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Published: 7 May, 2026

as essential to climate response and recovery,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive, Karen Orsborn.  “Support for those already facing inequities, such as people and whānau with lived experience of distress, is critical. Further, timely access to mental health and addiction services should

Published: 27 January, 2022

. “We must be vigilant, nevertheless, to ensure that no one is left behind, now that Omicron is in the community. There is evidence that some people who use specialist mental health services and addiction services are being left behind,” says Hayden Wano, Chair of the Mental Health and Wellbeing

Published: 24 September, 2021

is in place come 2023 / 24.” says Board Chair, Hayden Wano. “In particular, we’d like to see focus on the growth of kaupapa Māori services, and support options for our Pacific communities, as we know they disproportionately experience mental distress or addiction. We also echo calls for greater focus

Published: March 2024

together and synthesises evidence from academic research, New Zealand data, and the voices of people with lived experience on the value of the peer support workforce in mental health and alcohol and drug services. While the peer support workforce in Aotearoa is growing, it remains a small proportion of our

Published: 30 November, 2022

where progress is being made, not only in access to services but also in having the opportunity to have genuine service choice. See the media release:  Access and choice for mental health and addiction services encouraging, but workforce challenges remain Our Supplementary paper: Access and

Published: 13 December, 2023

annual report available for download.    A big emphasis in the last year has been on solidifying our monitoring approach and laying the foundation for our advocacy. We published Te Huringa Tuarua, a detailed report on services, along with four insights papers exploring youth services

Published: 12 September, 2023

as three focus reports on kaupapa Māori services, lived experience of Compulsory Community Treatment Orders and admission of young people to adult inpatient services. We also released a report on the peer support workforce. In our webinar series, we focused on: Lived experiences of Compulsory

Published: 22 March, 2023

increase, and the support people need will be required for some time. We will need an immediate investment in local mental health and addiction services, which must not have a time limit on availability for people who need them.   “Social infrastructure should be prioritised – this includes

Published: 14 June, 2021

difference through small actions every day. One of the challenges we have, as a Commission and a mental health and wellbeing sector, is to balance long-term transformation with meeting critical needs for support and services right now, particularly for our children and young people,” says Karen Orsborn

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