Groov, Sir John Kirwan and Health NZ launch first-of-its-kind AI-powered mental health support for Kiwis
(Auckland, New Zealand) — Technology and mental health innovator Groov is launching New Zealand’s first Government-endorsed AI-powered wellbeing guide for adults, a brand-new feature available free through its Health New Zealand funded wellbeing app. Backed by mental health advocate Sir John Kirwan and built using years of expert-developed content, Ask Groov provides safe, evidence-based support 24/7 for mild-to-moderate mental health needs, helping Kiwis take small steps to manage their stress, sleep, money worries and relationships.
Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey believes access to mental health support should never be a barrier and said “with Ask Groov, faster access to support is available 24/7, when and where people need it, allowing us to get in early and prevent problems from escalating.”
Groov was co-founded by Sir John Kirwan and serial entrepreneur Adam Clark in 2018. The tool quickly expanded into a nationwide platform that makes digital resources and clinical expertise readily available online. Partnering with Health New Zealand has allowed Groov to scale its impact and bring preventative wellbeing support to the public at large.
Sir John Kirwan said “I’ve always believed that small steps every day can make a big difference to our mental health. Ask Groov takes that further, it gives people a safe place to ask their own questions, in their own words, and get trusted answers backed by science. Lots of us turn to Google or ChatGPT, but the difference here is that Ask Groov is designed for Kiwis, with content that’s proven, reliable, and focused on wellbeing. This is the kind of tool I wish I had when I was struggling.”
Since inception, the Groov app has been downloaded over 200,000 times - a milestone that reflects both demand for accessible wellbeing support and the opportunity to evolve how people use the platform.
How Ask Groov works
Ask Groov is a support tool that allows users to ask questions about their mental health, 24/7, and receive guidance based on years of wellbeing advice and curated content. The tool has been deliberately designed with safety at its core. Unlike generic chatbots, Ask Groov uses advanced AI techniques to ensure advice always comes from information developed or approved by Groov’s clinical experts.
This ensures guidance given is always safe, relevant and practical. If a user needs more support, the tool automatically escalates them to human services such as 1737.
The tool has also undergone review by Health New Zealand’s Artificial Intelligence and Algorithm Expert Advisory Group (NAIAEAG), making it the first wellbeing AI tool of its kind for adults in the country to achieve this level of oversight.
Dr David Codyre, Groov’s Lead Clinical Advisor, explains that “Ask Groov has been developed with the same evidence base that underpins all Groov content. It’s not about replacing human care, but about making preventative support accessible far earlier. With ring-fenced data and tested safeguards, we can be confident the advice given is safe.”
Why it matters
New Zealand’s mental health services face unprecedented demand. Ask Groov provides safe, preventative support that anyone can access instantly, helping reduce pressure on frontline services. It also reflects the Government’s focus on prevention and early intervention, complementing its targets to widen access, shorten emergency department stays, grow the workforce and improve effectiveness across the mental health system.
Minister Doocey adds: “This is exactly the kind of innovation we need - smart technology that widens access, works within strong safe guardrails and supports people before their challenges become crises.”
Looking ahead
The broader challenge is that mental health doesn’t stop at home; it follows people into their workplaces, where stress, burnout and disengagement can have a big impact on both individuals and their organisations. “Alongside the public launch of Ask Groov, we’re continuing to support workplaces across New Zealand. Our platform moves beyond surveys and anecdotes that often surface issues too late. With real-time insights into wellbeing, psychosocial risk, engagement and organisational networks, Groov helps leaders act early and build cultures and teams that are safer, higher performing and more resilient,” comments Groov CEO Matt Krogstad
“Launching Ask Groov during Mental Health Awareness Week is deliberate. This week is about sparking national conversations, but the real impact happens when our mental health becomes an everyday focus - not just something we think about in a crisis. Our goal is to drive uptake across the country so that every New Zealander has safe, trusted support in their pocket, every single day,” concludes Krogstad.
