New Mental Health Support in Hawke's Bay

A new Crisis Recovery Café, Te Wāhi Poutoko Hūmārie, is opening in Hawke's Bay to provide a calm, peer-led place for people in need of mental health and addiction support. The café will operate from 6pm to 10pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, with hours to be reviewed after four weeks. Peer support will also be available in the Emergency Department by the end of 2026. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says this is part of the government's effort to deliver faster access to support and a better crisis response. The café will be led by Connect Community Trust alongside local mental health and addiction providers, building on their existing work. This includes supporting around 60 to 70 people every day with complex needs.