Active Birth Taranaki Inc.

17/06/2026

Who Are We? What Is Active Birth Taranaki?

We are always asked this question, so if you are curious, read on 🙂

Active Birth Taranaki is a not-for-profit incorporated society made up of a committee and members including mothers, birth workers, and midwives who are passionate about supporting, educating, informing, and empowering whānau to create positive birth and postpartum experiences.
Originally established as the Homebirth Association of Taranaki, the organisation evolved to encompass all ways of actively engaging in birth, regardless of where that birth takes place.

The term Active Birth was coined by childbirth educator and author Janet Balaskas in the 1980s. The philosophy centres on freedom of movement during labour, upright positioning for birth, trusting your instincts, minimising unnecessary interventions, and supporting physiological birth. It is also about being an active participant in your own birth journey, restoring confidence, autonomy, and power to birthing parents.

We serve our community through:
💛 Choices in Childbirth antenatal classes, held nine times each year in New Plymouth, Hāwera, and Stratford.
💛 Monthly coffee groups as part of Gather & Grow, a collaboration with other local service providers offering connection and support throughout pregnancy, postpartum, and the parenting journey.
💛 A lending library featuring a wide range of informative, inspiring, and holistic books on pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum wellbeing.
💛 Birth pool hire - coming very soon!

What we do would not be possible without the support of our community funding that we receive and we are thankful to TOI foundation, Taranaki Foundation, Community Organisation Grants Scheme, South Taranaki District Council and Home Birth Aotearoa.

If you'd like to learn more about our upcoming courses, please visit our website at activebirthtaranaki.org.nz/course-details or send us a message.

Over the coming weeks, we look forward to sharing more about our committee members, the ways we support our community, and how you might like to get involved.

We look forward to connecting with you 💛

17/06/2026

17/06/2026

This weeks Gather & Grow on Wednesday with Michelle from the and she is bringing her baby wearing library along if anyone is curious on giving baby wearing ago, or just want a space to connect

Gather & Grow is on this Wednesday with Michelle from the Ngāmotu New Plymouth Parents Centre and she is bringing her baby wearing library along! Come and have a try, ask your questions, or just come for the kai and the company. Pēpē, toddlers, and dads welcome. Free, no registration needed. 10am–12pm, Flourish Taranaki 🌿

17/06/2026

Its important to acknowledge that 1 in 3 women report their births as traumatic Birth Trauma Aotearoa does amazing mahi in this space creating awareness, advocating and providing support for those who are impacted.

Birth Trauma Awareness Week is just around the corner 💙

Awareness Week covers July 13 - 18 and is a time to learn, reflect, kōrero, challenge, and offer support.

Globally, this year's theme is: 'The cost of birth trauma'.

During the week we will be highlighting the immense cost that physical and/or psychological birth trauma can create for individuals, whānau and the wider community 💙

We will also, again, be promoting our '50 for 50' campaign which invites people to do 50 of something over Awareness Week, as a way to acknowledge and honour the 50 Māmā/birthing parents impacted by psychological birth trauma PER DAY in Aotearoa - keep an eye out for more info., over the next days and weeks 💙

Lastly, to Aotearoa's birth trauma community - as you see more about birth trauma in the lead up to, and during, Awareness Week please remember it's OK to take care of yourself and step away for a little while if you need to 💙

17/06/2026

A great post from one of our amazing local Postpartum doulas and Gather & Grow host Postpartum Pathways - Hana Cu***ng on how supportive foot soaks can be in postpartum, we recently offered foot soaks to our Gather & Grow participants and it was well received 💗

Herbal baths & foot soaks are more than just a lovely ritual in postpartum, they’re a simple way to support one of the five pillars of physiological postpartum care: warmth.

🔥 Warmth promotes vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels), increasing circulation to healing tissues and supporting oxygen delivery, muscle relaxation, and recovery.

🔥 Heat also helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”), lowers stress hormones and supports oxytocin release - all essential for postpartum healing, regulation and bonding.

And sometimes, beyond all the science, a warm herbal foot soak or bath is simply an invitation to pause, slow down and be cared for
something every new mother deserves 🧡

✨ My postpartum herbal baths/foot soak recipe:
Epsom salts
Dried lavender
Dried camomile
Dried calendula
Dried rose petals

This is my version but there are so many beautiful variations 💕

10/06/2026

A worthwhile event to get along to if you are feeling in need of some downtime

A night just for you, wāhine.

Come and exhale, connect, and be fully present - no kids, no rushing, just good company and real conversation. Grab a drink, settle in, and let the evening unfold.

Free event. All wāhine welcome
Friday 19 June, 6:00–9:00pm, Flourish Taranaki, 12 Omata Rd, Westown

09/06/2026

This weeks Gather & Grow hosted by La Leche League Taranaki - breastfeeding support all about welcoming baby home 💓

Gather & Grow 💛🌿 this Wednesday with the wonderful Ganesha from La Leche League Taranaki. This week's topic is Welcome Baby Home - newborn behaviour, what makes those early days easier, skin to skin, and everything in between. Come along, grab a coffee, and stay for the kōrero. Pēpē, toddlers, and dads welcome. Kai provided, no registration needed.
Wednesday 10 June, 10am–12pm, Flourish Taranaki

08/06/2026

We are excited to be in Stratford this weekend for our Choices in Childbirth class!

There are still a couple of spots available if you would like to join us 🧡.

Choices in Childbirth classes are designed to leave you feeling prepared and empowered for birth.

We provide you with the birth education tools to go into labour and postpartum knowing that you get to choose how you want to approach every step of your birth experience.

All our upcoming class dates are available to book via our website -
www.activebirthtaranaki.org.nz

We look forward to seeing you soon and supporting you and your whānau to feel informed and prepared for a positive birth 🧡

05/06/2026

The muka tie is more than a cord tie.

Traditionally made from muka, the strong inner fibre of harakeke (flax), it carries deep cultural significance, representing connection, whakapapa, and the sacred journey from womb to earth.

Harakeke has long been valued not only for its strength and versatility but also for its natural properties. It contains compounds with antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities, which is one reason it has traditionally been used in healing and wound care.

Strong, natural, biodegradable, and woven with intention, a muka tie honours both the practical and the sacred aspects of birth.

A small detail, rich with meaning, tradition, and connection. ✨ 📸

05/06/2026

A beautiful kōrero on how caring for mama cares for her baby, children and our communities 🩵