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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

Wellbeing Budget. By 30 June 2026, Health NZ develop a plan to streamline pathways and ensure that Access and Choice Youth services and Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (ICAMHS) work together to meet the needs of young people across the continuum of care, including shared care

Published: 28 October, 2021

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (the Commission) has today released its independent report into the progress of the  Access and Choice Programme  being developed and implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Health. The programme, developed in response to

Published: 23 October, 2024

and carers, and other priority populations to ensure services meet their needs and preferences. We will continue to advocate for choice at all levels of the system - through policy and government resourcing, commissioning, and service delivery. By promoting choice, we are better able to ensure tāngata whaiora are supported in ways that work for them and support their recovery. Download: Acute options for mental health care insights paper

Published: 8 August, 2025

addiction outcomes. Overall, the data shows an increase in psychological distress, and unmet need for mental health and addiction care. While hazardous drinking has decreased, problematic use of illicit substances has not. In general, findings show significant disparities for disabled adults and Māori and

Published: May 2026

Better mental health and wellbeing for our people Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is a kaitiaki of mental health and wellbeing. We contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our work News and resources

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: 24 September, 2021

Mostly on track, but more to do – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission calls for greater focus to address barriers to accessing mental health support The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has welcomed the release of the Department of Prime Minster and Cabinet’s  Implementation Unit Mid

Published: 15 May, 2023

Māori services - residential alternatives to hospital based inpatient mental health care and short-term respite care. These services can provide appropriate treatment, and a supportive culture, where young people are safe and have hope for the future. Watch our New Zealand Sign Language summary

Published: 14 June, 2021

Improvement and Deputy CEO at the Health Quality and Safety Commission (HQSC), leading national patient safety and quality improvement programmes across public and private hospitals, primary and community care, mental health and addiction services, and aged care.  “With her broad experience and deep