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Published: 18 August, 2022

of their contracts. This has created an opportunity to provide support to people who may not have received it otherwise. However, while access to specialist services has not changed since the beginning of the pandemic, the Ministry of Health has reported people experiencing increased levels of

Published: 17 June, 2020

The Mental Health Commissioner has today released a report , providing insights about mental health and addiction services. Chair of the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, Mr Hayden Wano, says that this report is timely and signals how Government can enhance the response to He Ara

Published: 20 May, 2022

Budget. This will be particularly important given the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.  "Overall, it is encouraging to see the Government continuing to follow through on the outcomes of the He Ara Oranga report and honouring its commitment to better services and support for mental wellbeing."  ENDS For further information, contact: Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission media@mhwc.govt.nz  or 021 613 723

Published: February 2026

Download the report Acute options for mental health care insights paper Our insights paper on acute options that can provide an alternative to acute inpatient care. Report This insights report focuses on acute mental health service options that can provide an alternative to acute inpatient care

Published: January 2026

  The mental health and wellbeing of rangatahi Māori and young people is one of the most important issues we can focus on today. More needs to be done to support rangatahi Māori and young peoples’ mental health and wellbeing. What are we advocating for? Rangatahi Māori and young people must

Published: May 2026

Crisis responses are a critical part of an effective mental health and addiction system. However, crisis response pathways are hard to navigate, fragmented, and patchy, and many people don’t get the help they need. In November 2025 we published Urupare mōrearea: Crisis responses monitoring report

Published: 11 May, 2023

responses to the pandemic can continue to be an exemplar for how Aotearoa can support health and wellbeing outcomes in any future crises, and support wellbeing more generally.” Read the report [PDF, 10 MB] Watch Director Māori Maraea Johns speaking about the report

Published: 29 May, 2025

years there has been a drop in the number of people accessing treatment and support. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is concerned that people may not be able to access support when they need it,” said Sonya Russell, Director Mental Health and Addiction System Leadership.   In 2023

Published: 16 June, 2026

This report assesses how the mental health and addiction system is performing to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for tāngata whaiora and whānau. Progress is reported on six key system shifts that, taken together, would transform the mental health and addiction system. The six shifts

Published: 12 June, 2024

The Leadership as a mental wellbeing system enabler: Insights on progress toward Kia Manawanui report focuses on one aspect of the ‘long-term pathway’ to transform Aotearoa’s approach to mental health and wellbeing. The purpose of this report is to provide an assessment of and insights about system