Plunket

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is a charity, and a trusted and experienced service provider, supporting child wellbeing and development in the early years. As Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest provider of services to under-fives, we see eight out of 10 new pēpi in their homes and in their communities. Our mahi is centred on supporting pēpi and tamariki to have the best possible start in life - they are at the heart of everything we do.

Every whānau is eligible for free Well Child Tamariki Ora (WCTO) checks. These can take place in homes or local Plunket clinics and community spaces. Nurses work alongside whānau to complete health and developmental assessments with each child to ensure they’re growing and developing as expected. These checks are critical for picking up any concerns early, so children can have the best possible start in life.

Kaiāwhina and community karitāne are trained health workers who are part of the team working alongside nurses supporting whānau in communities.

In addition to the WCTO service, Plunket also offers:

• PlunketLine – a free 24/7 parenting and child health helpline, staffed by registered nurses. PlunketLine also offers innovative video chat breastfeeding and sleep support services

• B4 School Checks through WCTO for tamariki at the age of four, prior to starting primary school

• A range of community services including playgroups, parent education, B4 School Checks, injury prevention and kaupapa Māori antenatal wānanga to support children and whānau, based on the needs of the community. These are funded through fundraising, partnerships and community grants

• A strong advocacy voice for health and wellbeing.