Search

Published: 11 June, 2025

Mahara outlines progress toward improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for New Zealanders and shows the need to speed up much needed improvements across the system. “Efforts to improve the system over the past six years have shown some early positive movement however these changes are not yet

Published: 14 June, 2021

from 1 July after leading the Commission’s establishment efforts as Acting Chief Executive since it opened in February. Throughout 2020, she also led the early set-up phase as Head of Secretariat for the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (Initial Commission). “It’s with great pleasure I

Published: 25 June, 2020

The Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has released a report,  He Ara Oranga – Manuka takoto, kawea ake / Upholding the Wero Laid in He Ara Oranga , signalling progress of the Government’s response to He Ara Oranga, the inquiry into mental health and addiction

Published: February 2026

in the right direction to update the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992. To embed a fully modern human rights framework in our mental health and addiction system, more work is needed to promote supported decision making in practice and reform other relevant legislation. We

Published: February 2026

data summary on addiction specialist services shows a declining number of people using these services alongside signals of service constraints such as declined referrals and wait times. The data summary on mental health and addiction services put the declining number of people accessing specialist

Published: 18 August, 2022

Transforming the mental health and addiction system must remain a priority as Aotearoa New Zealand continues to deal with the fallout from the pandemic, writes Karen Orsborn. COVID-19 is one of the most significant societal events many of us will experience in our lives. It is not over yet

Published: 10 March, 2026

of mental health. Factors such as exposure to adverse events and family harm, structural discrimination and racism, abuse, social isolation, and economic hardship are significant contributors to mental health issues that are made worse by unregulated and unsafe online spaces. Attributing the anxiety

Published: 16 June, 2022

have no therapeutic value, and called for investment that will provide the choice of services needed to enhance safety for all. Karen Orsborn: Time to end coercive practices in mental health care OPINION: People in Aotearoa New Zealand experiencing significant mental distress continue to be subject

Published: 25 February, 2026

addiction outcomes. Overall, the data shows an increase in psychological distress, and unmet need for mental health and substance use care remaining similar to the previous year. Hazardous drinking has continued to decrease. In general, findings show significant disparities for disabled adults and Māori

Published: March 2026

commissioning approaches that support change Evaluating impact of existing and new services Recruit and upskill a broad workforce Prioritise the enabling systems Build from existing strengths and innovation, including refinement of Access and Choice. We will build on these insights to inform future