NZ Police, the Ministry of Health and Health NZ, along with Hato Hone St John and Wellington Free Ambulance, are working closely together to change the way agencies respond to mental health.
At the heart of these changes is ensuring people who need mental health care receive the care they deserve from the right professionals when they need it. Their safety and that of kaimahi delivering that care is paramount. This is why agencies have committed to slowly phasing in the changes.
These changes will see an increased health-led response, enabling Police more time to deploy to the work that only Police can do, and the community expects them to do.
Police will continue to respond to health sector requests for assistance involving an immediate risk to life and safety – just as they always have.
Non-emergency requests for assistance and missing persons reports from mental health services will be assessed against updated guidance that considers the immediate safety risk and if there is a risk of significant future harm that Police powers or capabilities are required to prevent.
Health NZ, the Ministry of Health and Police are all committed to working together to ensure any potential issues are identified and worked through, to enable a smooth transition through the changes in the Police response.
Phased approach
The changes will be delivered in four phases:
Phase One
Phase one was implemented across all districts on November 4, 2024.
- Voluntary handovers at Emergency Departments (EDs): Police have streamlined the process for handing over individuals seeking voluntary mental health assessments at EDs.
- Mental Health transportation requests: Police routinely receive requests to assist with Mental Health transportations. Police require mental health services to complete comprehensive risk assessments before involving Police in transportation requests.
- Police attendance to Mental Health facilities: Police presence at mental health facilities will be reduced, especially in mental health wards.
Phase Two
Phase Two was rolled out gradually across Police districts in three groups from 14 April to 16 June, 2025. The Phase Two changes included –
- 60-minute ED Handovers: For individuals detained under the Mental Health (CAT) Act 1992 for a Mental Health assessment, and transported to EDs, Police will hand over to health staff and depart within 60 minutes unless an immediate risk to life or safety exists.
- Police custody rules tightened: To support people requiring a mental health assessment (where there is no criminality involved), our custody suite rules will be changed to prevent mental health assessments from taking place in them and ensuring national consistency of practice.
Phase Three
These changes will be implemented on 17 November 2025. Phase Three includes –
- Requests for assistance from health practitioners: Non-emergency mental health-related requests will be assessed against updated guidance to determine if Police assistance is required. This includes requests for assistance under legislation, requests for assistance in inpatient mental health units, and other requests from mental health services to Police.
- Missing persons from health facilities and services: Reports of missing persons with mental health concerns will be assessed against updated guidance to determine the appropriate police involvement. This covers people missing from Health NZ mental health facilities and services, and people with mental health concerns missing from EDs.
Phase Four
Phase Four changes include:
- 15-minute ED handovers: For individuals transported to EDs, Police will hand over to health staff and depart within 15 minutes unless there is an immediate safety risk.
- Welfare checks – from the public and other agencies: Police are considering their response to welfare checks when there is no risk of criminality or to life or safety. These situations are often complex, and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders will occur before any final decisions are made.
A timeframe for when Phase Four changes will be implemented has yet to be confirmed. We are working with our partners on our future delivery to ensure it is the safest and best possible for the public and agencies alike.
OIAs
Police is releasing responses to some Official Information Act requests, where it is considered they contain data and information with wider public interest.
Resources and related information
- People in mental distress presenting via 111: transitioning to a multi-agency response – Proactive Cabinet paper release
- Manatū Hauora Ngā Pirihimina o Aotearoa: Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and New Zealand Police
- Implementation of Phase Two of Mental Health Response Changes to start