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Published: 20 May, 2025

people has not risen at the same level as other parts of the system. Youth-focused mental health services are important as young people are currently facing longer wait times for specialist mental health and addiction services. Over the last five years there has been a general decline in young people

Published: February 2026

), and an ability for people to make their own statements about future care. We support the Bill’s introduction of assessment of people’s decision-making capacity as part of new criteria for compulsory assessment and treatment of people. This is a welcome shift towards a modern supported decision

Published: January 2026

Incoming Ministers below Briefing to the incoming Minister of Health - Feb 2025 [491KB] Briefing to the incoming Minister of Youth - Feb 2025 [487KB] November 2023  Following the 2023 general election, Te Hiringa Mahara provided the following briefing to the incoming Minister of Health and

Published: 4 July, 2024

help and their whānau. These targets will help focus effort on making sure services are available,” says Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Board chair Hayden Wano. “In our briefing to incoming Ministers we made a strong case for mental health and addiction targets to be developed, so it is

Published: June 2026

who need it the most. Progress has been inconsistent across the six shifts we monitor. We are calling for better and equitable outcomes for Māori at all levels of the system, and more focus on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people. Find out more   Improving wellbeing

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: 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: March 2024

and DHB sector, including General Manager of mental health for Counties Manukau DHB. She has also had senior management roles in public health, women’s health, and child health, and executive roles in strategic planning and funding in Australia and Aotearoa. Angela Boswell, Senior Policy Advisor

Published: 8 June, 2022

We welcome the transformational approach taken in the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill, which passed its third reading yesterday. The Commission’s Chair Hayden Wano says the Government now has the means to ensure better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for future generations. “It is very good to

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