Central City Birthing Unit: Kurawaka, Waipapa
Join Māia in enhancing the new central city birthing unit, Kurawaka:Waipapa.
Taking it from #goodtogreat.
Māia Health Foundation is aiming to raise $100,000 to put world-class finishing touches on Christchurch’s new central city birthing unit, called Kurawaka: Waipapa.
The Māia Health Foundation is raising funds for the following essential components…
Whānau Rooms:
Two whānau rooms will create beautiful spaces where new life is celebrated and cherished, surrounded by love and support. Birth is an incredibly exciting time and a challenging time too. What we know makes a huge difference is people having their whānau around them in those key first days as they get to know their baby, start recovering from birth and gain confidence together. With community support, Māia will furnish these rooms with all the essentials, ensuring families have everything they need to bond, heal, and thrive together.
Mural Artwork:
Join us in commissioning a mural to adorn the exterior of the central city birthing unit. This artistic masterpiece will bring joy, lift spirits and ignite imaginations for generations to come. Join us in our journey to make a difference..
“This new birthing unit will provide valuable space for whānau to spend time together. The $100,000 we’re aiming to raise will fund the fit out of two whānau rooms taking this facility from good to great,” Māia Health Foundation Chief Executive Michael Flatman says.
Kurawaka: Waipapa also includes four birthing suites and 20 post-natal rooms. The only option for women to birth in the central city is Christchurch Women’s Hospital, which was designed for 4,000 births each year. In 2023, Christchurch Women’s Hospital saw 5,124 births.
Health NZ Waitaha Executive Director Midwifery and Maternity Norma Campbell says many who birth at Christchurch Women’s Hospital are immediately transferred to a community led birthing unit for their post-natal care as there’s simply no room for them to stay.
“No one gets the sense that they’ve had a calm and peaceful experience because it’s just a constant movement both for those who are high risk and those with no risk factors to ensure we have the beds available for those coming in next,” says Campbell.
Canterbury’s community led birthing units are in Rangiora, Rolleston, or further afield in Ashburton.
“Kurawaka Waipapa is the final piece of the community birthing unit puzzle, providing a calm and relaxing environment, just five minutes from Christchurch Women’s Hospital,” Campbell says.
Kelly Kara, the new Midwife Manager for Kurawaka: Waipapa says this unit is a massive step ahead of anything she’s seen in her decades of working in the maternity space.
She says the addition of the whānau rooms will make a huge difference to so many families supporting their loved ones through birth.
Māia Health Foundation is confident the community will rise to the challenge of raising $100,000 to take the new birthing unit from good to great.
“We know our community want our newest families to experience the best start in life, and Kurawaka Waipapa will help achieve that. Please donate today,” Flatman says.
Kurawaka: Waipapa is due to open for its first births in April 2024.
