Maternity — Bay of Plenty

There are a range of options for where and how you give birth in the Bay of Plenty. The region has 2 primary birthing centres and 2 secondary maternity facilities. There are no tertiary facilities in the Bay of Plenty, but you can be referred to them if required.

On this page

Services we provide

Our experienced team are here to make sure you receive the best care possible. The Bay of Plenty has:

  • midwife and nursing care through pregnancy, labour and birth, and after birth
  • specialist obstetricians and paediatricians for complications during pregnancy, childbirth and after birth
  • breastfeeding support
  • anaesthetic services for pain relief during labour.

Choices for giving birth in the Bay of Plenty

You have options for deciding where to give birth. These include:

  • having a home birth
  • going to a primary birthing centre
  • birthing in hospital.

You should discuss your preferred place of birth with your midwife as part of your planning in pregnancy. Women who have complications or risk factors in pregnancy are encouraged to give birth at hospital.

Home birth

Home birth is a safe choice for many hapū māmā and whānau and may suit you if you have no complications during pregnancy and want to stay in a familiar place. Talk to your midwife about your options.

Primary birthing centres

Primary birthing centres are for women who have no complications during pregnancy and want a natural birth without intervention. There are 3 primary birthing centres in the Bay of Plenty.

Bethlehem Birthing Centre, Tauranga

To contact the Bethlehem Birthing Centre:

The Bethlehem Birthing Centre is at:

1 Paeroa Road
Bethlehem
Tauranga

The Bethlehem Birthing Centre has:

  • 12 rooms, 11 with baths for labour and birth
  • queen beds – partners can stay
  • labour and birth balls, slings, and stools
  • entonox (gas and air for pain relief).

Find out more about the Bethlehem Birthing Centre

Ōpōtiki Community Health Centre

To contact the Ōpōtiki Community Health Centre, call 07 315 8500.

The Ōpōtiki centre is at:

32A King St
Ōpōtiki

The health centre has 2 birthing rooms with one pool.

Ōpōtiki Community Health Centre cannot currently offer a stay or postnatal care.

Ko Matariki Birthing Unit, Whakatāne Hospital

To contact Ko Matariki, call 07 306 0811.

To contact the community midwifery team, call 0800 429 328.

Ko Matariki is at:

Stewart Street
Whakatāne Hospital
Whakatāne

Ko Matariki has:

  • 3 birthing rooms, 2 with pools
  • 13 postnatal beds
  • a community midwifery team
  • lactation consultants
  • wāhanga piripoho (a neonatal unit)
  • paediatricians on site
  • loss and counselling space
  • pregnancy tests and morning after pill
  • preconception advice
  • early medical abortion under 10 weeks pregnant
  • maternity social workers.

Whakatāne Ko Matariki Birthing Unit

Whakatāne Ko Matariki Birthing Unit

Secondary maternity facilities

Secondary maternity facilities are for women and babies who experience complications during pregnancy or birth that require additional care beyond primary level care. 

There is one secondary birthing centre in the Bay of Plenty at Tauranga Hospital. To contact Tauranga Hospital maternity ward, call 07 579 8000.

To contact the community midwifery team, call 0800 267 686.

Tauranga Hospital maternity ward is at:

Level 1
Cameron Road
Tauranga

Tauranga Hospital maternity ward has:

  • 7 birthing rooms, 2 with pools
  • 17 postnatal beds
  • 6 antenatal beds
  • a woman’s assessment unit
  • a community midwifery team
  • wāhanga piripoho (a neonatal unit)
  • paediatricians on site
  • obstetricians on site
  • lactation consultants
  • maternity social workers.

Tauranga Hospital maternity ward

Tauranga Hospital maternity ward

Tertiary maternity facilities

Tertiary facilities are for women and babies with complex needs, requiring specialist care from an obstetrician, anaesthetist, paediatrician as well as a midwife. These facilities also have neonatal intensive care services.

There are no tertiary maternity facilities in the Bay of Plenty. If you have more complex maternity needs, we may refer you to Waikato Hospital.

Childbirth education

For details for local childbirth education or antenatal classes in the Bay of Plenty area, see the Childbirth education webpage.

Childbirth education