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Published: 29 October, 2024

Last week we welcomed the passing by Parliament of the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill. This amendment requires that the Minister for Mental Health produce a mental health and wellbeing strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand within 12 months. The Bill was

Published: 15 May, 2023

The mental health and wellbeing of rangatahi Māori and young people is one of the most important issues we can focus on today. We only need to acknowledge increasing levels of distress, and the many well-known barriers to wellbeing, to understand that much more needs to be done to support young

Published: February 2026

services in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Access and Choice programme, rolled out from 2019/20 over five years, has a particular focus on people with mild-to-moderate mental health and addiction needs. It aims to improve access to primary mental health, wellbeing, and addiction services, including in Kaupapa

Published: 28 October, 2021

wellbeing systems in Aotearoa,” says Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Board chair Hayden Wano. “Our role is to be the eyes and ears of the people of New Zealand, amplifying the voices of our communities. We bring focus to areas where meaningful action can be taken. Appropriate access to and choice

Published: April 2026

report to Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey Has Begun downloads This Voices report provides richness and depth to what we heard from tāngata whaiora, communities, and the mental health and addiction workforce across Aotearoa New Zealand about access to services and options available. Report 2024

Published: January 2026

Work with us You can find information here about our current vacancies and how to apply for them Have your say Your views are important to us, and we encourage you to have your say to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is a great time to join

Published: 27 January, 2022

As New Zealand faces community transmission of the Omicron variant, too many people who experience mental distress or addictions remain unvaccinated. The total New Zealand vaccination rates are now very high, with over one million people boosted and 93% of the eligible population double vaccinated

Published: 3 April, 2025

Access and Choice services by Māori are included in a Kaupapa Māori primary mental health and addiction services infographic. In addition, a literature scan that explores approaches to primary mental health care in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally has also been published. Access and Choice

Published: 3 April, 2025

establishment. “There has been very positive feedback from those accessing the services. The impact of reaching people early is a huge net positive for Aotearoa; not just for those who need it, but for our health system, our workforce, and for New Zealand as a whole,” Ms Orsborn said. The programme has

Published: December 2025

The objective of Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission in performing its functions and exercising its powers, under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Act 2020, is to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people in Aotearoa New