A future Labour Government would offer doctors and nurse practitioners low-interest loans to set up new practices or buy into existing ones.

New Zealand currently has a GP shortage, which is expected to worsen as GPs retire without being replaced. A recent survey found two-thirds of GPs are expected to retire in the next decade.

Some in the sector have also warned of an emerging duopoly, with large primary healthcare providers buying up practices from retiring independent owners.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins announced the promise on Sunday at his party’s conference in Auckland. this weekend. His speech and media stand-up is being livestreamed at the top of this article.

“This is a practical, targeted way to boost locally-owned clinics across New Zealand and strengthen the ones we already have. More doctors in our communities means shorter waits for patients,” he said.

Labour will initially offer up to 50 loans a year, prioritising areas that have no GPs or practices with closed or partially closed books.

They will only be available for owner and community-operated general practices and be repaid over 10 years. The loans will be interest-free for the first two years.

Labour has put affordable healthcare at the heart of its emerging pitch to voters at next year’s election. The party has promised to spend the majority of money raised from its capital gains tax to fund three free GP visits a year.

That policy came under fire from National and the coalition Government for being likely to put pressure on the already stretched primary care workforce.

Hipkins said the policy would help Labour achieve its promise of freeing up 4.5 million doctor’s appointments every year.

“The number of doctor-owned practices is falling, as is the number of doctors who work in doctor-owned practices. It’s expensive to start a new practice or buy into an existing one, so our low-interest loans will give doctors the kick start they need to get established.

“Two-thirds of practice owners and partners are intending to retire in the next 10 years, so it’s vital we can support the next generation to keep the doors and books open.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins at his party’s conference in Auckland on November 30, 2025. NZ Herald photo by Michael Craig.

Labour members gathered in Auckland this weekend for their party conference.

On Saturday, two members of the caucus, Cushla Tangaere-Manuel and Barbara Edmonds, addressed the conference.

Tangaere-Manuel laid out an ambitious platform for retaking all seven Māori electorates at the next election. Te Pāti Māori won six of the seven in 2023, although two of those MPs have subsequently left the party.

One of those expelled MPs, Tākuta Ferris, put out a press statement last week suggesting Labour voters should split their votes, creating an overhang that would make it easier to topple the coalition from office.

Labour does not appear particularly moved by that strategy and has continued to talk up its chances of retaking all the seats next year.

Edmonds’ speech contained a dose of realism, warning Labour could not afford to say “yes” to everything its supporters may want.

She also put some distance between herself and the last Labour Government, in which she briefly served as a minister.

“We’ve heard the lesson of last term: too much, too fast, and not enough finished,” Edmonds said.

“People heard the promises – and often supported the intent – but didn’t always see the change in their lives,” she said.

Edmonds promised “fiscal responsibility” if Labour is elected next year.

Act Leader David Seymour pre-emptively questioned that commitment, rushing out a press release as the conference got going questioning how Labour would fund its commitment to reverse the coalition’s pay equity reforms, which saved $12.8 billion.

“Even just reinstating Labour’s pay‑equity regime will leave a $13b hole in the books, so you can practically hear Hipkins’ new taxes rolling into the station. His capital gains tax doesn’t save him, it will take years to raise a single billion and Hipkins needs 13," Seymour said.