Better mental health and wellbeing for our people

Te Hiringa Mahara is kaitiaki of mental health and wellbeing.
We contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Nau mai, haere mai | Welcome

Te Hiringa Mahara (Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission) is kaitiaki of mental health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand. We were established as a result of He Ara Oranga, the 2018 inquiry into mental health and addiction, as an independent Crown entity at arms-length from the government of the day.

Our objective is to contribute to better and equitable mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in Aotearoa. We perform an enduring role in transforming Aotearoa New Zealand's approach to mental health and wellbeing. We have made a strong commitment to ground our work in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for Māori and whānau. This is front and centre of who we are and what we do. 

We are committed to prioritising the voices of people who experience mental distress, substance harm, gambling harm or addiction, and advocating for their needs and aspirations.

Where are things at for rangatahi and young people?

We have have created an up-to-date picture of the state of wellbeing for rangatahi and young people in Aotearoa. Check out the Assessment of youth and rangatahi wellbeing and access to services infographic. Released June 2024.

Strengthening lived experience leadership will improve mental health and wellbeing

In our new Leadership as a mental wellbeing system enabler report we have looked at leadership actions in Kia Manawanui, New Zealand’s ‘long-term pathway’ to transform Aotearoa’s approach to mental health and wellbeing. Read our findings and calls to action

New monitoring report focuses on service access and options

Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey Has Begun is our third mental health services and addiction services monitoring report. This report specifically focuses on access to services and options available.

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New report: Achieving equity of Pacific mental health and wellbeing outcomes   

This new report brings together insights about Pacific peoples wellbeing using our He Ara Oranga Wellbeing Outcomes Framework and engagement with Pacific communities.

Our latest webinar

We hosted a webinar to walk people through key findings from Kua Tīmata Te Haerenga | The Journey Has Begun —our latest monitoring report on mental health and addiction services. We talked through data sources and accompanying reports, along with sharing the changes we want to see happen. 

Calling time on CCTO

Compulsory community treatment orders must be reformed to ensure people in mental distress and their whānau feel heard.

Have your say on ending CCTO