Kahu Taurima | Maternity and Early Years

Kahu Taurima is changing the way we support whānau from pregnancy through early childhood.

We’re creating a health system that’s easier to navigate, connected, and respectful of every culture, ensuring each whānau gets the care they need in a way that feels right for them.

With wrap-around services that adapt to the unique needs of families, we’re building a healthier future for our tamariki (children) and setting up lifelong wellbeing for all.

In New Zealand Aotearoa, over 60,000 babies are born each year, bringing 60,000 chances to build a better future.

But we know that for many, the current health system doesn’t work well, especially for Māori, Pacific, and disabled families.

Whānau have told us they want a system that’s culturally safe, easy to access, and free from discrimination.

Kahu Taurima is about making this vision a reality—ensuring every baby and family has the best start in life.

The name Kahu Taurima reflects the essence of the program. Kahu Taurima symbolises the protective cloak of support and care for whānau.

Kahu represents this protective layer, while Taurima speaks to nurturing and caring for pēpi and whānau as they grow. Our tohu (symbol) reflects pregnancy, growth, and the special bond between māmā and pēpi.

It’s a reminder of the future we’re working towards—one where every whānau is safe, celebrated, and nurtured in our care.

To build a more responsive, connected system, we’re introducing new Kahu Taurima services that are customised to the diverse needs of whānau.

These changes will roll out over time, involving all publicly funded health services for tamariki up to age five, including community midwifery, Well Child Tamariki Ora services, early childhood health checks, immunisations, and more.

By working closely with communities and health providers, we’ll make sure these services support whānau aspirations and goals.

We’re also working with general practices, hauora Māori and Pacific providers, childhood immunisation teams, mental health services, and more, ensuring they’re prepared to provide the highest level of care for whānau across New Zealand.

Kahu Taurima is creating a way to make sure that every whānau get the care they are entitled to, in the way they need it. We are calling this Services for All Whānau.

Some families might need help that feels right for their culture, values, or unique circumstances, while other families might need extra support for parents or children with disabilities.

This universal way of working is a flexible, inclusive approach that wraps around every whānau, ensuring the services are tailored to their unique needs, and empowering them with the care and support they need to flourish.

Bereavement care pathway

A key part of Kahu Taurima is strengthening support for whānau who experience the loss of a baby. This bereavement care pathway ensures that families have compassionate, respectful, and culturally supportive services during difficult times, providing a helping hand when it’s needed most.

Maternity system change

We’re also working on major changes to the maternity system. This includes creating better ways for whānau to access maternity care that is holistic, coordinated, and tailored to their unique circumstances, so that every parent feels supported, safe, and empowered throughout pregnancy and early parenthood.

Prototypes

Six health providers are helping test new ideas to improve the WCTO National Schedule, including the Before School Check. These changes aim to make access to health services fairer, easier, and more focused on supporting families. The goal is to ensure every child and their whānau get the care they need when they need it.

The testing will look at how to better serve different groups, like Māori, Pacific, people with disabilities, rural families, migrants, and Rainbow Whānau. What we learn will shape future services for tamariki and whānau, creating a health system that works for everyone and helps families thrive.

We have a few important drivers are helping bring these changes to life:

• Service Improvements across the board
• Guidance from the Maternity Oversight Group
• A Health Workforce Plan to support our people on the ground
• Collaboration through strategic and clinical networks
• A strong outcomes and indicators framework to keep us on track
• And of course, IT solutions to make sure our systems can support this level of integrated care. 

This is about creating a system that works together, where no matter who you are, you’ve got access to the services and support you need, when you need them.