Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) (3 Day Postnatal Stay) Amendment Bill
This bill would give new mothers the right to stay in a maternity facility for at least 72 hours (3 days) after giving birth, paid for by the government. Right now, mothers are only entitled to 48 hours. It would also require the midwife or doctor looking after the mother during pregnancy to tell her about this entitlement. Mothers could still stay longer than 72 hours if there is a medical reason. The change would take effect 6 months after it becomes law.
What this affects
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New mothers would have the right to stay in a maternity facility for at least 3 days after giving birth, funded by the government, and must be told about this right by their maternity carer.
Every woman and newborn is entitled to be provided with publicly-funded inpatient postnatal care for a minimum period of 72 hours following birth.
A woman's lead maternity care provider must inform the woman that she is entitled to a minimum period of 72 hours of inpatient postnatal care.
Health New Zealand must ensure that sufficient maternity facilities are available in each locality that can provide 72 hours of inpatient postnatal care.
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
This bill is open for public submissions to the Health Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 16 February 2025.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.