Mums and their newborn babies are missing out because Plunket services are running on shoestring budgets with skeleton staffing, and their health needs are unable to be met, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO says.

NZNO national delegate and Plunket nurse Kelly Morrissey says due to funding shortages, Plunket nurses are booking and travelling to six to seven appointments a day, while doing up to 10 on clinic-based days. This reduces the quality time required for pēpē and their whānau.

"Limited funding and understaffing feels like juggling several balls in the air always mindful it could come crashing down at any time."

She has called on the Coalition Government to keep its promise from the previous election campaign and fund Plunket properly.

Whānau Āwhina Plunket looks after society’s most vulnerable members as it takes care of the health and wellbeing of children under five and their families. However, years of decreasing financial support from the Government has led to the not-for-profit organisation being stretched to the limit.

Kelly Morrissey says the Coalition’s promises to "ensure Plunket is funded to do their job properly", made during the last election campaign has not materialised. The situation for Plunket has in fact worsened.

"Budget 2026 was the Government’s last chance to fulfil its coalition agreement between the National and NZ First parties but we were ignored again. To make matters worse our pay equity claim was scrapped last year when we were just weeks away from submitting it.

"How are our services expected to cope with this neglect from the Government? In some parts of the country, local fundraising still supports our services."

Government funding is also vital to recruit and retain staff, she says.

"Plunket nurses are paid considerably less than our hospital-based colleagues. The lack of funding is resulting in much-needed staff leaving for higher paying jobs in hospitals, further hampering the ability to provide vital care and support.

"Proper Government funding would keep nurses from leaving Plunket for better paid hospital jobs.

"The simple solution is pay parity where all nurses with the same skills qualifications and experience are paid the same. Without funding this is impossible to do."