13 Oct 2026
1 week ago
298 views
A new peer-led Crisis Recovery Café, Te Piringa Āhuru ki Maungawhau, has opened in Mt Eden to provide faster, non-clinical mental health and addiction support through lived-experience peer workers. This initiative, led by Ember and part of a nationwide rollout, offers a safe, welcoming space without referral, helping connect people to community services and advocacy. Operating daily from midday to 8pm, it builds on the success of previous cafés in South Auckland and Kaitaia, enhancing crisis response and frontline support in the Northern Region.
08 Oct 2026
2 weeks ago
304 views
The Government is expanding the frontline psychology workforce by increasing the number of Psychology Intern Hubs from six to eight, supporting up to 40 interns annually to gain supervised experience in mental health and addiction services. This initiative, along with doubling clinical psychology internships and creating the new Psychology Assistant role, aims to strengthen pathways from university training into frontline mental health careers. These efforts are part of a broader plan to improve access to support, grow the workforce, and enhance crisis response across the country.
30 Sep 2026
3 weeks ago
287 views
The new Hawke’s Bay Crisis Recovery Café, Te Wāhi Poutoko Hūmārie, will offer a calm, peer-led community space for people needing mental health and addiction support, complementing upcoming peer support services in the Emergency Department. Led by Connect Community Trust and local providers, the café aims to provide faster, more compassionate access to support outside clinical settings, operating initially on weekend evenings. These initiatives build on broader government investments to enhance mental health crisis response, increase frontline workers, and expand support services in Hawke’s Bay.
08 Sep 2026
1 month ago
454 views
An independent review of mental health and addiction telehealth services revealed that while core safety systems are in place, many people face long wait times and inconsistent follow-up after referrals. In response, the government is expanding peer support hours, piloting proactive follow-up calls, establishing a dedicated 24/7 national suicide prevention crisis line, and considering a telehealth target to improve wait times. Recent investments of over $10 million aim to enhance service capacity and ensure timely, accessible support for those in need.
07 Sep 2026
1 month ago
485 views
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey officially opened Ngā Moana e Rua, a new $27 million acute mental health facility at Te Nīkau Hospital in Greymouth, designed to provide a safe, therapeutic environment with modern amenities for inpatient care. This facility is part of the Mental Health Infrastructure Programme and reflects a shift towards faster access, improved frontline support, and better crisis response, with input from clinical teams, people with lived experience, and the community. West Coast mental health services are among the best-performing in the country, and the new unit aims to further enhance care while supporting earlier intervention to prevent inpatient admissions.
03 Sep 2026
1 month ago
492 views
The government has launched a $30.6 million health-led plan to provide faster access to methamphetamine treatment and recovery services in heavily affected communities, including new programs in Kaitaia, Kaikohe, Wairoa, and Invercargill. The initiative includes expanded frontline workers, peer and family support, early intervention screening, and school-based prevention programs to address drug harm comprehensively. Additional clinical services and support networks are being established across multiple regions to ensure quicker, more effective addiction support and sustained recovery.
27 Aug 2026
1 month ago
540 views
A new Crisis Recovery Café called Te Whare Tau has opened in Kaitaia to provide a calm, peer-led support environment for people experiencing mental health or addiction distress, offering an alternative to emergency departments. Delivered by Rakau Ora, the café builds on existing community services and aims to connect individuals with further support, operating during after-hours with trained peer support workers. This café is the first of three planned in Northland, reflecting growing demand for accessible crisis support, with over 100 people accessing the service in its first two weekends.
21 Aug 2026
2 months ago
565 views
The Waimarino Health Centre in Raetihi is undergoing a $4.4 million expansion and refurbishment, more than doubling its size to improve access to public, primary, and community healthcare services for the Ruapehu district. This development, supported by local officials and aimed at enhancing rural healthcare, will consolidate services into a modern, fit-for-purpose facility. Construction began recently and is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027, marking a significant milestone for the community.
21 Aug 2026
2 months ago
587 views
The Waimarino Health Centre in Raetihi is undergoing a $4.4 million expansion and refurbishment, more than doubling its size to improve access to public, primary, and community health services for the Ruapehu district. This redevelopment, supported by local advocates and government ministers, aims to enhance rural healthcare by consolidating services in a modern facility. Construction began recently and is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027, marking a significant milestone for the community.
21 Aug 2026
2 months ago
590 views
The number of children waiting for dental surgery in Auckland has dropped from 2,200 to 743, significantly reducing wait times. This improvement is due to initiatives such as increased theatre capacity, better support for families, and a pilot program offering publicly funded sedation for dental treatment as an alternative to general anaesthetic. These efforts have freed up hospital resources for more urgent cases and ensured faster access to dental care for children.
21 Aug 2026
2 months ago
536 views
The number of children waiting for dental surgery in Auckland has dropped by over 1,400, reaching its lowest level in years due to various initiatives like increased theatre capacity and better collaboration between hospital and community teams. A pilot program offering publicly funded sedation for dental treatment has provided an alternative to general anaesthetic, helping 340 children receive faster care and reducing the surgical waitlist. These efforts have freed up hospital capacity for more urgent cases and improved timely access to dental treatment for children.
20 Aug 2026
2 months ago
698 views
A new 16-bed acute mental health and addiction facility has opened at Rotorua Hospital, replacing the outdated 45-year-old unit and providing faster access to support for people in the Lakes district. The facility features individual bedrooms, therapy spaces, family areas, and quieter zones tailored to different needs, enhancing care for patients and working conditions for staff. This $50 million investment is part of a broader Mental Health Infrastructure Programme aimed at improving facilities nationwide and expanding support services to prevent the need for inpatient care.
18 Aug 2026
2 months ago
597 views
New Zealand is nearly doubling peer-led acute alternative mental health beds from 25 to 45 to provide faster, community-based crisis support outside hospitals, with 12 new beds opening in Auckland and eight in the lower South Island. This expansion is part of a $61.6 million government investment that also includes additional frontline staff, peer support workers, and Crisis Recovery Cafés to improve mental health crisis response nationwide. Trusted local organizations with extensive community experience will deliver these services, ensuring people in crisis receive timely, supportive care in a home-like environment connected to their families and communities.
13 Aug 2026
2 months ago
618 views
The New Zealand Government is providing over $34 million in additional annual funding from July 2026 to support community mental health and addiction organisations, recognizing their vital role. To ensure greater stability, most providers are being moved from one-year to three-year contracts, allowing them to invest confidently in their workforce and services. This approach aims to improve access to mental health support, strengthen frontline services, and enhance crisis response for vulnerable New Zealanders.
13 Aug 2026
2 months ago
639 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced over $34 million in additional annual funding from July 2026 for community mental health and addiction providers, along with a 3.16% funding uplift for most eligible NGOs. The government is increasing contract certainty by shifting around 83% of providers onto three-year contracts, replacing the previous predominance of one-year agreements to enable better workforce investment and service delivery. These measures aim to support frontline organizations that serve over 82,000 people annually, ensuring faster access to mental health services and a stronger crisis response across New Zealand.