As we approach the 2026 General Election, the New Zealand College of Midwives | Te Kāreti o ngā Kaiwhakawhānau ki Aotearoa has identified five key priorities for strengthening maternity care and improving outcomes for women, babies and whānau.
Midwives are central to maternity care across community, primary, rural and hospital settings. With the right investment and policy settings, there are significant opportunities to improve outcomes, address inequities and reduce pressure on the wider health system.
Our election priorities set out achievable solutions in five areas:
- Strengthening continuity of midwifery care to improve outcomes, reduce interventions and lower pressure and costs for the health system.
- Building a sustainable midwifery workforce to support safe, accessible maternity services across Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Preventing sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) to reduce preventable infant deaths, improve equity and make measurable progress towards the national SUDI target.
- Ensuring timely, equitable access to essential maternity ultrasound care, removing cost and location as barriers.
- Improving access to early maternal mental health support to improve outcomes and reduce the need for more complex and costly intervention.
The College has shared these priorities with key politicians across all political parties in the lead-up to the 2026 General Election, encouraging them to consider these solutions as they develop their health policy commitments.
These priorities provide a starting point for discussion and reflect areas where the College can contribute its expertise, experience and connection with the midwifery profession to help turn policy into better outcomes.
We look forward to discussing these priorities with political representatives and working constructively with the next Government to progress them.