PlunketLine nurses a free phone call away 24/7 including Christmas Day
18 December 2023
Day, night and in the wee hours of the morning, Makere Sargent is one of PlunketLine’s registered nurses with a listening ear who’ll be on the end of the line this summer holiday period, ready to support parents and caregivers of tamariki under-five across the country.
Anyone with questions or worries about pēpi and tamariki under-five can call Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s free 24/7 helpline 0800 933 922– even on Christmas Day.
Make every sleep a safe sleep for precious pēpi this summer
27 November 2023
As the year draws to a close and people start thinking about summer holidays, Whānau Āwhina Plunket is reminding people to make sure every sleep is a safe sleep for pēpi, no matter where they are or who they’re with.
This Friday (1 December 2023) is the official start of summer and National Safe Sleep Day – Te Rā Mokopuna, which aims to raise awareness about the impact of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) on whānau across Aotearoa.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket welcomes new Ministers
24 November 2023
Whānau Āwhina Plunket is welcoming the announcement of Dr Shane Reti as the new Minister of Health and Matt Doocey, David Seymour and Casey Costello as Associate Ministers of Health.
Chief Executive Fiona Kingsford says she is delighted to see that ensuring Plunket is funded to do its job properly is included in the National and NZ First Coalition agreement.
A super success for our Super Saturday Clinic!
23 November 2023
The wet weather was no deterrent for Whānau Āwhina Plunket's recent Super Saturday Clinic in Hamilton!
A fantastic number of whānau braved the elements to attend the special event held on Richmond Street which offered a range of free services to the local community.
Plunket community and clinical staff, along with volunteers, utilised five drop-in clinic spaces and a number of stalls to support over 200 under-fives and their whānau. They delivered a total of 97 Well Child Checks (Cores 1-7), 35 immunisations and 68 dental assessments and treatment.
BestStart Wainoni Road, Christchurch tops annual Plunket fundraising appeal
8 November 2023
Sliming teachers, a wheel-a-thon and selling cupcakes are just some of the fun activities tamariki from BestStart Wainoni Road got involved in for the annual BestStart Plunket fundraising appeal this year.
Thanks to their efforts and that of their whānau and the wider community, the centre was the biggest contributor to the appeal this year, raising $2,124.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket Chief Executive Fiona Kingsford paid a visit to the centre to personally thank tamariki, whānau and the wider community for its generosity.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s Westfield Manukau hub opens its doors
6 November 2023
Plunket appointments will be that much easier for South Auckland whānau, with the opening of the new Counties Manukau hub conveniently located in the Westfield Manukau shopping centre.
The hub is located on Level 3 of the building, with three hours of free car parking and bus and rail connections nearby. It is open for Well Child Tamariki Ora appointments every weekday and B4 School Checks on Monday and Fridays. Drop-in clinics will soon be up and running too.
New Hastings Plunket clinic a welcoming environment for whānau
2 November 2023
The Whānau Āwhina Plunket team in Hastings is welcoming whānau through the doors of new premises on Saint Aubyn Street after it officially opened to the community this week.
With external works now complete, the clinic replaces the old location on Avenue Road East.
Opinion: Suffer the children – where is the investment in starting well?
3 October 2023
By Fiona Kingsford, Whānau Āwhina Plunket Chief Executive
As we count down to the election with all eyes on the political leaders dishing out little sweeteners on the campaign trail to entice the undecided voter; there’s been much focus on rising crime, the cost-of-living crisis, and the poor state of housing. When it comes to healthcare, much of the focus is on our overrun hospital system; Emergency Departments brimming, wait lists for surgery never-ending. But the problem simmering away that no one seems too keen to talk about is the underfunding of primary and community care.
The lack of pay parity for nurses and healthcare workers is seeing much needed valuable staff leave for higher paying jobs in our hospitals, hampering our ability to provide vital care and support that is designed to keep people well and out of the ED waiting room.
Nursing scholarship supports and strengthens cultural journey
3 October 2023
A nursing student with a passion for hauora Māori-led care has been named as the recipient for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s Mere Harper and Ria Tikini Memorial Scholarship.
Toi Ohomai nursing student Krystle George was awarded the annual scholarship which commemorates the work of Mere Harper and Ria Tikini – two highly respected Māori midwives and healers from Karitāne who were instrumental in starting Plunket.
Krystle says she’s truly grateful for the support which couldn't come at a better time.
“As a single mother of two school-aged tamariki, it’s a huge financial help – particularly during these tough economic times.”
Nurses and healthcare worker pay gap means whānau missing out
29 September 2023
Whānau Āwhina Plunket says it is struggling to keep and attract its essential nursing and healthcare workforce due to the pay gap and whānau are missing out.
The country’s largest health and wellbeing support service for tamariki under five is part of a collective of primary, community and telehealth organisations calling on political parties to commit to pay parity.
Pay gap crippling essential community health care
Embargoed until 6pm, Wednesday 27 September
A dozen of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading primary, community, and telehealth care organisations have come together, calling on political parties to commit to pay parity for their nursing and health care workers.
“Collectively we represent services that support New Zealanders from cradle to grave. We’ve come together for the first time because we fear communities are missing out on critical health care,” says Fiona Kingsford, chief executive, Whānau Āwhina Plunket.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket 2023 AGM
27 September 2023
The Whānau Āwhina Plunket 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held at 11am on Tuesday 12th December.
This meeting will be held virtually. If any friend of Plunket, volunteer or interested member of the public would like to join online please email rachel.mcgillivray@plunket.org.nz for a link to the meeting.
Tiniroto digs deep to support Whānau Āwhina Plunket
16 August 2023
The tight-knit Tiniroto community has shown its incredible support for tamariki at a heartwarming Whānau Āwhina Plunket event.
Despite the area still being severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, local whānau gathered at the Tiniroto Community Hall this past weekend for a day of fun.
16 August 2023
The tight-knit Tiniroto community has shown its incredible support for tamariki at a heartwarming Whānau Āwhina Plunket event.
Despite the area still being severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, local whānau gathered at the Tiniroto Community Hall this past weekend for a day of fun.
PlunketLine offers more free online specialist breastfeeding support
4 August 2023
Online breastfeeding cafés run by lactation consultants are the latest in a suite of FREE specialist breastfeeding support services now available through PlunketLine.
Plunket and Arnott's unite in fundraising fun to support childhood wellness
4 August 2023
This week Whānau Āwhina Plunket, in partnership with Arnott's New Zealand, has launched a month-long fundraising campaign giving people the opportunity to join forces, have fun, and support the wellbeing of our youngest New Zealanders.
The country’s largest health and wellbeing support service for tamariki under five, is excited to announce the launch of "Dunk it for Plunket”.
Pacific neighbour adopts Whānau Āwhina Plunket model to improve health of under-fives
Whānau Āwhina Plunket nurses will be sharing their expertise to help set up a Plunket-style programme for under-fives in Kiribati, under an agreement signed between the organisation and the Pacific nation.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket nurses will be sharing their expertise to help set up a Plunket-style programme for under-fives in Kiribati, under an agreement signed between the organisation and the Pacific nation.
Dawn site blessing for Rotorua hub new build
Catch up on immunisation now to protect tamariki from whooping cough this winter
27 April 2023
Whānau Āwhina Plunket says the recent death of three babies from whooping cough coupled with low childhood immunisation coverage means there is a real risk of a whooping cough outbreak this winter.
Chief Nurse Zoe Tipa says now is the time to catch up on immunisation to protect pēpi, tamariki and whānau.
PlunketLine expands free online specialist breastfeeding support
13 April 2023
More women will have access to free online one-on-one support with specialist breastfeeding lactation consultants with more funding on the way.
The announcement comes as the annual Global Big Latch On event starts this Friday. Thousands of people are expected to gather at venues across Aotearoa from Friday to Sunday to celebrate breastfeeding. Organised by the Women’s Health Action charity, it is also an opportunity to support and connect parents and whānau on all infant-feeding journeys, within their own communities.
Opinion: Times are tough for families, but there is help they can access
29 January 2023
By Fiona Kingsford, Whānau Āwhina Plunket CEO
It’s set to be a challenging year for many across Aotearoa. Inflation figures released this week, the cost-of-living crisis, and the threat of recession all suggest that one of the biggest challenges facing whānau will be household finances.
Maternal Mental health support on site at Plunket
16 January 2023
Early intervention maternal mental health support is now being provided on site at the Whānau Āwhina Plunket rooms in Whakatāne, making it easier for parents to access crucial wellbeing support in the early parenting years.