Thank you to the Committee Members and in particular Ms Denise Pieters and Annalee Odendall, our Committee secretaries, during the year.

The Committee continued to raise a number of important issues with respect to best practice and representation of mentally disordered clients at the various forensic, acute and community mental health units throughout the Auckland area. This is often challenging and difficult work that requires particular skills and dedication.

Thanks is once again due to all members of the roster for their availability to appear frequently at short notice and often difficult and challenging circumstances.

There have been a number of new appointments to the roster arising from existing members being appointed District Inspectors and other members confirming their priority to other work required their withdrawal from the roster. There is a waiting list for membership of the Mental Health Roster which has shown considerable movement in the past year.

Once again, there has been an interface with intellectually and mentally impaired person and the criminal justice system and the Committee continues to monitor the provision of proper legal advice to persons detained at mental health units or the Police Stations throughout the Auckland area.