Community
Home Birth Community Groups
Here at Home Birth Aotearoa Trust, we believe it is very important to connect expectant mothers who are interested in home birthing to home birth community groups so that they can gain support and information surrounding natural home births.
There are a variety of small, medium and large volunteer led support groups and associations across New Zealand, a number being in existence sine the 70’s and 80’s. Without the lobbying the members of these groups carried out, midwives may not have become autonomous practitioners and would still require supervision at a home birth. Their work and membership has changed over the years and today mostly comprises of nurturing and empowering local home birth communities through meetings, pool hire, antenatal classes and other activities that promote home birth.
Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau
AUCKLAND HOME BIRTH ASSOCIATION
About us
Auckland Home Birth Association is an inclusive, non-profit community organisation supporting individuals, whanau/families and health providers with support, information, meetings, and birth pool hire.
Services
Check out their website for birth pool hire. They offer a discount for Community Services Card holders. Book your pool, well in advance of the month your baby is expected, or for any other information.
Contact
General inquiries – hello@ahba.org.nz
Birth pool inquiries – birthpools@ahba.org.nz
Store inquiries – store@ahba.org.nz
Links
North Auckland - Tāmaki Makaurau
NORTH AUKLAND
HOME BIRTH
About us
A community for Māmā and Whānau interested in Homebirth; as well as Midwives and Birthworkers involved in the Homebirth space.
Services
Birth pool hire, monthly in-person meets.
Contact
General inquiries – nahomebirth@gmail.com
Links
Whakatāne
EBOP
HOME BIRTH ASSOCIATION
About us
Advocating for undisturbed, physiological birth at home as an accessible choice in EBOP.
We meet on the first Monday of every month (unless it’s a public holiday, and then we do the second Monday) 10am-12pm.
Details are always posted to our Instagram page.
We generally try to get a guest speaker and meet at the Plunket rooms: 10 Victoria avenue Whakatane.
There are kitchen facilities, comfy couches, inside toys and a fenced outside play area. We offer home baking and hot drinks.
Contact
General inquiries – ebophomebirth@gmail.com
Links
Coromandel - Hauraki
Waikato
WAIKATO HOME BIRTH ASSOCIATION
About us
The Waikato Home Birth Association Inc (WHBA) has been going for over 30 years! We started in 1979 to support women who chose to birth at home, their families, and the midwives who cared for them. We are ran by a group of volunteers passionate about home birth who provide information and support for birthing women and their whānau. We encourage women to actively explore and research all their options and to make choices for a better birthing experience.
WHBA support women’s choice and we have a special commitment to, and belief in, home birth as the optimal choice of birthing for most well women and babies. We encourage women to actively explore and research all their options and to make choices for a better birthing experience.
Our membership subscriptions fund the mahi we do in the community, sharing the home birth philosophy throughout the Waikato and beyond. As part of this we’re committed to raising the level of knowledge and acceptance of home births within the community and providing opportunities for empowering and supporting women through knowledge and experience sharing.
Services
Check out our website for birth pool hire, library lending, pēpi packs and cloth nappy packs. Regular homebirth whānau mornings.
Contact
General inquiries – waikatohomebirth@gmail.com
Links
Tauranga
TRUST HOME BIRTH TAURANGA
About us
The Tauranga HBA formed in 1981 with a small group of strong minded women who fought for the right to have their babies at home at a time when it was extremely difficult to find any midwife or doctor to attend their births. The political work of these pioneering families resulted in the system today with many midwives in our community available, and with homebirth available to all. Our antenatal classes have continued since this time and today we are again a growing association, active and excited to promote homebirth in Aotearoa.
Our purpose:
- To provide experience, information and sound support for the availability and practice of Home Birth
- To share the joy of homebirth in our community and to spread the word of the benefits it can bring to mothers, babies and families
- To sustain and nurture the community of home birthing families in Tauranga
- To ensure robust and informed discussion regarding home birth in our community
- To provide free and accessible services that educate our community about homebirth
- To be the recognised consumer voice for homebirth in the Health services
Services
Birth pool hire.
Contact
General inquiries – homebirthtrust@gmail.com
Birth pool inquiries – sharplintaylor@hotmail.com
Links
Rotorua
ROTORUA HOME BIRTH COMMUNITY
About us
Rotorua Home Birth promotes the enriching and empowering experience of homebirth. We welcome all parents, families and community supportive of home birth. Our intention is to support those interested in home birth, those planning a home birth and those that have had a home birth. We encourage homebirth as a safe and natural way to welcome new babies into the world.
We hope to provide information, support those in our community making supportive connections and provide continual support- before, during and after the birth of a baby.
Contact
Talia Debelak – talia.debelak@gmail.com
Jamie Fyfe – jamiegera@hotmail.com
Links
Taupō
TAUPŌ HOME BIRTH COMMUNITY
About us
Taupo Home birth promotes the enriching and empowering experience of homebirth. We welcome all parents, families and community supportive of home birth. This is a place that supports the circle of wisdom that happens when home birthing families get together.
Our intention is to support those interested in home birth, those planning a home birth and those that have had a home birth. We encourage homebirth as a safe and natural way to welcome new babies into the world.We hope to provide information, support those in our community making supportive connections and provide continual support- before, during and after the birth of a baby.
Services
Birth pool hire and lending library
Contact
Birth pool inquiries – taupo.homebirth@gmail.com
Links
Taranaki
ACTIVE BIRTH TARANAKI
About us
We are a group of people who know childbirth is a safe, normal and positive life event. Our aim is to share our passion, excitement and knowledge to support mums-and-dads-to-be during their journey through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.
Some people think “natural” childbirth, waterbirth or homebirth are for the lucky or the brave. We believe natural childbirth is the right of every birthing woman, and every baby. Not every woman will have an intervention-free birth every time, but most women can, most of the time, given the right preparation, attitude, support, and birthing environment.
Childbirth can, and should be, an amazing, empowering and life changing experience. So we would like to help you experience the power of positive childbirth. This is a very special time for you, a time for celebration, a time for reflection and a time for preparation. We encourage you to take responsibility for all you can to make things the best they can be – physically, mentally and spiritually – to bring your beautiful baby in to this world.
Services
Choices in Childbirth classes 2-3 times a year. These classes are intended to be taken in addition to Antenatal Classes
Coffee Group
We meet monthly for a casual coffee group from 11am-12,30pm – with dates updated on our facebook and instagram. We meet at the Flourish 1 Rogan Street, New Plymouth
Contact
General inquiries – admin@activebirthtaranaki.org.nz
Links
Hawke's Bay - Te Matau-a-Māui
HOME BIRTH HAWKE’S BAY
About us
Home Birth Hawke’s Bay is a friendly and safe space for families who choose, or who are interested in home birth. We support one another in our choices. We gather monthly to share knowledge, experiences, inspiration & information. We nurture a close relationship with our wonderful, local home birth midwives, many of whom are members in this group and we are closely affiliated with Home Birth Aotearoa
Services
We also offer more practical support in the form of a lending library of home birth and gentle parenting resources.
Contact
Rachel – rachelmariep76@gmail.com
Links
Manawatū
MANAWATŪ HOME BIRTH ASSOCIATION
About us
Our Mission Statement is:
‘To promote home birth and advocate for women and their families/whanau birthing at home or the place of their choosing by providing support, information and resources (birthing pools, preparatory kits for siblings and an extensive library). We have faith in womens’ ability to birth naturally and are mindful of the advantages to birthing without medical intervention.’
We are a group of parents who believe childbirth is normal and healthy process. We provide information and support to families planning to birth their babies at home, in the Manawatu. We meet monthly and our gatherings are informal social events (over morning or afternoon tea on the second Wednesday of the month). We are always open to chatting with expectant families who are planning, or considering planning to birth their child(ren) at home.
Services
Birth pool hire, califont hire and lending library
Contact
Birth pool inquiries – manawatubirthpoolhire@gmail.com
Links
Wellington - Te Whanganui-a-Tara
WELLINGTON HOME BIRTH ASSOCIATION
About us
Wellington Home Birth Association Inc., is a group of like minded people supporting home birth in the Wellington Region. The Wellington Home Birth Association was first established in 1979 and became an incorporated society in 1985. We give tribute to the women who have gone before us who lobbied for change and the commitment of midwives who have struggled for recognition, independence and their own survival.
The Wellington Home Birth Association Inc believes birth is a physiological process and that birth is a family affair. We believe people have the right to any information they want in order to make the best decision for their pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care. That parents have the right to choose where their baby is born and the right to free and competent care.
The purposes of the Wellington Home Birth Association Inc are to empower all women and their families to birth in a loving environment with integrity by making the people of Aotearoa aware of the responsible home birth option and to fully support those who choose to give birth at home.
Services
Birth pool hire, TENs hire and library lending
Contact
General inquiries – whbaweb@gmail.com
Links
Nelson - Whakatū
CHOICE BABY NELSON
About us
We aim to support, nurture and encourage natural, active birth, well-informed and self-empowered parents, and healthy babies.
Services
Birth pool hire and meetings every month, with beautiful guest speakers and informational motherhood related topics.
Contact
Marta Willis – marta@lunabloom.co.nz
Links
Golden Bay - Mohua
BIRTH WISDOM GOLDEN BAY
About us
The Golden Bay Birth Wisdom community is here to share knowledge and support local whanau to achieve empowered birth experiences. We believe these are optimally in home environments though understand this is not always an option or personal preference. Therefor we welcome membership from anyone of interest and those with knowledge or experiences to share, exclusive of age and gender. Our aim is to provide support to our midwives and national body to ensure that the women of Aotearoa can make the choices they need to feel empowered during their birth experience.
Services
birth pool hire
Contact
General inquiries – birthwisdomgb@gmail.com
Links
Motueka
MOTUEKA HOME BIRTH GROUP
About us
We are a group of families that have been gathering together for nearly 5 years. We have created a real sense of community together over this time. We enjoy supporting each other in healthy natural pregnancy, with empowered, gentle birthing and conscious parenting. New people are coming often. Everyone is welcome.
Services
Lending library, we make meals for each other when babies are born and we hold mother blessings for those wanting them.
Contact
General inquiries – homebirthmotueka@gmail.com
Links
Westport - Kawatiri
KAWATIRI HB
About us
Home Sweet Homebirth – Kawatiri Support Group is a group of women and birth workers, passionate about our choice to homebirth and about empowered childbirth in general. We have monthly morning tea at homes in and around Westport, West Coast.
Services
We offer information for anyone thinking about birthing at home, support for planning a homebirth, and practical support around the time of your homebirth.
Contact
If you’ve previously had a homebirth we would also love for you to join us and share your positive birth story and inspiration. homesweethomebirth@mailfence.com
West Coast - Te Tai Poutini
WEST COAST HOME BIRTH ASSOCIATION
About us
The West Coast Home Birth Association is a voluntary community group providing information and support to birthing families and Whanau on the West Coast. Currently we have around 80 members. We have a great relationship with the local home birth midwives. The West Coast has a strong home birthing history with higher than the national average rate of home births.
Our group aims to fulfil some of those roles of caring, nurturing and role-modelling, which contribute to the well-being of the pregnant woman, the new mother and baby, and the growing family, which can be especially important for those living away from their own family. We often share practical support with new families, such as meals for your babymoon period, pre-loved clothing and other baby related items. We participate in community information events and distribute information as widely as possible. We have input into local and national maternity planning and policy.
Services
Birth pool hire, lending library and social meetings
Contact
General inquiries – westcoasthomebirth@gmail.com
Links
Canterbury - Waitaha
CANTERBURY HOME BIRTH ASSOCIATION
About us
The Canterbury Homebirth Association (CHBA) has been in existence since 1976 and is a voluntary organisation that promotes and supports home birth as an alternative to hospital birth.
We are a group of like minded people that see birth as a natural process. The backgrounds of our members reflect the diversity of women who choose home birth. Our own personal birth experiences have led us to work together to promote home as a safe and loving environment in which to birth.
Our passion boils down to: “Home birth – it’s a philosophy, not just a location.”
Services
Birth Pool Hire We also work with the Home Birth Antenatal Classes Trust which runs antenatal classes
Contact
General inquiries – canterburyhba@gmail.com
Birth pool inquiries – hbcpoolhire@gmail.com
hbcpoolhire@gmail.com
canterburyhba@gmail.com
Links
Selwyn District
TE WHARE TANGATA -HOME BIRTH SELWYN
About us
Te Whare Tangata – Home Birth Selwyn, a space to learn and understand more about your innate power as a birthing person and designed to hold space and nurture expectant and existing parents.
While the focus is intended to be physiological birth at home, it is important to acknowledge that some births do not go to plan, even with advanced preparation.
The goal is for this space to be inclusive and promote choice, equity and support, and that includes for birthing families where things might not have gone as planned.
Services
Birth pool and califont hire
Contact
General inquiries – tewharetangatahomebirthselwyn@gmail.com
Links
South Canterbury - Waitaha ki te tonga
SOUTH CANTERBURY HOME BIRTH SUPPORT GROUP
About us
Welcome to our support group for South Canterbury Homebirthers. We are passionate about women birthing where they are most comfortable. We love homebirth and the many positive aspects that go along with it. Let us love on you and make sure that you have more than enough support on this journey of pregnancy, birth, and the amazing journey of parenthood.
Services
Monthly gatherings
Contact
General inquiries – schomebirth@gmail.com
Links
Oamaru
OAMARU HOME BIRTH SUPPORT
About us
New support group, formed in 2023. If you’re interested in, planning, or have had a Home Birth please come and join us. It doesn’t matter how long ago you gave birth.
Services
Fortnightly catch ups
Contact
General inquiries – oamaruhbgroup@gmail.com
Links
Queenstown - Tāhuna
CENTRAL LAKES
HOME BIRTH
About us
We are Central Lakes HB. Covering all of the Whakatipu basin.
Contact
General inquiries – jonimeadowssalles@gmail.com
Phone – 02108102570
Links
Dunedin - Ōtepoti
POSITIVE BIRTH DUNEDIN
About us
Positive Birth Dunedin (formerly known as Home Birth Association of Dunedin, Te Rópu Whanauahuru o Otepoti) is a collection of mothers, midwives, student midwives and their friends and families who are interested and passionate about positive birth, physiological birth, and home birth.
We aim to support new families in their home birth journey, and our members in having a supportive community around them through pregnancy and family life. You don’t need to have had, or be specifically planning a home birth to be involved with our group or part of our community, just come along and join in where and how you like.
In addition we work in collaboration with the midwives of our community and other groups to support, encourage, educate on and promote home birth.
Services
Birth pool hire and lending library
Contact
General inquiries – positivebirth@gmail.com
Links
Southland - Murihiku
BIRTH AND BABY SUPPORT SOUTHLAND
About us
We aim to support parents through pregnancy, birth, the post natal period and parenting with trained specialists in baby wearing, feeding and breastfeeding, birth educators and birth experience debriefing. We help you on your journey – however you do it
Services
Birth pool hire, lending library of books, DVDs and other resources regarding home birth, active birth, and positive parenting.
Contact
General inquiries – southlandhba@gmail.com
Links
Starting a group:
No local group in your region or town? Have you considered starting your own? Some groups are just a few like minded mums or midwives who get together now and then, whereas some are more structured and boast large memberships. If you are eager to facilitate gathering of like minded people in your area, you might begin by:
Request a post on the HBA Facebook page to connect with others in your area
Start a Facebook group
Arrange a coffee morning, picnic or similar and invite friends and acquaintances from local playgroups, play centre, etc
Contacting us. We can let you know what if any groups have been in your area in the past and where the nearest groups are as well
Some useful links for becoming an association, society or trust:
www.societies.govt.nz/cms
www.associations.org.nz/about-nzarc
www.ird.govt.nz/yoursituation-nfp/
Visit our Store
All proceeds from sales will go towards supporting regional home birth groups
