Dental Health — Free Universal Dental Care for All New Zealanders

The Policy: Green Party Free Dental for All Policy →

The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand proposes to establish a publicly funded New Zealand Dental Service that would make dental care free for all residents. First announced in August 2023 as a flagship election policy, the plan would cover annual check-ups, cleanings, fillings, sealants, and extractions at no cost, delivered through a network of community clinics, mobile dental vans, and marae-based services. The policy is framed around equity: 40% of New Zealanders currently forgo dental care due to cost, with the average dentist visit sitting at $353 — roughly 40% of a minimum-wage worker's weekly income.

The current National-led coalition government, which took office after the October 2023 election, has not advanced universal dental care. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has acknowledged affordability concerns but said the priority is improving the broader health system before addressing dental expansion. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has similarly stated he is "receiving advice" on improving oral health services while pointing to existing funded services for under-18s and low-income earners.

What it does:

• Establishes a community-based New Zealand Dental Service providing free care to all New Zealand residents
• Covers annual check-ups, cleanings, fillings, sealants, and extractions at no cost
• Deploys mobile dental vans and portable clinics, including services at marae and community hubs
• Provides dedicated Māori-for-Māori dental health services through additional Māori Health Authority funding
• Expands dentist training placements from 60 to 80 per year to address workforce shortages
• Estimated cost: $1.41 billion in Year 1, rising to $1.71 billion in subsequent years, funded through a wealth tax on assets over $2 million (individuals) or $4 million (couples)

Where things stand:

The policy was a centrepiece of the Greens' 2023 general election campaign, where they polled at approximately 9-10%. The party did not enter government — National formed a coalition with ACT and NZ First — meaning the policy has not been legislated or funded. Labour, in opposition, campaigned on a more incremental alternative: extending free dental care to those aged under 30 in stages by 2026, costed at $390 million over four years.

As of 2025-2026, neither the Green Party's universal scheme nor Labour's under-30s plan has been enacted. The National government has not introduced any legislation to expand adult dental coverage. The Green Party continues to advocate for the policy from the opposition benches, with health spokesperson Hūhana Lyndon citing an April 2026 report arguing that universal public dental care would cost less than the current privatised system when hidden economic costs — including $2.5 billion in lost annual productivity and $103 million in sick days — are factored in. A Talbot Mills Research poll found 83% of New Zealanders support integrating dental care into the public health system.

Dental professional bodies have described the Green Party proposal as "aspirational," acknowledging the workforce challenge: only one dentistry training institution exists in New Zealand (University of Otago), graduating 60 dentists annually — a figure unchanged for 40 years. A 2024 report by FrankAdvice, commissioned by the Dental for All campaign group, found the current system costs New Zealand $2.5 billion per year in lost productivity, helping reframe the debate from cost to investment.

What to watch:

• Whether the 2026 general election brings dental care back as a live policy battleground, particularly if the Greens secure a confidence and supply arrangement
• The Green Party's updated costing and any new proposals from the Dental for All campaign, including the April 2026 cost-benefit report now in public circulation
• Workforce pipeline developments — any move to expand University of Otago dental training places would signal whether a future government is preparing for expanded coverage