Wānaka birthing unit welcomes first baby

The title of 'first baby born at Rākai Kahukura' has been claimed.

Two weeks after opening its doors to patients - and years after local whānau started demanding better midwifery care in the area - the new birthing unit in Wānaka has hosted its first birth.

"We are excited to announce that the unit welcomed its first baby this week," Health New Zealand southern director of midwifery Karen Ferraccioli tells Crux.

A luxury lodge in Albert Town has been converted to a birthing unit (Image: Supplied).

"The family is well and enjoying this special time with their new addition."

However, alongside the good news Health New Zealand has admitted the unit faced delays in receiving the final sign off needed to allow patients to birth there.

Despite celebrating with two opening events - the first attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Health Minister Dr Shane Reti at the end of June- Health New Zealand opened its doors on Monday, July 29 to outpatients only, but this was not made clear at the time.

"We had to wait a few extra days to open for inpatients as we waited for one standard to be signed off for the Ministry of Health Certification Audit," Ms Ferraccioli says.

"This involved securing a FENZ-approved fire evacuation scheme.

"As a result, we were able to open to inpatients from Wednesday, July 31.

"No births were scheduled in the unit before this date."

Rākai Kahukura is located in a former luxury lodge in Albert Town, which Health New Zealand converted in a construction process peppered with unexpected delays.

The unit is now fully open for antenatal, labour, birthing, and postnatal services, Ms Ferraccioli says.

However, as reported by Crux on Monday, the unit's operation has already come at the expense of a neighbouring Health New Zealand birthing unit in Alexandra, as the district - and the country - grapples with a shortage of midwives.

Main image (Pixabay/Pexels)