ACT to campaign on Paul Henry's 'Starship for cancer' proposal
The ACT Party in New Zealand has adopted a proposal by candidate Paul Henry to build a national cancer hospital, dubbed 'Starship for Cancer'. The plan involves a mix of philanthropic funding and government borrowing to establish facilities in Auckland and Christchurch.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in healthcare policy debate, focusing on private-public funding models for major national infrastructure.
<p>The ACT Party wants to build New Zealand's first dedicated national cancer centre, turning a musing from new candidate <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/05/act-candidate-paul-henry-tells-electorate-to-vote-for-a-national-mp/" target="_blank">Paul Henry</a> into a campaign promise.</p> <p><b>By Giles Dexter of </b><a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1077302/act-to-campaign-on-paul-henry-s-starship-for-cancer-proposal" target="_blank"><b>RNZ</b></a><b></b></p> <p>ACT would establish a philanthropic foundation to attract some of the funding, and get rid of a cap on donation tax credits - the same cap that put one National MP at odds with his party.</p> <p>When he announced his candidacy in July, Henry said he wanted a world-class cancer hospital in New Zealand, but admitted it would cost "multiple billions" of dollars.</p> <p>"I think you could easily get a group of wealthy New Zealanders to stump up with about 10 billion, easily.
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