What We Do

In Crisis

What We Do

We stand with New Zealand’s police whānau.

We connect you to the right help and protect your right to be well - at work, at home, and beyond.

How We Help

We’ve walked this path. We know the system, the delays, the dismissal, and the silence.

We’re here when you need a steady hand and straight answers.

Why It Matters

Police work changes you. The job takes a toll, but too often, mental injury is ignored or denied.

We make sure police workers - serving, retired, or medically sidelined - and their families feel seen, supported, and safe at every stage.

Need Urgent Help?

We are not a clinical or emergency service.

If someone is at immediate risk, call 111.

For 24/7 mental health support, call or text 1737 to talk with a trained counsellor.

You can also speak to your GP or local health provider.

Protecting Our Blue Whānau

Post-traumatic stress is a workplace injury. So is burnout, depression, and anxiety caused by traumatic exposure.

We help police workers navigate ACC and ensure fair treatment under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Accident Compensation Act.

We’re not here to treat you - we’re here to protect and support you.

We’re a registered charity providing early support, legal connections, and a pathway through the noise.

“I didn’t know where to turn—until I found support that actually understood the job.”
“The Foundation helped me stand my ground and rebuild with dignity.”
Former Senior Sergeant, New Zealand Police

Our Foundation in Human Rights
We align our work with the UN Convention on the

Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
That means we protect:

Your right to health and mental wellbeing
Your right to a fair, safe workplace
Your right to be heard, represented, and respected
Your right to live and recover free from discrimination

Our Mission

We exist to:

Connect injured police workers to ACC and legal support when needed
Strengthen safety practices inside the police service
Promote long-term mental wellbeing across all stages of a police career
Prevent suicide through early, effective support and intervention

The Ethics That Guide Us

We listen carefully and value every voice.

We act when others hesitate.

We believe effort is its own reward.

We treat everyone with dignity, always.

We act more than we speak.

We stay close to the community we serve.

This is our code. This is our work. This is the foundation.

Our Board

Michael Bush CNZM is the former Commissioner of New Zealand Police (2014–2020) and incoming Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police (commencing June 2025). A career officer who joined NZ Police in 1978, Mike served in key leadership roles, including as Liaison Officer during the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami—earning the MNZM and Special Service Medal. As Commissioner, he championed cultural reform through the “Prevention First” model and values of empathy and diversity.

Mike is proud of his association with the Blue Hope Foundation, where he supports the mental health of police workers. He referenced this work during his appointment process in Victoria and continues to assist the Foundation in high-level dialogue with New Zealand government officials, offering both business and operational insight. Since retiring, he has led leadership and crisis response consultancies, including an independent review of Auckland Council’s flood preparedness. In 2020, he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Allister Rose NZBS

Founder and Managing Director

After 15 years in the New Zealand Police and receiving the New Zealand Bravery Star, I founded the Blue Hope Foundation in memory of Ben O’Connor, a police dog handler who died by suicide in 2019. Following my own PTSD diagnosis, I committed to reforming the systems that fail injured police workers. As a national charity and Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO), we use the intersection of health and safety law, ACC law, and employment law to drive early intervention, legal advocacy, and trauma-informed care—ensuring mentally injured police personnel and their families are supported, protected, and empowered to recover and rebuild.

Donna Davis
Board Member

Donna Davis brings a wealth of experience from her distinguished career in the New Zealand Police and business leadership. As a former Police Detective and national Operations Manager, she led teams, enforced policy compliance, managed audits, and promoted culturally responsive practices. Her commercial acumen includes serving as Director of a mortgage company, where she provided financial guidance, built referral networks, and led client education. Donna is also the author of Not Fine, a compelling exploration of PTSD among frontline staff, strongly aligned with The Foundation’s mission. Outside her professional work, she finds joy in creative arts and cooking.

Colleen Upton ONZM
Chair & Treasurer, Blue Hope Foundation

Director, Hutt Gas and Plumbing
President, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)

Colleen Upton is a seasoned leader in New Zealand’s plumbing and gasfitting industry, with over 30 years as Director of Hutt Gas and Plumbing. Her governance experience spans several boards, including NZ Master Plumbers and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. In 2020, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to women, plumbing, and gasfitting.

Colleen's commitment to the Foundation is deeply personal. Her son is a serving police officer, and her brother served in various roles within the police service. She is dedicated to ensuring police personnel receive the support they need, recognising the unique challenges they face.

She believes that women—mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends—are often the first to notice when something is amiss. Colleen emphasises the importance of early intervention and the pivotal role families play in supporting the mental health of police workers.