Kia Kōrero
Let's Talk – July 2025

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

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

• What's on my desk?
• Our dialogue with the Minister
• Contract renewals, term, CPI uplift notices and contracting process for 2025/26
• Police Mental Health Change Programme
• What we heard from Regional Navigate Groups
• National Navigate Policy Group established
• Mental Health and Addiction Policy and Advocacy Forum
• Cross-Party Mental Health and Addiction Wellbeing Group
• Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26 to 2027/28
• Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2025-2029
• Changes to financial reporting using the Tier 3 and Tier 4 Not for Profit Standards
• Mental health and addiction supoprt worker podcast
• Consultations
• Access to online resources
• Events
• What we’re reading

What's on my desk?

The start of the new financial year for many mental health and addiction (MH&A) NGOs and community providers is marshalled with dealing with contract renewals and extensions, funding uplifts, the mooted shift of contracts to a new agreement life management (ALM) system, replacing existing contracts with new contracts and many other things alike. What is needed is certainty to plan for service delivery and supports, sustainability of MH&A NGO and community provider capacity, growing capacity to reduce pressure on Health NZ specialist and hospital services by supporting more people in the community.

Is this doable? I think so. Can we be in a better place in March 2026? I think so. What will it take? A serious, well-led and cohesive  conversation and programme of work, that has a focus on the MH&A system, the improvements needed to provide the right type of services and supports in the right places in the community to respond to needs, and for people who need them We also need innovation and decisions about the enabling functions like funding and contracting, workforce, data and outcomes, and minimising barriers to flexibility.

Let us give a shout-out to the people who are doing the mahi every time of day to support tāngata whai ora. They work through the complexities of the system to make sure people get what they need, rather than get bogged down being involved in the bureaucracy of the health system. Making sure they too are supported to have the resources they need is critically important.

If ever there is a time to be remain engaged through your local regional navigate groups and through Platform online member forums, the coming few months will be it. We encourage you to share and support each other to achieve the collective goals for our sector and the support provided in the community to tāngata whai ora.

Ngā mihi nui,

Memo

Our dialogue with the Minister

The timing of our meeting with Minister Doocey coincided with media reporting about delays in contract renewal notices being provided to mental health and addiction (MH&A) NGOs and community providers for the financial year starting 1 July 2025. Minister Doocey responded by taking up the issues with officials. It is fair to say this was top of mind for the Minister with serious talks held about the experiences of Platform members and providers in our sector, noting this was not the first time we had highlighted the issue and proposed solutions. As a result, the Minister asked us to gauge the size of the problem, and we provided this information to him.

We traversed other key areas like the sudden Pay equity process being abolished under urgency and will no solution to address the impact of this evident, upcoming MH&A targets, Quarter 3 Report, and the variations in achieving targets within Health NZ regions and districts level. We noted the role MH&A NGOs could play if engaged in data and reporting processes. We also discussed the budget 2025 announcement, initiatives aligned with the 2025/26 uplift to MH&A ringfence funding, and the national work needed to develop an evidence-informed understanding of current investment and allocation across the sector.

Additionally, we shared progress on our work to develop a position statement on digital mental health and heard the Minister’s expectations about the work underway through led by Digital Health Association. Finally, we addressed the culling of pay equity claims for support workers. With no solution in sight to address wage disparities, we explored potential options to address this for our sector.

As we have said previously, these meetings are a good opportunity to engage in dialogue with the Minister on matters important to the sector. We take a fine line to highlight issues, propose solutions and play our advocacy role on behalf of you as members of Platform and the wider MH&A NGO and community sector.

Contract renewals, term, CPI uplift notices and contracting process for 2025/26

From the information we gathered for Minister Doocey, it is clear there was variable notification, if any, across Health NZ regions and districts about contract renewals. Variation in communications includes when, or if, our members were notified of their contract renewals, as well as what information was provided in the notification. For example, some members were notified of their contract terms and timing while others weren’t. Members were only notified on the week of 9 June about their CPI uplift – which was confirmed by Health NZ to be 3%, a 0.01% increase from last year but still significantly less than what has been specified for other health and wellbeing sectors. We provided the Minister with a summary of these discrepancies in communication.

We have also been hearing that the new long form contracts contain significant changes in clauses for which there has been no consultation or negotiation with providers. We recently met with representatives from Health NZ to discuss some of these issues and provided an update to members on June 30. Yesterday Platform members received a detailed update from this meeting. Key takeaways from the meeting are:

• Contract renewals/variations will be rolled over on current or existing terms and conditions but include one new clause about information sharing to ensure Privacy Act requirements are met.
• Contract term will be for 12 months.
• An electronic signoff via DocuSign will be used to streamline the process.
• A very small number of providers have moved to the new long form contract templates for reasons specific to their services.
• A joint working group consisting of Te Whatu Ora/Platform representatives will be stood up to review and discuss the new clauses in the longform contract. The aim is to identify impact, agree on a path forward, and reach a position which enables the interests of all parties to be addressed.

If you have queries in relation to your contract renewal or variation once it is received, please contact your Health NZ regional manager for Mental Health and Addiction. 

Police Mental Health Change Programme

Phase Two of the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme has been extended with implementation across a third and final group of districts which started on Monday 16 June 2025. 

This includes:

• Health NZ districts: Northland, Taranaki, Whanganui, and MidCentral
• Police districts: Northland, Central
• Health NZ specific areas: Tokoroa and Taumarunui (Waikato), Taupō (Lakes), Wairoa (Hawke’s Bay), and Waitaki and Southern Lakes (Southern)
• Police specific areas within districts: Taupō and Tokoroa (Bay of Plenty), Wairoa (Eastern), and Central Lakes and Waitaki (Southern)

The Phase Two changes remain the same and include:

·        60-minute handover detained persons in EDs – Police who have detained a person under the MH Act and transported them for an assessment will remain in the ED for a maximum one hour before departing, unless they consider there is an immediate risk to life or safety.

·        Changes to mental health assessments in custody – If someone is placed under the MH Act while in a Police custody suite, they will need to be taken to a health facility within 30 minutes. Custody rules will ensure people in distress are assessed appropriately, preferably in a health setting.

A forum of MH&A NGO leaders, Platform and Health NZ continues to meet every two weeks, to monitor changes implemented in phase one and in phase two as above. This is in addition to other issues which emerge around the interface between Health NZ crisis teams and Police in relation to support required in the community. The aim being to ensure impact is minimised on mental health and addiction NGO providers and the support they provide to people, and their engagement with Police.

In the meantime, if you come across an issue which needs to be raised with Health NZ, please e-mail MHPolicechanges@tewhatuora.govt.nz (this inbox is monitored regularly).

What we heard from Regional Navigate Groups

There were several recurring themes and concerns raised at the Regional Navigate Group meetings this month, reflecting sector-wide uncertainty and the need for clearer communication and engagement from funders. Key themes most of which we have discussed with Health NZ representatives regionally and nationally include:

·       Contract renewals – Providers expressed frustration over the lack of clear communication regarding contract renewal processes, performance reporting requirements, and the timing of CPI uplifts following Budget 2025. The introduction of new contract clauses, such as open book accounting and reserve scrutiny, without sector engagement, has also been expressed as a widespread concern.

·       Agreement Life Management (ALM) System Rollout – Health NZ has begun rolling out the new ALM system for providers on standard contracts which is aimed to streamline internal processes. Providers expressed concern about inconsistent communication, as well as the timing of the implementation, and why it is being rolled out service by service.

·       Pay Equity and Workforce Stability – The 3% CPI uplift as announced by Health NZ was widely viewed as insufficient to offset the loss of Pay Equity claims and the associated disinvestment over multiple years attributed to this process. The Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 has raised concerns about increased competition for support workers and the potential destabilisation of the workforce.

·       Service monitoring and sector engagement – Concerns were raised about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s service monitoring reports, which were seen as developed without adequate consultation, and overly focused on acute services.

·       Police transition and crisis response – The transition of crisis response from Police to Te Whatu Ora has led to increased follow-up work for some providers, with little indication on whether there will be additional support.

National Navigate Policy Group established

Originally established and overseen by the Northern regional navigate group, the Navigate Policy Group and it work has transitioned to a National Navigate Policy Group. An inaugural meeting was held on Wednesday June 11. The group comprises of representatives from across the regional navigate groups, will initially meet every six weeks and is currently chaired by Naomi Cowan, Platform board member and chief executive of Equip. The group has identified their work programme of reviewing existing policies, as well as creating new policies for the sector, working alongside a subject matter expert in quality assurance and writing of policy aligned to national standards. Platform will be the secretariat for the national group. Be sure to reach out to your local regional Navigate Group for updates and/or input on this important work programme. As and when policy templates in the policy library are reviewed or replaced, we will provide updates, so you are informed about what changes are happening.

Mental Health and Addiction Policy and Advocacy Forum

A Policy and Advocacy Forum has been established for organisations in the mental health and addiction system with an interest in national policy and advocacy. The forum currently has 7 members including the Wise Group, Platform Trust, Te Hiringa Mahara, Changing Minds, the Mental Health Foundation, the NZ Drug Foundation, and RANZCP. It has a revolving secretariat and meets quarterly to identify and discuss shared priorities and concerns and exchange insights to support individual responses. The forum held its first official meeting in April 2025.

Cross-Party Mental Health and Addiction Wellbeing Group

During the past six months we continued in our role as the Secretariat to the Cross-Party Group co-ordinating its activities. The Cross-Party Group has met five times bringing the total number of meetings to twelve since 1 July 2024.

There have been changes to the membership with Chlöe Swarbrick (Co-leader Green Party) and Debbie Anne Ngarewa-Packer (Co-leader Te Pati Māori) stepping down during April/May.

Membership now consists of Kahurangi Carter (Green Party, Chairperson), Ingrid Leary (Labour Party, Deputy Chairperson) Dr Venessa Weenink (National Party), Laura McClure (ACT Party), Tanya Unkovich (NZ First Party) and Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke (Te Pati Māori).

Amongst other things the Cross-Party Group has received briefing about position statement on alcohol and mental health, suicide prevention in the construction industry, suicide prevention from a peer led perspective, addiction workforce and sector issues and system performance monitoring report published by the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. The Group also continued to explore a potential inquiry on neurodiversity and discussions remain. 

The Group also supported events held in Parliament like the Summit for Strengthening Addiction & Harm Reduction Responses and Alcohol Health Summit.

Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2025/26 to 2027/28

Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm which was released last month by the Minister for Mental Health, Hon Matt Doocey. You can read the strategy here. The service plan within the strategy provides for a continuum of public health and clinical services supported by robust research and evaluation, and details the costs of these services, over the next 3 years.

Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2025-2029

The Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2025 - 2029 was released by the Ministry of Health on 17 June. The Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to reduce suicide through 21 health-led and 13 cross-agency actions and focuses on closing gaps and ensuring more people can access the support they need. Building on the 2019 - 2024 plan, it emphasises improving access to suicide prevention and postvention support, strengthening early intervention, enhancing workforce capability, and deepening understanding through research and data. The Plan is backed by an existing suicide prevention investment of $20 million per year, plus allocation of an additional $16 million per year to expand mental health and suicide prevention services and has been developed with input from communities, people with lived experience, and various government agencies. You can find the Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2025-2029 here.

Changes to financial reporting using the Tier 3 and Tier 4 Not for Profit Standards

This is a reminder that in May 2023, the External Reporting Board (XRB) released new reporting standards for Tier 3 and Tier 4 charities. These standards are now mandatory for accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 2024, although early adoption is also possible.

Charities Services hosted webinars during March and June on how to prepare financial reports using the Tier 3 and Tier 4 Not for Profit Standards. You can access the new performance report templates for Tier 3 here and for Tier 4 here. Recordings of the webinars can be accessed here.

Mental health and addiction support worker podcast

The first season of The Difference, a four-episode podcast series by Te Pou about support workers working in the mental health and addiction sector, has been released and is available on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Hosted by Te Pou project lead Alexia Black, The Difference features support workers from across the motu and from a diversity of organisations – including Pathways and Mahitahi Trust in Auckland, Springhill Treatment Centre in Napier, Real in Nelson, and Moana House in Dunedin – talking about their work, and current challenges and opportunities for the sector. Topics include using your lived experience in your mahi, worker wellbeing, and vicarious trauma, leadership, career pathways and outbreaks workforce retention, and the importance of reflective practice.

Listen to The Difference on Spotify or wherever you listen to your podcasts.  

In addition, Te Pou has created a webpage with learning resources for support workers in mental health and addiction. You can find out more here.

​​​Consultations

We are currently working on a submission to the 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. Platform intends to provide a submission on the two claims we have been involved in. You can read more about this consultation here.

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

·        Draft NZSL strategy 2025-2030: The New Zealand Sign Language Board consulted on a draft NZSL strategy 2025-2030 which builds on the first NZSL Strategy. The five language planning priorities (acquisition, use/access, attitude, documentation, and status) of that strategy continue to be important and can be seen integrated throughout the five priority areas set out in this strategy. Consultation closed on Monday 2 June 2025.

·        Assistant/Associate Psychologists: The NZ Psychologists Board took on the lead role for the development of a regulatory framework for a new scope of practice, currently being referred to as Assistant/Associate Psychologist (AP). We submitted on their consultation on the proposed scope of practices, skills and competencies and requirement for supervision. The consultation closed on Friday 16 June 2025.

·        Regulatory Standards Bill: The Parliamentary Finance and Expenditure Select Committee consulted on this Bill which it stated aims to reduce the amount of unnecessary and poor-quality regulation by increasing transparency and making it clearer where legislation does not meet standards. It intends to bring the same discipline to regulatory management that New Zealand has for fiscal management. Consultation closed Monday 23 June 2025.

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:

·   Funding Guide: This guide is designed to help not-for-profit organisations and community groups apply for funding. You can access the online guide here.

·    Communicating via the media: Following our release of a Sound Investment we have encouraged you to profile your services and the work you do with politicians and through the media. This resource provides information and checklists of what you need to prepare and do to help you communicate via the media. You can access these here.

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

• CommunityNet Aotearoa
• NZ Navigator
• Digital Stuff We Love

Events

Upcoming conferences

Hauora hinengaro: He ara tūroa: Mental Health: An enduring pathway 2025 conference -  November 2025 - REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN

Te Hiringa Mahara is partnering with TheMHS Learning Network to co-host the ‘Hauora hinengaro: He ara tūroa: Mental Health: An enduring pathway’ 2025 conference. This will bring you a jam-packed day full of expert discussions, inspiration, and co-learning.

The theme for our gathering is Waenga mōrearea: He ara oranga : Amidst crisis and distress there are pathways to wellbeing.

·         When: Wednesday 5 November 2025

·         Where: Waipuna Hotel, Tamaki Makaurau Auckland

The conference provides the opportunity to bring together a forum of national and international experience and expertise including te ao Māori (Māori world views), lived/living experience, clinical, funder and systems thinking perspectives.

This is the first in a series of annual learning events jointly developed by Te Hiringa Mahara and TheMHS.

Click here to register for the Conference.

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