Te Whatu Ora has released its Action Plan to Prevent and Reduce Substance Harm 2026-2029, which builds a foundation for a comprehensive and strategic health-system response to address substance-related harm.
The plan sets out the key actions the health system will undertake to strengthen New Zealand’s health response to increasing substance-related harm experienced by individuals, families and communities across the four priority areas of the mental health portfolio.
This plan recognises that substance harm is not just a health issue — it is a whānau, community, and equity issue and commits the system to prevention, early support, and treatment that is culturally grounded, evidence-based, and responsive to those most impacted.
For Hauora Māori Services, this includes a clear focus on reducing harm for Māori and leading work on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), supporting whānau early and across the life course.
You can find the action plan here.