Press Release – Sir John Kirwan FoundationAUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – New Zealand Rugby is supporting Sir John Kirwan’s Mitey mental health education programme in 2026, with the All Blacks and Black Ferns helping raise awareness of the importance of positive mental wellbeing for young New Zealanders. Having experienced the pressures of performing on the world stage, the All Blacks and Black Ferns understand the value of developing strong mental skills and are proud to support Mitey’s work. Developed by the Sir John Kirwan Foundation, Mitey is New Zealand’s leading school-based mental health education programme. Ex-All Black Sir John Kirwan, is a long-time mental health advocate and founder of the Sir John Kirwan Foundation believes Mitey’s expansion into more schools and communities is one of the most important investments New Zealand can make. Developed alongside the University of Auckland and New Zealand educators, Mitey’s mental health education programme aligns with the New Zealand curriculum and is designed to embed mental health education into everyday learning as an ordinary subject, just like literacy and maths.