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Published: 27 October, 2022

Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive Karen Orsborn has welcomed today’s release of the  second report of the Health Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) on the impact of COVID-19 on health with its dedicated chapter on the impacts on people’s mental health and use of mental health

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

Published: January 2026

and Disability Commissioner (HDC). People who have concerns about the care they or others have experienced at a mental health or addiction service should contact the Nationwide Health and Disability Advocacy Service or make a complaint to the HDC. The Advocacy Service can help people with concerns about a provider or service – call them on freephone 0800 555 050 or visit their website  to email or live chat.

Published: 16 June, 2022

they have no therapeutic value, and called for investment that will provide the choice of services needed to enhance safety for all. Karen Orsborn: Time to end coercive practices in mental health care OPINION: People in Aotearoa New Zealand experiencing significant mental distress continue to be subject

Published: 3 April, 2025

provides an overview of the implementation of Access and Choice,  primary mental health care programme.  The report finds that the Access and Choice programme has increased the access to and choice in services for people with mild to moderate mental health and addiction needs. This has

Published: 28 May, 2026

Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is disappointed to see no new explicit investment into mental health and addiction services in today's budget. Of particular concern is the lack of funding for specialist services, where too many people are already waiting far too long to

Published: 25 February, 2026

addiction outcomes. Overall, the data shows an increase in psychological distress, and unmet need for mental health and substance use care remaining similar to the previous year. Hazardous drinking has continued to decrease. In general, findings show significant disparities for disabled adults and Māori

Published: 5 June, 2024

The Voices report is an accompanying report to Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey Has Begun (our 2024 mental health and addiction service monitoring report).   This Voices report provides richness and depth to what we heard from tāngata whaiora, communities, and the mental health and

Published: 21 March, 2024

The announcement today by the Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey that a new mental health and addiction peer support service will be set up in hospital emergency departments is a positive move.   “People who are experiencing mental distress who arrive at an emergency department will

Published: January 2026

. Why is this important? People in Aotearoa experiencing significant mental distress continue to be subject to coercive practices despite evidence there is no therapeutic value.  Practices like Compulsory Community Treatment Orders or seclusion, are enabled by: outdated mental health law (the Mental