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Two-thirds of Māori births in the Bay of Plenty are “high risk”, prompting concern from local iwi about Whakatāne Hospital changing to a primary birthing service.
NZME reported in December Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora made the change because of a shortage of specialists. It took effect on January 15.
It meant low-risk births could still take place at Whakatāne Hospital with the assistance of midwives. A patient requiring intervention – such as an emergency caesarean – would have to go to Tauranga Hospital.
Health New Zealand says the safety of women/pregnant people and their babies remains its top priority as it recruits more senior medical officers to be based at Whakatāne Hospital.
About 650 babies are born at Whakatāne Hospital each year. It is the only hospital in the eastern Bay of Plenty, which has a population of about 55,000 and is slightly over 50% Māori, according to the 2023 Census.
Iwi board urges all expectant māmā to register with lead maternity carer
A Te Moana a Toi Iwi Māori Partnership Board (IMPB) press release said it understood two-thirds of Māori births in the region were “high risk” due to conditions such as hypertension, heart damage from rheumatic fever and predisposition to haemorrhage because of multiple previous births.
The change in maternity services at Whakatāne Hospital presented logistical challenges for whānau – those in remote coastal areas such as Te Whānau-ā-Apanui now faced a 400km round trip to access healthcare.
In 2022, 1264 Māori babies were born in the Bay of Plenty, accounting for 39.7% of births in the region.
However, only 64.5% of Māori mothers were enrolled with a lead maternity carer in their first trimester – the rest missed out on this “crucial intervention”.
It said many whānau Māori in the Bay lived in high-deprivation conditions, delayed seeking medical care due to cost and were three times more likely than non-Māori to lack access to a car.
“Critical decisions need to be made quickly, but we believe that by working supportively together, we can find practical solutions that improve healthcare for whānau Māori and the community at large,” Te Moana a Toi IMPB general manager Vincent Copeland said.
The Te Moana a Toi IMPB press release said it urged all expectant māmā to register with a lead maternity carer to plan their care and avoid unnecessary risks.
Te Moana a Toi Iwi Maori Partnership Board general manager Vincent Copeland. Photo / Supplied
Copeland and Te Moana a Toi IMPB co-chairman Hone Te Rire met with Te Whatu Ora senior officials and Te Manawa Taki deputy chief executive Cath Cronin on February 3, following public meetings on January 30 and 31 in Whakātane, Kawerau and Ōpōtiki.
The hui discussed “urgent challenges” in hauora service delivery that were adversely affecting Māori in the eastern Bay.
The IMPB – which represents 16 iwi from the rohe – emphasised the need for immediate, practical solutions alongside a long-term governance framework to ensure sustainable improvements.
Te Whatu Ora committed to working with iwi, hapū, whānau, the IMPB and local providers to resolve the challenges, the press release said.
Health NZ responds
Cronin said the help from the IMPB was “greatly valued and appreciated” as Health NZ worked towards re-establishing secondary birthing services at Whakatāne Hospital.
“It was agreed that together we will find practical solutions to benefit women/pregnant people and their whānau.”
Cronin said community input gathered at meetings in the eastern Bay would help guide its decision-making as it recruited additional senior medical officers for Whakatāne Hospital.
Interim arrangements remained in place as primary birthing services continued at Whakatāne Hospital and “more complex” services at Tauranga Hospital while recruitment continued.
Cronin said a dedicated 24/7 ambulance was available for transfers. Supports were in place to meet the travel, accommodation and food needs of women/pregnant people and their whānau who needed to travel to Tauranga.
Cronin encouraged pregnant people who were not enrolled with a midwife or lead maternity carer to do so by using the Find Your Midwife website or calling the Ko Matariki Maternity Unit on 0800 429 328, which was available 24/7.
Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.
