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Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill (Consistent) [2023] NZBORARp 49 (6 September 2023)

Last Updated: 30 September 2023

6 September 2023

LEGAL ADVICE

LPA 01 01 24

Hon David Parker, Attorney-General

Consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990: Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill

1. We have considered whether the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill (the Bill), a member’s Bill in the name of Matt Doocey MP, is consistent with the rights and freedoms affirmed in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 (the Bill of Rights Act).
2. The Bill amends the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 (the principal Act) to enable long-term planning and delivery to improve mental health and addiction outcomes. The Bill does this by amending the principal Act to require the Minister of Health to:
   1. consult with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission in the preparation of strategic documents, including Health Strategies, the New Zealand Health Plan, and the Government Policy Statement; and
   2. prepare and determine a Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
3. We do not consider that the Bill engages any of the rights and freedoms affirmed. We have therefore concluded that the Bill appears to be consistent with the rights and freedoms affirmed in the Bill of Rights Act.
   

Jeff Orr

Chief Legal Counsel Office of Legal Counsel