- Hon Matt Doocey
Those in need of mental health or addiction support will have another place to go with a new Crisis Recovery Café officially opening today in Lower Hutt, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says.
"The new Café, Te Kāhua Ora, will provide a safe, welcoming place where people can talk to someone who understands what they are going through and get the support they need," Mr Doocey says.
"We know a busy ED is not always the best environment for someone experiencing mental distress. The new café will give people another place to go, without needing a referral, where they can access support from people with their own lived experience, including advocacy and help connecting with other services if needed."
"That's why we are rolling out Crisis Recovery Cafés across the country, giving people more options to get support closer to home.
"There is real power in having someone in the room who has their own lived experience and understands what it is like, and the rollout of more peer-led support like this has proved to be a real gamechanger for people.
"Each community is different, which is why I have always said some of the best solutions already exist within our grassroots organisations, they just need to be backed.
"Te Paepae Ārahi Trust has more than 30 years' experience supporting people across the Hutt Valley and wider Wellington region and will work alongside Kites Trust to deliver the new café.
"Kites Trust already delivers the peer support service in Wellington Hospital's emergency department, helping support people who do need to present to an ED.
"Together, these organisations bring valuable lived experience and local knowledge to help ensure people in Lower Hutt can access the support that works for them."
The café will open on Friday 30 October and will initially operate from 3pm to 9pm, Wednesday to Saturday. Opening hours will get reviewed to ensure they are meeting community needs.
"Peer support specialists will also be introduced in Hutt Hospital's emergency department, with the service expected to be operating by early 2027.
"We are continuing to build a better future by delivering faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response."
