This is a pivotal time for the mental health and addiction nursing specialty, as the needs of our communities are increasingly recognised as central to shaping the future of care in Aotearoa New Zealand. Mental health and addiction nurses are uniquely positioned to lead meaningful change, ensuring that individuals and whānau experiencing mental distress receive compassionate, effective, and culturally responsive support. The whakataukī 'Ma te huruhuru ka rere te manu – Adorn the bird with feathers and it will soar' encapsulates our vision to prepare passionate mental health and addiction nurses for this transformation.

At the School of Nursing, mental health, addiction and (dis)ability are strong components in the pre-registration programme and in our suite of postgraduate courses. Alongside the Nurse Entry to Specialist Practice (NESP) Programme, our postgraduate courses provide progression into advanced practice pathways, including leadership, education, and advanced clinical roles such as nurse practitioner and prescribing. This continuity from pre-registration through to postgraduate courses supports the building of a nursing workforce that meets the needs of our communities.

We are a passionate team of experienced mental health and addiction nurses and researchers, and we value our colleagues with lived experience who teach alongside us. Our clinical, teaching and academic research underpin our commitment to empowering nurses to work in partnership with tāngata whaiora to foster their wellbeing and enable them to achieve their aspirations.

Our research and teaching provide a contemporary and broad perspective of mental distress and mental health and addiction nursing practice. Taking a person-centred approach to our teaching also prioritises the voices of the people we serve.

Our commitment to preparing and supporting mental health nurses is also centered on improving mental health outcomes for Māori, and grounded in mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge), honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Further, addressing the stigma and discrimination experienced by marginalised communities, as well as our principle of social justice, are embedded in our dynamic courses.
 

A passion for mental health and addiction nursing can take you on several pathways to help you to realise your nursing aspirations – clinical expertise, education, research and leadership. This specialisation in the School of Nursing focuses on entry to specialty practice (new graduates), clinical leadership in mental health and addiction advanced nursing, and extended scopes of practice: Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse Designated Prescriber roles.