Opinion
One in every four women giving birth in New Zealand will undergo caesarean section surgery.
Nearly 15 per cent of mothers book the operation before they go into labour. It is a record district health boards are struggling to curb - and understand - as health budgets are stretched to accommodate the costly procedure.
It is estimated the cost to the taxpayer per caesarean section is $6000 - the fee charged to non-New Zealand citizens who elect to undergo the procedure in a New Zealand hospital.
Should caesarean births remain fully taxpayer-funded? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
