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Published: February 2026

Download Mental Health Bill submission pdf, 284 KB Since our formation Te Hiringa Mahara - Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has contributed to policy development to ensure Aotearoa New Zealand has mental health law based on human rights and eliminates coercive practices or reduces them to the

Published: February 2026

independent monitoring shows the programme has substantially increased access to and choice in support services and substantially increased access for people seeking help with mild to moderate mental health, addiction, and wellbeing needs. While the programme represents a good investment in the mental

Published: 30 April, 2026

adult services doesn’t meet the needs of young people.”  “Early intervention and secondary prevention are effective, scalable ways to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people, and reduce the need for more intensive services. The challenge now is making sure support is available for

Published: May 2026

journey through these servic This report focuses on crisis responses over a five-year period, from January 2020 to December 2024. Crisis responses form a critical function in ensuring people and whānau who are experiencing crisis get the urgent support they need.   Our report examines how the

Published: 25 March, 2026

Following the release of the Government’s latest targets data this morning, Te Hiringa Mahara – Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission is renewing its calls for increased urgency to improve access to services for young people. “While we are encouraged by workforce growth and acknowledge the

Published: December 2025

communities throughout the country to create impact for people with lived experience of mental health and addiction. This includes extensive engagement with mental health and addiction sector, iwi, kaupapa Māori providers, government, NGOs, government agencies, and lived experience communities.&nbsp

Published: 16 June, 2022

In early June we provided an article on coercive practices to the New Zealand Herald for consideration as part of its Great Minds campaign on mental health. The article, by our Chief Executive Karen Orsborn, pointed out that coercive practices continue in Aotearoa New Zealand despite evidence they

Published: January 2026

Wellbeing Commission in performing its functions and exercising its powers, under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Act 2020, is to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our Transparency Statement [PDF, 45 KB] explains how we

Published: 15 December, 2025

When people gathered at the Hauora hinengaro: He ara tūroa conference in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland in early November, it was a first for more than one reason. The day-long event was the first-time people from across the mental health and addiction sector have met to look at how crisis responses are

Published: 2 October, 2025

, Aotearoa. We will also continue to advocate for increasing the availability of resources, support and treatment options for people experiencing stress, distress, substance use, and suicidal thoughts.  Separate to this work, the Commission is considering how it can best contribute to monitoring