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Published: 29 May, 2025

New analysis shows a 10.5% reduction in the number of people accessing addiction treatment services over the last five years raising concerns about whether there is sufficient capacity to respond to an increase in demand.  “Recent reports show drug use has increased, yet over the past five

Published: 27 October, 2022

and Te Hiringa Mahara highlight that some service users still experienced barriers to treatment, and too many of those who seek help do not receive the care that they need. The use of compulsory treatment and seclusion remains high and inequitable. “We support the Commission’s report being used by

Published: 10 July, 2023

  People in mental distress and their whānau do not feel heard in clinical review and court processes that lead to enforced treatment a report released today by Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission shows.  The Lived Experiences of Compulsory Community Treatment

Published: January 2026

  We are advocating for change from a coercive to a choice-based mental health system. The changes we are calling for can be made now. Repeal and replace the Mental Health Act New legislation must be co-designed with people with lived experience of compulsory treatment, uphold Te Tiriti o

Published: 22 March, 2022

increased over the past five years. Despite calls in 2018 from He Ara Oranga to minimise coercive treatment, our measures show an increase in the use of solitary confinement (seclusion) and no decrease in the use of community treatment orders. Watch our NZ Sign Language Te Huringa: Change

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: 16 June, 2022

available across the country. We don't need to wait for new legislation to see care approached differently and coercive practices reduced. Coercive practices include: community treatment orders, where a person may be medicated without consent and have their freedom of movement curtailed; and

Published: February 2026

), and an ability for people to make their own statements about future care. We support the Bill’s introduction of assessment of people’s decision-making capacity as part of new criteria for compulsory assessment and treatment of people. This is a welcome shift towards a modern supported decision

Published: March 2024

Treatment Orders   under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. In this report, we intentionally bring forward the views of tāngata whaiora Māori, people with lived experience, family, and whānau related to the Compulsory Community Treatment Order process.  The

Published: 31 March, 2026

than any other group to be subject to compulsory assessment and treatment orders. “Te Hiringa Mahara has consistently advocated to end practices such as seclusion and compulsory community treatment as they can cause harm and undermine dignity. In its submission on the Mental Health Bill, Te Hiringa