PlunketLine nurses a free phone call away 24/7 including Christmas
Makere Sargent is one of PlunketLine’s registered nurses with a listening ear who’ll be on the end of the line this Christmas holiday period, ready to support parents and caregivers of tamariki under five wherever they are.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket welcomes immediate residency for nurses
Whānau Āwhina Plunket is welcoming the Government’s decision to add registered nurses to the list of professions for immediate residency to Aotearoa New Zealand.
BestStart Marne Street tops annual Plunket fundraising appeal
Sliming teachers with gloop, selling cupcakes and hosting teddy bear picnics are just some of the fun activities tamariki from BestStart Marne street got up to for the annual BestStart Plunket fundraising appeal this year.
Plunket nurses to take strike action
Around 700 Whānau Āwhina Plunket nurses and staff who are members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) will be taking strike action for four hours on Thursday 27 October from 10:00am - 2:00pm.
Chief Executive Fiona Kingsford says it’s the first time in at least 35 years Plunket nurses have gone on strike.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket AGM
The Whānau Āwhina Plunket 2022 Annual General Meeting will be held at 12.30pm on Thursday 8 December.
Please note that the previously advertised location has changed and this meeting will now 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.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket appoints Fiona Kingsford as chief executive
Whānau Āwhina Plunket – the country‘s largest provider of care to tamariki under five and their whānau – has a new leader.
Board Chair Dame Fran Wilde today announced the appointment of Fiona Kingsford as chief executive, replacing Amanda Malu who has left after six years.
Queen Elizabeth II
Kei te tangi ake te ngākau e te mōrehu kui. Moe mai rā, moe mai rā, haere atu rā. We are sad to hear the news of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Forum highlights rising maternal mental health issues
31 August 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket is helping increasing numbers of women seeking mental health support, the latest PlunketLine call figures reveal.
The PlunketLine team has seen year-on-year increases for mental health support-related calls, which more than quadrupled from 2019 to 2021. Frontline nurses are also reporting increased levels of maternal anxiety in their day-to-day work with whānau.
Amanda Malu: Deliberate underfunding of not-for-profit health services has to stop
23 August 2022
As I reflect on my six-year tenure as Chief Executive of Whānau Āwhina Plunket, I am heartened by how much has changed yet saddened by how much has stayed the same.
Kiwi pre-schoolers face worse health and welfare outcomes than older children, according to new report
20 August 2022
A new report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child paints a grim picture of health and welfare outcomes for Kiwi pre-schoolers living in low-income families.
Impact 100 donate $50k to Plunket
August 2022
The collaboration and generosity of 50 Eastern Bay women is helping Whānau Āwhina Plunket break down barriers for isolated mothers.
Plunket Whakatāne is the first recipient of a $50,000 donation from the Impact 100 women’s fund – an organisation seeking to empower women to ignite transformational change in their communities and provide impactful solutions to large-scale issues.
$100,000 boost to extend Whānau Āwhina Plunket services in South Island rural communities
1 August 2022
Funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) will enable Whānau Āwhina Plunket to extend its volunteer-driven community services to additional rural communities throughout the South Island.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket says support vital for breastfeeding mothers
1 August 2022
It’s World Breastfeeding Week, and Whānau Āwhina Plunket says it’s a timely reminder that partners, whānau, friends and the community have vital roles to play.
Help is at hand for parents with new free online baby sleep course
29 July 2022
As every parent knows, people who say they ‘sleep like a baby’ usually don’t have one. But help is at hand thanks to a new online course from Whānau Āwhina Plunket.
The event of the season!
July 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket will be hosting The Ultimate Soiree fundraiser in the Public Trust Hall, Wellington, September 10. Guests will be treated to a world of wonderful live art and entertainment with an array of gourmet food; champagne; cocktails and craft beers being served throughout the evening - all included with your ticket!
Whānau Āwhina Plunket says it’s never too late to vaccinate
21 July 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket nurses are fielding a lot of questions about immunisation, with the flu vaccination now funded for three to 11 year olds.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket Rotorua fundraising for new community hub
20 July 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket is busy fundraising for its new purpose-built community hub in Rotorua.
The Pukuatua Street building has supported generations of tamariki but it has seen better days and is no longer meeting the community’s needs.
Baby boom at Whānau Āwhina Plunket
8 July 2022
It’s no secret that we love babies at Whānau Āwhina Plunket, but the number of staff pregnancies in the Canterbury region recently has left some people wondering if there is something in the water!
Keeping Rotorua’s babies warm this winter
12 July 2022
Close to 100 babies will sleep more warmly this winter thanks to the efforts of the Rotary Club of Rotorua and Whānau Āwhina Plunket.
Karitāne, birthplace of Plunket, honours organisation with new street name
A small southern town with a big heart is embracing an important part of its history with a brand–new street named after the iconic organisation that’s helped generations of Kiwi babies thrive.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket upgrades IT over a cuppa!
July 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s Dunk it For Plunket national fundraiser is happening 1-30 August. Funds raised will go directly towards upgrading the charity’s technology to better service whānau in NZ. Just over $500,000 is required for upgrading hardware including monitors, headsets, laptops, and mobile phones.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket welcomes new chief nurse
29 June 2022
It’s a case of nau mai hoki mai – welcome back for Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s new chief nurse, Dr Zoë Tipa.
Dr Tipa (Kāi Tahu/Ngāti Kahungunu) will lead nursing services for the organisation, which is the largest provider of support services for the development, health and wellbeing of tamariki under five.
Read more
Whānau Āwhina Plunket volunteers win 2022 Minister of Health Volunteer Award
21 June 2022
A dedicated team of Whānau Āwhina Plunket volunteers has taken out a win at this year’s Minister of Health Volunteer Awards.
The volunteers for the ‘Breastfeeding Works!’ breastfeeding peer support programme in South Canterbury won the Outstanding Achievement award in the Health Care Provider Service Team category in yesterday’s presentation ceremony at Parliament.
Read more
Whanau Awhina Plunket and long term partner Huggies celebrate 30 years together
18 May 2022
Not only is it Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s 115th birthday this week, but it is also celebrating 30 years of enduring relationship with long-term partner Huggies™ (Kimberly-Clark).
Whānau Āwhina Plunket celebrates 115th birthday by debuting te reo Māori on its website
16 May 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket has marked its 115th birthday – and honoured its bicultural origins – by officially launching te reo Māori translations on its website.
The website plunket.org.nz is data free and one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most widely read digital child health resources.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket and Family Planning New Zealand call on Immigration Minister to reconsider fast-tracked residence pathway
12 May 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket and Family Planning New Zealand are disappointed that overseas nurses have been left off the fast-tracked ‘straight to residence’ pathway.
They have joined the New Zealand Nurses Organisation in calling for Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi to reconsider the decision to leave them off the new ‘green list’ announced yesterday.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket celebrates International Nurses’ Day
11 May 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket is thanking its nurses for their dedication during the pandemic this International Nurses’ Day.
Make every sleep a safe sleep for precious pēpi this winter
9 May 2022
As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, Whānau Āwhina Plunket and the National SUDI Prevention Coordination Service are reminding whānau to make every sleep a safe sleep for precious pēpi this winter.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket says ‘it takes a village’ this World Maternal Mental Health Day
3 May 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket – Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest provider of healthcare services for children under five – is encouraging people to ‘become their village’ for new parents and caregivers this World Maternal Mental Health Day.
Read more
Whānau Āwhina Plunket to exit parenting education programme (PEPE)
8 April 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket has announced today that it will no longer run its parenting education (PEPE) programme.
This decision follows a month-long staff consultation, and results in the loss of five permanent and 17 casual roles. A further 16 people will have their hours reduced.
TEXT SCAM ALERT - 7 April 2022
We have been notified of a text message that's been sent out to whānau claiming to be from "Plunket". It's not from us. Whānau Āwhina Plunket will never ask you to share personal information via text message unless we are already engaged in a kōrero with you, and you know who you're talking to.
If you're ever in doubt about any messages you receive, it's always worth taking a moment to ask a question. Thanks to the quick-thinking māmā who brought this to our attention. Take care out there. Arohanui.
Virtual Fun Run to raise money for Whānau Āwhina Plunket
16 March 2022
In partnership with Huggies, Whānau Āwhina Plunket is thrilled to cross the starting line of their 2022 Virtual Fun Run series, happening each weekend in April.
With support from Move it Mama, Z Energy, NZME and Kidspot, participants have the opportunity to get involved with their whānau, friends and community – either virtually or physically.
Chief Executive Amanda Malu says it’s a great time to get people participating in something active.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket thanks families for their understanding
14 March 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket is thanking whānau for their understanding during the Omicron outbreak.
The charity sees nearly 300,000 tamariki a year – that’s 89 percent of all new babies and 62 per cent of all newborn Māori pēpi.
Chief Executive Amanda Malu says nurses, kaiāwhina and health workers are doing a great job in what’s been a challenging couple of years. But as Omicron cases continue to rise, parents and caregivers can expect some service disruptions as staff become unwell or need to isolate.
Read more
Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s advice for protecting young tamariki against COVID-19
17 February 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket’s nurses are fielding an increasing number of queries from concerned parents wanting to know how to keep their preschool tamariki safe when they are not eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Acting Chief Nurse Karen Magrath says there are many ways to keep under 5’s as safe as possible, especially while COVID-19 cases are rising rapidly throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Whānau Āwhina Plunket pays tribute to retiring chief nurse Jane O’Malley
3 February 2022
Whānau Āwhina Plunket is paying tribute to outgoing chief nurse Jane O’Malley and says her nursing leadership has been nationally significant to the heath sector.
Chief Executive Amanda Malu says Jane O’Malley is highly respected within Whānau Āwhina Plunket and across the sector for her diverse nursing experience and strategic focus.