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by Sir John Kirwan. Founder of Mitey - Sir John Kirwan Foundation

When I was playing rugby for the All Blacks, people thought I had everything figured out. But behind closed doors, I was fighting a silent battle with depression. Opening up about my own mental health was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it taught me a crucial lesson: asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Today, as I look across Aotearoa, I see our young people fighting battles of their own. New Zealand currently holds the second highest youth suicide rate in the OECD, with one in five young Kiwis meeting the threshold for high psychological distress. From social media pressure and family financial stress to academic strain, bullying, and isolation, our kids are navigating a perfect storm - and too many are reaching crisis point.

Historically, our national approach to mental health has focused on reactive crisis care - we have needed the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. But what if we gave our children the tools to avoid falling off the cliff altogether? We teach our kids how to stay safe on the road, in the water, and online, yet we rarely teach them how to navigate their emotional health.

This is where the Mitey program comes in. Designed alongside educators from the University of Auckland, psychologists and schools, we could see the long-term benefit in an evidence-based, school-wide approach to mental health education for primary and intermediate tamariki (Years 1–8).

Whether through reading, art, or story writing, children build age-appropriate mental health capabilities, learning how to express and manage their emotions and wellbeing and to seek help, long before reaching high school.

Since 2021, Mitey has grown into 342 schools across New Zealand, equipping over 100,000 children with essential capabilities. However, 236 schools remain on our waitlist - including many right here in Central Otago and Southland.

To meet this demand, we have launched our ‘Drive for Five’ campaign, aiming to raise $5 million to scale Mitey to every school in need. We don’t want the money to come from one source, we want all of New Zealand to get behind Mitey. Just five dollars from one million New Zealanders has the power to spark a lasting generational shift in youth mental health. It’s hard not to get excited about that.

Ending this crisis is not a solo sprint; it is the ultimate team effort. Supported by our partners I am taking Mitey on the road around New Zealand. I invite the Queenstown community to join our team, get behind our tamariki, and help us ensure every child has the support they need to thrive.

Thank you, Queenstown, for welcoming me into your community. By just knowing about the Mitey program you are helping. By supporting the Drive for Five campaign you are helping all the young Kiwis avoid the cliff.

Visit www.miteydriveforfive.co.nz to find out more.