The Mental Health and Well-Being Commission wants a greater focus on mental health in the health reforms currently before parliament.

The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill replaces district health boards with a national body, Health New Zealand, working alongside a Māori Health Authority.

Commission chair Hayden Wano says it’s a positive change, but there’s not enough consideration of mental health services at the community level.

“Particularly when you think about the role that iwi Māori partnership boards could play at the locality level, we think there could be more decision making, going with the decision making, accountability, and more transparency. Putting people, the people who use the system at the centre of that and giving them the power in the decision making of their care”, he says.

Hayden Wano says more than one in two people will be affected by mental distress including addictions within their lifetime.