Maternity services are set to return to Waipukurau for the first time since its birthing unit closed last year.
Until November the Hawkes Bay District Health Board provided three low-risk maternity beds at the Central Hawkes Bay Health Centre, but no babies have been born there since all three lead maternity carers at the centre resigned.
But the health board voted this week to reinstate the birthing service, allowing Maori midwifery service Choices-Kahungunu Health Services to use the unit for a year-long trial period.
Choices manager Jean Te Huia said only low-risk births would go ahead in Waipukurau.
Mrs Te Huia said she had approached the health board because she felt sorry that Central Hawkes Bay women had lost the option of giving birth in Waipukurau.
"Now they have a 12-month reprieve, and if they want to keep the unit going they have to support it - it's use it or lose it," she said.
About 50 women had to give birth at the unit each year to make the service viable, and although Choices targeted Maori women it was open to all.
Of the 26 women who had signed up so far, 19 were European.
Babies back in Waipukurau
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