The Mental Health Foundation says they're not surprised to see a number of flaws highlighted in Canterbury's mental health services

A review began after a Hillmorton Hospital patient on leave murdered a woman on a street in 2022 -- and during the review, another patient murdered his employer.

Health New Zealand has apologised, after the review revealed significant failings contributed to the murders.

Chief executive Shaun Robinson says after decades of issues we need to build the system from scratch.

He says these kinds of tragedies shine a spotlight on the worst impacts of not having adequate mental health responses.