Monitoring mental health and addiction system performance in Aotearoa New Zealand
Our approach and initial findings | June 2025
As an independent monitor of the mental health and wellbeing system, we present our first mental health and addiction system performance monitoring report. The report identifies six key system shifts that, taken together, will transform the mental health and addiction system to achieve improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes and realise the vision set out in He Ara Oranga.
The six key shifts move us toward an ideal mental health and addiction system that realises lived experience leadership, prioritises highest need, takes a prevention and early intervention approach, provides accessible and effective services and outcomes, upholds human rights, and is supported by the right workforce.
Our initial monitoring findings show that while there are some early positive movements in some areas, for example peer support workforce, overall, there is a system under significant pressure. Collective and coordinated action across the system shifts is required .
This is our first system performance monitoring report and we will expand and improve the set of measures used in coming years.