Kia Kōrero
Let's Talk – April 2026

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

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

• What's on my desk? 
• Platform Members' Leadership Day - Highlights
• Meeting with Minister Doocey
• Potential Fuel Restrictions Impacts 
• Health NZ Opens Consultation on Long Form Agreement Templates - Feedback Due Tuesday 7 April
• Meeting the Challenge: Practical Operational Responses for 2025 and Beyond
• Key messages from the National Mental Health and Addiction Partnership Group
• What we heard from Regional Navigate Groups
• Mental Health and Addictions Outcomes Data Project
• Mental Health and Addictions NGO Data and PRIMHD Community of Practice (CoP)
• Mental Health and Addiction Support Worker Podcast
• CPSLE Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2030 Regional Hui
• Te Pou's New, Free Quality Notetaking e-Learning Module 
• Influenza Immunisation Update
• Consultations
• Navigate Policy Group - Policy Library Update
• Access to Online Resources
• What We're Reading 

What's on my desk?

As we look back on a full and energising month, one thing is clearer than ever, the strength of our sector lies in the way MH&A NGO leaders consistently come together to elevate our collective value, impact, and voice. Across every forum, our Leadership Day at Te Papa, national partnership groups, workforce data and outcomes initiatives, and ongoing engagement with Health NZ and the Minister for Mental Health, members are showing what coordinated, courageous leadership can achieve.

This past month showed the depth of expertise and commitment across our member Navigate regional networks. Leaders shared insights openly, challenged thinking, and pushed for practical solutions that reflect the realities of what is needed to provide supports to people and communities. Whether advocating for fair contract terms with balanced clauses, strengthening outcome measurement, navigating workforce pressures, or shaping system‑wide improvement, your collaboration continues to drive practical change where it matters most.

Thank you for the way you contribute to each other, to district, regional and national conversations, and to the people and whānau we collectively serve. The work captured in this newsletter is a direct reflection of the leadership and unity you bring to this sector every day.

Ngā mihi nui,

Memo

Platform Members' Leadership Day - Highlights

On Thursday 19 March we had the pleasure of bringing our members together at Te Papa for our annual Platform Members’ Leadership Day at Te Papa. It was a fantastic day of connection, challenge, and shared thinking across the mental health and addiction sector.

We were pleased to open the day with Minister for Mental Health Hon Matt Doocey, who spoke to the full continuum of care and acknowledged the vital role our sector plays in supporting tāngata whai ora, taiohi and whānau. Across the programme, there was a strong focus on being clear about our impact, confident in our role, and honest about what needs to change.

Dr Mai Chen encouraged us to sharpen our priorities and tell our story more clearly, while Phil Grady spoke openly about the pressures facing the system and the importance of collective leadership and practical solutions. Dr Frances Hughes reminded us that we are part of an ecosystem and not isolated, to embrace the language of economics, to use evidence, data and information to show our impact. Garry Johnston offered practical insights into AI and tech in the healthcare sector, while Melissa Clark-Reynolds showed how to identify and interpret emerging trends.

Most of all, this day was about our members. Thank you to everyone who joined us, shared your perspectives, and contributed so thoughtfully to the kōrero. We’re also very grateful to our speakers for their time, insight, and leadership, and to our Board Chair Sally Pitts-Brown for skillfully MCing the day and keeping everything flowing.

We left the day encouraged by the strength and optimism of this sector and the shared commitment to making a real difference.

Meeting with Minister Doocey

In February we held our first meeting of the year with Minister Doocey, which provided a valuable opportunity to continue building momentum on several key sector priorities.

We discussed progress toward resolving the new contract clauses and the approach to contract renewals for 2026/27, along with ongoing cost‑pressure challenges for providers. It was encouraging to hear the Minister express support for longer‑term, multi‑year contracts. We noted, however, that contract duration needs to be accompanied by other essential enablers if it is to genuinely strengthen sector stability.

We also provided feedback on the current reporting requirements for MH&A NGOs, including Access and Choice and IMPHA. This included sharing the work we are undertaking with Te Pou to map outcome measurement tools currently used across the NGO sector and to understand future intentions. Our advocacy for pay parity for MH&A NGO workforces remains a consistent priority, and we reiterated the urgency of progress in this area.

A further positive outcome was the Minister’s support for our Digital Mental Health Position Statement. He signalled that the Ministry of Health will undertake additional work to ensure the key elements of the proposal are advanced.

We do not take these opportunities for granted. Having an independent and trusted space to raise the issues that matter, openly, constructively, and with a clear sector voice, remains a central part of our engagement with the Minister.

Potential Fuel Restrictions Impact

With the reported ongoing global fuel shortages likely to impact on availability of fuel it is important that you are aware of the National Fuel Plan and the alert levels within it. Last Friday the Government released a more fleshed out four phase plan and the criteria to applied before a change to any phase. You can read a Q&A sheet here. This is a general reminder to start working on or preparing your NGOs business continuity plans on how it will continue to deliver essential supports and services to tangata whai ora and the support necessary for your workforces.

Health NZ Opens Consultation on Long Form Agreement Templates - Feedback Due Tuesday 7 April 

On 12 March, we provided Platform members information advising that Health NZ is seeking sector feedback on the new long form agreement templates before wider implementation. These templates were released in May 2025 with some clauses amended in November 2025 following initial provider feedback. Any new amendments will also apply to already-signed agreements.

By now you will have received a letter from your regional Planning, Funding and Outcomes team with links to the templates, supporting documents, and a Thought Exchange survey to enable you to provide feedback.

Here are the links to the relevant key documents:

1. Table of Changes from Legacy Long Form Agreement to v1 of New Long Form Agreement – May 2025
2. Table of Changes from v1 to v2 of New Long Form Agreement – November 2025

Platform has provided extensive feedback, and we encourage you to submit your own. Particularly noting that potentially the clauses about intellectual property and liability, remain problematic.

Meeting the Challenge: Practical Operational Responses for 2025 and Beyond

In late December 2025, Platform released a member‑only report outlining practical operational responses to increasing financial pressures and expected funding changes. Developed with support from PwC, the report highlights a range of actions MH&A NGO and community organisations can consider as they prepare for the challenges ahead.

A particularly valuable section focuses on understanding your contracts so you can engage more confidently and constructively with funders. This is a helpful resource, in readiness for the outcome of the consultation on the new long form contract mentioned above.

Platform members can access the full report through the member portal.

Key messages from the National Mental Health and Addiction Partnership Group

• The National Mental Health and Addiction (MH&A) Partnership Group was re-established this year and has met twice, most recently on 12 March.
• Membership includes Health NZ MH&A leadership, NGOs, and Union representatives.
• The Group has confirmed its Terms of Reference, clarifying purpose, scope, and ways of working.
• Its purpose is to provide strategic oversight and support for the National Mental and Addictions Improvement Programme, ensuring alignment with government priorities and strong NGO leadership input, with the vision of a high-quality, functional, and sustainable mental health and addiction system that values continuous improvement and improves outcomes for those it serves.
• At the last meeting, members were briefed on the Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Plan, including associated deliverables and expectations.
• Initial discussions were held on principles for integrated system-wide working.
• The Group also received an overview of work on new long-form contract clauses, including the NGO sector consultation process which Platform has released to its membership, as well as discussions on ALM matters, cost pressures, and proposed 2026 uplifts.

What we heard from Regional Navigate Groups

Across Navigate meetings in February and March, MH&A NGO providers highlighted recurring concerns across regions, particularly around contracting. Providers reported lack of clarity about their regional or district Health NZ planning, funding and outcomes contact person for contract and other service-related matters. There is some unease that some MH&A NGOs had already signed contracts with problematic clauses. There is ongoing work to address some of these matters through Platform.

Other concerns raised included cost pressures from housing and compliance requirements, and a strong desire for better cross‑regional sharing of issues and approaches. Platform is holding discussions on the matters with Health HZ representative. Navigate group members in Te Waipounamu shared generally positive views on a proposed new Navigate model which would combine the Southern, Waitaha, and Top-of-South Navigate groups into one Te Wai Pounamu Navigate group. This move will align with how other regional navigate groups operate with regional relationships with Health NZ MH&A leads in PFO teams and hospital and specialist services.

Mental Health and Addictions Outcomes Data Project

Thank you to all those who took the time to complete the recent survey about MH&A NGO outcome data.

We had a terrific response, with over 70 MH&A NGOs having completed the survey, shedding light on current practices as well as interest and expectations around an outcomes data Community of Practice.

At our last Platform Members Forum in March, Te Pou presented their initial findings from the survey, including:

• The extent to which MH&A NGOs are currently collecting and reporting outcomes data
• Which outcome domains are considered the most important by NGOs
• Which outcome tools and approaches are used by NGOs
• The key barriers and enablers to collecting outcomes data
• The level of interest in, and expectations for, a Community of Practice and a national approach to outcomes data collection and reporting.

A detailed report of these findings will be completed by July 2026 and will be published on our member portal. The results of this survey will help us to identify potential solutions that could be adopted as part of a more collective approach to outcome measurement.

Further information about the project initial finding from the survey can be found here and the project summary here.

Mental Health and Addictions NGO Data and PRIMHD Community of Practice (CoP)

There is a need in our sector to ensure we are confident with our MH&A NGO data reporting and to build our capabilities with data – with PRIMHD and other national data sets we contribute to. We are going to re-establish a Community of Practice for kaimahi working with data on behalf of MH&A NGOs.

This CoP exists for Platform members to support each other with all things PRIMHD including use of activity codes and outcome data. The group will also be responsible for sharing issues and good practice surrounding data in a wider sense, for the purpose of improving services for the people that use those services. The Group will be a reference point for information and perspectives of MH&A NGO data collection and utilisation for others in the sector including the MH&A Data Stewardship Group and others.

Members are invited to deliberate on MH&A NGO PRIMHD-related issues and other data issues. These may include:

• Raising ad hoc issues about PRIMHD that can be dealt with by members of the group.
• Identifying PRIMHD issues that need to be addressed at a national level via the MH&A Data Stewardship Group and making representation to the PRIMHD team in the MOH where appropriate.
• Developing a shared repertoire of resources.
• Sharing expertise and capability building of NGO analysts and others concerned with PRIMHD, data, outcomes and reporting.

To register your organisation’s interesting in belonging to the CoP please email admin@platform.org.nz by 17 April 2026 with the name, role and email address of the person in your organisation you wish to have considered for participation.

Mental Health and Addiction Support Worker Podcast

The podcast series The Difference from Te Pou is back for a second season, with six new episodes showcasing mental health and addiction support workers from across the motu.

Season two topics include whānau support, working with older people, peer support in emergency departments, supporting parents, ethics and boundaries, and support work from a cultural lens. Created by support workers, for support workers, the podcast champions the essential yet often undervalued mahi of support workers who make up around one-third of the overall mental health and addiction workforce. We encourage you to have a listen and share this new season with your networks: The Difference podcast | Te Pou

CPSLE Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2030 Regional Hui 

Te Pou will be holding a series of regional and online hui to share and discuss the draft CPSLE* Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2030. These huis are an opportunity for the CPSLE (Consumer, peer support, lived experience and whānau advisor/support) workforces to come together, hear about the proposed direction, and provide feedback to help shape the final strategy and action plan.

Your insights and perspectives are important to ensure the strategy and action plan reflect the needs, strengths, and aspirations of the CPSLE workforce.

The hui will include:

• an overview of the draft CPSLE Strategy and Action Plan
• opportunities for discussion and feedback
• space to share perspectives and priorities for the future.

We encourage CPSLE workforce members to attend and contribute to the conversation. Spaces are limited (capped to venue size)- register now to secure your attendance.

Registration links

Auckland Monday May 4^th, 12.30pm-3.30pm, Te Pae o Kura (Kelston Community Centre)
Hamilton Wednesday May 6^th, 1pm-4pm, The Link Community Centre
Wellington Thursday April 23^rd, 1pm-4pm, Salmond House
Christchurch Thursday April 30^th 1pm-4pm, MHERC
Online hui May 14^th, 2-3.30pm or
Online hui May 26^th, 10-11.30am

Any queries about these huis please email livedexperience@tepou.co.nz

Te Pou's New, Free Quality Notetaking e-Learning Module

A new, free e-learning module: Quality notetaking for mental health and addiction support workers is now available from Te Pou. Good documentation is about more than just records; it is about providing the best possible support. High-quality notes lead to better handovers and smoother transitions for tāngata whai ora. This one-hour e-learning gives support workers practical tools to make their notetaking more effective and mana-enhancing. 

What you will learn 

By completing this e-learning, you will gain an understanding of: 

• laws and guidelines for looking after people's information and notes 
• approaches that enable accurate, objective, and quality notetaking
• collaborative notetaking as a mana-enhancing and strengths-led approach
• what happens to your notes after they are written. 

Course details

The e-learning is free and takes about 1 hour to complete. It can be accessed via the Te Pou Pūkoro e-learning platform. 

Influenza Immunisation Update

That time of the year is upon us to support tāngata whai ora to get influenza vaccinations.

The official flu season start date is Wednesday 1 April.  The Pharmac-funded flu vaccine is Influvac Tetra. This is the same vaccine used in 2024 and 2025.  

The following groups are eligible for funded flu immunisation which is unchanged from 2024: 

• Pregnant people  
• People 65 years of age and over
• People under 65 years of age with certain eligible health conditions
• People under 65 years of age with serious mental health and addiction conditions
• Children 4 years of age and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness or have a history of significant respiratory illness 

Please ensure funded immunisation is offered to the above groups at every opportunity.

You can find the full eligibility details, including specific eligible conditions, online on PHARMAC’s website. 

Consultations

We are currently preparing to submit on the forthcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which the Ministry of Health has indicated will be released for public consultation sometime in the coming months. During February, we contributed a submission on the Draft Carers' Strategy Action Plan Consultation run by the Ministry for Social Development.

Navigate Policy Group - Policy Library Update

We’re pleased to announce that another policy, Theft and Fraud, has been reviewed and uploaded to the Policy Library on our website. 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:

• Managing online communities: Many organisations now host or run online communities. When they operate well, they can be helpful to many communities. However, when they do not operate well they have the potential to be unsafe and might cause harm. Netsafe have a guide and resources to help you successfully moderate your organisation's online communities.
• Personal challenges at work - looking after your staff: The wellbeing of your employees is key to the success of your organisation. As an employer, you lead the way in making your workplace a positive and sustainable environment. These resources focus on both workers and their managers on how to deal with personal challenges at work.
• SafePlus self-assessment resources: This is a voluntary, health and safety performance improvement toolkit for organisations and businesses. 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). Watch a video explainer here.

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

• CommunityNet Aotearoa
• NZ Navigator
• Digital Stuff We Love

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