Safety First: Police Pause Final Withdrawal from Mental Health Call-Outs

Police pause Phase 4 of their mental health response change program, citing safety concerns and the need for alternative agencies to conduct welfare checks.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 2, 2026, 4:39 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Scope of the Phase 4 Delay

Phase 4 was designed to be the most impactful stage of the policy, focusing on two high-stakes areas:

Emergency Department (ED) Handovers: Setting a strict 15-minute limit for police to hand over patients to hospital staff.

Welfare Checks: Changing how police respond to requests to check on the wellbeing of individuals in the community.

Superintendent Bronwyn Marshall noted that quantifying the data for ED handovers has proven complex. Meanwhile, healthcare advocates warn that without a clear alternative agency to perform welfare checks, individuals in high distress or those experiencing medical emergencies like overdoses could be left without timely intervention.

Growing Concerns for Staff and Patient Safety