05/10/2026
We welcome wider public discussion about the importance of supporting mothers and families, following a recent opinion piece published by Rebecca Jayde, guest writer on The Spinoff, which highlighted New Zealand’s disturbing maternal mental health statistics.
We encourage you to read it here: https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/05-09-2026/nz-has-been-failing-mothers-who-struggle-with-their-mental-health-for-generations
Her article points to growing evidence that social connection, community support and early intervention are critical to the wellbeing of parents and their babies, and highlights the value of programmes such as Space, which are often delivered through Playcentres around New Zealand.
This reinforces what generations of Playcentre families have known: parenting was never meant to happen alone.
Playcentre has always been about whānau supporting whānau. When parents walk through our doors, they find more than an early learning service. They find connection, understanding, practical support and a community that grows alongside them and their children.
Space, a parent and baby programme supported by the Ministry of Education New Zealand and facilitated in many Playcentres across Aotearoa, is specifically designed to help parents bond with their babies, and where parents can share experiences, learn together and develop lasting friendships.
While Space provides an invaluable foundation for families in a baby's first year, the need for connection and support does not end after the first child, or even after the first year of parenting. When we talk about maternal wellbeing, we need to recognise that it's not only first-time parents who can struggle.
Our whānau-led model helps create the village that many families no longer have, connecting parents with others who understand the realities of raising children and providing a network of practical and emotional support that can last for years.
For many families, the relationships formed through Playcentre become the support network they rely on when life gets hard.
Our free adult education programme also helps whānau build their knowledge, confidence and understanding about child development, learning through play, positive guidance, communication, emotional development and how to create environments that support learning and wellbeing.
The conversation about maternal mental health often focuses on crisis intervention, which is important. But we also need to invest in prevention. We need places where parents can build relationships, increase their confidence and are provided support before they reach breaking point.
That's what both Space and Playcentre provide. Space offers vital support for parents and babies in those early months, while Playcentre provides an ongoing community where families can continue learning and supporting one another.
When whānau are supported, tamariki thrive. That's the heart of both Space and Playcentre, and it's why these programmes continue to make such a positive difference in communities across Aotearoa.
Find out more about our village: https://www.playcentre.org.nz/why-playcentre/
If you need help or support, you can find services, helplines, and practical guidance here: https://mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help-support/
Image description: Playcentre- and Space-branded tile. Text reads: "Supporting Maternal Mental Health".
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
