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Mental health and addiction reporting in New Zealand, explained.

A plain-English overview of funder reporting for New Zealand mental health and addiction services: who funds, what is collected and where PRIMHD fits.

A clinician and a data coordinator reviewing a form together in a New Zealand community mental health service

General information only. This guide is a plain-English overview, current as at November 2026. It is not legal, compliance or professional advice. Confirm your obligations with your funder and the current official documentation.

Where this applies: New Zealand, across all four Health NZ regions: Northern, Midland | Te Manawa Taki, Central | Te Ikaroa and South Island | Te Waipounamu. For Australian services, see the AODTS-NMDS guide.

Who funds and collects the data?

Most mental health and addiction services in New Zealand are funded by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, which replaced the 20 district health boards with one national organisation. Health NZ also runs PRIMHD, the national data collection.

The Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora sets policy and regulates the system. Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority, was disestablished on 30 June 2024, and Health NZ now manages funding for hauora Māori services.

The national collections

  • PRIMHD. The national collection of mental health and addiction service activity and outcomes data. Each month's data is due by the 20th of the following month. See the PRIMHD guide.
  • ADOM. The Alcohol and Drug Outcome Measure, used by community-based adult addiction services and reported through PRIMHD. See the ADOM guide.
  • Supplementary consumer records. Social outcome indicators covering wellness plans, accommodation, employment and education, collected by all mental health and addiction services.
  • HoNOS. A family of clinician-rated outcome measures collected by Health NZ specialist services. NGOs do not report HoNOS to PRIMHD.

The four Health NZ regions

Health NZ plans and commissions services through four regions. Your contract and reporting contacts sit in the region where you deliver services.

  • Northern. Northland, Waitematā, Auckland and Counties Manukau.
  • Midland | Te Manawa Taki. Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Tairāwhiti.
  • Central | Te Ikaroa. Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, MidCentral, Wairarapa, and Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley.
  • South Island | Te Waipounamu. Nelson Marlborough, Canterbury, South Canterbury, West Coast and Southern.

Other funders and what they ask for

Many providers hold contracts outside health as well. Each funder sets its own reporting in the contract or outcome agreement.

  • Disability Support Services. Now a business group in the Ministry of Social Development. Providers report under their outcome agreements and are subject to audit.
  • Oranga Tamariki. Uses Results Based Accountability reporting: how much was done, how well, and whether anyone is better off.
  • Ministry of Social Development. Funds specialist family violence and sexual violence services, which provide statistical and narrative reports.
  • ACC. The Sensitive Claims Service replaced the earlier ISSC contract on 1 December 2024.
  • Whānau Ora. Since 1 July 2025, providers work with four commissioning agencies: Rangitāmiro, Māhutonga, Te Tauraki and Tātou Collective.

Quality, privacy and identifiers

  • Ngā Paerewa. The Health and Disability Services Standard (NZS 8134:2021). Certified services, including residential mental health and addiction services, are audited against it.
  • Health Information Privacy Code 2020. Sets the rules for collecting, using and sharing health information, including telling people why it is collected and who receives it.
  • National Health Index (NHI). PRIMHD records are reported against the person's NHI number.

Where Mimaso fits

Mimaso has PRIMHD reporting built in for New Zealand providers. Your team records casework once, and the monthly PRIMHD return is produced from it, checked as it is entered and again before submission.

Book a walkthrough to see it with your own programs.

Frequently asked questions

Who collects mental health and addiction data in New Zealand?

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora runs PRIMHD, the national collection. The Ministry of Health sets policy and administers certification.

Do NGOs have to report to PRIMHD?

Hospitals and NGOs that receive government mental health and alcohol and other drug funding are contractually required to report. Check your contract for any exclusions.

Is ADOM reported separately?

No. ADOM collections are reported through PRIMHD.

Does Mimaso support New Zealand reporting?

Yes. PRIMHD reporting is built in for New Zealand providers. Book a walkthrough to see it with your own programs.

Sources

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora: PRIMHD data collection, PRIMHD File Specification and regional structure. Te Pou: ADOM and HoNOS guidance. Ministry of Health: Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Services Standard. Office of the Privacy Commissioner: Health Information Privacy Code 2020. Ministry of Social Development, Oranga Tamariki, ACC and Te Puni Kōkiri: provider information.

This guide is general information only and is not legal, compliance or professional advice. Reporting requirements change, so always check the current official documentation and your service agreement. Mimaso accepts no responsibility for any reliance placed on this guide.

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