New Zealanders support higher taxes for improved healthcare

A national survey conducted by University of Otago researchers and the Cancer Society of New Zealand indicates that approximately two-thirds of the population is willing to pay higher taxes to improve healthcare funding, specifically for cancer care. The study, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, surveyed over 1,600 people.

The findings reveal broad consensus across different political affiliations regarding several public health measures. There is significant support for tougher regulations on tobacco and unhealthy foods, including potential taxes on sugary drinks and stricter alcohol marketing protections. Additionally, respondents expressed a desire for increased sun-safety measures and more urgent action on skin cancer prevention.

Support for cancer-related policies is particularly high once a diagnosis is involved, with over 90 percent of participants backing improved early detection, treatment, and care. Professor Louise Signal, lead director of the research collaboration, noted that the results demonstrate a clear public mandate for evidence-based cancer policy, suggesting that the necessary political action has yet to follow the public's expressed needs.