Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi is concerned for māmā across Te Moana ā Toi following changes to Whakatāne Hospital’s maternity ward.
In January, Health New Zealand reclassified Whakatāne Hospital as a primary birthing service, meaning that if māmā require intervention—such as an emergency caesarean—they must be transferred to Tauranga Hospital.
Waititi, who lives in the rohe and has experienced home births, says these changes will put the lives of pēpī and māmā at risk.
“The three-hour journey for any māmā who is going through labour. And I’ve spoken to many māmās who are saying this is going to be catastrophic for our particular communities. We’re talking about the communities up at Rutāhuna and Ruatoki, in Ōpōtiki right down into Te Whānau ā Apanui. It’s an indictment on our health system, and this is why we wanted to create a Māori Health Authority, to do better and to be better for those who have for a long time been ignored by the health system and Māori are quite often at the bottom of the list,” says Waititi.
Health New Zealand says the safety of pregnant women and their babies remains its top priority, as they work to recruit more senior medical officers for Whakatāne Hospital.
