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Published: 31 May, 2023

More people are accessing new services through the Access and Choice programme, however, there has been a decrease in people accessing specialist mental health and addiction services and other primary mental health services, and little or no change on other measures of service quality. This is

Published: 18 August, 2022

Transforming the mental health and addiction system must remain a priority as Aotearoa New Zealand continues to deal with the fallout from the pandemic, writes Karen Orsborn. COVID-19 is one of the most significant societal events many of us will experience in our lives. It is not over yet

Published: 16 February, 2024

Recommendations in the Meeting the mental health needs of young New Zealanders report released yesterday by the Auditor General show there is a long way to go to ensure every young person who needs support can access it.  “We’ve got to do everything we can to ensure rangatahi and young people

Published: 1 June, 2021

Once the He Ara Oranga wellbeing outcomes framework was drafted, the next step was to find what data were available to measure and monitor the performance of the mental health and wellbeing system. In the data phase, the Initial Commission looked at how they could use information collected from

Published: 27 October, 2022

Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive Karen Orsborn has welcomed today’s release of the  second report of the Health Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) on the impact of COVID-19 on health with its dedicated chapter on the impacts on people’s mental health and use of mental health

Published: 3 April, 2025

provides an overview of the implementation of Access and Choice,  primary mental health care programme.  The report finds that the Access and Choice programme has increased the access to and choice in services for people with mild to moderate mental health and addiction needs. This has

Published: 29 May, 2025

years there has been a drop in the number of people accessing treatment and support. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is concerned that people may not be able to access support when they need it,” said Sonya Russell, Director Mental Health and Addiction System Leadership.   In 2023

Published: December 2025

Asessment of progress report downloads Read our assessment of recommendations made in the Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey Has Begun service monitoring report. December 2025. As an Independent Crown Entity, Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission uses a variety of tools to

Published: 31 October, 2025

Today’s announcement of changes to the composition of the Board of Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission by Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey have been welcomed. “The new appointments and other board changes are the beginning of the next chapter for Te Hiringa Mahara

Published: August 2025

We have promised to uphold a ‘nothing about us, without us’ approach and to work together to improve wellbeing and transform the mental health and addiction system. We monitor lived experience leadership and participation across the system and advocate for improvement. Our Lived Experience Position