Have you made your submission yet?

Kia ora koutou

There's less than two weeks left to make a submission in the public consultation to repeal and replace the Mental Health Act. Thank you to everyone who has submitted their thoughts already.

Consultation is open until 28 January 2022. You can provide feedback by:

• making an online submission
• answering the questions in the consultation document and emailing your responses to mhactreview@health.govt.nz
• answering the questions in the consultation document and sending a hard copy to: Consultation: Transforming mental health law in Aotearoa New Zealand, Ministry of Health, PO Box 5013, Wellington 6140
• sending us your views on a particular topic relating to the consultation by emailing mhactreview@health.govt.nz

We have spaces in a few more sessions for people working in the mental health and addictions sector, Māori, Pacific peoples, and people with lived experience of mental health and addictions. Register for the session you’d like to attend by clicking the appropriate link below.

Mental Health & Addictions sector consultation sessions

These sessions are tailored for people working in district health boards, community providers, or other health agencies, government departments or crown entities, and anyone else with a professional interest in mental health law, such as lawyers, academics, and professional bodies.

• Friday 21 January 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM - Register here
• Wednesday 26 January 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM – Register here

Māori consultation sessions

Consultation session

• Friday 21 January 3:00 PM to 4.30PM - Register here 

Kōrero with Phyllis and Dean - open session for anyone to join

• Monday 24 January 12:30 PM to 2.00PM
• Join by clicking here at 12:30pm on 24 January
• Meeting ID: 858 3995 7022
• Passcode: kCVbLt49c9

Pacific community consultation session

Pacific clinicians and community providers

• Monday 24 January 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Register here
• Session led by Dr Sione Vaka and Ministry of Health

Lived Experience Consultation Sessions

Addiction and the Mental Health Act
There may be specific considerations for people with alcohol or other drug addictions in any new mental health legislation. This session is for people with lived experience perspectives on addiction and the Mental Health Act.

• Thursday 20 January 12.30 PM to 2:30 PM - Register here 

Next steps

All the information from the workshops, Consultation Hub and emails will be shared with an external, independent company. They will consolidate and analyse all the responses we receive to guide us as we develop new mental health legislation. The Minister of Health is due to report back to Cabinet with policy proposals for new legislation by the end of 2022.

Once the Government has agreed to the policy for new legislation, a Bill will be created and will go through the Parliamentary processes. This process includes select committee consideration when there is an opportunity to comment on the Bill before it becomes law.

Don't want to hear from us?

We understand that you are busy and may not have an interest in taking part in this consultation. 

• If you are not interested in hearing about the consultation to repeal and replace the Mental Health Act, please reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

• If you would like to unsubscribe from all emails from the Mental Health and Addiction Directorate (including the newsletter), click the unsubscribe link below.

However, if you are keen to hear more about what is happening in the Mental Health and Addiction Directorate, please sign up to our regular newsletter.