Information about the mental health of our tamariki and rangatahi is inadequate and in desperate need of an update

A new Auditor-General report paints a picture of despair - with vast numbers of youths in distress unable to access services.

Performance Audit Manager Jason Hewett says we need government agencies to work together and collect more data.

He says the last substantial mental health survey we had was based on 2004 data - and it excluded under-16 year olds.

Hewett says it's difficult to know what young people's mental health needs are, if they're changing or getting worse - and we need to know these things to target funding.