Tea on the Lawn at Parliament Tomorrow

This year’s theme of "Midwives, Mothers, and Families: Partners For Life" for International Midwives Day could not be more appropriate for the midwifery profession in New Zealand, and the maternity model that our midwives spearhead.

Partnership is a key concept with midwives working in partnership with a woman and her family or whanau, in a relationship of trust, shared decision making and responsibility, negotiation and shared understanding.

Blogger and author Emily Writes has organised a morning tea on the lawns of Parliament tomorrow to celebrate midwives and reinforce the support many have for this profession that works tirelessly for women and their babies.

NZ College of Midwives Wellington Regional Chair, Karen Wakelin says they are thrilled to be a part of this special day and look forward to hearing the speeches planned.

“Labour’s Grant Robertson and Julie Anne Genter from the Green’s will both speak at the morning tea so we are very pleased to have them with us tomorrow,” she says. “Karen Guilliland the College’s Chief Executive will be here too which is fantastic.”

Emily Writes has been key in raising important issues relating to midwives and showing her support for this hard working group of health professionals. She has called the event the “We Love Midwives” Morning Tea.

The word midwife means “with woman” and Karen Wakelin says of course that’s what midwives do, they accompany a woman on her journey through pregnancy and childbirth into motherhood.

“An essential focus has always been about relationship building with women and supporting women through their unique childbirth journey. Developing relationships with colleagues is also an important part of midwifery, the sharing of knowledge which adds to our practice and experience which ultimately benefits women and their families.”

Morning teas will be held across the country tomorrow in NZCOM regions where mums, families, midwives and supporters will be in attendance.

The “We Love Midwives” Morning Tea is at 11am on the lawns of Parliament. Check out Emily Writes (blogger/author) recent writing in support of midwives

https://thespinoff.co.nz/parenting/03-04-2017/midwives-in-their-own-words-we-are-only-human/and https://thespinoff.co.nz/parenting/07-04-2017/politicians-the-ministry-of-health-respond-to-midwives-cry-for-help/

ENDS

The New Zealand College of Midwives

The New Zealand College of Midwives (the College) is the professional organisation for midwives and student midwives in New Zealand. (www.midwife.org.nz).

The College represents more than 3100 members and works in partnership with maternity consumer groups such as Plunket, Parents Centre New Zealand, the Home Birth Association and La Leche League to ensure high quality maternity services in New Zealand.

The College sets and actively promotes high standards for midwifery practice and assists midwives to meet these standards through involvement in midwifery education and the Midwifery Standards Review process.

The College membership has developed the Philosophy, Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice and Consensus Statements that guide the professional activities of midwifery practitioners. The College also provides Resolution Committees for consumers who have a concern in relation to their midwifery care experience.

At an international level, the College represents New Zealand on the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Board as the midwife association member for the Asia Pacific Region. New Zealand also has the College’s Chief Executive as the Co-Chair of the ICM Scientific Planning and Programing Committee.

The New Zealand College of Midwives is the only professional membership body specifically for NZ registered midwives.

The College promotes midwifery standards of practice and ongoing education courses for midwives once they are registered. It represents and advocates for midwifery and women’s health interests to government, health organisations, consumer groups and the general public.

The regulatory body is the Midwifery Council www.midwiferycouncil.health.nz and is responsible for the protection of the health and safety of women and babies during the childbirth process by providing mechanisms to ensure that midwives are competent and fit to practise midwifery. The HPCAA (The Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act) provides this regulatory framework.