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.

Uniformed NZ police officer sitting at desk with head in hands, reflecting stress and police mental injury cover needs

Police mental injury cover is being throttled — and injured NZ police workers are paying for a provider employment dispute

Police mental injury cover is supposed to protect injured NZ police workers, not silence the supports that keep recovery safe. In the same integrity climate exposed by the McSkimming saga, the police ACC provider has imposed a blanket advocacy restriction with no lawful basis — a move that risks delay, isolation, and destabilisation for PTSD claimants. This post cuts through the spin, names the governance failure, and sets out what the Foundation is doing to force a safe, ACC

Nov 30

Copy of Public funds, police PTSD, and a silence campaign

This is the fourth time the Police ACC provider has tried to silence us. Let’s call this what it is. These are public funds. Public levies. Public responsibility. Yet a big business holding big contracts and handling big money keeps reaching for legalistic letters whenever we challenge shortcuts in mental injury rehabilitation. We challenge them because we see what happens when cost containment is dressed up as “process”. We see the rushed assessments, the opaque decisions, t

Nov 23

Senior Constable Dale Kahaki, respected Waikato police officer who posthumously won his employment case after developing PTSD in service

Too Late for Dale, but Justice Finally Showed Up

A veteran Waikato police officer, Senior Constable Dale Kahaki, has posthumously won his fight for justice against NZ Police after developing PTSD in the line of duty. His story exposes deep flaws in how mentally injured officers are treated — and calls for urgent reform across the police wellbeing system.

Nov 7

Police family standing together in support, symbolising the role of spouses and children in recognising PTSD and the support provided by the Blue Hope Foundation.

Why We Ride for Hope

Behind every police uniform is a family that sees the hidden struggles first. This is the story of one spouse who recognised the signs of PTSD and reached out for help—why we ride for hope, and why your support matters

Sep 21

New Zealand police officer in uniform sitting with head in hands showing stress, while another officer looks on, highlighting the impact of PTSD and inadequate oversight on police families.

When Oversight Fails: Why the HDC Is Letting Down Police Families

Police families are being failed by weak oversight. When PTSD support is blocked by red tape, lives are put at risk. Here’s why the HDC must do better.

Sep 20

Family Matters

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

Aug 4

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