Morrison has highlighted the problems many elderly New Zealanders face affording health insurance, the costs of which tend to go up in what he described as “hockey stick” fashion once people reach 55 to 60 years of age.

He has recommended the government look at the Australian model, which contains both carrots and sticks encouraging the purchase of private health insurance to take pressure off the public health system.

“Their government has an effective public/private model and, as a result, nearly half of Australians have health insurance, up from 30% in 1999,” he said.

“In comparison less than a third of New Zealanders have health insurance, down from 48% in 1990.”

He said there needed to be a particular focus on getting more elective surgeries such as knee operations done by the private sector.

“We have a wonderful health system in New Zealand; it’s just that we’re trying to do too much.”

However, Morrison acknowledged there was a risk his message wouldn’t be well-received because of the messenger being from a health insurance company.

“People think it’s self-serving but it’s not intended to be self-serving; we don’t make any money out of this,” he said.

“It’s not generating any extra profit for us… my first priority is our own members and my second priority is the general health of New Zealanders.”

He said he was “nervous” about how his comments would be received by insurance advisers.

“I think advisers are the ones more likely to accuse me of being self-serving.  They tend to see providers like us in a slightly different view than the general public.

“I’m a little bit nervous that’s the interpretation they will have but I hope they can look past that.”