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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: 20 May, 2025

are failing to address well-established high rates of suicide and mental distress among our young people as a nation. There is overwhelming evidence to show that psychological distress and mental wellbeing for young people is declining over time. New Zealand’s high suicide rates was one of the

Published: 10 March, 2026

Te Hiringa Mahara that they want leaders to take meaningful action to improve online safety for all. Thoughtful consideration is needed when looking to develop options here in NZ by looking at Australia’s approach, so that any tools adopted here work, can be implemented, are grounded in evidence

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: January 2026

with people and communities. Previously, Karen was Director Health Quality Improvement and Deputy Chief Executive at the Health Quality and Safety Commission (HQSC). In this role she led national patient safety and quality improvement programmes across public and private hospitals, primary and

Published: January 2026

The Te Hiringa Mahara Board is chaired by Hayden Wano. The board members are Professor Sunny Collings, Dr Barbara Disley, Rae Lamb, Wayne Langford, Tuari Potiki and Josiah Tualamali'i. Appointments to the Board were announced on 18 December 2020 by the Minister of Health. The announcement was

Published: 30 June, 2022

people are forced or pressured to do something. This can include forced medication, solitary confinement, forced electroconvulsive therapy, physical restraint, mechanical restraint, and environmental restraint such as locked units. Coercive practises also include influencing decision making in a

Published: August 2025

Learn more about who we are and what we do at Te Hiringa Mahara.

Published: 27 September, 2024

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced on 27 September 2024 the Government has appointed Wayne Langford to the Board of Te Hiringa Mahara. This is for a five-year term.

Published: 8 December, 2021

We released Te Rau Tira Wellbeing Outcomes Report 2021 on 8 December 2021. Te Rau Tira introduces our vision to improve wellbeing for communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our report measures wellbeing through our He Ara Oranga Wellbeing Outcomes Framework , which was developed alongside communities