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Published: 23 October, 2024

. Alongside traditional inpatient care, there is a wide variety of peer-led, community-based, and Kaupapa Māori approaches we can draw on. Tāngata whaiora (people seeking wellness), have told us that an effective crisis response system has a number of important qualities. They want someone they can call

Published: November 2025

actions. Without shifts in system leadership, other changes in policy, workforce, and investment are unlikely to be sustained over the long term. Drawing on interviews with 33 leaders from across mental health, addiction and wellbeing systems, this is the first independent report with insights on progress

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: 13 December, 2023

. At the heart of this kaupapa is the importance of rangatahi and young people having a voice and being part of decision-making about services that impacts them.  To ensure we understand what is happening across the mental health, addiction and wellbeing systems, we engage with a wide range of

Published: 17 September, 2021

intent. We urge the Select Committee to listen carefully to the voices of rainbow communities, including trans people, those with variations of sex characteristics (sometimes known as intersex), and non-binary people, and their calls to clarify and strengthen areas of the Bill,” says Kevin Hague

Published: February 2026

, particularly for Māori and young people. The system is under significant pressure, with longer wait times for crisis phone lines, people staying longer in services than five years ago and increased complexity of distress and needs. Crisis responses vary across the country, and in some areas, there

Published: 13 December, 2023

New Zealand’s first Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, has a big job ahead of him. Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission chair Hayden Wano outlines our top priorities to transform our mental health and addiction system.  The announcement that New Zealand will have

Published: January 2026

Executive of Te Hiringa Mahara. During 2020, Karen led the establishment of Te Hiringa Mahara as Head of Secretariat for the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Karen has held a variety of health management and leadership roles that focus on improving outcomes for people through working

Published: February 2026

peer support and lived experience workforce in enabling recovery, improving hope and in transforming the landscape of mental health and addiction services. The potential of this workforce is yet to be fully realised.  Key findings in the paper include: The peer support approach and its values are

Published: January 2026

published in the government gazette . Our Board must make sure that it effectively seeks and understands the views of Māori as tāngata whenua, of people with lived experience of mental distress or addiction (or both) and the people who support them, as well as Pacific people, and other groups and