Māori / Kaupapa Māori Mental Health & Wellbeing Support — NZ
Explore culturally grounded wellbeing, whānau support, community connections and ways to find the care that feels right for you.
What is kaupapa Māori wellbeing?
Wellbeing can involve more than symptoms or appointments. Kaupapa Māori approaches may centre whakapapa, whānau, tikanga, belonging, connection to whenua and culturally safe relationships, while respecting each person’s preferences.
Te Whare Tapa Whā, developed by Tā Mason Durie, considers four interconnected dimensions of health: taha hinengaro (mental/emotional), taha tinana (physical), taha whānau (family/social), and taha wairua (spiritual).
Read the official explanation ↗
Find a support pathway
Filter the guidance cards by what you need, who you are looking for, or a word such as counselling, rangatahi or whānau. This finder searches guidance on this page, not live service listings.
Showing all pathways.
Kaupapa Māori mental health services
Ask about local Māori health providers, kaupapa Māori counselling, primary mental health support, referral routes and costs.
Start with Health NZ guidance ↗Whānau and carers
Explore practical support for families, supporters and carers; ask whether whānau can be involved in appointments and planning.
Community and family pathways →Tamariki and rangatahi
Explore youth-aware support through schools, whānau, primary healthcare and local youth mental health services.
Youth support starting points ↗Kaumātua
Look for respectful, age-appropriate wellbeing, community and health support that welcomes whānau involvement.
Explore service types →Support groups and belonging
Explore peer and community connections. Check group leadership, privacy, accessibility and whether the group offers support rather than treatment.
Browse community guidance →Local, rural and online support
Ask whether services cover your region, offer video or telephone appointments, transport help, language support or accessible communication.
Explore support navigation →No matching guidance cards. Try clearing your search or changing the filters.
Support by age, whānau and role
Choose a starting point for yourself or someone you support. These links lead to existing Aspie Answers audience resources; a dedicated kaupapa Māori provider or programme should be confirmed directly before visiting.
Children, teenagers and young people
Age-aware wellbeing, school and family support, communication preferences and pathways for seeking help.
Explore young people's pathways →Parents, families and carers
Support for people helping a child, rangatahi, adult or kaumātua, including conversations, services and practical resources.
Explore family and community support →Older people and elders
Find routes to age-aware wellbeing, accessibility, community connection and whānau-supported care.
Browse older-adult support pathways →Adults and working-age people
Understand wellbeing support, appointments, workplace challenges and community care.
Open mental health and wellbeing →Teachers and school support staff
Inclusive learning and ways to help students find age-appropriate support without assuming a teacher is a clinician.
Explore educator learning routes →Support workers and professionals
Support for people helping others, including accessibility, respectful practice and community connection.
Browse support roles →More Māori wellbeing pathways
Support can involve specialist services, community relationships, accessibility, different mental health topics or urgent help. Use these current navigation routes while choosing the provider and kaupapa Māori approach that fits you.
Counselling, psychology and assessments
Explore types of mental health assessment, counselling and clinical support. Ask about kaupapa Māori-led or culturally safe options.
Explore mental health services →Māori community and peer support
Community, cultural connection, peer groups and belonging can sit alongside formal mental health treatment.
Explore community support →Topics and mental wellbeing
Look for help with anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, stress or other experiences; choose culturally safe services where possible.
Explore wellbeing topics →Accessible and online support
Ask about communication preferences, disability access, te reo Māori, telehealth, travel and rural coverage.
Find support navigation →Neurodivergent and disability inclusion
Explore additional support needs and request sensory, language or communication adjustments where helpful.
Explore inclusive pathways →Urgent or crisis support in NZ
Use verified regional crisis routes; for immediate danger call 111. General wellbeing guidance does not replace emergency care.
Open NZ crisis directory →Access, choice and cultural safety
Questions to ask
Is the service kaupapa Māori-led? Is the practitioner culturally responsive? Can I bring whānau? Are fees, referrals and waiting times clear?
Communication matters
Ask about te reo Māori, interpreters, written information, sensory adjustments, wheelchair access and online or telephone options.
Different needs, shared dignity
Support may also need to be neurodivergent-affirming, disability-accessible, Rainbow-affirming, trauma-aware or suitable for ongoing health conditions.
Related Aspie Answers pathways
General mental health services
Understanding counselling, therapy, service options and finding help.
Explore services →Community & support groups
Explore the existing community finder and worldwide interactive map.
Community hub →NZ crisis and regional help
Urgent and regional NZ crisis support belongs in its own service pathway.
NZ crisis directory →Support Directories Hub
Continue browsing your existing global directory and support navigation.
Support Directories Hub →Services & Support Hub
Explore existing service finding tools and maps without duplicating them here.
Services hub →Explore help by audience
Browse age, family, support-role and accessibility pathways, including tamariki, rangatahi, whānau, carers and teachers.
Find audience pathways →Frequently asked questions
Is this an emergency or crisis support page?
No. This is a general information and navigation page. For immediate danger call 111; for emotional support call or text 1737. Use the NZ crisis directory for urgent regional pathways.
Do I need a referral for mental health support?
It depends on the service. Some community and primary mental health support is available without a specialist referral; check current eligibility and regional availability with the provider.
Can I ask for kaupapa Māori support and whānau involvement?
Yes, you can ask what culturally grounded options and whānau involvement a provider offers, and discuss what feels right for you.
How do I find support for a particular age group or role?
Use the audience links in the section above for children, rangatahi, adults, kaumātua, whānau, carers, teachers and professionals. For urgent distress, use the separate NZ crisis-support directory.