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Published: 9 April, 2025

statement in response to planned changes. People in acute mental health distress need access to the services and help they need in a timely way. Strengthening the health led crisis responses is the right direction to head. We are keeping a close eye on the implementation of changes being made by NZ

Published: 18 February, 2025

Government and health agencies to accelerate improvement in a range of critical areas. This included a call for Health NZ to develop a mental health and addiction workforce plan to address service capacity and workforce shortages by June 2025. “We will be keeping a close watch on access and will

Published: February 2026

This dashboard pulls together data about many aspects of Aotearoa New Zealand’s mental health and addiction services. This includes a wide range of measures covering primary and specialist services, including community and inpatient services. The dashboard is available for use by anyone interested

Published: 22 March, 2022

investment in mental health and addiction services through the 2019 Wellbeing Budget, improvements in services have not materialised as we had hoped for over this time,” says Commission Board Chair Hayden Wano. “We commend the investment in additional, and much needed, primary and community services, but

Published: March 2026

A think tank convened by Te Hiringa Mahara created space for ‘blue sky’ thinking about the future role primary and community care can play in supporting people with mental health and substance use needs. To share the outcome of the think tank workshop held in August 2025, we have published a short

Published: 4 January, 2023

Te Hiringa Mahara congratulates our Board Chair Hayden Wano on being made a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in the New Year’s Honours List 2023, for his service to Māori health. The award reflects Mr Wano’s 40 years-plus health sector experience in mental health, community and medical

Published: 10 July, 2023

recent years, when people have been calling for a reduction in coercive practices,” Mr Wano said.   “We also know that more Māori are subject to CCTOs than other populations in Aotearoa. The inequitable use of orders is unacceptable and must be addressed.”   “When mental health

Published: January 2026

Work with us You can find information here about our current vacancies and how to apply for them Have your say Your views are important to us, and we encourage you to have your say to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is a great time to join

Published: 27 January, 2022

Commission. January figures from the Ministry of Health indicate that mental health service users have full vaccination rates that are 9% lower than the general population, and rates amongst addiction service users are 19% lower than the general population. The figures for Māori are also concerning

Published: 23 October, 2024

Government recently announced that six new Crisis Recovery Cafés will be rolled out around the country over the next two years. The benefits of this type of care model are examined in our recently released insights paper on acute options for mental health care. Our Lived Experience team prepared