EDANZ Position Statement Ahead of the 2023 General Election

The Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand calls on the leaders of all political parties in the lead-up to the 2023 general election to include in their manifesto a full review of provision of eating disorder treatment in Aotearoa New Zealand.   

An external review of the current model of treatment provision in Aotearoa New Zealand involving all stakeholders is urgently needed to identify appropriate allocation and levels of resourcing to achieve best possible outcomes for patients and their whānau. 

While the Budget 2022 allocation of $3.9m over four years was a welcome acknowledgement of the need for increased resourcing for eating disorders, this extremely minimal level of funding is woefully inadequate given the desperate needs across all levels of the sector, especially without reviewing effectiveness of the current model of service delivery.

The inclusion of a commitment to this review in your future manifesto is a commitment to improving the lives of the thousands of New Zealanders affected by eating disorders every year.