5258 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

5258 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What progress has been made in the last quarter (October to December 2023) to ‘Improve access to travel and accommodation for people affected by cancer’ under Outcome 4: New Zealanders have better cancer survival, supportive care and end-of-life care, as part of the New Zealand Cancer Action Plan 2019 – 2029?

Hon Dr Shane Reti: This work commenced on 26 march I announced increases in payment rates under the National Travel Assistance (NTA) that took effect on 1 April. During the last quarter the increases resulted in: • Mileage rates moving from 28c to 34c a kilometer. • Nightly accommodation rates increasing from $100 to $140. • The rate for staying with friends or whānau moving from $25 to $35 a night. I am further advised that Health New Zealand also intend to: • introduce easier pre-payment and claiming options • make eligibility changes to better target those in need • improve promotion and awareness of the scheme