Labour promises free maternity scans

Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Labour will go to the election promising all mothers free maternity scans using its new “Medicard”.

The party say the policy will cost $28.6 million a year alongside $3m a year for new sonographers, with the funds coming from its Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and baseline health funding.

Currently, scans are free in some areas of the country but cost a capped amount elsewhere - $30 for community service card holders or $90 for other mothers.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said “free will mean free” under Labour.

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“For many families, pregnancy comes with enough costs and stress already. A Labour Government will ease that pressure by making the scans they need free,” Hipkins said.

“Women and their families shouldn't have to worry about money when it comes to making sure they and their babies are OK.”

Labour’s health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said the party would also fund 24 additional trainee sonographers to meet any increase in demand.

“No-one should have to skip a scan because they can’t afford it. Scans pick up issues early, help families prepare for birth, and save lives,” Verrall said.

The party suggested the $28.6m a year would come from its CGT, already set to fund three free GP visits a year as well, while the extra $3m a year for sonographer training would come from existing Health NZ baselines.

The Government temporarily uplifted funding for maternity ultrasounds by $12.9m in April to introduce the $30 and $90 limits, on top of the $24.7m of scans it funds already.

Labour’s funding comes on top of the $24.7m, but if the Government made the temporary uplift permanent, Labour would only need to fund $15.7m.

The party expects some increase in scans as a result, but the policy would only fund scans deemed medically necessary by a health practitioner.

The current funding model for scans is unique to each region, with some regions wholly subsiding scans, others partially and some, such as Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury, do not subside scans at all.

Before the limits were imposed, funding per scan could cost up to $225.50.

“Which scans are right for each pregnancy remains a decision between a woman and her midwife or doctor but we expect to see an increase as those who may have found the cost prohibitive, can get the care they need without worrying about cost,” the party said in a fact sheet released alongside the document.

‘Keepsake’ and 3D scans not needed for medical reasons will not be covered.

The party says the scans will be available from July 2028 if the party gets into power after the election.

Dr Deborah Powell, national secretary of sector union APEX, welcomed the announcement.

Early prevention would reduce health costs down the line, including expensive helicopter transfers and decreasing the number of babies requiring neonatal intensive care due to delays in treatment and prolonged stays in intensive care, Powell said.

Making scans free would remove significant barriers for people who otherwise couldn’t afford it and would give mothers some security to identify risks early.

“We want to make sure mum and baby are safe and they are in the right place for delivery and if there is something that needs immediate intervention when the baby is born, we can ensure they are in the right centre.”

“We can’t stop all of these babies from having these problems but we can treat them.”

Midwifery Employee Representation & Advisory Service (MERAS) co-leader Caroline Conroy also welcomed the policy, saying affordability of scans was a “real barrier” for pregnant women, with costs varying so significantly.

Health Minister Simeon Brown said National’s approach was to target support to those most in need and Health NZ already provided free ultrasounds at hospitals for women in some circumstances.

They included those receiving specialist obstetric care, those where an urgent scan is needed and those where there is no or limited coverage by a community obstetric ultrasound provider.

“The Government is also funding in the Budget a three-day stay for mothers and their newborns following birth,” he said.