What 12,000 AI conversations reveal about mental health support in New Zealand

New Zealanders are already using AI for mental health support.
They deserve AI built for it.

12,000+

Safe AI conversations

Zero

Unsafe responses in normal use

8.5/10

AI Health Coach helpfulness

32%

Lift in self-efficacy

8/10

Confidence in action plans

24/7

Free, private, on-demand

The system is under pressure

New Zealand's mental health system is doing its best under real pressure. Demand is rising, wait times are long, and cost and geography shut people out every day. Most people with mild-to-moderate concerns don't get support until those concerns have already escalated.

In that gap, people are turning to whatever is available, often general-purpose AI chatbots built for productivity, not wellbeing. No clinical oversight. No escalation pathways. No understanding of the New Zealand context.

Ask Groov was built for that gap. A free, 24/7 AI-powered wellbeing guide built specifically for Aotearoa. Evidence-based, clinically validated, and formally endorsed by Health New Zealand and NAIAEAG. The first adult wellbeing AI in Aotearoa to meet that standard. No waitlist. No referral. No cost.

What kiwis are actually asking for help with

This is what people ask about when support is free, private, and available at any hour. Not crisis - people trying to get ahead of it. The everyday concerns that fall between GP appointments and crisis lines.

01

Sleep issues

02

Stress management

03

Focus & concentration

04

Self-improvement

05

Depression & low mood

Sleep and stress together account for 46% of all conversations.

We didn't set out to build an AI health coach. Our users built it for us.

Many people using Ask Groov weren't just asking questions. They were working something through: returning, refining, going deeper. Our clinical team had a name for that: health coaching. So we built what was already happening.

AI Health Coach creates personalised health action plans built around what someone is actually dealing with, what fits their life, and what they're ready to do. Not templates. Not generic advice. In its first two months, AI Health Coach generated 4,455 AI conversations and helped users create personalised action plans, from managing stress and improving sleep to booking GP appointments and reconnecting with friends and family.

Interestingly, movement and exercise emerged as the most common action plan category, despite rarely being the issue people initially raise.

32% lift in self-efficacy after one conversation.

The single most meaningful data point from AI Health Coach: users report an average 32% increase in their confidence and capability to manage their health and wellbeing after a single session. When asked how confident they felt about following through on their action plan, users rated themselves 8 out of 10 on average. They rate the feature 8.5 out of 10 for helpfulness.

From awareness to action

Ask Groov showed us that people want trusted answers. What AI Health Coach has shown us is that they also want help turning those answers into meaningful change. The most powerful part isn't the advice itself. It's helping people identify practical next steps, commit to them, and build momentum. That's where lasting improvements happen.

As demand for accessible mental wellbeing support continues to grow, the combination of trusted guidance and personalised coaching represents an important next step in preventative mental health care in Aotearoa.

What this looks like in practise

Always-on access

Free. 24/7. No waitlist, no referral. Support at the moment people need it.

Used by clinicians

GPs are already sharing Ask Groov with patients as trusted support between sessions.

Stepped care

When needs exceed what AI can safely provide, people are escalated to human services.

Built for Aotearoa

Te Whare Tapa Wha and Fonofale frameworks. Culturally informed.

Safety isn't a claim. It's infrastructure.

AI opportunities and risks are evolving rapidly across all industries, and health is no exception. Trust is foundational to technology adoption, which is why Groov maintains a strong focus on clinical, privacy, and AI safety.

Recently, Groov concluded three independent third-party reviews: security penetration testing, a Privacy Impact Assessment, and an ISO 27001 audit. All returned no high-risk findings.

Independent testing by security consultants, academics, and researchers is common for platforms operating in new technology spaces. A recent unsolicited review identified some gaps, which have since been closed. No user data was exposed and no users were affected at any point.

Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Ask Groov was designed specifically for wellbeing. Responses are drawn from approved clinical content, with safeguards that direct users to services such as 1737 when additional support is needed.

NAIAEAG endorsed

The first adult wellbeing AI in Aotearoa formally endorsed by Health New Zealand's National AI and Algorithm Expert Advisory Group.

Clinically validated

Ring-fenced content with clinical oversight. Escalation pathways including 1737. Continuous monitoring and bias testing.

Genuinely private

Ask Groov cannot access user profile data. It only uses what you share in conversation.

"It is not about replacing human care, but about making preventive support accessible far earlier."

Dr David Codyre, Lead Clinical Advisor & Board Member, Groov