Te Tiratū Iwi Māori Partnership Board has issued a strong warning that rangatahi Māori in rural Waikato are facing a mental health crisis. Whānau in Te Kūiti, Taumarunui, and Ōtorohanga describe rising distress, suicide risk, addictions, and growing pressures on takatāpui youth. Poverty, meth use, and intergenerational trauma are adding to the burden, while services remain under-resourced and stretched beyond their limits. Too often, schools and local providers are left to call Police or St John to manage crises, highlighting the urgent gaps in care.
The Board’s position is clear: rangatahi Māori mental health is in crisis and solutions must be local, kaupapa Māori, and whānau-led. Rangatahi thrive when connected to whakapapa, whenua, and culture, yet rural isolation and systemic inequities make this harder to achieve. Whānau are calling for urgent investment in early intervention, more rural specialists, continued maternity services, stronger emergency cover, food security initiatives, safe housing, and diverse recreation options that build belonging and resilience.
With nearly half the Māori population under 25, Te Tiratū warns that without urgent action Aotearoa risks deeper social and health crises for generations to come. The Board is urging government to meet its Te Tiriti obligations, increase rural funding, and back community-led solutions that reflect rangatahi strengths and aspirations. Protecting the wellbeing of Māori youth is no longer optional — it is a matter of urgency for whānau and the future of our rohe.