Articles tagged with Addiction
New 16-Bed Mental Health and Addiction Facility Opens at Rotorua Hospital
5 days ago | 131 viewsA new 16-bed acute mental health and addiction facility has opened at Rotorua Hospital, replacing the outdated 45-year-old unit and providing faster access to support for people in the Lakes district.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.
Tags: Rotorua Hospital Mental Health Addiction Facility Matt Doocey Lakes District Mental Health Wellbeing and Recovery Unit Te Whare Oranga Tangata o Whakaue Mental Health Infrastructure Programme Inpatient Care New ZealandNZ Government Boosts Funding and Extends Contracts for Community Mental Health NGOs
1 week ago | 198 viewsThe 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.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister New Zealand community organisations mental health addiction services NGOs Health New Zealand funding uplift frontline workersNew Zealand Boosts Community Mental Health Funding with Longer Contracts
1 week ago | 183 viewsMental 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.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister New Zealand community organisations mental health addiction services NGOs Health New Zealand funding uplift frontline workersNew Child and Youth Mental Health Service Launched in Central Otago
2 weeks ago | 191 viewsA new child and youth mental health and addiction service, Hono ki te Ora, has been launched in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes to provide a single, coordinated point of access for young people aged 5 to 24 and their families. The service aims to simplify navigation of the mental health system, reduce fragmentation, and connect individuals to appropriate support without duplication, especially in this geographically isolated and fast-growing region. Since May, the service has received 80 referrals, actively supporting 35 young people and strengthening community relationships to ensure timely and effective care.
Tags: Matt Doocey Hono ki te Ora Central Otago Queenstown Lakes child mental health youth addiction service New Zealand mental health support young people community servicesNew Zealand Launches 10-Year Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy for All
2 weeks ago | 218 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey launched New Zealand’s first Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, setting a 10-year plan with a detailed three-year Implementation Plan featuring 50 actions to improve mental health and addiction outcomes. Key focuses include launching AI Navigation for easier access to services, integrating mental health with housing and employment support, eliminating seclusion, and co-designing a youth mental health roadmap. The strategy was shaped by feedback from nearly 900 people and organizations, aiming to create a more effective mental health system.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister New Zealand Healthy Futures Act Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Mental Health Bill youth mental health addiction services AI Navigation public consultationNew Youth Hubs in Hamilton, Nelson, and Hawke’s Bay Boost Mental Health Support
3 weeks ago | 298 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing $3 million to establish three Youth Hubs in Hamilton, Nelson, and Hawke's Bay to provide faster, easier access to mental health and addiction support for young people aged 16 to 25. These hubs will offer counseling, peer support, and specialist services in one location, designed with input from young people to better meet their needs and reduce system fragmentation. Additionally, a $1 million investment is enhancing youth acute respite services in Waikato and Hawke's Bay to provide timely support and prevent crises from escalating.
Tags: Mental Health Addiction Support Youth Hubs Matt Doocey Suicide Prevention Hamilton Nelson Hawke's Bay Waikato Youth Mental HealthGovernment Invests $10M to Boost NZ Mental Health Telehealth Services
1 month ago | 380 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing over $10 million to strengthen mental health and addiction telehealth services, including funding for Lifeline, Youthline, and Whakarongorau to increase capacity and reduce wait times. This package will support approximately 16,000 additional calls and introduce an AI-enabled triage and referral tool to improve service efficiency and connect people to appropriate support. The funding provides Lifeline with operational certainty for 2026/2027 and expands Youthline’s capacity by 44 percent, addressing growing demand across the sector.
Tags: Lifeline Youthline Whakarongorau Matt Doocey New Zealand mental health addiction telehealth AI triage tool Government fundingGisborne Opens New Crisis Recovery Café for Mental Health Support
1 month ago | 410 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey officially opened Gisborne’s new Crisis Recovery Café, a safe, non-clinical space where people experiencing mental health and addiction challenges can receive peer support and connect with community services without a referral. The café, run by Te Kupenga Net Trust, operates weekdays and aims to provide an alternative to emergency departments, emphasizing the importance of wraparound support and peer workers who understand lived experiences. This initiative is part of a broader rollout of eight Crisis Recovery Cafés nationwide to improve mental health support through trusted community organizations.
Tags: Matt Doocey Te Kupenga Net Trust Gisborne Crisis Recovery Café Te Kāuta café Mental Health Minister Tairāwhiti peer support emergency departments addiction challengesNew Zealand Improves Mental Health Access with Faster Support and More Workers
2 months ago | 452 viewsNew Zealand's mental health and addiction services are improving, with faster access to support and more frontline workers, as evidenced by meeting four out of five key targets and increased demand for primary care. The government has implemented significant workforce expansions, new training pathways, and enhanced crisis response initiatives, resulting in reduced vacancy rates and better timeliness of services. Independent confirmation from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission highlights ongoing progress, though challenges remain, particularly in emergency department wait times, as efforts continue to build a more effective mental health system.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister New Zealand Mental Health and Addiction Health New Zealand Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Clinical Psychology Psychiatry Crisis Recovery Cafés Peer Support WorkersWaikato Hospital Opens 10 New Forensic Mental Health Beds to Boost Support
3 months ago | 606 viewsWaikato Hospital has opened ten new forensic inpatient beds to improve access to specialist mental health support, addressing growing demand within the corrections system where mental health needs are high. This expansion is part of a $51 million government investment that also includes community-based step-down beds, wrap-around support services, and workforce development to enhance treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration. The initiative aims to ensure patient and public safety by providing adequate care and strengthening pathways from inpatient care to community reintegration.
Tags: Matt Doocey Waikato Hospital Mental Health Forensic Services Midland Region Ember Health NZ Government Addiction RehabilitationNew South Island Crisis Recovery Café Opens in Dunedin for Mental Health Support
4 months ago | 1025 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced the opening of the second South Island Crisis Recovery Café in Dunedin, providing a calm, peer-led, non-clinical space for people experiencing mental distress as an alternative to busy emergency departments. The cafés, operated by the Otago Mental Health Support Trust, will run at two sites in South Dunedin and North East Valley, offering 16 hours of support weekly and connecting individuals to long-term community services. This initiative is part of a broader mental health plan to enhance crisis response through increased peer support workers and faster access to care.
Tags: Matt Doocey Otago Mental Health Support Trust South Island Crisis Recovery Café Dunedin North East Valley peer support mental health crisis recovery addiction challenges emergency departmentsSouth Island’s First Crisis Recovery Café Opens in Christchurch for Mental Health Support
4 months ago | 1055 viewsSouth Island’s first Crisis Recovery Café has opened in Christchurch, providing a calm, peer-led space for people experiencing mental distress as an alternative to emergency departments. The café, run by local organizations with lived experience in mental health and addiction support, offers immediate access without referrals and connects clients to long-term community services. This initiative is part of a broader mental health plan aimed at faster crisis response, increased frontline workers, and expanded peer support across various settings in New Zealand.
Tags: Crisis Recovery Café Christchurch Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey Purapura Whetu Odyssey House Trust Stepping Stone Trust peer support mental health addiction supportMental Health Innovation Fund Round Three Expands Access Across New Zealand
5 months ago | 767 viewsThe Mental Health and Addiction Innovation Fund in New Zealand has entered its third round with changes to increase access, including revising the requirement for an independent Social Return on Investment (SROI) report to a more flexible proposal-based approach. These adjustments respond to sector feedback by lowering barriers such as matched-funding thresholds and allowing community organizations to better demonstrate outcomes while maintaining robust evaluation. With $20 million allocated over two years, the Fund aims to support grassroots initiatives that improve timely access to mental health and addiction services, protect public specialist services, and deliver scalable, evidence-based solutions.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister New Zealand Mental Health Addiction Innovation Fund Women’s Refuge Social Return on Investment Grassroots Organisations Mental Health Workforce Crisis ResponseNew Zealand Invests $20M to Support Families and Prevent Addiction Harm by 2029
5 months ago | 709 viewsThe New Zealand government is investing nearly $20 million annually in a new Action Plan to improve addiction support, focusing on early intervention, expanded pregnancy and parenting services, and community-based follow-up for those affected by substance use. Emphasizing the critical first 1000 days of a child's life, the plan aims to prevent harm through early identification and enhanced support for families experiencing alcohol or drug issues. Progress includes a growing addiction workforce and reduced counselor vacancies, reflecting the government's commitment to addressing addiction comprehensively across all stages.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand addiction substance harm mental health fetal alcohol spectrum disorder methamphetamine parenting support drug and alcohol counsellors Action PlanNew Zealand Sees Faster Access and Shorter ED Stays in Mental Health Services Q1 2025
8 months ago | 1134 viewsNew data for Q1 2025/26 shows significant improvements in New Zealand’s mental health and addiction access targets, with faster access to primary and specialist services and shorter emergency department stays compared to Q1 2024/25. Progress is evident nationally and across Māori, Pacific, and Asian communities, though shorter ED stays remain the biggest challenge, with efforts focused on supporting under-performing health districts. Minister Matt Doocey emphasizes the goal of equitable access to mental health support nationwide, crediting frontline workers for these advancements.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand mental health addiction support emergency departments primary mental health specialist services Māori Pacific peoples Asian communities