Online Perinatal Wellbeing Service launches
2 March 2026
Whānau Āwhina Plunket is excited to announce the launch of the new Online Perinatal Wellbeing Service, initially focused on supporting whānau in the Waikato region.
This is a free, online perinatal mental health service supporting parents and caregivers who are experiencing mild to moderate distress, anxiety or depressive symptoms and who have children aged up to 5 years.
Every child deserves the best chance to thrive
Children’s Day on 1 March is a chance to celebrate the joy and potential in all our pēpi and tamariki – and at Whānau Āwhina Plunket we are privileged to do that every day.
We see 80% of all new babies across Aotearoa New Zealand, including more than half of all Māori pēpi. Our nationwide Well Child Tamariki Ora services supported 270,817 tamariki aged 0-5 in 2024-25.
Well Child focuses on those first 2,000 days of life because they are critical: this is when a child’s brain, body and sense of safety are built, creating the foundation for their lifelong health, learning and wellbeing.
Ringing in the Year of the Horse
19 February 2026
Whānau Āwhina Plunket staff were proud to attend the Chinese New Year Festival and Market Day at the Auckland Showgrounds for the very first time on Saturday, 14 February.
Our stall became a vibrant hub for connection, particularly for the many multi-generational families navigating the transition into the Year of the Horse. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolises energy, independence, and a drive for success, traits that resonated deeply as we spoke with parents and grandparents about the bright futures of their little ones.
Tell us what you think about our website and WIN!
16 February 2026
We're looking for whānau to share their honest feedback about our website – answer our short survey and you could go in the draw to win a $50 voucher!
Clinic welcomes local MP for immunisation visit
12 February 2026
Our team in Whanganui were pleased to welcome their local MP Carl Bates and his gorgeous daughter Bonnie-Ann into their clinic for a vaccination from a Plunket nurse.
It was great to talk to Carl about the impact that the immunisation pilot is having on whānau, as well as a general kōrero about the other wonderful services our team deliver in the area.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket joins Waitangi Day
11 February 2026
Whānau Āwhina Plunket are honoured to have been invited to the events at this year's Waitangi Day Festival, as guests of Ngāti Hine Health Trust.
Our fantastic Northland team worked alongside the trust and hosted a chill-out zone, creating a dedicated space for parents and tamariki needing a break. The team provided Well Child Tamariki Ora checks and car seat checks and were on hand to kōrero with whānau.
Nursing scholarship applications now open for 2026
9 February 2026
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Whānau Awhina Plunket’s Mere Harper and Ria Tikini Memorial scholarship is now open for applications.
The annual scholarship provides financial support of $3,000 to a full-time nursing student of Ngāi Tahu descent who is in their final year of study.
