Articles tagged with Support
New Zealand Invests $8.5M to Boost Rural Health Workforce and Emergency Care
4 days ago | 99 viewsThe New Zealand government is investing over $8.5 million in three initiatives to strengthen the rural health workforce and improve local access to care. These include funding for Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) training, expanded and subsidized Primary Response in Medical Emergencies (PRIME) training, and a $6 million boost to the National Rural Recruitment and Locum Support Service to attract a broader range of health professionals. These efforts aim to equip rural clinicians with better skills and support, ensuring timely, quality healthcare for rural communities and reducing reliance on distant hospital care.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand rural health POCUS PRIME training rural clinicians healthcare access National Rural Recruitment locum support emergency careNew Youth Hubs in Hamilton, Nelson, and Hawke’s Bay Boost Mental Health Support
5 days ago | 121 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 HealthNew Zealand Government Responds to COVID-19 Inquiry with 63 Accepted Recommendations
5 days ago | 101 viewsThe Government has accepted all 63 recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19, aiming to provide timely, targeted support and release key pandemic advice within five working days in future crises. It acknowledges past mistakes, including prolonged restrictions and misallocated funds, and commits to restoring fiscal discipline while reviewing the Health Act to balance public health, the economy, and individual rights. Emphasizing transparency and trust, the Government has proactively released all COVID-19 Vaccine Technical Advisory Group advice and pledges to strengthen New Zealand’s resilience to future shocks.
Tags: Simeon Brown Royal Commission New Zealand Ministry of Health Labour Government CV TAG Health Act Emergency supportFamilyBoost Payments Support Over 97,500 NZ Families with Childcare Costs
6 days ago | 86 viewsOver 97,500 New Zealand families have received FamilyBoost payments, which were expanded last year to increase the rebate from 25% to 40%, raise the maximum weekly payment to $120, and extend eligibility to households earning up to $229,000 annually. These changes have resulted in a 70% increase in average payments, helping over 12,000 families each quarter to better manage early childhood education costs and balance work and family life. The government encourages eligible families to register for FamilyBoost, emphasizing its role in supporting working parents and strengthening the economy by easing childcare cost pressures.
Tags: FamilyBoost Nicola Willis New Zealand early childhood education childcare costs working parents Finance Minister government support Inland Revenue family paymentsGovernment to Publicly Report Youth Mental Health Support Access Speeds Quarterly
1 week ago | 223 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced that the Government will begin publicly reporting the speed at which young people access mental health support in quarterly target results to increase transparency and accountability. Despite improvements, barriers such as lack of awareness and embarrassment persist, prompting initiatives like the Youth Mental Health Summit and increased funding for youth services. Current data shows that over 73% to 79% of young people are accessing various mental health services within target timeframes, with ongoing efforts to improve these outcomes.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister Youthline Mental Health Foundation New Zealand Gumboot Friday Youth Mental Health Summit young people mental health support government$3.5M NZ Government Project Funds High-Tech Power Wheelchairs for Disabled
2 weeks ago | 204 viewsA $3.5 million government-funded project aims to provide 100 people with progressive conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and Cerebral Palsy access to high-performance power wheelchairs to improve independence, participation, and quality of life. The two-year research program will evaluate the social and economic benefits of advanced wheelchair technology in New Zealand, informing future policy, funding, and equipment provision. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to leveraging assistive technology to enhance wellbeing and reduce long-term health and support costs for disabled individuals.
Tags: Louise Upston Enable New Zealand Disability Support Services Multiple Sclerosis Cerebral Palsy Budget 2025 New Zealand Government disability research assistive technologyGovernment and Federated Farmers Provide $100K Support for Flood-Hit Kaikōura Farmers
3 weeks ago | 242 viewsThe Government is providing $50,000 to the Farmers Adverse Events Trust to aid flood-affected Kaikōura farmers, with Federated Farmers matching the amount through fundraising. The immediate focus is on animal welfare, with efforts underway to relocate around 4,000 animals from flood-damaged areas to safe grazing, while ongoing assessments continue for other regions impacted by severe weather. Farmers are advised to monitor weather forecasts, take precautions, and contact support services like the Rural Support Trust and MPI for assistance.
Tags: Todd McClay Kaikōura Federated Farmers Ministry for Primary Industries Rural Support Trust Farmers Adverse Events Trust Otago Wairarapa Agriculture Minister MetServiceGisborne Opens New Crisis Recovery Café for Mental Health Support
3 weeks ago | 299 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 challengesGovernment Supports Wairarapa Farmers Amid Heavy Rain Damage and Erosion
4 weeks ago | 293 viewsThe Government is collaborating with farmers and rural communities in the Wairarapa to assess damage from recent heavy rain, including harm to roads, bridges, and farmland erosion. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay emphasized ongoing support efforts, coordination with local officials, and urged farmers to prepare for further adverse weather by safeguarding stock and infrastructure. Farmers needing assistance can contact the Rural Support Trust or MPI, with the Government ready to escalate its response as necessary.
Tags: Todd McClay Mike Butterick Ministry for Primary Industries Rural Support Trust Wairarapa Government Agriculture Minister MetService farmers rural communitiesNew Support for 1300 NZ Defence Veterans of Maritime Security Operations
1 month ago | 324 viewsDefence veterans who served in maritime security operations around the Middle East and East Africa will receive health, rehabilitation, and financial support for deployment-related conditions, covering service periods from 1991 to 2026. Their efforts in disrupting drug smuggling and protecting shipping routes have been crucial to New Zealand’s regional security and economic prosperity. Veterans Minister Chris Penk emphasized the government’s commitment to valuing and supporting veterans’ wellbeing now and in the future.
Tags: Chris Penk New Zealand Defence Force Veterans Minister Operational Service Maritime Area Tahi Defence veterans maritime security drug smuggling health support rehabilitation financial supportNew Website Whetūrangitia Eases Stillbirth Registration and Support for Parents
1 month ago | 226 viewsGrieving parents in New Zealand can now register their stillborn babies through Whetūrangitia, a dedicated website designed to provide a more compassionate and supportive experience compared to the previous SmartStart system. The new platform, informed by those who have experienced loss, offers tailored information, birth certificate ordering, and access to mental health support, with Budget 2026 allocating $5 million to enhance these services. This initiative aims to reduce distress and provide coordinated care for the approximately 700 to 900 families affected by perinatal loss annually, as well as those impacted by miscarriage.
Tags: Whetūrangitia Matt Doocey stillbirth grieving parents SmartStart bereavement pathway mental health support Budget 2026 perinatal loss miscarriageNew Zealand Improves Mental Health Access with Faster Support and More Workers
1 month ago | 359 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 WorkersGovernment Expands Homelessness Support to Six New Locations in NZ
1 month ago | 354 viewsThe New Zealand Government is expanding homelessness support services to six new locations and extending existing initiatives in major cities, backed by an additional $14.54 million funding to provide tailored local assistance. Since September 2025, efforts like the Housing First programme and transitional housing pilots have successfully moved 674 rough sleepers into stable housing and delivered over 1,500 support activities addressing mental health, addiction, and benefit registration. These measures aim to address both immediate housing needs and the broader challenges linked to homelessness, with community organizations playing a key role in delivering effective, locally-led support.
Tags: Chris Bishop Tama Potaka Housing First homelessness New Zealand outreach services transitional housing social homes Government funding homelessness support providersBudget 2026 Boosts Support for Children with High Needs and Families
2 months ago | 526 viewsBudget 2026 allocates $93.5 million over four years, plus $0.8 million in capital funding, to enhance support for children and young people with high and complex needs. This investment aims to improve stability in care, prevent placement breakdowns, and provide earlier, more intensive support for vulnerable youth and their families. The government emphasizes that this approach will reduce the need for more restrictive and costly care while addressing the increasing challenges faced by these children.
Tags: Budget 2026 children young people high support needs Karen Chhour mental wellbeing disability specialist care clinical support vulnerableNew Community Consultation to Improve Disability and Carer Support Services
2 months ago | 464 viewsDisability Issues Minister Louise Upston announced a new community consultation from June 8 to July 31 to gather feedback on improving disability support services, focusing on flexible supports, better planning, and enhanced respite options for carers. The consultation will inform the development of a new carer support package aimed at providing financial aid, improved respite, and practical assistance, addressing the complexities of current formal employment arrangements for family carers. The government has committed $2.1 billion in recent budgets to strengthen the disability support system and emphasizes ongoing engagement with the disability community to create a fair, transparent, and sustainable service framework.
Tags: Louise Upston Disability Issues Minister DSS Disability Support Services family carers carers New Zealand Government Disability Support Services Bill carer support package disability community