Blog

The Foundation's Blog Page is dedicated to insightful articles, lived-experience stories, and expert commentary focused on the mental health of New Zealand police workers and their families. Explore topics including PTSD awareness, ACC claim navigation, legal rights advocacy, early intervention strategies, and systemic reform. This blog supports police whānau, in identifying and addressing trauma early, helping prevent suicide and drive national change.

Family Matters

Allister Rose's personal story and supporting others through crisis, trauma and PTSD.

Aug 4

New Zealand police mental health, officer distress, PTSD in police, frontline trauma, emotional wellbeing in law enforcement.

We’ve got to start talking about PTSD in the police service – because silence costs lives.

New Zealand Bravery Star recipient Allister Rose shares his powerful journey from frontline trauma to founding the Blue Hope Foundation, a charity dedicated to preventing suicide and supporting mentally injured police officers. This post highlights the urgent need for early intervention, systemic reform, and mental health advocacy within the police service.

Jul 23

A distressed New Zealand police officer in uniform stands on the doorstep of a suburban home, holding a printed redundancy notice. He rests one hand on his forehead in emotional pain, while a woman—presumably his wife—places a comforting hand on his arm. The officer’s uniform features the blue shirt, checkered hatband, and high-visibility vest typical of NZ Police. The background shows a grey front door and the edge of the home's exterior wall, emphasising the personal setting of the moment.

When the Employer Becomes the Gatekeeper: Structural Failures in Police Mental Health Care

What happens when the same organisation responsible for a police officer’s psychological injury also controls access to their care? This blog explores the hidden failures of New Zealand’s ACC Accredited Employer Programme (AEP) through the lens of a powerful new study, comparing systems in Australia and the UK—and calling for urgent, rights-based reform.

Jul 14

A silhouetted police officer stands solemnly in front of a chart on a white brick wall titled "Police Suicides." The graph shows a rising trend line, symbolising the increasing rate of suicide among police officers. police mental health awareness, suicide prevention in policing, PTSD, law enforcement wellness.

Why Are Police Suicide Rates in New Zealand So Low? A Closer Look at the Data Gap

New Zealand’s police suicide rate appears low, but is it accurate? This post explores how stigma, data gaps, and quiet resignations mask the true toll of psychological injury in our police service, and what must change.

Jul 14

A realistic action image of a New Zealand police officer crouched on a two-lane road deploying a Tyre Deflation Device (TDD) as a speeding vehicle approaches. The scene captures the physical danger and risk officers face during high-speed pursuits.

Police Wellness Requires Better Record-Keeping: Why Tracking Officer Injuries Matters

New Zealand police officers face serious risks during pursuits and TDD deployments—but are these incidents being tracked? The Blue Hope Foundation explores why the Police’s refusal to release injury data under the OIA raises critical concerns about officer wellness, record-keeping, and the systems meant to protect those who serve.

Jun 30

A male New Zealand police officer sits in uniform with his head in his hands, overwhelmed and distressed. Behind him, blurred icons and symbols represent confusion and lack of coordination between government agencies like ACC and WorkSafe NZ. The image reflects mental health struggles, PTSD in police, and systemic failures in trauma response.

PTSD in Policing: Know Your Rights, Take Control, and Start Recovery

PTSD is a serious and often misunderstood injury affecting many New Zealand police workers. On National PTSD Awareness Day, learn how to recognise the signs, understand your rights under the ACC Act and WorkSafe guidance, and why early action—like speaking with your GP—can be crucial for long-term recovery. Don’t wait for the system to catch up. Take control of your mental health today.

Jun 27

Bronze memorial plaque on the exterior wall of the Schindler Factory in Kraków, Poland. The plaque features text in Polish, English, and Hebrew, including the famous quote from the Talmud: “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.” It honours Oskar Schindler (1908–1974) and was erected by the Jewish Community Council of Cracow and Albion College (Michigan, USA).

Police Officer Left Homeless by PTSD: Police Wellness System Failure, Recruitment Risks, and the Life-Saving Power of Community

A New Zealand police officer was left homeless and suicidal after developing PTSD from a duty-related shoot-out—abandoned by the very wellness system meant to protect them. This powerful blog exposes the failure, the impact on police recruitment, and how The Foundation, in partnership with local iwi, is stepping in with life-saving support. One life saved is a world saved. Read the full story—and help us keep speaking the truth.

Jun 24

New Zealand Police PTSD Crisis: Why the Accredited Employer Programme Puts Profit Before Recovery

New Zealand police face the highest clinically confirmed PTSD burden among developed nations, yet suicide data remain hidden. The ACC...

Jun 21

Police Officer Left Homeless by PTSD: Police Wellness System Failure, Recruitment Risks, and the Life-Saving Power of Community

A duty-related shoot-out left a New Zealand police officer homeless and suicidal with PTSD. This blog exposes how the Police Wellness...

Jun 20

PTSD in Police in New Zealand: The Hidden Epidemic of Moral Injury

Published by The Blue Hope Foundation June 2025 PTSD in police in New Zealand is not just a mental health concern—it’s a structural...

Jun 7

Understanding the Unseen Struggles of PTSD Among New Zealand Police Personnel

The conversation about mental health has gained significant momentum in recent years, particularly for those in high-stress occupations....

Jun 7