Representing New Zealand’s Midwives
We provide and promote quality standards for New Zealand Midwives. Our role is a midwifery voice for midwives and women.
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Welcome
Welcome to the official site of the New Zealand College of Midwives, the professional organisation for midwives.
The College is governed by a National Board comprising a number of nominated and elected representatives from throughout New Zealand. Representatives include rural midwives, urban midwives, educators, students, consumers, Māori midwives and birthing women.
Latest News & Events
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Media Release: College of Midwives Supports Call To Change ACCs Position On Severe Perineal Injuries
31st March, 2021
“It’s causing unnecessary suffering for women.”
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That from the New Zealand College of Midwives which is strongly supporting calls for ACC to review its approach to cover for severe perineal injuries, saying the current position is too restrictive. -
Media Release: Future Māori and Pasifika Midwifery Workforce Receives $6m Boost
30th March, 2021
30 March 2021 Future Māori and Pasifika Midwifery Workforce Receives $6m Boost The launch of a joint project between Aotearoa’s midwifery education providers and the Ministry of Health signals the beginning of a new chapter…
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Embracing diversity – growing stronger together
We are excited to welcome you to Christchurch/Ōtautahi, for our 16th Biennial National Conference to be held at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. Please note change of dates, the Conference will now be held on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November 2021.
Click here for more informationOur services
As a member of the College you have the opportunity to contribute to all the representations the College makes to government, health organisations, consumer groups and the public.
The College encourages and values individual member input very highly. You can also take an active role in supporting your local and regional midwifery community including joining with consumers and their organisations to support initiatives that enhance the lives of mothers and babies.
The Find your Midwife website, created by the New Zealand College of Midwives to help women to find a midwife they can work with best.
The MMPO was established by the New Zealand College of Midwives in 1997 to provide its LMC (Lead Maternity Carer) midwives with a supportive practice management and quality practice system, enabling high quality continuity of care for women throughout New Zealand.
MERAS has been established as a dedicated and focused union for employed midwives with support from the New Zealand College of Midwives. A national District Health Board (DHB) midwifery collective employment agreement for employed midwives has been negotiated and is now in operation for MERAS members at DHB’s.
"So for me I really wanted to be that person that could offer a mama a hand to walk alongside them throughout their own pregnancy journey. Being a midwife will be my way of life." Rose Leauga
pmn.co.nz/articles/pasifika-midwifery-student-on-track-to-fulfill-life-long-dream-?fbclid=IwAR2w9...
Pasifika midwifery student on track to fulfill life-long dream | Pacific Media Network
"After having my third child the experience wasn't amazing, I knew I deserved better in terms of care," says Rose Leauga.2 weeks ago
Beautiful messages shared by Māori midwives Waimarie Onekawa and Camille Harris this morning on @Breakfast, reiterating the significance of the launch of Te Ara Ō Hine – Tapu Ora for Māori and Pasifika communities.
www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/my-m-ori-midwife-stars-want-rates-pasifika-match-birthing-pop...
My Māori Midwife stars want rates of Māori, Pasifika to match birthing populations
Camille Harris and Waimarie Onekawa say there are better outcomes for whanau who have midwives they can relate to.3 weeks ago
Since there is such a shortage of midwives countrywide, maybe the government should look at making the degree free or reduced rates so that more people can apply to study. Funds holds everyone back from doing something they dream of
Ngā mihi mahana ki a D’Angelo Martin, Te Ao Maori News, mō tēnei pūrongo e whakanui ana i Te Ara Ō Hine – Tapu Ora. Ko te wawata, he timatanga hou tēnei.
Thank you D’Angelo Martin for this report celebrating Te Ara Ō Hine – Tapu Ora. Our hope is that this marks a new beginning.
www.teaomaori.news/midwifery-education-providers-on-mission-boost-maori-pasifika-numbers
Midwifery education providers on mission to boost Māori, Pasifika numbers
The aim is to triple the number of Māori and quadruple the number of Pasifika undergraduate midwifery students year on year for the next five years.3 weeks ago
Whilst this seems like a great step forward the degree is still extremely expensive (if you add in living expenses whilst getting through the degree and inability to work part time due to the way it’s structured). I see this as being the biggest barrier for all students, but in particular Maori and Pacific. Are there more scholarships available to assist Maori and Pacific students? More financial support, that’s what’s needed. Wouldn’t a better option be an apprenticeship scheme type training?
It is so gratifying to see this support at last. I can remember the College and the Schools being on numerous MOH Health Workforce committees decade after decade arguing for this sort of educational support for Māori and Pacifica women/midwives. Why did it take so long?? Congrats to all for getting the government to finally come to the party.
One Liason person at each institute is not enough, surely contract holders can think of a better way to support our students. What about our rural students, who’s looking after them. Is $6 mill enough to recruit and retain? These are the very institutes that have failed our people, we just gave them 6 million, let’s hope they do better.
Don’t get me wrong I fully support this. But New Zealand has a midwife crisis. Some midwife can not even renew the certificate as the cost have gone up so much. We need to deal with that first
The government is funding a plan to boost the number of Māori and Pasifika midwives. Right now - about 10 percent of midwives identify as Māori, and three percent as Pasifika - that's well below the 25 percent of women giving birth identifying as Māori and 10 percent as Pasifika. The College of Midwives' president Nicole Pihema (Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa) speaks to Max Towle.
www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/middayreport/audio/2018789658/boost-for-maori-and-pasifika-midw...
3 weeks ago
We need more māori midwives, we have had a māori Midwife once out of our 5 children and she was basic af, she is spread to thin and didn't give the time we required. We saw her 3 times over the duration of the whole pregnancy including the birth. Tragic as, our non māori midwives were all amazing.
Destiny Luana
The system maintains oppression. The institution of health continues to be racist by default. This in turn allows for the maintenance of systemic harm & institutional racism towards Maaori & Pasifika. Why continue to set us and / or ourselves up for this bs? Governments globally are repeat offenders of lulling tangata whenua into funded schemes, programs etc where the outcomes for those grassroots remains the same ... are we really here so as to tick the boxes? Are we here to put a bug on your seat for another round of funding that literally makes zero long term productive impact for our people let alone all people. Not good enough.
This is exciting Hopefully midwifery schools, midwifery council and the govt will get on board and provide the necessary supports for tauira Maori to successfully pass the degree, the fact that many don’t is a huge issue “the powers that be” need to look at like for instance more financial support for students especially those leaving full time jobs to do tertiary study, cheaper childcare facilities or higher subsidies to enable mums to access childcare or homecare sevices, so they can continue tertiary level study oh and how bout offering shorter bridging programmes for nurses who would like to become midwives, just some thoughts 🤔
I know many Pasifika and maori wahine who would be fantastic midwives but the degree is too demanding/expensive. :-(
Study for many Māori and Pasifika is very complex and the demands and toll it can take. I feel the study options need to be safer for people of colour and respond better to the learning styles of people of colour. As a Māori student that tried to do nursing, it was a huge demand as I am a mother, plus constantly had my student allowance being cut off but that allowance was my oxygen not like many of my other colleagues whom were supported financially to be there.
Awesome news
any midwives not leaving is a bonus lol
Debbie O'Keefe
Nicole TeAroha pretty cool my mate
Associate Health Minister Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall launches Te Ara Ō Hine - Tapu Ora, a joint project between the MOH and midwifery education providers which will see $6m invested in the recruitment and retention of Māori & Pasifika students over the next four years
3 weeks ago
Wonderful news...great work everyone. Just listened to Nicole's interview on this on RNZ...so articulate and meaningful. Exciting to see progress at last!
Wonderful wonderful news. Look forward to seeing what this means in terms of financial assistance , and support pathways.
This is wonderful! I’d be interested to know if there are plans to support the wider student community midwife too. From talking to students, many feel unable to complete the course and the drop out rate is very worrying.
Amazing!!! Great news!!!
Wonderful news 👏🏼
Wonderful and long overdue.
Ataahua. Very welcomed ☺️
Fantastic!
Awesome.
Exciting news for Bekah Janette 🙌🏽
Amanda Douglas
“Ensuring equitable access to safe and inclusive perinatal care for all is an ongoing priority,” says midwifery adviser Claire MacDonald.
www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/pregnancy/300250546/not-all-pregnant-people-are-women-or-mot...
Not all pregnant people are women, or mothers
Aotearoa's 'heteronormative' healthcare system is failing members of our queer community.3 weeks ago
Check out episodes 3 and 4 - available now On Demand www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/my-maori-midwife
EPISODE 3: Te Manawa o Hine is Auckland DHB's team of Māori midwives caring for our whānau in Tāmaki Makaurau. With a mixture of experience and enthusiasm, this rōpū covers it all.
EPISODE 4: South Auckland LMC's Camille and Waimarie are working overtime despite the challenges and restrictions of COVID-19. With a student midwife alongside them, the pair continue to go above and beyond.
Watch My Māori Midwife | New Season | TVNZ OnDemand
The Māori midwives are back for another intimate, uplifting season. Follow the highs and lows of the extraordinary working lives of wāhine working a...3 weeks ago
The Gender Justice Collective are running a petition for the development of a National Women's Health and Wellbeing Strategy and Action Plan to understand and meet the needs of girls, women, wāhine, intersex, trans women and non-binary people. You can add your signature by clicking the link below.
www.genderjustice.nz/
3 weeks ago