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Published: February 2026

Better mental health and wellbeing for our people Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is a kaitiaki of mental health and wellbeing. We contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our work News and resources

Published: 20 May, 2025

In this article Sonya Russell, Director Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership, outlines progress by Parliament to repeal and replace the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992.  With its 17 April report on the Mental Health Bill, the Health Select Committee has

Published: 3 April, 2025

improved access to primary mental health care. It includes specific services to meet the needs of rangatahi and young people, Māori and Pacific peoples. This is in line with levels of need experienced by these population groups. One marker of need is rates of moderate levels psychological distress. This

Published: 14 June, 2021

. “There are some great things happening at a grassroots level out in communities.  Turning the system around for our kids and youth so that they are safe, happy, and well is what gets me out of bed in the morning. It’s a huge privilege for me to serve our community through this role.”

Published: 15 December, 2025

working for people and their whānau. It was also the first time in over a decade that Australian based TheMHS Learning Network have run an event in Aotearoa New Zealand.   Bringing together over 200 people generated a lot of energy and discussion. The final session led by Ember Innovations

Published: 1 October, 2020

experience focus groups (from Māori, youth, mental health, addiction, and gambling harm perspectives), targeted discussions, and hui with Māori helped us develop the draft version of He Ara Āwhina. The draft version of He Ara Āwhina went out for public consultation for six weeks from 8 March to 19 April

Published: November 2025

agencies and Māori service providers in the improvement of mental health wellbeing for whānau, hapū and iwi, including rangatahi Māori and community. Hauora Māori system leaders The basis of engagement with Hauora Māori system leaders is on Te Arawhiti 's "Whainga Amorangi" and Te Taura Whiri i te

Published: 28 October, 2021

, youth, general practice, and community settings. “Access to mental health, wellbeing, and addiction services when they are needed, and giving people a diverse choice of services to suit their needs, are vitally important for the successful long-term transformation of mental health, addiction, and

Published: 5 June, 2024

failed attempts to access services, and failure to get the care they need has resulted in a loss of trust. This has been reported by the Commission previously and we again call on services to meet the needs of Māori. The report shows rangatahi and young people face significant barriers to access

Published: February 2026

, acute alternatives, as well as inpatient services when needed. Needs to include youth-specific, peer-led, and Kaupapa Māori options be led by lived experience, embed peer support, be culturally responsive, rights-based, and trauma responsive ensure the provision of a timely and compassionate