Search

Published: 14 June, 2021

Commission set to move forward on advancing Aotearoa’s wellbeing agenda The Chair of the Commission Board, Hayden Wano, has today announced the appointment of its new Tumu Whakarae - Chief Executive for the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Karen Orsborn steps into the Chief Executive role

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: 30 September, 2024

New Zealand is a step closer to getting accurate information about the level of mental health need in the community. Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health, announced on 26 September that the Government will fund the first Child and Youth Mental Health and Addiction Prevalence survey. This is in

Published: 22 September, 2021

Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission welcomes release of Kia Manawanui as we lead our agenda to support transformation The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission welcomes today’s release of Kia Manawanui Aotearoa , the government’s long-term pathway to mental wellbeing, by Minister of Health, Hon

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: 5 June, 2024

Data and insights from our 2024 mental health and addiction service monitoring report is presented in four  easy to read infographics.   You can also read the full Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey has Begun report , accompanying Voices report or visit the updated He Ara

Published: 8 April, 2026

Consultation by the Ministry of Health on the first, national Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy began on 8 April 2026. We would like everyone to share their views and make their voices heard. Te Hiringa Mahara has provided independent advice to the Minister for Mental Health on the development

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: January 2026

of the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. Hayden has over 40 years' health sector experience in mental health, community and medical services, and was the former Director of Clinical Services at Taranaki Healthcare Limited. Hayden has held a wide range of governance positions, including

Published: 20 May, 2025

Gains – Child Wellbeing at Risk in an Unpredictable World .  Recent findings from the new UNICEF report show worsening youth mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is not new information but seeing how we measure up internationally clearly tells us that we are simply not doing enough. We