Kia Kōrero
Let's Talk – June 2025

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

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

• What's on my desk?
• Budget 2025 belt tightening and small green shoots
• Contract renewals 2025/26
• Development of a Digital Mental Health Position Statement 
• Scoping development of standardised outcome data and collection reporting of workforce information
• Pay Equity Updates - Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025
• National Navigate Policy Group
• New podcast launches for mental health and addiction support workers as pay equity claim shelved
• Influenza immunisation update
• The Big Shout Out is back for 2025!
• Consultations
• Access to online resources
• Events
• What we’re reading

What's on my desk?

Wow, what a month! We have experienced with the passing of the Pay Equity Amendment Act 2005 how things can quickly spin on a dime, and how a Government can strike out care and support worker and other pay equity claims under urgency and without consultation and engaging affected parties. This broke the deadlock we were experiencing but was done in a way we had not imagined would disadvantage and seemingly devalue our support worker workforce which is predominantly female and deserves better.

Many pre-budget announcements preceded the Budget 2025 day on Thursday 22 May covering primary care workforce, capitation funding, urgent and after-hours care and funding Pharmac to source more medicines. Then on budget day and the days after we heard from the Government sound bites of a Record investment in health delivery. Many and different commentors responding that it is a pay equity betrayal laid bare, standstill budget probably worse, not enough to keep the lights on, a drop in the bucket and so it goes on. Below you can read about what Budget 2025 offered for mental health and addictions.

Last month Louise Hill joined us as Membership Engagement Coordinator as we farewelled Natasha Snook. Louise may already have been in touch with some of you and will lead and co-ordinate our engagement and communication efforts to ensure we remain connected with our members.

As you will see from the items covered in this newsletter there is a lot our members and the wider mental health and addiction NGO and community sector needs to be across. Then take opportunities to lead key conversations and collectively shape changes in our sector to benefit tangata whaiora supported by services you deliver. The impacts of the health structure in relationship and leadership with planning, funding and outcomes teams and from a policy perspective generally show we should not wait for the centre (Ministry of Health or Health NZ) to provide leadership. Let us make this our moment and deal with what we can collectively manage, co-ordinate and control.

Ngā mihi nui,

Memo

Budget 2025 belt tightening and small green shoots

It was great to see many members join the Platform member online post budget briefing on Monday 26 May 2025. We heard from guest speakers Steven Moe, Partner | Perry Field Lawyers, Dr Monique Faleafa and Annelise Bunce | PwC and Paul Gilbert, Chief Executive | Community Housing Aotearoa. They shared their insights about the budget offering covering good news about no major changes to tax on Charities related to business unrelated income. However, IRD will continue to work on this. The focus was on reducing debt, a tough economic outlook with a lot of initiatives funded through significant savings across public sector agencies, the pull back of $12.8 billion from funding unsettled pay equity claim, and the specific initiatives to benefit from vote health funding.

Specifically for mental health and addiction, Budget 2025 provided funding covering three areas :

Police-led response to a multi-agency response for people calling 111 in mental distress

A total of $28 million over four years to support a five-year transition from a Police-led response to a multi-agency response for people calling 111 in mental distress. This includes funding to increase mental health and addiction telehealth capacity and expand co-response teams by up to ten. This is a welcome step in funding initiatives to support people in crisis through a health led response with people safety and appropriateness of service response in mind. This comes after many calls for additional funding to support the transition process.

 Improving safety, privacy and dignity

In response to recommendations from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, Budget 2025 allocates a total $9 million over four years to improve safeguards for people receiving compulsory mental health and addiction support and care. This includes improving processes for complaints and investigation for people receiving compulsory care. Just over $700,000 is included in the budget and $50 million in tagged capital contingency, to improve inpatient mental health unit environments to make sure they fit for purpose to meet people s need and are safe.

 Forensic Mental Health Services – meeting growing demand

Funded from outside budget allowances and through reprioritisation of funds is $51 million to expand the capacity of forensic mental health services within the Midland region to address immediate capacity issues related to the Waikeria Prison expansion by reprioritising existing baseline funding. It also includes funding to establish one intensive and assertive community wrap-around service team in the region experiencing the next greatest increase in prison population and service demand.

We have yet to hear from Health NZ’s national planning and funding outcomes team about what is in in store from Budget 2025 regarding contract funding cost pressure or CPI uplifts for the year starting July 2025.

Contract renewals 2025/26

We have heard from some members who have received contract renewals for a one-year term. Overall, it seems we are in the same situation as we were in after budget 2024, when it took some time for contract renewals and term to be offered and we are no wiser on the nature of the contract funding cost pressure or CPI uplift that will be offered. We are seeking this information from Health NZ’s national planning, funding and outcomes team.

We are also hearing that some members have received new long form contracts and that there is a move in Health NZ to move to these within the financial year starting 1 July 2025. These new long form contracts contain significant additional and/or different clauses for which there has been no consultation, discussion or negotiation with providers. We are trying to get to the bottom of this as we understand some of the additional and/or different clauses have significant impact to providers.

We encourage you to review your renewed contracts or new contract you receive to make sure varied clauses are identified and discussed with Health NZ planning, funding and outcome teams.

Development of a Digital Mental Health Position Statement

The Digital Mental Health Authority (DHA) held a Summit in December 2024 in which stakeholders from the Mental Health sector were brought together to brainstorm and share ideas on how digital solutions can better support mental health and addiction services in New Zealand. During the summit, the DHA proposed the notion of a ‘Digital Mental Health and Addictions Hub (the Hub) which was argued to provide a centralised, highly accessible platform connecting digital tools, virtual care, and support services to better meet the needs of all New Zealanders. This was picked up by Minister Doocey, who requested DHA pull together a mental health and addiction committee to develop and provide a roadmap for the developed Hub by October this year.

We are developing a position statement to bring together the views of the NGO and Community sector and provide alternative options to make good use of the opportunities that Digital Tools provide to bridge gaps in mental health and addiction service delivery and access. The Platform Board established a reference group consisting of John Cook, Chief Executive | Emerge Aotearoa, Darryl Bishop, Chief Executive | Ember and Bridgitte Thornley National Director | PGF Services for us to test and get input on the work we are doing. The group will call on other Platform members to contribute as necessary.

Scoping development of standardised outcome data and collection reporting of workforce information

At the Platform Members Leadership Day in March, members heard insights from Phillipa Gaines about what it took to produce the resource A Sound Investment, and the leadership challenge I put to our members around data, standardised outputs and outcomes and regular electronic workforce reporting to a national repository. I signalled that producing these resources was not a one-off initiative and that we had to build on the learning and opportunities it has given us.

We continue to explore with Te Pou | Data, Research and Information team how we can collaboratively strengthen data capability across the mental health and addiction NGO sector. There is growing agreement that we need a sector-led approach to develop standardised output and outcome measures and improve workforce data collections and reporting. This would support a trusted and coherent picture of the mental health and addiction NGO sector and its contribution to the wider mental health and addiction system, which we know is indispensable.

We are keen to keep momentum on this work so it remains a live priority. We will continue to work closely with both Platform members and system partners to ensure the approach is practical, grounded, and sustainable.

Pay Equity updates – Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025

On Tuesday 6 May, the Government announced its decision to make significant and immediate change to the Equal Pay Act and the related pay equity claims process. The changes were introduced in an Amendment Bill and passed under urgency on Thursday 8 May. The Equal Pay Amendment Act 2025 received Royal Assent on Friday 9 May.

You can read the media release with the announcement here. You can also access the cabinet paper and high level fact sheet.

The proposed changes that came into effect on Friday 9 May include the discontinuation of existing pay equity claims that are not yet settled (33 claims), including those lodged with the Employment Relations Authority. A full list of current claims can be found at the end of this article. In our case, this means the first claim involving 15 employers lodged in July 2022, the second claim involving about 135 employers lodged in November 2023, and the third claim involving about 114 employed are discontinued. The ERA hearing which was scheduled to take place in August 2025 will not go ahead.

You can access more information about other changes which came into effect here.

We are gutted by this decision, which has far-reaching implications and disregards the extensive work and evidence provided by the sector to demonstrate the systemic undervaluing of our predominantly female support worker workforce. These abrupt changes risk undermining workforce and service stability at a time of increasing service demand.

National Navigate Policy Group

Platform hosts on the website an online resource Policy Library. This provides access to organisational policy templates which can be adapted by individual organisations to suite their purposes and structure. We are in the process of setting up a national navigate policy group with the inclusion of 2 nominees from each regional navigate group. This group will play a crucial role in maintaining and updating our online resource of policy templates, ensuring they align with current legislation, government guidelines and best practice. The group will also help with reviewing new policies and procedures, alongside a subject matter expert who writes the policies. The group will also promote the Policy Library within their regions and organisations.

Once the group has been set up, we will begin updating the policy templates that are in the Policy Library. Updated policy templates will be reported via this newsletter.

New podcast launches for mental health and addiction support workers as pay equity claim shelved

A new podcast has been launched celebrating the work of our largest mental health and addiction workforce. It comes as law changes have suddenly denied that workforce access to a pay equity claim it has been working towards for more than three years.

To support and celebrate this vital workforce, Te Pou has created The Difference, a four-episode podcast series by and for support workers working in the mental health and addiction sector. Te Pou’s chief executive Rae Lamb says it is more important than ever to celebrate the importance of this workforce and their role in supporting people’s recovery.

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.

Influenza immunisation update

That time of the year is upon us when it is timely to support tangata whaiora to get influenza vaccinations. It is also important to continue with other vaccinations for example for measles and COVID.

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 Schedule Online - Influenza vaccine

The Big Shout Out is back for 2025! Everyone can recognise and thank volunteers

​​​​This June, we invite you to celebrate volunteers in the Big Shout Out campaign.  Give volunteers a shout-out on social media or shout them morning tea – and help increase awareness of the vital role volunteers play, in our lives and communities. You can access the resources for this important campaign here.

Consultations

We are currently working on these consultations:

1.Assistant/Associate Psychologists: The NZ Psychologists Board has taken 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). This work is additionally resourced and is being conducted within a wider context of mental health workforce development currently being undertaken by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ). Consultation is underway on the proposed scope of practices, skills and competencies and requirement for supervision. You can access the consultation documents here. We encourage you to participate in this consultation which close of Friday 16 June 2025.

2.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. It also sets out the change needed across government – and across the public – to support and enable the Deaf community to be able to fully participate in society using NZSL.

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

3.Tertiary Education Commission: The Government has decided to disestablish the current Workforce Development Councils (WDCs) and establish new Industry Skills Boards (ISBs). TEC consulted on the number and coverage of Industry Skills Boards. The proposals included some sectors where standards setting is proposed to transition to NZQA.

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:

• Evaluating digital inclusion initiatives: This toolkit has been developed by Standard of Proof in collaboration with InternetNZ to encourage charitable, non-government organisations to evaluate funded projects aimed at combating the digital divide.
• Communicating with Central Government: One of the roles of community groups is to bring issues to the attention of government so they can be addressed at a national or local level through legislation. Community participation is a vital part of democracy, and community organisations represent people and opinions that might not otherwise be heard.
• Using a conflict-of-interest register: The Charities Services guide describes how charities can identify and keep track of conflicts of interest. It is recommended that your organisation adds 'conflict of interest' to every meeting agenda.

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 Save the date! 5 November 2025

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.

Stay tuned for more information.

Join us at the 2025 ATCA Conference: E Tū Kāhikatea – Standing Strong: Navigating Change and Building Resilience, taking place from 25–27 November 2025 at the JW Marriott, Auckland.

The conference theme celebrates the strength, innovation, and resilience of Therapeutic Communities, the dedicated workforce, and those accessing our services in an ever-evolving landscape. Inspired by the Kāhikatea tree—renowned for its deep roots and collective strength—this year’s conference highlights the importance of standing together as we navigate ongoing change and challenges.

The conference will bring together delegates from across the ATCA membership, the broader alcohol and other drug sector, and wider health and community services. It will showcase innovative practices, interventions, and research aimed at improving client outcomes, while offering rich opportunities for learning, inspiration, and connection. We’re also thrilled to announce our first two keynote speakers: Dr David Best, an international leader in addiction recovery and a key innovator in developing recovery capital measurement tools and methods, and Dr André McLachlan, who specialises in Indigenous approaches to Mental Health, Trauma, Addictions and Neurodiversity.  More keynotes will be announced soon and details about where you can purchase a ticket for the event.

Calls for abstracts are now open! This is your chance to share your work. We welcome submissions from staff and services across ATCA member organisations, as well as those working in allied sectors. For more details, visit the ATCA website at https://atca.com.au.

Save the dates—we look forward to welcoming you for an unforgettable and inspiring event!

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