On September 9 2025, at an online get-together for FASD Awareness Day hosted by FASD-CAN, Minister Matt Doocey launched the 2025-2028 FASD Action Plan. 

Nearly ten years ago, in August 2016, the FASD Action Plan 2016-2019 was published after a lengthy consultation process with multiple agencies. 

It was a beacon of hope for all those affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder at the time, but sadly its ambitions were not fulfilled. FASD-CAN and its members had input into the Plan at every step of the way but later had cause to advocate strongly that very little was being followed through.

We provided a submission on the progress report published in April 2021, highlighting areas of grave concern such as the incomplete actions, lack of clarity on timelines for completing this work, transparency of work done, and disregard of Te Tiriti principles.

Fast forward to April 2024, at the launch of the Aotearoa Diagnostic Guidelines, then-Health Minister Shane Reti announced a revitalisation of the FASD Action Plan, with a raft of initiatives including a commitment to train 30 more health professionals in the use of the new Guidelines, a pilot support programme for whānau and caregivers, a national campaign to raise awareness and a prevalence study. 

There has been some progress on these initiatives but with the incoming Health Minister, Simeon Brown, most of this has progress slowed. FASD-CAN takes every opportunity to initiate meetings with MPs to discuss this issue.

FASD is now part of the Mental Health portfolio under Minister Matt Doocey. 

The FASD Action Plan 2025-2028 can be read here.

The FASD Action Plan 2016-2019 can be read here.