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Published: 25 June, 2026

Kelly Feng has been appointed as a new board member. “The work of shifting the direction of the mental health system so it can deliver better and equitable outcomes is a significant task. I am happy to be handing over the reigns to a committed and experienced Board”, said outgoing chair, Hayden Wano

Published: January 2026

Māramatanga - we learn by listening and seek knowledge. Tika - we will be fair and respectful. Aroha - we care about the work we do and the people of Aotearoa. Ngā whakaarotau rautaki / Strategic priorities: Mental health and addiction services meet the needs of tāngata whaiora and their whānau

Published: 8 December, 2021

security, poorer mental and overall health, and greater discrimination and barriers to wellbeing. “Some vulnerable individuals and communities can become caught in a cycle of negative wellbeing. This is not good for them, nor for the broader community. It adversely affects, sometimes very seriously, many

Published: 14 June, 2021

announce the appointment of Karen Orsborn as Chief Executive of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. The Board received many high-calibre applications and it’s an honour to have Karen take up this critical leadership role,” says Hayden Wano. Karen was previously Director Health Quality

Published: 1 October, 2020

 in assessing whether services, and approaches to wellbeing, are meeting the needs of people and communities. There needs to be a shared view of what ‘good’ or transformative services and supports look like  so we can monitor and assess performance and contribute to wellbeing outcomes. We

Published: 13 December, 2023

, kaupapa Māori services, compulsory community treatment orders and the peer support workforce. A dashboard has been developed to ensure data is more easily accessible See: www.mwhc.govt.nz/dashboard    Taking stock of the lessons we can take from the COVID-19 pandemic response was a focus

Published: February 2026

), and an ability for people to make their own statements about future care. We support the Bill’s introduction of assessment of people’s decision-making capacity as part of new criteria for compulsory assessment and treatment of people. This is a welcome shift towards a modern supported decision

Published: 16 June, 2022

In early June we provided an article on coercive practices to the New Zealand Herald for consideration as part of its Great Minds campaign on mental health. The article, by our Chief Executive Karen Orsborn, pointed out that coercive practices continue in Aotearoa New Zealand despite evidence they

Published: January 2026

community care, mental health and addiction services, and aged care. Karen has also held roles as National Lead for Elective Services and Group Manager Funding at the Ministry of Health, as well as operational roles in a District Health Board. Karen is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health

Published: January 2026

Service which heard the stories of over 1000 people who had experienced abuse or neglect while in state care. Barbara has been on the Ministry of Health Mental Health and Addiction Assurance group.    Over the past few years Barbara has been a Gateway Reviewer for the New Zealand Treasury