Persistent barriers facing Māori māmā and pēpi across the region highlights the urgent need for earlier, whānau-centred support. The report, Te Oranga o ngā Māmā me ngā Pēpi i tō tātou rohe 2018–2026, highlights ongoing inequities across pregnancy, birth and early life.
“This report makes clear the issue is not a lack of care from whānau but a system that is still too hard to access. We already know that when kaupapa Māori whānau-centred support is there, whānau engage and outcomes improve,” says Board Manahautū Hikitia Ropata.
Released by the Āti Awa Toa Hauora Partnership Board, with support from mana whenua iwi, the report brings together whānau voice and health and wellbeing data from 2018 to 2026 and shows where the system is falling short, and where kaupapa Māori approaches are making a difference.
“System change is needed to make sure our services work well for all families. If some families are being consistently underserved, then it’s time to change the system so it works well for all.”
“For too many Māori māmā and pēpi, getting the right support early is still an obstacle course. This report shows how delayed access to maternity care, poor or insecure housing, and low enrolment of newborn pēpi with primary care are stacking the odds against whānau from the start.”
The report shows barriers are ongoing across the journey from pregnancy through early life. For instance, in 2023, 12.9% of Māori were not enrolled with a lead maternity carer at any stage during their pregnancy. In 2024, Māori women in the rohe missed 28.9% of first specialist maternity appointments, compared with 3.5% for non-Māori, non- Pacific. It also shows inequities continue into early life. As of February 2026, whānau Māori in our rohe had the highest rates of tamariki not fully immunised at 24 months, at 8.8%. Tamariki Māori were also 1.3 times more likely than non-Māori non-Pacific children to experience an avoidable hospitalisation event in 2024.
The findings reinforce that these outcomes are shaped by barriers to access, cost, transport, housing and fragmented systems.
The report calls for:
- earlier engagement with māmā, particularly young māmā and those in high deprivation areas
- improved access to maternity and primary care
- more joined-up support across health, housing and social systems.
- investment in holistic, kaupapa Māori models which whānau use and trust.