Articles tagged with Newborn
Paid Parental Leave Rate to Increase to $811.05 Weekly from July 2026
2 hours ago | 34 viewsFrom 1 July 2026, the maximum weekly paid parental leave rate in New Zealand will increase to $811.05, reflecting rises in average weekly earnings, providing eligible parents with up to 26 weeks of financial support. This leave applies not only to parents of newborns but also to those experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, adoption, or surrogacy, ensuring time for bonding and recovery. The increase, mandated by the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987, also raises the minimum rate for self-employed parents to $239.50 per week.
Tags: Brooke van Velden parental leave paid parental leave Employment New Zealand Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 newborn miscarriage stillbirth adoption surrogacyNew Neonatal Unit at Hutt Hospital to Expand Specialist Newborn Care
3 months ago | 583 viewsConstruction of a new neonatal unit at Hutt Hospital will begin in April 2026, expanding specialist newborn care capacity from 12 to 14 cots and increasing the floor area by 61 percent. The $10.5 million facility is designed to improve infection control, clinical workflows, and family comfort, allowing more babies to receive care locally without needing transfer to Wellington Hospital. Local leaders emphasize that this upgrade supports the growing community by providing quality neonatal care close to home, with the unit expected to open in mid-2027.
Tags: Simeon Brown Chris Bishop Hutt Hospital neonatal unit Hutt Valley newborn care Wellington Hospital health infrastructure specialist care hospital constructionMidwives Now Offer Expanded Funded Immunisations for Families and Babies
4 months ago | 670 viewsMidwives in New Zealand can now provide a broader range of funded immunisations to mothers, babies, and eligible family members up to 12 months old, enhancing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. This expansion builds on previous progress allowing midwives to deliver antenatal vaccines and aims to improve timely access by integrating immunisations into routine maternity care. Health authorities and professional organizations are collaborating to implement this initiative, especially important during outbreaks like measles and pertussis to protect vulnerable infants.
Tags: midwives immunisations pregnancy Simeon Brown Health Minister newborns vaccination Health New Zealand Ministry of Health New Zealand College of MidwivesMidwives Expand Funded Immunisations to Protect Mothers and Infants in NZ
4 months ago | 611 viewsMidwives in New Zealand can now provide a broader range of funded immunisations to mothers, babies, and eligible family members up to 12 months old, enhancing protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. This expansion builds on previous progress and aims to improve timely access to vaccinations by integrating them into routine maternity care, especially important during outbreaks like measles and pertussis. The initiative is a collaborative effort among Health New Zealand, the Ministry of Health, the Midwifery Council, the New Zealand College of Midwives, and the Immunisation Advisory Centre.
Tags: midwives immunisations pregnancy Simeon Brown Health Minister newborns vaccination Health New Zealand Ministry of Health New Zealand College of Midwives