“It is utterly unacceptable that for too long, when a concerned mum, dad, friend or colleague calls 111 looking for a mental health response, they have received a criminal justice response,” he said.
The annual number of patients with mental health and addiction issues presenting to Whanganui Hospital’s emergency department has risen more than 70% since 2023, as police reduce time spent with detained people dropped off for mental health assessments.
NZ Police Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny said partnering with Health NZ for the new co-response teams helped deliver safer outcomes.
“Working alongside mental health clinicians strengthens our response by bringing together clinical expertise and police’s public safety role.
“By responding alongside clinicians, we are better equipped to assess situations, manage risk and connect people with the support they need.”
High demand in the new areas was shown through emergency department presentations, crisis contacts, engagement with mental health services and suicide statistics.
They also faced rural barriers of longer travel distances and limited access to mental health services.
Whanganui MP Carl Bates said the new co-response team would have a big impact on the community.
“Many parents and families who have talked to me about their experience with mental health have expressed they want a better crisis response for their loved ones.
“Our local team will be designed to meet the needs we have here in the region.
“I look forward to getting updates on how the new team is progressing.”
Which mental health providers would be involved in the Whanganui team and where they would operate were unconfirmed. Teams such as North Shore have operated from a dedicated office in the police station.
Health NZ director specialist mental health and addictions, Karla Bergquist, said they would explore with police the most appropriate operating model for each new team.
“Co-response teams help people in distress and their family receive co-ordinated wraparound care,” Bergquist said.
“They reduce the need to use powers under the Mental Health Act and mean fewer people need to be taken to an emergency department or police station.”
In 2023, Te Oranganui and police announced their partnership Hāpai Mauri Tāngata, a team of health workers based at the police station responding to mental health-related callouts. A crisis recovery cafe was later opened with support from Doocey.
Te Oranganui chief executive Wheturangi Walsh said the Hāpai Mauri Tāngata model had been “very positive” but funding would end in December.
The Government’s proposed crisis co-tesponse team had similarities to their model, and local police had already been in contact, Walsh said.
“They are definitely committed to considering how it is that we might continue our relationship.
“This potentially offers us an opportunity to continue providing the excellence of service to our community,” Walsh said.
She said it was “too early days” to tell what the initiative would look like.
Budget 2025 included a $28 million package to support the nationwide initiative, with $10m earmarked for the new locations.
The expansion builds on teams in Auckland, Counties Manukau, Bay of Plenty and Canterbury introduced earlier this year, and existing teams in the Waitematā, Waikato, Taranaki, Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, and Southern areas.
Planning for the new locations has begun, with timeframes yet to be released.
Noam Mānuka Lazarus (Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara) is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle.