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Published: 22 March, 2022

investment in mental health and addiction services through the 2019 Wellbeing Budget, improvements in services have not materialised as we had hoped for over this time,” says Commission Board Chair Hayden Wano. “We commend the investment in additional, and much needed, primary and community services, but

Published: 30 September, 2024

stage of investment for GUiNZ will provide information about the participants as they transition through puberty, adolescence, school, and into adulthood and work. Together these two sources of data will offer rich insights about causality of mental health but also broader wellbeing for children

Published: 8 August, 2025

addiction outcomes. Overall, the data shows an increase in psychological distress, and unmet need for mental health and addiction care. While hazardous drinking has decreased, problematic use of illicit substances has not. In general, findings show significant disparities for disabled adults and Māori and

Published: February 2026

Government’s priority Taking mental health seriously was allocated to each initiative and the expenditure on each of those initiatives for the four years from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2023. It describes each initiative in terms of what it set out to achieve and its status as of 30 June 2023. The report also includes key mental health and addiction initiatives from Budget 2020 to Budget 2022.

Published: 5 June, 2024

continued care with primary services but this isn’t available or appropriate for all. When people finally do see a service, often their level of need has become higher. It’s a vicious circle that we need to break,” Orsborn says. For Māori, we heard high levels of frustration and disappointment after many

Published: 6 October, 2022

for the future,” says Dr. Filipo Katavake-McGrath, Te Hiringa Mahara Director of Wellbeing System Leadership and Insights. “Just because these wellbeing dimensions are less tangible, does not mean that they are less influential in creating stress and distress. In fact, understanding the real impacts

Published: 29 October, 2024

passed into law with unanimous support from MPs. When the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill was introduced in October 2021, we advocated for the inclusion of a mental health and addiction strategy under the legislation. While six other strategies were specified, mental health and addiction was not included

Published: 29 May, 2025

years there has been a drop in the number of people accessing treatment and support. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is concerned that people may not be able to access support when they need it,” said Sonya Russell, Director Mental Health and Addiction System Leadership.   In 2023

Published: April 2026

, the data covers the five-year period to June 2025. Summary of key findings: More people were able to access services overall, but for 19–24-year-olds, access continued to decrease. People are waiting longer for addiction services than for mental health services. Wait times have improved but declined

Published: April 2026

This is a great time to join us and play a key role in supporting us as we assess and report on progress with system transformation, monitor mental health and addiction services, and advocate for the collective interests of people with lived experience of mental distress and/or addiction. We are