95bFM A ‘safe haven’ for local whanau: Ngā Hau Māngere Birthing Centre faces closure
31 July, 2023
Interview by Caedan Tipler, adapted by Ashley-Rose Redstone
Previous patient Rebecca Kingi is campaigning to keep South Auckland’s Ngā Hau Māngere Birthing Centre open after losing private funding. Image: Ngā Hau Māngere Birthing Centre.
A South Auckland birthing facility, the Ngā Hau Māngere Birthing Centre, is facing closure.
This is despite a $74 million targeted funding boost to support Māori and Pasifika health providers in delivering child and maternity services.
Ngā Hau is one of four primary birthing centres in South Auckland, with most of their patients being Māori and/or Pasifika. Since it opened in 2019, the centre has supported the birth of over 800 babies.
New mother and patient of Ngā Hau, Rebecca Kingi, told 95bFM’s The Wire that Ngā Hau is an essential service that creates a close, safe environment for local whānau during pregnancy, birth, and post-natal care. Ngā Hau allows patients to stay up to three nights after birth and provides spacious rooms, an ensuite, and a birthing pool.
“It has just been a really safe haven for many women and many babies.”
Kingi highlighted that the centre also bridges a gap for parents who live close to Middlemore, who would otherwise need to travel up to 20 kilometres to reach another primary birthing centre.
“There was a huge need in our local area for a Birthing Unit, but not just any birthing unit, a birthing unit that actually serves the needs of the mothers and whānau locally.”
She said Ngā Hau is crucial to ensuring local, accessible healthcare and preventing inequitable health experiences for vulnerable communities.
“We're not asking the government to come up with a solution for the need here, one actually already exists. We’re just asking to ensure its survival."
Upon its opening, Ngā Hau was supported by a private foundation. But without public funding, the centre will be unable to continue.
“The real question for us is not what is it going to cost to fund now, but what is it going to cost not to fund the centre," said Kingi.
A petition has been launched to support the centre, which has garnered over 8000 signatures.
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