Kia Kōrero
Let's Talk – February 2026

Kia ora koutou katoa – welcome to the Platform Mental Health and Addiction NGO and community sector update for February 2026.

In this month's update, let's talk about...

• What's on my desk? 
• Registrations Now Open - Platform Members' Leadership Day 2026
• Platform Member AI Workshop
• Demonstrating value and impact
• Contract renewals 2025/26
• Police Mental Health Change Programme
• Co-Response Teams
• Privacy Amendment Act 2025
• Mental health and addiction NGO data and information updates
• Access to PRIMHD data
• NGO Benchmarking Group: leading change through collaboration
• Workforce Future Fund | Tahua Rāngaimahi Anamata
• Carers' Strategy Action Plan
• Consultations
• Navigate Policy Group - Policy Library Update
• Access to online resources
• Events
• What we're reading 

What's on my desk?

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2026. We hope you have had reasonably good start to the new year. I appreciate that many of you continued to provide support throughout the holiday period. I hope you still managed to spend some time with whānau and friends to do all those things unrelated to work.

We acknowledge those who have been affected by the recent weather events in the north and east coast. The loss of life and displacement has significant psychosocial impacts which are everlasting in these affected communities. The MH&A NGO and community will play its part in providing needed psychosocial responses working alongside other public sector agencies.

We picked up from where we left off in 2025 as we continued connecting with officials at Health NZ, the Ministry of Health and other agencies. This is a big year with the Prime Minister recently announcing a general election will be held on Saturday 7 November 2026.  Soon we will start planning for the mental health and addiction 2026 election debate.

The purpose of our newsletter is to keep you informed about significant work involving the mental health and addiction NGO and community sector, including our collective efforts and matters arising. We hope that through the sharing of information including resources, ideas and concerns across various groups and communities, you will better understand that we are all in this together, and that our collective actions help to resolve shared issues.

I encourage you to keep connected with the sector through our monthly Platform members’ check-in forums, regional Navigate group meetings, and of course, through reading this newsletter to keep up to date with what is happening.

Most importantly let us look out for each other and support one another in all things we do during this year.

Ngā mihi nui,

Memo

Registrations Now Open - Platform Members' Leadership Day 2026

Together We Lead: Insight, Impact, Value – A Sound Investment building on the capability of the MH&A NGO and community sector.

Register now for Platform Members’ Day 2026 on Thursday 19 March 2026, at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, Wellington.

This year’s focus is on collective leadership and collaboration - transforming knowledge, capability, and experience into visible system improvements.

Why join us?

• Learn to turn disruption into your advantage – lead with vision, clarity, and bold integrity.
• Connect with ambitious leaders shaping the future with the resources they have.
• Leave inspired to act collectively, create change, and deliver impact and value.
• Learn about shared leadership and the power of collaboration.

What we’ll explore together:

We’ll explore many pressing topics from optimising resources, investment and funding to contracting, service innovation, workforce development, outcomes measurement and leadership – plus exciting enablers like Artificial Intelligence.

Minister Matt Doocey will provide the opening address. We have Dr Frances Hughes confirmed to speak after the opening address with a fantastic line up of speakers throughout the day – more details and programme to follow shortly.

Cost: $225 per person (including GST).

Register here.

Platform Member AI Workshop

Last Thursday’s online Platform Members’ AI Workshop gave members practical insights into how AI is already reshaping work across the mental health and addiction sector.

Hosted by Mosaic Partners, the session explored emerging AI tools, new functionality in commonly used platforms, effective prompting techniques, and advances in AI voice technology – with a clear focus on sector-relevant examples.

Members also had the opportunity to put these tools and tips into practice during the session, helping translate ideas into immediate next steps.

The AI space is changing quickly and constantly. Given the strong relevance to some of your work, Platform intends to run a follow-up AI Workshop later in the year. Further details will be provided to members in due course.

Demonstrating value and impact

In March 2025 we published our resource A Sound Investment: A Spotlight on the Impact and Value of Mental Health and Addiction NGO Services in New Zealand. This month we are showcasing two practice examples featured in this resource.

He Ara Whakamana Tāngata

This service under Te Tāpui Atawhai | Auckland City Mission primarily supports Māori with a history of homelessness, mental health and addiction challenges, the service focuses on creating a cohesive and supportive living environment for residents. Culturally centred supports are provided for tenants in high-density permanent housing, including HomeGround (80 apartments) and Te Ao Mārama (60 apartments). You can read about this practice example here.

Arataki Peer Support

The Arataki Peer Support Service was launched in Whangārei in April 2023 and has expanded rapidly across Northland to include Kaikohe and Kaipara, with plans to extend the service to Kaitaia at some time in the future. This service exemplifies the transformative power of peer-led support in tāngata whai ora’s journey towards wellness. You can read about this practice example here.

Contract renewals 2025/26

We continue our joint work with Health NZ to address the clauses of concern in the new long form contract and contract renewals for 2025/26.

During November 2025 the Health NZ leadership team confirmed the approach to be taken to resolve the clauses of concern. A joint Health NZ and Platform working group was stood up to understand the extent to which concerns are addressed and the interests of all parties met and to agree on a path forward. The joint group met on Monday 1 December 2025 to discuss Health NZ’s response to concerns raised by Platform members, including the clauses that have been approved for change.

Health NZ agreed to develop and share a companion document which will show clauses in old contracts which will be modified in the new long form contract. This is still being worked on, and we understand will be available soon.

Health NZ confirmed further engagement with Platform will continue and that potentially further changes could be made. We will let you know once we have agreement on the final new long-form contract. Both parties confirmed a mutual desire to avoid the contract renewal delays experienced last year and discussed steps to avoid this.

Health NZ is developing a 2026/27 contract renewal programme which includes an engagement plan for the new long form contract/agreement templates. The plan is to share this with Platform and the sector soon.

We appreciate this has taken longer than we expected to progress. We will provide more information when this is available.

Police Mental Health Change Programme

Following the implementation of the Police Mental Health Change Programme’s Phase 3 on Monday 17 November and the summer break, we have resumed the two-weekly forum of MH&A NGO leaders, Platform and Health NZ. The aim is to ensure the impact on MH&A NGO providers the changes implanted thus far are minimised.

Currently through information gathered by Health NZ and the Police we are monitoring the impact of Phase 3 which involved implementation of updated categories for requests for assistance from health practitioners and missing persons from health facilities and services.

If you come across an issue about the police mental health change programme which needs to be raised with Health NZ, please contact your local mental health / police liaison or governance group.

Co-Response Teams 

We are also pleased to hear about the work to establish mental health co-response teams to respond to 111 mental distress calls and to offer mental health crisis support.  

The teams’ pair mental health workers with frontline Police to respond together to mental health-related calls.

We hope to inform these developments of which the first four will be launched in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury and Counties Manukau.

Privacy Amendment Act 2025

The Privacy Amendment Act 2025 comes into effect from 1 May 2026. It introduces a new Information Privacy Principle (IPP) to the existing list of 13 IPPs in the Privacy Act and aligns NZ with other countries’ privacy frameworks (Europe, UK, Australia).

Under IPP3, agencies must already inform people when they collect their personal information from them.   

Under the new IPP3A, if an agency collects an individual’s personal information from someone other than the person themselves (i.e. indirectly via a third party), then that agency must now also inform the person, unless an exception applies. 

If an agency has collected personal information indirectly, IPP3A requires them to take reasonable steps to make sure that the person concerned is told:

• that the information has been collected
• the purpose of the collection
• the intended recipients of the information
• the name and address of the agency that is collecting the information and the agency that holds the information
• whether the collection is authorised or required by law and which particular law
• their right to access and correct their information.

Exceptions

The primary exception to IPP3A applies where the individual concerned has previously been made aware of the third-party collection and all the other details listed in the bullet points above. There are also several other exceptions which you can read about here.

What organisations need to do

Organisations will have until 1 May 2026 to become compliant with IPP3A – which should include consideration of the following:

• Update privacy policy (and website statements): Privacy policies, guidelines and statements should be revised to ensure they cover the indirect collection of personal information. Policies should clearly outline how personal information obtained from third parties is handled in accordance with IPP3A.
• Review contracts: Where personal information may be received from third parties, review and update all relevant agreements with third party suppliers and partners to reflect the new IPP3A obligations.
• Alert staff: Staff should be made aware of the new IPP3A obligations, including updating training and internal policies as required.
• Review data sources: Consider where the personal information handled by your organisation comes from. Where personal information is collected indirectly, implement processes to notify affected individuals promptly.

You can read more about the new IPP3A obligations and guidance here.

Mental health and addiction NGO data and information updates

As 2025 came a close, the NGO Workforce data project reached the end of phase 1, during which a feasibility study was carried out with the purpose of understanding the feasibility and appetite for a collective approach to collecting and using NGO workforce data. The final report for this feasibility study has been finalised and is currently going through sign off. We will share this report once signed off.

In early 2026 Platform will also continue to work with Te Pou on the MH&A NGO outcomes data project which aims to explore the feasibility of consistent outcomes measurement across NGO services. We will continue to keep you updated as both these two pieces of work progress.

Access to PRIMHD data

A quick reminder that you can access the PRIMHD data set through a secure website supported by Health New Zealand called Qlik.

So how could accessing this data be useful for you? It can help to understand why reporting data accurately is important. It can also support service improvements and better understanding of service journeys for tāngata whai ora and whānau, outcomes reporting and your participation in the NGO benchmarking forums and KPI programme.

NGO Benchmarking Group: leading change through collaboration

In 2025, measurable gains were achieved in whānau engagement, data capability, and shared understanding of continuity of care by members of the National NGO Benchmarking Group.

The group was established in August 2024 to improve service experiences for tāngata whai ora and whānau. Thirteen mental health and addiction NGOs from across Aotearoa New Zealand committed to sharing their organisational information across two indicators:

• Whānau engagement. This indicator can be measured across all NGO services (excluding residential services) and is an important marker for effectiveness, quality, equity and responsiveness.
• Continuity of care. This indicator seeks to understand the transition experience of people who use NGO services in the 28 days prior to an acute inpatient admission. The focus is on identifying where improvements are needed before, during, and after admission.

The results over the year showed the value of sharing insights and participating in collective problem-solving.

“The biggest value I get out of this group is the collaborative input that we all have. Sharing what we're doing and the ideas we have, and the feedback we get when we do share what we're doing.” - Michael Hawkey, Ember Korowai Takitini

A year of transformation

Through mutual support and shared learning, NGOs across Aotearoa have strengthened service experience, enhanced data and information use, and deepened connection with whānau. This rōpū continues to drive excellence and innovation in the NGO sector and sets a benchmark for others working in mental health and addiction.

Join the transformation

If you are an NGO reporting to PRIMHD and are interested in joining the National NGO Benchmarking group, contact the KPI Programme team at info@mkapi.health.nz.

Workforce Future Fund | Tahua Rāngaimahi Anamata

The second grant round for the Workforce Futures Fund | Tahua Rāngaimahi Anamata closed on September 12. 

In total, 23 applications were received, seeking around $20 million in funding. This was fewer than Round One, which saw 31 applications requesting $23 million, but reflected a sharper focus and stronger alignment with the fund’s priorities. The Board has now completed decisions for Round Two, and progressing negotiations with five proposals that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, and the potential for significant workforce impact.

You can read about the outcome of the second grant round here.

Carers' Strategy Action Plan

The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is seeking feedback on their draft Carers’ Strategy Action Plan which sets out government actions support unpaid or informal carers in homes and communities across New Zealand. Carers are whānau, aiga, and individuals, who provide care for someone who needs additional support or assistance due to a health condition, illness, disability or injury.

The new draft 'rolling' Action Plan has been developed in partnership with the Carers Alliance and an Advisory Group of organisations representing the needs of carers. Unlike previous Action Plans, the rolling Action Plan will not have an expiry date and can be built on and updated regularly to help address the challenges faced by carers over time.

If your network includes whānau and carers, we encourage you to share the following opportunities for them to have their say on the proposed Action Plan:

• Community Workshop 10 Feb. Yellow Brick Road, who sat on the Advisory Group, is running a community workshop for carers of individuals with mental health and addiction needs on Thursday 10 Feb at 6:30pm. This will enable carers to discuss the changes and provide feedback. If you wish to share this workshop with your network please contact Fiona Perry at Fiona@yellowbrickroad.org.nz for more information and link to the zoom meeting. You can also see a list of other community workshops here.
• Draft Carer’s Strategy Action Plan feedback survey. Yellow Brick Road has also prepared a short survey for whānau and carers to have their say: Yellow Brick Road - Feedback on the Draft Carer's Strategy Action Plan 2026 – Fill out form

If you would like to provide your own feedback, we encourage you to:

• Provide your own submission via the consultation website here. Submissions close on 12 March 2026.

Consultations

We are currently working on these consultations:

• Ministry of Social Development– Draft Carers' Strategy Action Plan Consultation (closes 12 March 2026)
• Te Hiringa Mahara – Crisis responses monitoring report stakeholder survey
• Parliament – Budget Policy Statement consultation
• Parliament - Emergency Management Bill (No 2)

During December we participated and contributed submissions on:

• External Reporting Board: Proposed accounting standard for revenue – ED PBE IPSAS 47 Revenue
• External Reporting Board: Proposed accounting standard for transfer expenses – ED PBE IPSAS 48 Transfer Expenses

Navigate Policy Group Update - Policy Library Update

We’re pleased to announce that another five policies have been reviewed and uploaded to the Policy Library on our website:

• Supporting Parents – Healthy Children
• Emergency and Security Preparedness Management
• Facility Specifications
• Credit Card Policy and Procedures
• Document Control Policy and Procedures

We will continue to keep members updated on the developments to the Policy Library, which can be found here.

Access to online resources

Navigator Trust New Zealand recently shared new resources which could help support the work of your organisations. You can check out the new resources below:

• SafePlus self-assessment resources:The SafePlus toolkit supports organisations to build collective ownership of performance through in-depth conversations and in developing a culture that includes everyone's health and safety practices and ideas. It defines what good health and safety looks like and was developed jointly by WorkSafe New Zealand, ACC and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). 
• Keeping information safe and private: Protecting personal information and data as an organisation is critical. In Aotearoa New Zealand, organisations must follow a set of rules as outlined in the Privacy Act when handling personal information. In the health sector, the Health Information Privacy Code also guides how organisations should keep personal information safe and private. You can read here for more information on the Privacy Act and guidelines, and how to ensure that your organisation is protecting personal data.

You can also find more resources that support NGO and community providers to thrive here:

• CommunityNet Aotearoa
• NZ Navigator
• Digital Stuff We Love

Events

Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika forum for champions

Have you registered? Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika forum for champions - Te Waipounamu

Champions are twice as likely to lead meaningful practice change - are you ready to be one of them?

Spaces are available for this in-person workshop for kaimahi with an interest in Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika and how to use it effectively in organisations.

When: Thursday, 19 March 2026 9.30am to 3.30pm

Where: He Waka Tapu, Wainoni, Christchurch

• Learn about the strengths of Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika and how to use the framework.
• Understand More Skills for Working with Older People in Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Real Skills Assessment and learn how to apply these resources within teams.
• Know the role of champions and the skills you can use to bring about practice change.

Register here now. Spaces are limited, so be sure to secure your spot soon.

What we're reading

Get in touch with the Platform team!

The Platform team is always available to interact with members on mental health and addiction NGO and community sector matters should you have any queries, concerns, or ideas. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of being a Platform member and joining our collective voice, please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

Memo Musa (Chief Executive): memo@platform.org.nz                                              Simon Katz (Policy Analyst): simon@platform.org.nz
Louise Hill (Membership Engagement Coordinator): louise@platform.org.nz