WARNING: This article discusses suicide and may be upsetting to some readers.
An inquest into the deaths of six young Northland people who died by suicide is resulting in change, with dedicated crisis support being announced today.
In 2024, Coroner Tania Tetitaha investigated the cluster of six rangatahi, aged 12 to 16, who died between 2018 and 2020.
They were Hamuera Ellis‑Erihe, James Patira Murray, Summer Mills-Metcalfe, Martin Loeffen‑Romagnoli, Ataria Heta and Maaia Marshall.
Faced with bullying, loneliness, abuse and fractured relationships, each young person was identified as high risk but encountered fragmented services that left them without clear support.
Tetitaha recommended introducing a kaiārahi – a guide or mentor – for any youth identified as being at significant risk of self-harm or suicide, to ensure a single, co-ordinated care pathway.
When her recommendations were released in 2025, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora acknowledged the importance of collaboration but said it had no extra funding to create new roles or services.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey spoke against this response, saying mental health funding was available.
He made it clear he expected the coroner’s recommendations to be taken seriously, with funding to go where the needs were identified.
Today, Doocey travelled to Whangārei with Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad to announce a dedicated Youth Acute Respite Service, with three extra youth suicide prevention co-ordination roles.
These would ensure young Northlanders had access to better crisis response, following the “heartbreaking and damning” coroner’s report, he said.
“Every life lost to suicide is one too many. I feel deeply for the families, friends and loved ones who carry that grief.
“Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare, and I want to ensure everything possible is being done to prevent this,” Doocey said.
The minister said the $1.7 million yearly funding for the Northland service would come out of unallocated mental health and addiction funding.
The three new roles would help young people, not only by providing support themselves but also co-ordinating pathways to care, Doocey said.
A number of the suicides did not come from a lack of care but young people sadly falling through the cracks between multiple agencies, he said.
While privacy concerns were raised as a reason for agencies working in silos, Doocey said the rules allowed for information sharing when a person was at risk.
“The new dedicated Youth Acute Respite Service will provide an alternative to hospital admission, helping to de-escalate crises and offering support following inpatient care.
“It is intended to act as a ‘circuit breaker’ by supporting young people earlier and reducing the need for more intensive interventions,” he said.
Doocey said he “strongly disagreed” with Health NZ’s response to the coroner’s report, with the $1.7m a year investment now delivering what the coroner – and people on the ground – had been asking for.
The three new youth suicide prevention co-ordination roles would strengthen prevention in the northern region and boost the frontline workforce, Doocey said.
“These roles will help guide young people to the right support at the right time.
“Every New Zealander, no matter where they live, must have access to mental health support. This is non-negotiable, and this investment helps ensure that is happening.”
Doocey said the coalition Government had significantly increased mental health funding in each Budget, with the expectation it would go to areas most in need.
In her report, Coroner Tetitaha said it was a privilege to learn about the lives of the six rangatahi from their bereaved family.
The six young people were:
The coroner’s investigation was named Roimata Aroha mō te Whakamomori Taitamariki, reflecting the sadness of the loss of young lives and the continuing love of grieving whānau.
Where to get help:
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.