More Free Mental Health Support for Young People

The Green Party welcomes the expansion of free youth mental health support announced today, says Green Party mental health spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick.

“We understand that mental health services are in crisis and that we need urgent solutions grounded in communities. That’s why the Green Party made this a priority in our Confidence and Supply Agreement with the Labour Party,” Chlöe Swarbrick said.

“For the last two years I’ve worked with dedicated advocates at Victoria University Students’ Association in their fight to reduce wait times for students accessing crucial mental health services. Today, the Government is announcing the wait is over. This wouldn’t be happening without the staunch mahi of students and their representatives.”

“This roll-out of Piki to Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University, and institutions throughout the Wellington Capital and Coast DHB areas is a massive step towards delivering accessible mental health and well-being services for our country’s young people.”

“If you are between 18 and 25 you and in need of support, you can access Piki by reaching out, or having a GP do it for you.”

“Our Confidence and Supply Agreement guarantees a commitment to high quality and timely mental health services for everyone, including free counselling for those under 25 years. Today’s announcement works towards fulfilling that commitment. The Greens are dedicated to continuing our constructive work in Government, as well as advocating for the community, to see that everybody has the help they need when they need it,” Chlöe Swarbrick said.

Action

Gender-Affirming Care is a Human Right

Submit on the Ministry of Health's consultation on Gender-Affirming care.

Action

Hauraki open letter

Sign our open letter to protect the Hauraki Gulf Marine Reserves

Action

Ditch the Bootcamps - Make a submission

Make a submission on the Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill. Help us call for an end to the Bootcamps.

Action

Treaty Principles Submission Guide

Make a unique submission on the Treaty Principles Bill.

Action

How to get involved - Treaty Principles

Information on how to make a submission, volunteer or run your own event.

Action

Submit for Climate Action

Submit today to ask the Government to commit to strong Climate Change targets.

Action

Build Dunedin Hospital

Take our poll on how the Government should spend its money, and email Christopher Luxon telling him your thoughts.

Action

Oil & Gas Quick Submissions 2024

Sign the quick submission to save the oil & gas ban!

Action

Stop Fast-track Destruction

Join our call to stop the Fast-track Approvals Bill.

Action

Protect te reo Māori

Sign our petition asking Minister Erica Stanford to keep prioritising the teaching of te reo Māori.

Action

Cut the Coal Petition | Join the movement

Fight back: Tell the government that coal mining is not our future.

Action

Protect Our Freshwater

Join our Green MPs in calling for the government to protect freshwater. Proposed changes to the Resource Management Act threaten New Zealand's...

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing Aotearoa. Volu...

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Health Announcements

Story

Covid Inquiry report underlines need to invest in Health

The Green Party says the report from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 Response underlines the need for proper investment in our he...

End of free RAT tests means more exposure to virus

The end of free Rapid Antigen Tests today is another sign the Government is giving up on the challenge of protecting the community from Covid-19.

Greens stand in solidarity with Buller community

The Green Party stands in solidarity with the Buller community in its silent protest for better healthcare.

A step forward on cancer drug funding but more to do

The Green Party welcomes the announcement of more funding for cancer treatments and medicines, however, calls for more to be done to address the se...

Scrapping Māori Health Authority tramples over Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The Green Party condemns the Government’s latest trashing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in rushing through legislation, without any public input, that wi...

Cruel move to put tobacco profit over people’s health

Sacrificing the health of our rangatahi to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy few is a deeply cynical move and shows this Government is more influenc...

Story

Time to shut down failed Youth Justice Residences

The Green Party is calling for Youth Justice Residences to close, following a protest in which a group of young people spent the night on the roof ...

Youth Policy

Vision We envisage Aotearoa New Zealand to be a place where young people feel valued, connected, loved, and empowered. Wherever we are, when we l...

Story

Youth Parliamentarians pass motion declaring climate emergency

The 2019 Youth Parliament has declared a climate emergency via a motion in the Parliament. The motion was put forward by Chlöe Swarbrick’s youth ...

Greens announce free counselling for young people

The Green Party in government will fund free counselling for all New Zealanders aged 25 and under as part of a $260 million youth mental health pac...

NZ First putting politics before child protection

NZ First has chosen to put political game playing ahead of the safety of children by proposing a referendum on the ten year old amendments to the C...

Government must raise the age of youth justice

The Green Party is joining with youth, justice and disability groups in calling on the National Government to raise the age of youth justice to inc...

Story

Greens celebrate huge step forward for ADHD community

The Greens welcome today’s long-coming announcement by Pharmac of consultation to remove the special authority renewal criteria for methylphenidate...

Green Party welcomes landmark commitments from health sector for ADHD progress

Green Party spokesperson for Mental Health, Chlöe Swarbrick, welcomes commitments from the Minister of Health to six key areas of progress for the ...

Pasifika mental wellbeing initiative must protect our communities: Greens

The Greens welcome $6.6 million from the Government’s $455 million programme to increase access to mental health and addiction services for our Pas...

Greens promise continued action to reduce mental health waiting times

The Green Party is committed to reduce the waiting times people in mental distress have to put up with before they receive attention and get treatm...

More mental wellbeing services for young people in regions

More mental health and addiction services are available for young New Zealanders in Rotorua and Taupō, Wairarapa, South Canterbury, Dunedin and Sou...

Mental Health

Aotearoa can be a country where everybody feels they belong. The Green Party has always recognised that our mental health is inextricably linked to...