Search

Published: March 2024

and DHB sector, including General Manager of mental health for Counties Manukau DHB. She has also had senior management roles in public health, women’s health, and child health, and executive roles in strategic planning and funding in Australia and Aotearoa. Angela Boswell, Senior Policy Advisor

Published: 10 July, 2025

disadvantage in access to the determinants of mental health and wellbeing. This includes: lower household income; fewer social connections; and poorer individual, family and whānau wellbeing. The panel discussed findings from the assessment, approaches to improving wellbeing for whānau Māori, and

Published: 20 May, 2022

, substance, or gambling harm) as heard through He Ara Oranga," says Commission Board Chair Hayden Wano.  The Commission’s recent Te Huringa: Change and Transformation. Mental Health Service and Addiction Service Monitoring Report highlighted the need for more to be invested in

Published: 29 May, 2025

is the wait time for people seeking support. For those seeking support from a specialist addiction service, the wait is getting longer.”  “There is a strong case for increased investment in addiction services,” Sonya Russell said.  “We are concerned there is not sufficient capacity within

Published: 10 July, 2023

Orders report documents how tāngata whaiora, whānau and family, and Māori feel marginalised in processes that determine what treatment they receive.  “The use of compulsory community treatment orders is a practice from mental health that is out of step with human rights and current approaches to

Published: 27 January, 2022

other service providers and churches, who have contributed to a huge turnaround in rates of vaccination for Māori and Pacific communities. This is the kind of targeted approach that is needed to ensure that people who experience mental distress and those who experience addictions, have equitable and timely access to the vaccination. “Only then, can we say that Aotearoa has done its best in ensuring that no one is being left behind,” says Wano. 

Published: January 2026

Ringa Raupā is an internal mechanism that helps ensure Te Hiringa Mahara upholds its commitments to and priorities for Māori. Taking this approach places Te Hiringa Mahara in a unique position of being able to share, learn and build capability from the Māori Health Team and Ngā Ringa Raupā.&nbsp

Published: 14 June, 2021

Commission set to move forward on advancing Aotearoa’s wellbeing agenda The Chair of the Commission Board, Hayden Wano, has today announced the appointment of its new Tumu Whakarae - Chief Executive for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Karen Orsborn steps into the Chief Executive role

Published: 5 May, 2023

relationships; and were agile and adaptive. Māori-led initiatives shared culturally-appropriate information and resources that protected the health and wellbeing of communities; and supported connection with individuals and whānau. For improved future health and wellbeing outcomes, we recommend

Published: 5 February, 2023

population, rural issues are disproportionately Māori issues. A uniquely Māori response to some of the pandemic’s challenges has supported wellbeing, and should be recognised and strengthened Iwi, hapū and marae became centres of excellence for responding to the pandemic. Along with other community hubs