MESSAGE FROM HELEN CLARK

a message from helen clark

Helen Clark has sent this message to the midwives of New Zealand to mark the 30th anniversary of the landmark legislation.

Congratulations on all that your profession has achieved over these 30 years. Midwives in New Zealand seized the opportunities provided by the Nurses Amendment Act to develop a midwifery-led maternity care system.

There was still much to do after the legislation was passed to re-shape maternity care in New Zealand and you worked successfully with colleagues across the

health service to develop a system based on continuity of care and partnership with women. The midwife-led continuity of care model is now endorsed by the World Health Organization, and the system which was set up in New Zealand has been internationally respected and provided inspiration to midwives, and policy makers working in many countries to improve their midwifery services.

Women giving birth in New Zealand today and many of the young midwives caring for them accept New Zealand’s midwiferyled service as the norm. Midwives involved in the campaign that led to the Nurses Amendment Act will understand that bringing about changes to the maternity system took commitment, vision, and passion. The underlying motivation to ensure that our maternity system places women’s needs at the centre of care will still be a driver for the midwives of today.

Yet, the status quo cannot be taken for granted. There is still work to do in New Zealand, not least in achieving pay equity for the profession and in ensuring that the system nurtured by midwives over these three decades is protected for the future. This anniversary coincides with the International Year of the Midwife, as designated by the World Health Organization. Please celebrate these events with resolve to protect what you have built. square