Refreshed strategic direction – July 2025

In July 2025 the Commission began operating under a refreshed organisational strategy that sets out how we work and what we will deliver over the next four years.

Our approach is documented in our 2025-2029 Statement of Intent and 2025/26 Statement of Performance Expectations, along with a new Strategy on a page.

Since our establishment in February 2021, we have continued to act in our role as a kaitiaki of mental health, addiction and wellbeing. We have built a strong knowledge base and our reports, and other work, are highly valued by our key stakeholders.

With the period covered by the previous Statement of Intent coming to an end, it was timely to develop our next strategy. We engaged with stakeholders to develop a Future Excellence Horizon. This process sought to answer what the future performance challenges for the Commission might be, and how we could be successful at meeting those challenges. This helped shape the key shifts we need to make as an organisation to fulfil our legislative mandate.

Following extensive discussion around the board table it was agreed the vision and mission should remain unchanged, with three strategic priorities adopted. The shifts in our approach that we are pursuing over the coming four years are to:

• bring a clearer focus on people with lived experience of mental distress or addiction
• utilise our knowledge and insights to promote alignment, guide the system and influence positive change across the mental health and addiction system
• step up into our system leadership role, holding the system to account and influencing the public narrative. 

At the same time, we have also ensured both our Te Tauākī ki te Tiriti o Waitangi and Lived Experience position statements continue to reflect our commitment to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all. In the coming year we will bring renewed vigour to our role as a kaitiaki/guardian of mental health, addiction and wellbeing.

We remain committed to fulfilling our leadership role to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes with the aspiration of all people in Aotearoa New Zealand thrive together.