Mitey: The Inception, the Development, the Implementation, the Evaluation

Mitey is the first whole-school mental health education approach in Aotearoa New Zealand to be shaped by peer-reviewed research and underpinned by a bicultural framework. The approach draws on Māori concepts of mental wellness—framed through dimensions of mana—and weaves these with Western perspectives that align with the national curriculum. This paper presents findings from an evaluation of Mitey after four years of implementation. In response to Aotearoa New Zealand’s youth mental health crisis—marked by one of the world’s highest adolescent suicide rates—the Sir John Kirwan Foundation and Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland co-created a whole-school approach for students aged five to thirteen. The design includes a developmental learning progression that reflects cognitive and emotional stages, while also responding to the needs of diverse school communities. Evaluation findings highlight Mitey’s contribution to whole-school engagement, increased teacher confidence and competence, and enhanced student learning in mental health education. As Mitey continues to expand across Aotearoa New Zealand, further opportunities will arise to evaluate the model’s resilience and long-term impact within an evolving educational context.