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Published: January 2026

Our leadership team provides strategic guidance for Te Hiringa Mahara -- Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. The team includes Chief Executive, Karen Orsborn, and four directors who are responsible for our core workstreams.  Karen Orsborn, Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive Karen is the Chief

Published: January 2026

populations who are at greater risk of experiencing poorer mental health and wellbeing. Board members are appointed for their governance and mental health and wellbeing sector expertise but do not act as representatives or advocates for specific communities. They do, of course, draw on their perspectives

Published: 30 June, 2022

individuals. For example, when wāhine Māori experience discrimination, it is impossible to separate gender from Māori identity to isolate what identity is associated with the discrimination (Centre for Intersectional Justice, nd). Leadership roles (lived experience leadership roles; whānau leadership

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: February 2026

focusing on our legislated priority groups. The purpose of this summary is to provide a synthesis of key mental health and substance use findings from the NZ Health Survey. We want to maximise available evidence to drive improved decision making. Our aim is for this information to be used for

Published: 20 May, 2025

of individuals, organisations, experts and communities. A rich body of knowledge, and a source of ideas for ways to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of coercive practices in mental health services, is now available under ‘related resources’ on Parliament’s website, for all to draw on. It is

Published: 5 June, 2024

and Choice programme in primary care has increased access and expanded options for people with mild to moderate mental health and addiction needs. However, access to specialist services has decreased, with people reporting challenges accessing these services. We look at the access challenges faced

Published: 11 June, 2025

“Our new system performance monitoring report highlights the need for faster improvements to address declining mental health and wellbeing,” said Karen Orsborn, CEO of Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. The System Performance Monitoring Report released today by Te Hiringa

Published: 6 October, 2022

exacerbated and amplified many existing inequities in mental health and wellbeing outcomes, and in accessing services and supports. In the face of challenges presented by the pandemic, iwi, hapū, and whānau Māori exercised rangatiratanga, providing practical support for themselves and others through the

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