A serious shortage of Māori and Pasifika midwives

A Māori midwife says National midwifery services have been falling short of meeting the needs of Māori and Pasifika women whose pregnancies are overepresented in still birth and neonatal death. The Government has just announced a new initiative aimed at attracting and retaining MÄori and Pasifika midwives and addressing racial inequalities. It includes the te ara Å Hine programme which funds a student with support/pastoral care at each of the five midwifery education providers .Auckland University of Technology is one of the providers - and to discuss the new wraparound service aimed at strengthening diversity in the sector - Māori Liasion and Clinical Educator Midwifery from AUT Teresa Krishnan and Ngatepaera Marsters who is AUT's Pasifika liaison for midwifery.