Midwives

Midwives provide care during pregnancy, labour and after birth. Care through midwives is free for NZ residents or those with certain visas. They are experts at recognising problems when they occur and will refer you on to a consultant or other health care staff, when appropriate. Midwives can attend your birth at home, in a primary setting or in a hospital. Midwives in New Zealand must hold a current practicing certificate. The regulatory body for midwives in NZ is the Midwifery Council. Midwives can be registered with the New Zealand College of Midwives (NZCOM). NZCOM represents more than 90% of all practicing midwives and works in partnership with maternity consumer groups such as Plunket, Parents Centre New Zealand, the Home Birth Association, the Ministry of Health and La Leche League to ensure high quality maternity services in New Zealand. The NZCOM also provide practice support for midwives. The NZCOM website has a great section for woman to read.