boost for two new Auckland ambulance hubs, more staff, upgraded technology, and stronger frontline support.
In a pre-budget announcement in Auckland this morning, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello say they will provide $35 million over four years in Budget 2026, to strengthen road ambulance services and deliver immediate improvements for patients and frontline staff.
"When New Zealanders call an ambulance, they need confidence that they will get the help they need quickly and that frontline crews have the support and resources they need to respond," Brown said.
"Demand for ambulance services continues to grow across the country, which is why we are focused on strengthening the workforce, infrastructure, and technology needed to support modern, reliable emergency care."
The funding will go towards:
- The establishment of two ambulance hubs in Auckland, with one confirmed for South Auckland (these are large, central bases where crews begin and end shifts and vehicles are fully prepared for service)
- The deployment of an electronic Patient Clinical Record system (this is a digital platform that enables real-time sharing of patient information between ambulance services and health providers, improving coordination)
- Additional training support for ambulance communications centre staff
- Additional clinical welfare checks for patients
There will also be a separate increase in funding from Health New Zealand and ACC for road ambulances to meet demand and cost pressures, with the total funding package to be finalised following negotiations for the next four-year contract.
That will go towards:
- Additional frontline ambulance crews and 111 call handlers
- Strengthened recruitment and retention of ambulance volunteers, particularly in rural and high-deprivation areas
- An enhanced clinical hub to provide clinical telephone advice and support more patients to resolve their care needs without an ambulance response (this is staffed with paramedics and nurses, and manages patients without the need for ambulance attendance)
Costello said the overall funding increase contributed to the National-NZ First Coalition Agreement commitment.
The investment was expected to reduce avoidable emergency department transports by around 23,000 each year by 2029/30, she said.
"Emergency ambulance demand is expected to increase by 95,000 incidents over the next four years, to an estimated 735,000 incidents," she said.
"Volunteers also play an essential role in ambulance services, particularly in rural and remote areas, sustaining emergency care for those communities, while the enhanced clinical hub will help more patients access the right level of care sooner through clinical telephone advice and allow crews to focus on higher-acuity emergencies."
Since 2023, HNZ and ACC have provided an additional $77.7 million for road ambulance services, bringing total funding to $452 million for the 2025/26 financial year.
Brown said this latest investment was about "fixing the basics and building the future - strengthening ambulance crews' ability to respond quickly and deliver safe, effective care, and ensuring services are well equipped to meet growing demand and continue supporting New Zealanders".
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz |  |
