12 Aug 2025

Failings found in Canterbury's mental health service after two women killed

From Checkpoint, 5:24 pm on 12 August 2025

Critical staff shortages, an unsafe work environment and failures of leadership are among the findings of a review into Canterbury's mental health service. Mental health director, Dr John Crawshaw, began his report after Hillmorton patient Zakariye Hussein murdered Laisa Waka Tu-ni-dau in 2022 as she walked home from work in Christchurch. In October last year - while the review was underway - another Hillmorton mental health patient, Elliott Cameron, murdered 83-year-old Faye Phelps at her home. Rachel Graham reports.