Search

Published: 4 November, 2025

Crisis responses are a critical part of an effective mental health system, and we are calling for a nationally cohesive approach to crisis responses to be developed by June 2027. In Aotearoa New Zealand, we have a collection of services with components that are working well. Elements of a good

Published: 6 October, 2022

A narrow focus on mental health may prevent us from understanding the broader wellbeing impacts of COVID-19 in Aotearoa, Te Hiringa Mahara – the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission - has found in its first report on the impact of the pandemic on wellbeing. “For people to flourish and experience

Published: 1 October, 2020

Work on He Ara Āwhina began with the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (Initial Commission) in October 2020. Find more information about the He Ara Āwhina framework here . Co-define phase October 2020 – February 2021 The Initial Commission sought feedback on why we should monitor

Published: 28 October, 2021

This report found that the programme has put much-needed investment into primary and community care in line with many of the recommendations in He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction , enabling important services to be provided. The overall programme is on

Published: 28 August, 2024

Details of how the 2019 Wellbeing Budget Taking mental health seriously funding was spent have been made public by Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. In a new report released today, the Commission shows that 92% of all funding allocated had been spent or committed by 30

Published: 9 April, 2025

On 8 April the NZ Police and Health NZ made a joint announcement about Mental Health Response Changes.  With Phase One complete, the agencies Phase Two will now start from 14 April with both agencies agreeing to a staged implementation across districts. Te Hiringa Mahara has made this

Published: 14 February, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has added additional stress to the rural community, which itself faces different wellbeing challenges to those of urban Aotearoa. This is according to today’s Te Hiringa Mahara – the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission report,  The impact of COVID-19 on the wellbeing

Published: 29 August, 2023

The  He Ara Oranga wellbeing outcomes framework  is a conceptual framework that describes an aspirational vision of 'what good looks like' in the future. It is a holistic wellbeing framework that focuses on wellbeing for all and is also relevant to those with lived experience of mental

Published: 4 January, 2023

Te Hiringa Mahara congratulates our Board Chair Hayden Wano on being made a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in the New Year’s Honours List 2023, for his service to Māori health. The award reflects Mr Wano’s 40 years-plus health sector experience in mental health, community and medical

Published: March 2026

A think tank convened by Te Hiringa Mahara created space for ‘blue sky’ thinking about the future role primary and community care can play in supporting people with mental health and substance use needs. To share the outcome of the think tank workshop held in August 2025, we have published a short