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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: 5 June, 2024

in practice and legislation that respects people’s rights to make decisions about their care and treatment and supports their capacity to do so. This infographic contains data about the use of selected coercive practices. We report this data as part of our monitoring of mental health and addiction

Published: 29 May, 2025

New analysis shows a 10.5% reduction in the number of people accessing addiction treatment services over the last five years raising concerns about whether there is sufficient capacity to respond to an increase in demand.  “Recent reports show drug use has increased, yet over the past five

Published: 30 November, 2022

Considerable progress has been made with the Access and Choice programme rollout over the last year, despite significant challenges for the primary care and mental health and addiction sectors in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is according to the second report on the programme by Te

Published: April 2026

services, along with increased pressure on specialist services due to workforce challenges.  The report calls for urgent action by Government and health agencies to accelerate improvement in a range of critical areas. The report makes five recommendations: Health NZ develops a mental health and

Published: 19 April, 2024

Te Hiringa Mahara supports the introduction of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy that will fall under the existing Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act. The law will be amended to bring into being a new strategy. Submissions on the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes

Published: 20 May, 2025

In this article Sonya Russell, Director Mental Health and Addiction Sector Leadership, outlines progress by Parliament to repeal and replace the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992.  With its 17 April report on the Mental Health Bill, the Health Select Committee has

Published: 30 September, 2025

, July 2024 pdf, 394 KB Download Review of Adult Decision-Making Capacity Law submission, June 2024 pdf, 339 KB Download Modernising the 2028 Census consultation submission, June 2024 pdf, 138 KB Download Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill submission pdf, 175

Published: 24 September, 2021

. “We are calling for the Government to urgently invest in and prioritise the expansion of community-based acute mental health support options to help address acute inpatient capacity issues.” he says. “Our wellbeing system needs to be providing community-based therapeutic support and culturally

Published: 5 December, 2024

Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2024 is now publicly available. The report summarises how we contributed to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all New Zealanders in the preceding 12 months. This