We would like the Ministry of Education, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, to add compulsory health classes including mental health into high schools / colleges as part of the physical education classes that already take place. We are asking for this to be implemented as part of the NCEA review that is currently ongoing. Both Ministries would need to provide extra funding for these classes, as well as some professional development for the current physical education teachers.

We would like the Hamilton City Council to update the city's emblem so that it reflects the Council's commitment to Te Tiriti, which shows our city's history and that is something that we can be proud of.

We call for the government to commit to safe walking, biking, scooting and free buses for all students in Aotearoa. The government is preparing its response to climate change, and we want our tamariki to be at the heart of it. We want to say goodbye to school traffic, make it safe to travel to school, and remove the cost of transport as a barrier to education. We approve of the general direction of the government's Emissions Reduction Plan but believe it needs to be more ambitious with clear targets and commitments. That’s why we’re calling for the below actions to be part of the Emissions Reduction Plan and funded in Budget 2022: 🚃Free public transport for all school students from 2023 onwards. 🚌Access to dedicated school buses for all schools that need them. 🛴Commitment to providing safe walking, cycling and scooting routes to and from school by 2025. 🚲Funding for school travel coordinators (to organise initiatives like walking school buses and bike trains). Sign our petition to urge the Government to take urgent action for the climate and people!

Dear Minister, We ask you and the government to investigate the consequences of all forms of conversion therapy, including conversion therapies that target autistic children, which are often branded as Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) or Positive Behaviour Support (PBS).

Local hapū, Ngāti Tamainupō, is seeking urgent Government and Waikato District Council intervention to buy land that was once part of Pukeiāhua Pā, at 5851 Great South Road, Ngāruawāhia, from Perjuli Developments Ltd.

Ensure that Nga Hau Māngere Birthing Centre can remain open and serve the community. Nga Hau urgently requires funding to remain open. The birthing centre has been open in the heart of Māngere Town Centre for over 4 years because of the generosity of the Wright Foundation, but now further financial assistance is needed. We're asking the Government to ensure that the centre receives funding so it can remain open and continue to serve the local community, especially Māori and Pasifika whānau.

Retain Media Studies at NCEA Level 1 instead of forcing teachers to simply teach it as an alternative context for other courses.

All people deserve the right to speak out against injustice. For prisoners to realise that right, they must have access to information, which the Take No Prisoners newsletter provides them. We call on the Chief Custodial Officer of Corrections, Neil Beales, to reverse his unlawful censorship of Take No Prisoners immediately.

Oppose the Treaty Principles Bill.

In the shadows of election year we need to recognise that Mental Health Care should not be devalued to a simple political issue. It is a fundamental human right. The Mental Health Matters Initiative presents four policy demands that the government must implement to create our vision for a safer, caring, and empathetic mental health sector. POLICY 1: ESTABLISH A MINISTER OF MENTAL HEALTH The Mental Health Matters Initiative demands that the Government establishes a Minister of Mental Health, who works alongside the Ministry of Health. Under the current status-quo, mental health policy and accountability falls to the Minister of Health. It is unreasonable to expect efficient and critical policy change to occur with a Minister who is responsible for all aspects of our health policy, both physical and mental. A separate Minister of MentalHealth needs to be established. They will work alongside the Ministry and Minister of Health to ensure a direct line of accountability and responsibility for mental health policies. This is crucial if our government wants to make good on their promises of protecting our nation's mental wellbeing. POLICY 2: INVEST IN THE WORKFORCE The Mental Health Matters Initiative demands the Government to invest in creating more pathways into mental health work, including apprenticeships with those of lived mental health experience or those passionate about the cause. The report, He Ara Oranga, accounts for the ever declining state of the mental health workforce. It mentions the lack of staff, burnout, and an inability to bring in enough new workers to match demand. In order to achieve a functioning mental health system, we need a healthy mental health workforce. The government needs to begin seriously investing in new initiatives which encourage members of communities to help those in their area. With appropriate training, we can begin to balance out the amount of demand, with the right amount of workers. This will contribute to an overall healthier workforce who is able to give better service and care to all who need it. POLICY 3: INVEST IN COMMUNITY BASED CARE The Mental Health Matters Initiative demands the Government to invest in community based mental health care programs and increase subsidies for private services. People are more likely to access care if it is located within a safe, familiar environment. Therefore, we demand the government to invest in community, local, mental health care services such as: local therapists/counsellors; care provided around community hubs (Churches, Marae, etc.); and Youth One Stop Shops. Investment would look like a significant increase in funding for community mental health care providers and 10 - 20 sessions with a local, private therapist/counsellor fully subsidised by the government. This will increase accessibility and support in places where people feel comfortable, strengthening our pathways to care. Subsidies have proven to be effective as long as the right provisions are in place to ensure that it is going to the people who need it most. For example, priority based on those with lower incomes, who are less likely to be able to afford private services. POLICY 4: REFORM THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM The Mental Health Matters Initiative demands the Government to reform the current Mental Health curriculum, so that our young people can develop a comprehensive and sensitive understanding of mental health. The way to break stigma is through education. We need to be teaching students; the signs that someone, or themselves, are struggling; how to get help (within processes specific to that community); and finally, what the process of getting help looks like. Discussions regarding mental wellbeing need to be happening at all levels through public education, as mental health affects all of us, regardless of age. Through improved education standards, we can expect our young people to develop a more sensitive understanding of mental health, which will contribute to a positive mental health space in Aotearoa and break stigma.