13 Oct 2026
1 week ago
286 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.
29 Jul 2026
2 months ago
658 views
The 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.
14 Apr 2026
6 months ago
1427 views
South 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.
17 Dec 2025
10 months ago
1512 views
New 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.
20 Aug 2025
1 year ago
1700 views
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey welcomes the New Zealand Psychologists Board's approval of the Psychology Assistant role to enhance access to mental health and addiction support. The initiative aims to address workforce shortages by providing a career path for psychology graduates unable to enter clinical psychology programs. Psychology Assistants will work under supervision to expand support services, reduce vacancies, and improve mental health outcomes for New Zealanders.