The Dental for All campaign has kicked off with a nationwide roadshow, stopping in towns and cities all across the motu to push for one thing: free, universal dental care. Last Rāhina, the group cruised into Ōtepoti to run a forum at the OUSA Clubs and Socs building. Guest panelists included Samuel Carrington (Associate Dean Māori at Otago Uni); Max Harris from ActionStation; Andrew Rudolph, a Practice Fellow from the Uni; and disability researcher Umi Asaka.
The campaign's message is simple: oral health is health. Last year, almost half of New Zealand's adults (44.9%) reported needing dental care they couldn't afford. The numbers are even worse for Māori (54.1%), Pasifika (57.2%), disabled people (53.1%), and 25-34 year-olds (57.2%). It's not just a cosmetic issue. Untreated oral health problems are linked to broader health issues, shame, and worse off well-being. It’s literally a case of oral health is wealth.
For students, those numbers aren't just stats – they are lived experiences. Kaia, a Master’s student, told Critic Te Ārohi, “I got two fillings this year and had to pay for that initial visit. I got the WINZ payment to help for the other appointments [...] it was quite a difficult process and not that accessible.” Guy, a third-year student, says he hasn't been to the dentist since he aged out of the government-funded care. “I haven't had anything go terribly bad with my teeth [...] I’m scared if there is something expensive going on.”
Dental for All’s 2025 report, I Didn’t Want to Smile, shares raw stories of people skipping care because of cost, embarrassment, or, like Guy, straight-up fear of the bill. Another study estimates the country loses billions every year in productivity and downstream health costs by keeping dentistry locked behind a paywall. The campaign predicts that investing around $1.5b annually into free dental care would more than pay for itself in the long run.
The Ōtepoti forum was part of a packed tour that’s already hit Tāmaki Makaurau, Wellington, and Porirua, with more stops across the Upper North and the rest of the South Island. Along the way, the campaign is setting up local organising groups to keep the message strong, long after the roadshow rolls on.
Dental for All plans to release a full set of policy proposals in 2026 to coincide with the general elections. These policies will push for community dental clinics with salaried staff, alongside Māori-led services. Until then, they’ll keep repeating their kaupapa: teeth aren’t a luxury, and the system is broken until everyone can afford to smile with confidence.