Controversial Charity Gumboot Friday Secures Continued Government Funding Through 2026

The controversial mental health charity Gumboot Friday has been granted another year of government funding, with support extending through to 2026. This comes as part of a broader initiative to improve mental health services for young New Zealanders, particularly in addressing long wait times for counseling and support.

Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey expressed strong support for the program, stating that it has been instrumental in helping thousands of young people access mental health support more quickly. "New Zealand is turning the corner with reducing wait times and increasing the workforce," he said. "There are not many organizations that can get our young people off waitlists into counseling often within just a few days."

Under the new funding agreement, Gumboot Friday will deliver 40,000 individual counseling sessions over the next fiscal year, potentially reaching up to 15,000 young New Zealanders. The organization is also expected to explore ways to scale its operations and encourage even more young people to take advantage of free counseling services.

The government had previously committed $24 million over four years to support the initiative, despite criticism from the Labour Party, which had called for a pause in funding due to controversial comments made by the charity’s founder, Mike King. King had once claimed, "Alcohol is not a problem for people with mental health issues. It's actually the solution to our problem, until you come up with a better solution." This statement was widely criticized by health professionals, including the Drug Foundation, which argued that alcohol is "really unhelpful during times of mental distress."

Despite these controversies, Minister Doocey has defended King’s right to express his views on alcohol and mental health, stating that he would not ask the advocate to rein in his comments. "While I disagree with King, he is entitled to his opinion," Doocey said.

According to the Minister, in the first 12 months of government funding, Gumboot Friday had already delivered more than 30,000 free counseling sessions, supporting over 10,000 young New Zealanders who might otherwise have faced long delays in accessing mental health support.

The organization, however, has faced scrutiny in the past. Last October, the auditor-general criticized the government’s process for allocating the $24 million to King’s initiative, calling it "unusual and inconsistent." This followed difficulties in ensuring the contract was compliant with public procurement rules, which ultimately led to the use of a special 'opt-out' clause.

Despite these challenges, the government remains committed to the initiative, highlighting its role in improving mental health outcomes for young people. As the program moves forward, it will be closely watched to see whether it can continue to deliver on its promises while navigating the ongoing controversies surrounding its leadership and funding.