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Published: February 2026

Download Mental Health Bill submission pdf, 284 KB Since our formation Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has contributed to policy development to ensure Aotearoa New Zealand has mental health law based on human rights and eliminates coercive practices or reduces them to the

Published: January 2026

advisory committee, and is a member of the following global networks: The Global Leadership Exchange (GLE) brings together and connects mental health leaders to help spread innovation and best practice to improve mental health and addiction services around the globe. The World Federation for Mental

Published: January 2026

Waitangi, human rights and supported decision making. The process to repeal and replace the Mental Health Act is underway but will take years to be agreed and implemented. We don’t have to wait for changes to be made now. Make changes in practice now Implement cultural and other practice changes in

Published: 17 September, 2021

Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill (the Bill). Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Board member Kevin Hague, noted the Commission’s support for the Bill’s aim to ban conversion practices. “The Commission welcomes the introduction of this bill to prohibit conversion practices and supports its general

Published: 20 May, 2025

principles. We acknowledge the Committee’s work to achieve agreement on the proposed changes. Their efforts and engagement with complex issues in mental health law and practice, weighing up different perspectives and values, are a sign of democracy at work. At the same time, significant issues

Published: 10 July, 2023

Orders report documents how tāngata whaiora, whānau and family, and Māori feel marginalised in processes that determine what treatment they receive.  “The use of compulsory community treatment orders is a practice from mental health that is out of step with human rights and current approaches to

Published: 16 June, 2022

In early June we provided an article on coercive practices to the New Zealand Herald for consideration as part of its Great Minds campaign on mental health. The article, by our Chief Executive Karen Orsborn, pointed out that coercive practices continue in Aotearoa New Zealand despite evidence they

Published: 5 June, 2024

. Downloads Kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction service – investment and service use infographic pdf, 678 KB Download Kaupapa Māori mental health and addiction service – investment and service use infographic docx, 1.1 MB Download Reducing coercive practices infographic We advocate for changes

Published: March 2024

focus is on clinical review (application) and the court hearing (outcome) as formal substitute decision-making practices under the Act. These voices raise questions about the extent to which people are involved and participate meaningfully in clinical reviews and court hearings under the Act. Such

Published: 10 July, 2025

addiction services; child, youth, and family custody; and the youth and adult justice systems and corrections processes. Alexander has been working in the mental health and addiction sector since 2009. He graduated with a Master of Health Practice Honours degree in 2021. He is currently working in