Kia Kōrero
Let's Talk – August 2025

Kia ora koutou katoa – welcome to the Platform Mental Health and Addiction NGO and community sector update for August 2025.

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

• What's on my desk? 
• Reflections on my first months at Platform - Simon Katz, Policy Analyst
• Platform Membership Fees
• Health New Zealand Board resurrected
• Contract Renewals 2025/26
• Mental health & addiction NGO workforce data project
• New Zealand Clinical Senate
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder & Neurodiversity
• Industry Skills Boards to be operational by 1 January 2026
• Grant round opens August 12 for Workforce Futures Fund
• Exploring your organisation's PRIMHD data
• Protect against measles - Immunisation is the best protection
• New resources for support workers from Te Pou
• Consultations
• National Navigate Policy Group Update
• Access to online resources
• Events
• What we’re reading

What's on my desk?

There is no doubt everyone is feeling the enormous pressures that the delay in contract renewals for 2025/26 and the impact this may have on financial sustainable and future certainty. We have worked hard to get these issues rectified in the hope that lessons are learnt and there is no repeat next year of what the sector experienced this year.

I have given space to Simon to share his early reflections of the dynamic nature of our sector.

There remains a lot happening and our focus is always to elevate the key issues and opportunities for our sector. As you will see from what we cover in this newsletter the breadth and scale of the challenges faced by the mental health and addiction NGO and community sector - increasingly referred to as part of the funded sector - are immense.

What makes it possible to be on top of our game is the strength of Platform members and their willingness to achieve collective impact on issues that matter most.

Ngā mihi nui,

Memo

Reflections on my first months at Platform - Simon Katz, Policy Analyst

In April this year, I joined as the new Policy Analyst at Platform. At the time, Memo warned me about how quickly the planning cycles come and go. Sure enough, I only had to blink twice before finding myself in August already writing a reflection on my first 4-months on the job. I think this time-dilation effect is partly due to having to absorb a large amount of new information, partly a bi-product of a work programme that is diverse, fast-paced and often unpredictable (policy analysts love to be kept on their toes), but mostly because the work is genuinely engaging. The leaders and kaimahi here are some of the most passionate and collaborative individuals I’ve had the privilege of working with. When you enjoy what you’re doing, the days really do seem to get shorter.

Calling my start a baptism of fire would undersell the care Memo took in staggering my induction and easing me into the work. Still, looking back at the range of groups, concepts, and workstreams I’ve encountered, I’m amazed at how much I’ve absorbed in such a short time. In just four months, I’ve prepared five submissions, attended numerous sector events and workshops, joined regional navigate and cross-sector groups, and led information-gathering processes, including sector perspectives on digital mental health.

What stands out most for me from this time is the shared commitment across the sector to improve outcomes for tāngata whaiora in a way that is truly collaborative. Despite increasing pressures, everyone I’ve spoken with carries a sense of optimism and motivation to achieve change collectively. I am proud of the role that Platform plays in harnessing this drive and embodying the sector’s collaborative spirit, and I’m excited to continue deepening my understanding, building relationships, and contributing to the work ahead.   

Ngā mihi nui,

Simon Katz

Platform Membership Fees

Being a membership organisation is very important to us as it gives us the independence, autonomy and safety to advocate and lobby. Thanks to all those members who have paid their membership fees for 2025/26. If your organisation’s membership fee is still outstanding, we would appreciate you to attend to this or contact us if you have any queries. Membership provides the opportunity to belong to a strong and growing national community network of mental health and addiction leaders and gives us a strong platform to speak up on matters that are important to our sector. It comes with various benefits including:

• Direct access to information, advice and sector intelligence from a range of stakeholders and subject matter experts.
• Regular connection, networking and support from other Platform members.
• The ability to join our voices together to advocate for collective change and action.
• Links to government agencies, ministers, and other well-established groups within the Health NZ, the Ministry of Health, across the social and NGO community sectors.
• The opportunity to help define Platform’s work programme and priorities.

We are planning some important work programmes and initiatives, key working groups, and some interesting events for the year ahead - these can only be made possible with the support of our members and membership fees.

If you are not yet a Platform member and would like to know more about becoming a member, please contact admin@platform.org.nz – we’d love to hear from you.

Health New Zealand Board resurrected

At the beginning of July Hon Simeon Brown Minister of Health resurrected the Health NZ Board announcing new appointments. You can read about it here.

This was preceded, just over a week before, by Commissioner Dr Lester Levy announcing the appointment of Dr Dale Bramley as Chief Executive of Health NZ for a period of 3 years. You can read the announcement here.

We hope that this new board will set a different inclusive and positive tone, one not driven by continual cost cutting through restructuring but to focus on building a constructive and engaged system working together to one end – improved outcomes for all. It is interesting that from the offset there will be a Crown observer to support and monitor the board.

It is pleasing to see Frances Hughes appointed as a board member. Frances has significant experience both clinically and in leadership around mental health and addiction, including working in the NGO and community sector.

Contract Renewals 2025/26

Our engagement with Health NZ officials continues to address contract renewals for 2025/26 and the concerning clauses in proposed long form contract which is linked with the move to the agreement life management (ALM) system. In addition to this, we are gathering information to inform discussions about cost pressures in our sector and opportunities to look at funding and financial modelling to enable more services to be delivered in the community. We have raised concerns about the new Docusign process (particularly for providers who have multiple contracts).  We will communicate the outcome of these engagements when completed.

Mental Health & Addiction NGO Workforce Data Project

Following the release of A Sound Investment: A Spotlight on the Impact and Value of Mental Health and Addiction NGO Services in New Zealand (2025), Platform members discussed scoping a collective approach towards a secure national repository for NGO workforce information. We are working collectively with Te Pou to scope this project and have commissioned Phillipa Gaines as project lead. The aim of the project is to explore NGO interests and views about the feasibility and desirability of developing a collective approach to workforce data, not to obtain agreement about designing a data repository.  The project includes the NGO workforce that is funded by other government agencies, not just mental health and addictions.  It will also canvas NGO expectations about the ownership and governance arrangements for that workforce data. The findings will be described in a report that will be made available to the NGO sector and to Health NZ by the end of 2025. Phillipa will disseminate information about this project once it is up and running, and Platform encourages you to participate in and contribute to it.

New Zealand Clinical Senate

Did you know that a New Zealand Clinical Senate has been established with Health NZ? The Senate will be a multidisciplinary group representing clinicians providing strategic advice to the Health NZ Commissioner/Board on system-wide issues that affect quality, affordable and efficient patient care. It will work alongside existing clinical networks. You can read about it here. We are hoping nominations for membership were received from mental health and addictions.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder & Neurodiversity

The Ministry of Health has published a Clinical Principles Framework for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) which describes the expected clinical standards for quality assessment, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in New Zealand. This framework was developed using international-evidence and in partnership with a Clinical Reference Group with lived experience representation. You can view the framework here.

Also recently announced were changes for prescribing ADHD medications. You can read about these changes here. These have come about because of cross-party consensus on key changes to speed referral times following ADHD hui in Parliament during June 2024. 

The Cross-Party Mental Health and Wellbeing Group is also considering receiving and hearing a cross-agency briefing on neurodiversity with the aim of building a clearer picture of the current approach, and where there are opportunities to strengthen the Government’s response to neurodiversity. We will provide further updates on this piece of work as it develops.

Industry Skills Boards to be operational by 1 January 2026

During May 2025 we made a submission on the consultation by the Tertiary Education Commission on the number and coverage of Industry Skills Boards.

In early July 2025, Vocational Education Minister, Hon Penny Simmonds confirmed that eight Industry Skills Boards will be operational from 1 January 2026. This will include an Industry Skills Board for health and community. You can read the Minister’s announcement here. 

 The Tertiary Education Commission is also calling on industries and sectors to nominate representatives for appointment to the new ISBs, ready to be in place by 1 January 2026. It will also be running two webinars on the provision of work-based learning. These are intended to provide further understanding about the changes stemming from the ISBs. Both webinars will cover the same content. To attend one of these webinars, please register your interest via the links below:

• 3pm - Thursday 7 August, here
• 6pm - Thursday 7 August, here

You can read more about the criteria and find a nomination form on the TEC website. Nominations must be received by 29 August.

Grant round opens August 12 for Workforce Futures Fund

Applications for the Workforce Futures Fund | Tahua Rāngaimahi Anamata are open August 12 through to September 12. 

This is the second round for the fund, which has about $15m to spend down over three years to benefit specific workforces including mental health and addiction support. The other eligible sectors are: aged support; cleaning; disability support; home and community health services; social services; urban pest management; and youth work. 

Organisations within these industries that can effect positive change at significant scale are encouraged to find out more (www.workforcefuturesfund.nz).

If you have read what the fund supports and what it doesn't, and assess you have an eligible project, email admin@workforcefuturesfund.nz to make a time to discuss your proposal. It’s a very specific fund and this discussion will help you decide whether to commit the resources required for an application.  

The fund agreed to support six projects in its first round. Contracts have been finalised with five of these organisations and you can read the project descriptions under the updates section on www.workforcefuturesfund.nz.  

Exploring your organisation's PRIMHD data

If you work for a NGO or community service provider that holds a specialist mental health and addiction contract and reports into PRIMHD, you can access the PRIMHD data set through a secure website supported by Health New Zealand called Qlik. The data available through Qlik is a visual and analytic tool that can be useful to understand your organisation’s activities that it provides and what it reports on. The dashboards include information about both NGO and Health New Zealand district mental health and addiction services.

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 whaiora and whānau. If you work for a mental health and addiction NGO or community service provider and would like access to Qlik, you can email the business intelligence team (businessintelligence@health.govt.nz) at Health New Zealand and request access to the National Collections PRIMHD datasets available via Qlik.

Protect against measles - Immunisation is the best protection

There are ongoing reports about measles cases linked to overseas travel that have been confirmed in the Wairarapa in the week of 7 July 2025. There are now nine cases spread across the Wairarapa and Manawatu regions, with a number of locations of interest identified.

The National Public Health Service (NPHS) is asking healthcare professionals to continue to remain vigilant for people presenting with measles symptoms – particularly those who have recently travelled overseas. See measles symptoms and complications.  

Measles is a serious and highly contagious illness, which can affect adults as well as children. 

​​​New resources for Support Workers from Te Pou

• ‘Be a Star – for the rainbow tāngata whaiora you support’ 

 Te Pou has worked with InsideOUT to develop a short film for people supporting tāngata whai ora from the rainbow community. Through the power of pūrākau storytelling, members of the rainbow community share the positive impacts of affirming interactions with kaimahi when seeking mental health and/or addiction support.  

Learn more and watch the short film 

•  Why data matters – a micro-learning for mental health and addiction support workers  

People working in mental health and addiction support/ peer support roles work closely with tāngata whai ora and whānau. They are often the kaimahi who know people best and have a good understanding of how people are doing and what their support needs are. How this information is recorded is a vital part of the support worker’s role. 

A new micro-learning about the importance of accurate data reporting is now available. This explores the vital connection between the work of support workers, the data that is recorded, and how it is used. Recognising the value of this information is important for ensuring the right services get to the right people. The micro-learning is free to access, all you need is to make an account on Pūkoro. 

Start the Why data matters micro-learning 

•  New resources address how kaumatua/ older adults want to be treated 

Through the 2024 work to develop More Skills for Working with Older People in Mental Health and Addiction Services, Te Pou heard how kaumatua older adults want to be treated. This has led to the development of a set of five A3 posters. These share the whakaaro thoughts of older tāngata whai ora, about what’s important for them. These are now available to order on the Te Pou website. There are also discussion cards, designed for teams who provide support for older adults. 

​​​Consultations

We are currently working on:

1. External Reporting Board: XRB have several consultations for registered charities

Reporting and assurance of service performance information – closes Friday 29 August 2025. For larger Not-for-profits (Tier 1 and Tier 2) this consultation paper confirms XRBs understanding of challenges that Tier 1 and 2 not-for-profit entities, and assurance practitioners and users are experiencing with the reporting and assurance of service performance information and to seek feedback on the potential actions the XRB could take to help address these challenges.

2025 Amendments to XRB A1 Application of the Accounting Standards Framework – closes Friday 29 August 2025. This framework outlines the criteria for the application of different financial reporting tiers, classifying entities based on their size, nature and public accountability. It also specifies the accounting standards applicable to each reporting tier across the for-profit, the public sector and not-for-profit sectors. Three changes are proposed.

2. Toitū Te Waiora, Community, Health, Education and Social Services Workforce Development Council is seeking feedback on the proposed skill standards for the New Zealand Certificate in Disability Support (Level 3). You can access information about this national review and provide you feedback here.  

During July we participated and contributed to these consultation processes which have now closed:

• People’s Select Committee Consultation on the Government’s pay equity changes. An unofficial people’s select committee has been put together to gather evidence about the claims that are being disbanded. Submissions close on 31 July and hearings will be held in August. The Committee aims to get a report out to the public by Christmas.
• Community Governance Aotearoa: State of the Sector Survey 2025, which helps to uncover what is top of mind for not-for-profit board across Aotearoa to shape future initiatives.

​​National Navigate Policy Group Update

The National Policy Group recently reviewed five existing policies which had been updated by the subject matter expert. These policies are; Managing People’s Records and Information, Business Continuity v2, Copy of Declined Services Spreadsheet, Domestic Violence Leave and Support, and Workforce Structure. The Group also approved a new policy on AI Policy Use and identified the next round of policies to be reviewed. These policies will be updated on the Platform Policy Library in due course and we will let members know once the Policy Library has been updated.

Access to online resources

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

• Qualities of an effective charity: This resource outlines some key characteristics that effective registered charities demonstrate regardless of size, income, area of activity or background.
• Working Well Guide and resources: These resources provide organisations with the tools to create a culture that enhances and protects people’s mental health.
• Privacy Commission e-learning: These free e-learning tools are designed to help you, and your team learn about privacy or sharpen up your privacy skills. There are 10 free courses to choose from, and they are all run as self-paced online learning modules (with a certificate of completion).
• 3G network shutdown and digital equity: Does your organisation use old devices or work with people who rely on older technology and may be affected by this shutdown? This resource provides organisation information on what you need to know and do before Aotearoa New Zealand say goodbye to 3G technology.

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

• CommunityNet Aotearoa
• NZ Navigator
• Digital Stuff We Love

Events

Programme now available!

Join us at Waenga mōrearea: He ara oranga : Amidst crisis and distress there are pathways to wellbeing

The 2025 program will focus on Waenga mōrearea: He ara oranga : Amidst crisis and distress, there are pathways to wellbeing.

Lived experience communities speak about the continued challenges of accessing the right support at the right time when they are experiencing a crisis. Data on monitoring services also highlights that crisis responses are a challenge. The Government has a strong interest in improving crisis responses and has initiated sector developments to support this improvement.

It is timely to come together to discover where system improvement has already occurred, what is currently underway, what we can learn from international examples, and how we can work together to be a part of a better collective crisis response.

Secure your spot now to enjoy our Early Bird Discount—and join us as we explore the evolving landscape of mental health. This special offer ends September 14, 2025.

Register Now

Full Programme

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