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Published: April 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: 31 March, 2026

Following the release of the Office of the Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services: Regulatory Report today, Te Hiringa Mahara is renewing its call for improvements to address concerning trends for Māori and Pacific peoples. The report shows Māori are 6.6 times, and Pacific peoples are 1.7

Published: 4 July, 2024

monitoring report . The focused was on access and options, and recommendations were made to ensure that those needing a higher level of care get the support they need. “We would like to see the new targets unlock the ambition of those working across the mental health and addiction service to transform

Published: 11 June, 2025

representation of Māori accessing specialist services overall”. “There have been gains, with significant improvements to access for people seeking mental health and addiction support through a GP or other primary care services, however we are very concerned about the continued downward trend in the number

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

Service which heard the stories of over 1000 people who had experienced abuse or neglect while in state care. Barbara has been on the Ministry of Health Mental Health and Addiction Assurance group.    Over the past few years Barbara has been a Gateway Reviewer for the New Zealand Treasury

Published: 2 February, 2022

the design, planning, management and delivery of hauora hinengaro and mental health services, iwi and Māori must be the major decision-makers of their care.”   Commission Board member Taimi Allan also called for a supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy to put more focus on mental health

Published: 29 June, 2023

Our Peer support workforce paper 2023 shows the critical role of the peer 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:&nbsp

Published: 23 July, 2024

network of Pasifika psychologists called Pasifikology and is a member of the Mental Health reference group for the Abuse in Care, Royal Commission of Inquiry and the Psychology Professional Advisory Forum. She has a MA (Hons) and PGDipClinPsych.