Waihī community urgently requires funding and support to help reopen a new birthing space held in the heart of Waihī town. 

Waihi lifecare birthing centre as of yesterday recently shutdown, servicing families stretching from Waikato, Coromandel and Bay of plenty for over 80 years. 

Why is this important? 

These doors have held thousands and thousands of whānau/family members who have experienced and received free vital support via labour care, antenatal clinics, lactation consultants, birth education. In particular a safe space for our indigenous māori who are unable to return to their marae or home to birth. To ensure traditional birthing practices and our tikanga are preserved and upheld. Providing a home away from home. 

We are asking the Government to ensure that our communities receive funding from Te Whatu Ora so we can open a new space and continue to serve the local communities and many whānau/ families. 

Our Mamas and babies who are at low risk are now subjected to navigate birth through the hospital medical system with unnecessary medical interventions, or having to find a safe space of their own to birth.   
It is every women’s birthright to choose how they bring their uri/babies into this world. To have full sovereignty and bodily autonomy over their decisions. 

Evidence is clear that with the removal of this choice for women will do more damage than good. To travel so far to the nearest hospital imposes a risk for whānau/families to birth safely. Hospitals are already overloaded and receiving extra pressure alongside staff shortages, further reducing beds, and have a responsibility to provide safe care to the people of our smaller rural communities. 
Te whatu Ora you hold a responsibility for community safety. 

Our best chance is our collective voices. Please help us support this beautiful resource that has positively served the Waihī and extending rohe/areas for over 80 years.