Earlier this month, the MHF delivered a petition signed by more than 16,000 New Zealanders to the Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, and the Minister of Police, Mark Mitchell. Our petition called for a pause on Police withdrawing from mental health callouts until a safe, health-led alternative was in place, and emphasised the need for adequate funding in Budget 2025 to make this happen.
“We’re pleased to see our communities’ voices heard, and we warmly welcome the Government’s nearly $28 million investment over four years to fund the transition to a new multi-agency crisis response,” Shaun Robinson, chief executive of the MHF, says. “This is a vital step towards building a compassionate and effective mental health system, one that puts people’s wellbeing first. It is an encouraging sign that the Government is investing in practical, scalable solutions to support people in crisis.”
The MHF also welcomes Budget funding that responds to recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. This includes more than $9 million over four years to strengthen safeguards and oversight of compulsory mental health and addiction care, and more than $700,000 (and $50 million in tagged capital contingency), to improve inpatient mental health unit environments. The MHF will be seeking more information about how this funding might bolster wider service and system changes needed to implement compulsory mental health treatment law reform, set to take effect in 2027.
“These investments show movement in the right direction,” says Robinson. “They demonstrate that the Government is listening – but there is more work to do. We will be monitoring progress closely and seeking transparency over funding allocation, as well as clarity on how soon communities can expect to see meaningful improvements.”
Contact:
Mark Wilson
Senior Media Advisor
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
Ph: 021 998 949