Fuel Crisis Forces Northland Whānau To Choose Between Petrol And Healthcare

“The message from the frontline is clear,” said Mahitahi Hauora CEO Jensen Webber. “This is no longer just a cost-of-living issue - it’s a healthcare access crisis.”

“Without urgent intervention, inequities will deepen, preventable conditions will worsen, and the long-term cost to the health system will far outweigh the investment needed now. Access to healthcare should never depend on what’s in your fuel tank.”

A growing number of Tai Tokerau whānau are being pushed to the brink, with Mahitahi Hauora member general practices reporting that rising fuel costs are directly preventing patients from accessing essential care.

In recent months, patients have missed critical appointments because they could not afford petrol. Others have been unable to collect vital medications, forcing clinic staff to personally deliver prescriptions to maintain continuity of care.

“This is no longer hypothetical - we see it every day,” said Jessie Hoskins, CEO at Broadway Health. “Whānau are having to choose: do I put fuel in the car, or do I go to the doctor?”

Sharp rise in missed appointments

New data highlights the scale of the issue, with missed appointments (“Did Not Attends” or DNAs) rising sharply since the fuel crisis intensified.

DNAs from Broadway Health, a Mahitahi Hauora member general practice:

• 2024 (1 Feb - 23 Apr): 7 DNAs
• 2025 (same period): 11 DNAs
• 2026 (same period): 59 DNAs

This represents a 436% increase in the last year and a 743% rise over two years. Frontline staff report this surge is directly linked to fuel affordability.

In response to the complex pressures whānau face, some practices are taking a compassionate approach - only charging for missed appointments after repeated DNAs and multiple attempts to re-engage patients.

Increased support means fewer people helped

Many patients, particularly in rural areas, must travel long distances for specialist care. Some member practices have increased travel assistance to help remove barriers.

However, this comes at a cost.

“By increasing what we give each patient, we reduce the number of people we can support overall,” said one rural practice manager. “It’s a choice we shouldn’t ever have to make.”

Petrol is now a barrier to care

Across Tai Tokerau, Mahitahi Hauora’s member general practices are reporting:

• Missed appointments due to fuel costs
• Whānau unable to collect prescriptions
• Reluctance to travel “just for the doctor”
• Patients bundling appointments with errands to save fuel

Practices have relied on petrol vouchers from a previous programme to bridge the gap, but these resources are now nearly exhausted.

Call for urgent, practical solutions

Mahitahi Hauora is calling for immediate action to ensure access to healthcare is not dictated by the price of fuel. Urgent solutions include, but are not limited to:

• Petrol vouchers to support healthcare access
• Increased resourcing and fuel support for outreach services
• Community transport options, especially in rural areas
• Recognition of fuel-related barriers in healthcare performance measures (KPIs)

“There are practical, targeted solutions available right now, but action is needed,” said Jensen Webber. “Whānau deserve to get the care they need, close to home, without fuel costs standing in the way.”

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