A Starship for Cancer

Cancer is New Zealand’s biggest killer. More than 30,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed each year, and around 1,000 more die from cancer each year than would if our cancer mortality rate matched Australia’s.

New Zealanders should not have to accept second-rate cancer care. Starship showed what can happen when we bring our best people, technology, research and generosity together. ACT wants to do the same for cancer.

ACT will support a world-class National Cancer Centre with campuses in Auckland and Christchurch. It will bring complex treatment, research, clinical trials and specialist expertise together in one institution. We want New Zealand to have cancer care that stands alongside the best in the world.

Read ACT's full policy, Beyond Tomorrow – A Starship for Cancer, here.

ACT will:

• Build National Cancer Centre campuses in Auckland and Christchurch.

• Bring cancer treatment, research, clinical trials, and specialist expertise together in world-class centres.

• Establish an independent National Cancer Centre Foundation to attract major philanthropic investment.

• Use public-private partnerships, philanthropy, existing health investment, and private capital to fund the centres.

• Locate Health New Zealand’s relevant Auckland and Christchurch cancer services at the new centres.

• Remove the $33,333 cap on tax benefits for charitable donations.

In our team’s words:

ACT Candidate Paul Henry says:

"I’ve joined politics because I am ambitious for New Zealand and think it has endless potential. We should not accept being second-rate at treating a disease that touches almost every family.

"Starship showed what New Zealand can achieve when we concentrate talent, technology, generosity and national ambition around a single mission. ACT wants to do the same for cancer.

"This is an investment in New Zealand’s future. It is the type of project that makes New Zealand the envy of the world and attracts private healthcare investment, new technologies and therapies, teaching, medical research, and international clinical trials."