Ng? Maia

Media Release

5th December 2023

 

2022 Maternity survey shows no improvement in maternity services for w?hine Hapu and wh?nau M?ori

The 2022 survey of Wh?nau and Families? experiences and Perceptions of the Maternity system has shown that wh?nau M?ori are significantly less satisfied than non M?ori with the maternity care in Aotearoa. This survey result has been compared to the last published survey in 2014 and shows that there has been no improvements for wh?nau M?ori. 

In all aspects of care across the hap?tanga birthing and parenting continuum, M?ori showed a level of satisfaction lower than the previous report. This included care during pregnancy in hospital and in the community, labour and birth in hospital and at a birthing unit and postnatal care in hospital and the following weeks at home.  

?It is a very white lonely space for w?hine Maori, I have had four tamariki and it hasn?t gotten any better, no one listened to me? (birthing m?m?).

With a higher number of M?ori birthing in hospital settings it is alarming to see that the cultural and spiritual needs of wh?nau M?ori are not being met, with a lack of cultural respect. The survey responses were collected during the Covid-19 pandemic period in 2021 when midwives were frontline health workers.  

It was identified that the services need to be more inclusive, including cultural safety training for Midwives.  

Recently Ng? Maia Trust and Te Tatau o te Whare Kahu - Midwifery Council came to an agreement that cultural safety will now be compulsory for all midwives intending to practice in Aotearoa. Previously cultural safety was expected to be demonstrated by all midwives and integrated into its competencies for entry to the register of midwives, however there have never been any measures of cultural competence. Turanga Kaupapa, the cultural framework developed by Ng? Maia in 2006 will now be the source of cultural safety training in Aotearoa beginning April 1st 2024.  

Areas of service that have continued to show no improvement over the last 8 years include access to specialist appointments including ultrasound scans and lab tests and options for place of birth, including a call for more M?ori cultural birthing options.  

29% of M?ori reported travel constraints for scans compared with 18% in total.  

The new government has an opportunity to address these barriers to care by providing free ultrasound scans for all w?hine hapu and reinstating the operations of the recently closed birthing units in Waihi and Huntly.  

While the survey shows a general satisfaction overall of maternity services, it clearly favours non M?ori over M?ori, Pasifika, young whanau, bereaved and disabled parents, other communities identified in the survey report.  

Resourcing and infrastructure support is required of the government to address the workforce shortages to improve maternity services for wh?nau M?ori.  

Ng? Maia Trust will continue to advocate for equitable maternity care across Aotearoa and continue to be leaders in and advocate for m?tauranga M?ori and traditional birthing knowledge in midwifery education, promoting its recognition and value to ensure that midwifery care is culturally safe, respectful and responsive to the needs and aspirations of wh?nau.  

We would like to thank the wh?nau who participated in the survey and to our kahu p?kai, midwives, throughout Aotearoa that continue to strive for better outcomes for wh?nau M?ori.  

For more information please contact Ng? Maia Chairperson Lisa Kelly 027 2293086