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Published: 20 April, 2026

It is one year since the Mental Health Bill was returned to Parliament for its second reading, and Te Hiringa Mahara is calling on the Government to ensure this is passed into law this year. On 17 April 2025, the Health Select Committee handed the Bill back to Parliament to be finalised. Since then

Published: 7 May, 2026

extreme weather events in recent years, and we can expect mental distress and harm from problematic substance use to increase after future events. These events take a heavy toll on people and communities, and the impacts can last well beyond the initial emergency. “Mental health support must be included

Published: 15 April, 2026

A once‑in‑a‑decade Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy has been released for public consultation, and Te Hiringa Mahara is calling on New Zealanders to help shape the final document. The strategy will set the direction for mental health and wellbeing across Aotearoa for more than a decade, making

Published: January 2026

community care, mental health and addiction services, and aged care. Karen has also held roles as National Lead for Elective Services and Group Manager Funding at the Ministry of Health, as well as operational roles in a District Health Board. Karen is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health

Published: June 2026

What this means What decision-makers prioritise and fund shapes the outcomes people experience. This roadmap brings together a select number of clear and connected priorities to help focus effort where it can make the greatest difference. Together, these priorities would support a system that is

Published: January 2026

  Māori, who make up 17% of the population and have higher rates of mental distress than other population groups, have been advocating for equitable funding for Kaupapa Māori services for decades.   What needs to change? We want to see: Equitable investment in Kaupapa Māori services

Published: 24 June, 2026

Aotearoa, while the mental health and addiction system struggles to keep pace with people’s needs. 'While progress has been made in recent years, change is not happening fast enough, especially for young people and Māori,' says Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive Karen Orsborn. 'This roadmap is designed

Published: June 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: January 2026

  We are advocating for change from a coercive to a choice-based mental health system. The changes we are calling for can be made now. Repeal and replace the Mental Health Act New legislation must be co-designed with people with lived experience of compulsory treatment, uphold Te Tiriti o

Published: February 2026

co-define phase beginning in October 2020, the co-development phase, and the methods and measurement phase. Guide to language in He Ara Āwhina Read more about our guide to language in He Ara Āwhina. We created a framework called He Ara Āwhina, which means pathways to support. He Ara Āwhina was