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Mental Health and Addiction Change Programme

Our vision

"Mental health and wellbeing for everyone, in our communities - individuals, whānau and communities supported by trusted health services that respect people’s unique sense of culture, spirituality and wellbeing."

Mental Health and Addiction services are changing so we can:

  • Support people within their local communities
  • Deliver modern, safe, high-quality, holistic care that meets people’s needs
  • Make the best use of our resources to achieve equitable health outcomes
  • Enable and support safe and rewarding places for people to work.

We will:

  • Work in partnership with Māori, honouring our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
  • Provide opportunities to work with, and listen to Māori, Pacific peoples, people with lived experience, and disabled communities.
  • Ensure people are at the centre of the Programme, from initial planning through to implementation stages.
  • Draw on He Ara Oranga, Living Life Well, and other reports on the need to transform mental health and addiction services.​​​

Four workstreams in the programme

​​​​​​​There are four workstreams in the Programme, which complement one another but are able to progress independently. Find out more about the workstreams and projects that sit within them

Programme news

30 Sep 2025

Provider announced for Kaupapa Māori service

The provider for the new Māori Mental Health & Addiction Service in Te Awakairangi will be Te Paepae Arahi, a Hutt Valley-based Kaupapa Māori health organisation.

20 Sep 2025

Intake and assessment improvements lead to reduced wait times

A small team has taken a renewed focus on improving MHAIDS’ intake and assessment processes, resulting in reduced wait times for tāngata whaiora.

07 Aug 2025

New team takes equity to a new level

In a positive development for equity, two more Māori Equity Leads have recently been appointed to MHAIDS.

Last updated 2 October 2025.