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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

Published: 5 June, 2024

important questions about why there is a disconnect between an increasing need for mental health and addiction support and a decrease in people accessing specialist services. We continue to hear about barriers, such as long waiting lists, not knowing how or where to get support, the stigma of

Published: 19 April, 2024

) Amendment Bill are currently being considered by the Health Select Committee. Read our submission (PDF 175 KB) When the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill was introduced by the previous government in October 2021, we advocated for the inclusion of a mental health and addiction strategy under the legislation

Published: 6 October, 2022

exacerbated and amplified many existing inequities in mental health and wellbeing outcomes, and in accessing services and supports. In the face of challenges presented by the pandemic, iwi, hapū, and whānau Māori exercised rangatiratanga, providing practical support for themselves and others through the

Published: 15 March, 2023

health services, will be needed for some time, and should not have a real or implied time-limit on their provision. To help some of our most at-risk communities stay safe and secure during and beyond the recovery we call on the government to work with iwi and community organisations; to prioritise

Published: 1 May, 2023

, and grow more severe Women, children, and young people, particularly those who are Māori, or from the rainbow community, were particularly affected. Digital technology allowed online violence and abuse to be brought directly into people’s homes, but the digital divide made accessing help difficult for

Published: 17 May, 2023

experienced admissions to adult facilities. “In the last year alone, 159 young people aged 12-17 years were admitted to adult mental health inpatient services – this is one quarter of young people who were admitted for inpatient mental health care. This is unacceptable. It needs to be zero. Adult and

Published: 13 December, 2022

Older people have contributed greatly to their communities through the COVID-19 pandemic whilst managing increased loneliness and a range of other challenges. This is according to today’s Te Hiringa Mahara – the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report  ​ The impact of COVID-19 on the

Published: 3 December, 2025

ensures transparency, acts as a lever for change, and allows people to see the impact from our recommendations.  The first recommendations were made in the Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey has Begun, monitoring report published in June 2024. These were directed towards Health New Zealand and the

Published: 8 June, 2022

We welcome the transformational approach taken in the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill, which passed its third reading yesterday. The Commission’s Chair Hayden Wano says the Government now has the means to ensure better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for future generations. “It is very good to