Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins is in Tauranga today – making stops across the city to discuss his party’s policy and the impact poor dental care is having on the health system.

He's on the campaign trail, and is keeping a tight schedule in the city which typically favours blue.

Hipkins made stops at a community housing block at Mangatawa Pāpāmoa Blocks Inc, which is using renewable energy to generate electricity, and a Kainga Ora development to mark the completion of 41 public houses.

The Labour leader then stopped by Tauranga Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, to discuss how the health system is coping with poor dental care across the country.

Speaking at the Pāpāmoa Kainga Ora development, Hipkins took a swipe at the “coalition of chaos”, and Destiny Church - which he says was behind some of the disruption seen on the campaign trail.

Hipkins adds Destiny Church “in particular “ played a role and asked them to “get out of the way of the democratic process.

He also accused the ‘coalition of chaos’ of being “ more focused on cutting things than New Zealand’s future”.

Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

The Labour Party leader even stopped by the vandalised Simon Bridges sign from the 2014 election – which has been hanging at the Tauranga Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery clinic after it was won at an auction.

Commenting on the sign, Hipkins says Bridges, Tauranga former MP, “looks a lot younger” in the doctored election sign from almost a decade ago.

Speaking to Hipkins at the oral surgery facility, oral maxillofacial surgeon John Bridgman says the amount of serious infections are increasing, they are often life threatening, and are becoming more predominant in both males and in Māori.

John adds the underlying issue with people neglecting their dental health which often leads to serious infections, is the financial pressure which is put on by expensive health costs.

Photo: Taylor Rice/SunLive.

Earlier in the campaign, Labour promised free basic dental care for those under 30 years old.

If elected, they plan to introduce it in stages according to age groups, starting in 2025, with everyone under 30 able to access free annual check-ups, teeth cleaning, basic fillings and extractions by 2026.

“New Zealand has some of the highest recorded rates of unmet need for adult dental care – overwhelmingly because of cost,” Labour leader Chris Hipkins said when the policy was announced.

“In 2022 alone, 1.5 million Kiwis didn’t visit a dentist because it was just too expensive. Extending free basic dental care is a huge move and one which will ultimately benefit all New Zealanders."

The party estimates the free dental care policy could cover about 800,000 people.

- Additional reporting by RNZ and Benn Bathgate/Stuff.