Te Kōmihana Tōmua / The Initial Commission

Government established a ministerial advisory committee (the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission) under section 11 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. The Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (the Initial Commission) was set up to maintain the momentum of He Ara Oranga(external link), the Government inquiry into mental health and addiction, and the work to transform Aotearoa New Zealand's mental health and wellbeing system while Te Hiringa Mahara was being established.

The Initial Commission undertook some, but not all, of the functions of Te Hiringa Mahara. The Initial Commission specifically monitored progress of the Government’s system transformation response to He Ara Oranga and provided advice on and reported to the Minister of Health after one year of the Initial Commission’s establishment. This included monitoring progress on the implementation of kaupapa Māori approaches to mental health and wellbeing.

The Initial Commission operated until Te Hiringa Mahara opened its doors on 9 February 2021.

Role of the Initial Commission

The role of the Initial Commission was to:

• monitor and provide advice on Government's system transformation response to He Ara Oranga
• Develop an outcomes framework for mental health and wellbeing, and make recommendations to address data gaps
• Support and promote collaboration and partnerships across the system so that we are all working together to transform the mental health and wellbeing system
• Build strong foundations so that when set up, Te Hiringa Mahara can hit the ground running.

The Initial Commission's work

There were three major pieces of work that the Initial Commission was responsible for delivering:

1. Monitoring and reporting on the Government's system transformation response to He Ara Oranga
2. Developing an outcomes framework for Aotearoa New Zealand's mental health and wellbeing
3. Supporting the establishment of Te Hiringa Mahara.

Want to learn more?

For more information about the Government inquiry into mental health and addiction, He Ara Oranga, visit their website: He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction(external link)

The Initial Commission Board

L to R: Dr Julie Wharewera-Mika, Kevin Hague, Hayden Wano (Chair), Kendall Flutey, Kelly Pope

Hayden Wano, Chair

Hayden is of Te Atiawa, Taranaki and Ngati Awa descent and has over 30 years’ experience in senior health management. He is currently Chief Executive of Tui Ora Limited (a Māori development organisation and health and social service). Mr Wano has over 40 years’ health sector experience in mental health, community and medical services, including being the former Director of Clinical Services with Taranaki Healthcare Limited.

Hayden has held a wide range of governance positions, including Interim Chair of National Health Board, Chair of Taranaki District Health Board and Chair of Health Sponsorship Council. He is a former Director of TSB and recently retired from the role of Chair of TSB Community Trust. Hayden is currently a Board member of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and Wise Group.

Hayden has a Master of Business Administration from Massey University and participated in a Senior Executive Programme at Columbia University. In 2017 he received the Taranaki Mayoral Award for Business Excellence. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) and a chartered member of the Institute of Directors.

Dr Julie Wharewera-Mika

Julie is of Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tuhoe and Te Whānau-a-Apanui descent and is a Director, Clinical Psychologist and Lead Co-researcher at Manu Ārahi - The Flying Doctors. She has more than 20 years’ mental health experience, employed in various roles within the sector primarily as a clinical psychologist. She has been employed within inpatient services, Adult, and Child and Adolescent Community Mental Health District Health Board services. She is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Brain Research New Zealand, at the University of Auckland. Her broader areas of research interest are focused on improving Māori mental health and wellbeing, mental health service delivery, support services for survivors of sexual violence and Māori mental health workforce development.

Julie has extensive governance experience. She is the current Bi-cultural Director on the NZ Psychological Society Board and a member of the National Standing Committee for Bi-cultural Issues.

Julie has a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, both from the University of Auckland.

Kevin Hague

Kevin is the Chief Executive of Forest & Bird. He has held various leadership roles in the business, government, and community sectors. Kevin was previously Chief Executive of the West Coast District Health Board and Executive Director of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.

Kevin is a former New Zealand Member of Parliament and served on the Parliamentary Health Committee for eight years.

Kevin was a member of the New Zealand National Health Committee and the National Quality Improvement Committee, and was Chair of the New Zealand Public Health Advisory Committee.

Kelly Pope

Kelly is a mental health advocate, youth worker and writer. She is the Founder of Crazy Young Things Consulting, which provides consumer advice relating to mental health, peer support and youth participation. Currently, Kelly is the coordinator for Reframe Wānanga at Stepping Stone Trust - a Recovery College initiative for youth. Prior to this, she was a National Youth Consumer Advisor at Werry Centre and coordinator for the consumer network Awareness: Canterbury Action on Mental Health and Addictions.

Kelly has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canterbury, a National Diploma in Mental Health Support Work from Southern Institute of Technology and a level 4 Certificate in Te Ara Reo Māori from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, though considers her most valuable qualification to be the fifteen years she spent using mental health services and journeying to understand her experiences beyond a bio-medical perspective.

Kendall Flutey

Kendall is of Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Kahungunu descent, and is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Banqer, an online programme that develops financial capability in children. Prior to this, Kendall held various positions including an accounting role at KPMG, web developer at Abletech, and founder roles with two other tech start-ups. She won the title of Young New Zealander of the Year in 2019, Te Whetū Maiangi Award for Young Achievers in 2019, and was named Young Māori Business Leader of the Year in 2018. Ms Flutey is a Trustee of Limitless, a youth-focused charitable trust. 

Kendall holds a Master of Entrepreneurship, a Bachelor of Commerce, and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting, all from the University of Otago.

The Initial Commission's principles

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi paves our way, and the Māori-Crown partnership is our foundation

• Wellbeing for all is our goal

• We uphold multiple knowledges, including Mātauranga Māori, and share power

• We put people, whānau and communities at the centre of all our work

• Our priorities are guided by the voices of lived experience, Māori, Pacific peoples and other groups who experience poorer wellbeing outcomes

• We take holistic approaches that enhance wellbeing

• We carry the spirit and voices of He Ara Oranga, Oranga Tāngata, Oranga Whānau and the Mental Health Inquiry Pacific Report

• Our work makes a difference

• Our work is accessible to all.

The Initial Commission's Terms of Reference

Download their Terms of Reference:

• Terms of Reference [DOCX, 35 KB]
• Terms of Reference [PDF, 142 KB]

Read online:

Context

• The Government has committed to establishing an independent Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission as part of its response to He Ara Oranga: Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction (He Ara Oranga).

• This is an important time for mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand and a pivotal opportunity for a Commission to influence better and more equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes.

• The new Commission will provide enduring, independent oversight of mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand. The Commission’s focus spans all government and non-government contributors to mental health and wellbeing. This includes, but is not limited to, the health and disability, social welfare, housing, education, justice and workplace relations and safety sectors. It encompasses the social determinants of health like whānau ora, housing, employment, poverty, social and physical isolation, racism, the impact of colonisation, the environment, social attitudes and more.

• The Commission will oversee the performance of the whole mental health and wellbeing system and challenge it to perform better. It will not, however, investigate the performance of specific services or investigate individual complaints.

• To ensure its independence, the Commission will be established through the legislative process as a Crown entity. While legislation is being progressed, an Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (the Initial Commission) will undertake some, but not all, of the functions of the permanent Commission. The Initial Commission will be established under section 11 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 to provide advice to the Minister of Health on the mental health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

• This document is a Terms of Reference approved by Cabinet. It sets out the purpose, functions and operations for the Initial Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.

Purpose

• The purpose of the Initial Commission is to provide independent scrutiny of the Government’s progress in improving New Zealand’s mental health and wellbeing, promote collaboration between entities that contribute to mental health and wellbeing, and develop advice for the permanent Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (the permanent Commission) to enable the permanent Commission to make swift progress once it has been established.

Key functions and deliverables

• The Initial Commission will:

  • monitor progress of the Government’s system transformation response to He Ara Oranga and provide advice on and report to the Minister of Health within one year of the Initial Commission’s establishment. This shall include monitoring progress on the implementation of kaupapa Māori approaches

  • develop a draft outcomes and monitoring framework for mental health and wellbeing that would be suitable for the permanent Commission to consider adopting

  • begin to identify any gaps in information required to monitor performance under the draft framework and make recommendations to the Minister of Health on how these could be filled and by whom

  • develop a draft work programme and potential operating model for consideration by the permanent Commission

  • provide input on the establishment of the permanent Commission including its roles and powers

  • develop and maintain relationships with and between key government and non-government entities that contribute to mental health and wellbeing, including those monitoring or contributing information on aspects of system performance.

• The Initial Commission is not required to perform some functions that the permanent Commission will undertake, namely:

  • assess and publicly report on the state of New Zealand's mental health and wellbeing and emerging issues beyond progress with implementing Government’s response to He Ara Oranga

  • advocate for improvements to the mental health and wellbeing system beyond those that are being undertaken in response to He Ara Oranga.

• The Initial Commission will not be required to investigate or advocate on individual incidents or cases. If it becomes aware of such cases requiring consideration, it will refer these to the appropriate agencies, for example, the Health and Disability Commissioner or other relevant authorities.

Approach

• In carrying out its functions, the Initial Commission will:
  • undertake its tasks in a manner consistent with Te Tiriti O Waitangi including by having a direct relationship with iwi, and working directly with whānau and community
  • ensure a wide range of perspectives inform the Commission’s work, including:
    • whānau Māori
    • disabled people
    • Pacific peoples
    • rainbow communities
    • other groups with disproportionally poorer mental health and wellbeing outcomes
    • people with lived-experience of mental health and addiction and their families, whānau and caregivers.
  • engage with agencies that undertake oversight and monitoring functions covering aspects of mental health and wellbeing to draw on existing thinking, align outcomes and monitoring frameworks, and facilitate efficient information sharing as much as possible
  • engage with government agencies that may need to provide data and other information to the permanent Commission to understand what is readily available and what may require future investment
  • coordinate with, but not duplicate, other entities with similar roles, including but not limited to the Ministry of Health, the Health and Disability Commissioner, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Children’s Commissioner
  • work in a way that is consistent with New Zealand’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including the principle that disabled people should have full and effective participation and inclusion in society.
• The Government expects that government departments and Crown entities will collaborate with the Initial Commission, as far as they can while upholding their legal and ethical responsibilities. They are expected to supply the information in a useful format and timely manner to the Initial Commission so the Initial Commission can carry out its functions. This includes quarterly reports from the Ministry of Health to the Initial Commission on progress in delivering its contribution to the Government’s response to He Ara Oranga.

Independent advice and comment

• The Initial Commission will provide independent advice to the Minister of Health.
• The Initial Commission is expected to meet with the Minister of Health before starting its work to discuss these Terms of Reference, its intended work programme and deliverables.
• The Minister of Health may request advice from the Initial Commission on specific matters and direct the Initial Commission to have regard to specific policies relating to mental health and wellbeing. The Initial Commission may also propose matters for its work programme.
• The Initial Commission is expected to meet with the Minister of Health monthly (or as agreed between the Minister and Chair) to provide information as its work progresses, and act in accordance with a “no surprises” approach.
• The Minister may forward information from the Initial Commission to relevant portfolio Ministers.
• The reporting timeframe for the Initial Commission’s report on the Government’s response to He Ara Oranga can be extended if the Minister of Health agrees.
• The Initial Commission is accountable to the Minister of Health and is expected to act consistently with the objectives and functions set out in these Terms of Reference, and, perform the functions efficiently and effectively, and consistently with the spirit of service to the public, and in collaboration with other entities where practicable.

Membership

• The Initial Commission will consist of a Chairperson (the Chair) and up to four members appointed by Cabinet and accountable to the Minister of Health.
• Members are required to possess the appropriate knowledge, skills, and experience to carry out their role. Members are required to be widely respected as subject matter experts or authorities in mental health and wellbeing, and have the necessary personal expertise and ability to provide independent, strategic assessments of mental health and wellbeing issues.
• Collectively, the intended members of the Initial Commission should possess the following expertise and attributes:
  • in-depth understanding of mental health and addiction issues, services and support
  • understanding, knowledge and experience in Te Ao Māori (Māori world) practices, protocols, values and beliefs and capability in te reo Māori
  • personal experience of mental distress and/or addiction
  • experience in leading or influencing complex systems
  • an understanding of wider contributors to mental health and wellbeing such as housing, education, justice and workplace relations and safety sectors, as well as social determinants like whānau ora, housing, employment, poverty, the environment, social and physical isolation, racism, the impact of colonisation, social attitudes and more
  • gender, age and ethnicity balance.
• In addition, the following are key attributes for the Chair of the Initial Commission:
  • experience in a public-facing role
  • governance experience
  • familiarity with machinery of government and government processes.
• Members are responsible for declaring any real or potential conflict of interest to the Initial Commission, as soon as the conflict arises.
• Members must ensure that they do not let advocacy of particular interests override or undermine their responsibilities or duties as members of the Initial Commission.
• The Initial Commission is expected to work closely with the Mental Health Commissioner.

Operations

• The Initial Commission is expected to meet regularly to carry out its functions. The scheduling of these processes will be determined by the Chair and Members subject to budgetary constraints.
• The Initial Commission will operate on the basis of consensus and, where it is not possible to achieve a consensus the Minister will be informed of the difference of opinion.
• The Chair will determine the meeting processes. Members who are unable to attend a meeting of the Initial Commission cannot be represented by a substitute or proxy.
• The Initial Commission will be supported by a dedicated Secretariat. The role of the Secretariat is to prepare a range of resources and materials at the direction of the Initial Commission to support its work.
• As a Ministerial committee the Initial Commission cannot be an employer or enter into contracts. The Ministry of Health will be the managing agency for the Initial Commission and will be responsible for employing the Secretariat and contracting for work on behalf of the Initial Commission.
• The Head of Secretariat will be appointed by the Director-General of Health in consultation with the Chair of the Initial Commission. The Head of Secretariat is accountable to the Chair of the Initial Commission for delivery of the Initial Commission’s work programme and to the Director-General of Health for employment and budget matters.
• Secretariat staff may include subject matter specialists seconded from the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies. Secretariat staff will report to the Head of Secretariat.
• The Director-General of Health and the Chair of the Initial Commission will meet regularly to ensure that the Initial Commission’s work programme is well supported and to keep each other well informed of relevant work and issues.

Public statements

• Only the Chair is authorised to comment publicly on matters connected with the Initial Commission, and where appropriate, the Chair will advise the Minister of Health in advance. The Chair may delegate comment to other members.

General confidentiality requirements

• In order for the Initial Commission to operate effectively, members must maintain the confidence of the Initial Commission, including maintaining confidentiality of matters discussed at meetings, and any information or documents (not otherwise publicly available) provided to it.
• Disclosure of Initial Commission business to anyone outside the Initial Commission must be on the decision of the Initial Commission or at the discretion of the Chair when the Initial Commission is unable to meet. The release or withholding of information is subject to the provisions of the Official Information Act 1982 and the Privacy Act 1993.

Terms and conditions of appointment

• Members of the Initial Commission are appointed by the Minister of Health. Letters of appointment will detail the remuneration and reimbursement arrangements for the Chair and members. Fees will be paid in accordance with the Cabinet Office Fees Framework.
• Any member of the Initial Commission may at any time resign as a member by advising the Minister of Health in writing.
• Any serious breach of any of these terms of reference may result in the Minister of Health removing a member at the Minister’s sole discretion. Serious breaches of the Terms of Reference include, but are not limited to, a breach of confidentiality, unauthorised communication with media about the Initial Commission, or a failure to declare, or appropriately manage, a conflict of interest.
• The Minister of Health may from time to time alter or reconstitute the Initial Commission, or discharge any member or appoint new members for the purpose of decreasing or increasing the membership or filling any vacancies.

Duration of the Initial Commission

• The Initial Commission will remain in place until 7 February 2021, unless otherwise disestablished or extended by the Minister of Health.
• The Minister of Health may extend the duration of the Initial Commission.