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Published: 13 December, 2023

on policy proposals and bills, such as the Accessibility for New Zealanders Bill, Therapeutic Products Bill and Manatū Hauora policy proposal to repeal and replace the Mental Health Act.   We generated good coverage of the issues we’re working on in a variety of media outlets. Over the

Published: 16 June, 2022

. Change is happening in pockets. Zero seclusion: Safety and Dignity for All is a joint project between the Health Quality & Safety Commission, Te Pou, and DHBs (soon to be Health New Zealand). It aims to reduce solitary confinement (seclusion) rates in all acute mental health units across Aotearoa New

Published: January 2026

  Māori, who make up 17% of the population and have higher rates of mental distress than other population groups, have been advocating for equitable funding for Kaupapa Māori services for decades.   What needs to change? We want to see: Equitable investment in Kaupapa Māori services

Published: 16 February, 2024

tailored for them,” Ms Orsborn said.    This report comes at a time when rangatahi and young people are experiencing higher rates of mental distress and longer wait times to access support. In the Commission’s recent Briefing to the Incoming Minister, we pointed to the need to expand access

Published: May 2026

over the past decade. The research is clear that supporting young people earlier, before distress escalates, can reduce the long-term impacts on their mental health, wellbeing, education, employment, and family outcomes. It also reduces the demand on the mental health system which is under pressure

Published: 16 June, 2026

increased unmet need for professional mental health support for Māori with investment in culturally appropriate services not keeping up. “We continue to see high rates of seclusion and other coercive practices being used, which raises concerns about the ability of the system to uphold human rights-based

Published: 22 March, 2023

; “Crises like the pandemic have shown us that re-establishing and strengthening the social infrastructure that supports connection and communities is key to supporting wellbeing,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive Karen Orsborn.   “We can expect rates of distress and addiction to

Published: January 2026

, income adequacy, experience of discrimination, educational achievement, access to services and levels of psychological distress. We did this assessment to feed into policy and system responses to promote mental health and wellbeing for young people and rangatahi Māori in Aotearoa. The aim is to promote

Published: 8 April, 2026

, and our role as system and service monitor. Our latest advice, in February 2026, recognised the improvements that have been made since our past advice, but highlighted gaps we hope to see addressed relating to:  strengthening action on determinants to tackle increasing population rates of

Published: 10 July, 2023

a reduction in the rate of CCTO use. We want to see a reduction in the inequitable use of CCTOs for Māori and Pacific. We want to see services and courts implementing cultural and other practices that ensure tāngata whaiora as well as whānau and family perspectives are heard, and tāngata whaiora