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Published: June 2026

-length from the government of the day. Our objective is to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand. We perform an enduring role in transforming Aotearoa New Zealand's approach to mental health and wellbeing. We have made a strong

Published: 13 December, 2023

New Zealand’s first Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, has a big job ahead of him. Te Hiringa Mahara | Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission chair Hayden Wano outlines our top priorities to transform our mental health and addiction system.  The announcement that New Zealand will have

Published: June 2026

the expansion of the Access and Choice programme, and the diversity of the workforce is changing to include more Māori, Pacific peoples, and Asian workers. The need for faster progress to realise a transformed system that will achieve better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people was

Published: 30 April, 2026

passionate about moving towards epistemic justice for experiential knowledge within Aotearoa's mental health system. He has worked in a range of lived experience roles, including youth governance and peer support. He is trained in Intentional Peer Support.  Maggie Shippam, PhD Candidate Maggie

Published: 1 October, 2020

 in assessing whether services, and approaches to wellbeing, are meeting the needs of people and communities. There needs to be a shared view of what ‘good’ or transformative services and supports look like  so we can monitor and assess performance and contribute to wellbeing outcomes. We

Published: 23 October, 2024

. Alongside traditional inpatient care, there is a wide variety of peer-led, community-based, and Kaupapa Māori approaches we can draw on. Tāngata whaiora (people seeking wellness), have told us that an effective crisis response system has a number of important qualities. They want someone they can call

Published: 18 August, 2022

Transforming the mental health and addiction system must remain a priority as Aotearoa New Zealand continues to deal with the fallout from the pandemic, writes Karen Orsborn. COVID-19 is one of the most significant societal events many of us will experience in our lives. It is not over yet

Published: 20 May, 2025

at large.  Mental health issues do not suddenly appear during youth but are a combination of risk factors that have not been addressed or prevented from taking their course. Evidence from longitudinal studies in New Zealand show that the earlier we can influence the trajectory of a young

Published: 16 June, 2022

significant distress. The Commission urges the Government to be bold in work under way to transform mental health law, and to invest in culturally appropriate, community-based acute services to provide genuine choice for people and whānau, alongside the option of inpatient care. People with personal

Published: January 2026

, Josiah had a life changing experience as a participant in the Pacific Youth Leadership and Transformation programme (PYLAT). A core group of participants (including Josiah) developed PYLAT into a charity continuing to empower Pacific youth voices in democracy, and support their mental wellbeing. In the