The Frontline: Dr Gary Payinda with Rob Campbell

Rob Campbell caught up with Dr Gary Payinda for a chat about why the future of our public health system matters so much right now.

In the conversation, Rob talked about the growing pressure on hospitals and staff, and what happens when we treat health funding as something that can be trimmed back without consequences. Buildings age. Workforce morale drops. Waiting lists grow. And inequities widen.

We know most New Zealanders value a public system where care is based on need, not ability to pay. The big question, especially in an election year, is how we make sure political parties reflect that same commitment in their policies.

The discussion also talks about Te Tiriti. Equity isn’t a side issue. It sits at the heart of whether the system actually works for everyone. If we don’t design policy with that in mind, we keep reproducing the same gaps.