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Published: 29 May, 2025

New analysis shows a 10.5% reduction in the number of people accessing addiction treatment services over the last five years raising concerns about whether there is sufficient capacity to respond to an increase in demand.  “Recent reports show drug use has increased, yet over the past five

Published: 16 June, 2026

needs and the needs of their whānau. “This report shows the system is improving in some areas, but for the people who need it most, we are losing ground,” says Te Hiringa Mahara Chief Executive Karen Orsborn.   “There are signs of progress across the system, however of the six focus areas we

Published: 31 October, 2025

,” said board chair Hayden Wano.   “We have a diverse, knowledgeable and hard-working board that is committed to bringing to life our vision of thriving together. The changes announced today put us on a strong footing for the future.” “In July this year we began delivering on a new strategy that

Published: 19 April, 2024

. While six other strategies were specified, mental health and addiction was not included. It is good that this omission will now be rectified. The purpose of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy is to provide a framework to guide health entities for the long-term improvement of mental health and

Published: 16 June, 2022

to coercion despite evidence there is no therapeutic value in such practices. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission wants investment that will provide the choice of services needed to enhance everyone's safety, end coercive practices and support whānau to safely navigate through

Published: 9 March, 2023

During the 2020 national lockdown, reports of family violence increased considerably, but the New Zealand Police and advocacy groups were concerned that this was still under-reported. Women, children, rangatahi Māori, disabled people and rainbow youth were particularly affected. This is according

Published: 1 December, 2022

Te Hiringa Mahara is producing a series of short reports during 2022 and 2023 to add our collective understanding of the wellbeing impacts of the pandemic and to provide key insights on wellbeing areas or populations of focus. Impact of COVID-19 on wellbeing of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand

Published: 3 April, 2025

, addiction and wellbeing issues. The programme is a good investment, but efforts to reach more people need to be intensified,” said Karen Orsborn, Chief Executive Officer. During 2023-24, over 207,000 people have accessed support, with over 1.6 million sessions completed across the country since

Published: 27 October, 2022

services. “As the Commission notes, the arrival of the Omicron variant has exposed long-standing, fundamental weaknesses in our health system. There is little capacity in the mental health system to cope with shocks, there are entrenched inequities in access to services and better outcomes experienced by

Published: 25 February, 2026

Te Hiringa Mahara is calling for increased urgency to improve access to specialist mental health and addiction services for young people after new analysis shows a continued reduction in the number of young people accessing services.   Despite 15-to-24 year-olds reporting increasing levels of