Thames Plunket

23/06/2026

t's getting chilly out there! Staying warm matters, but so does staying safe. Our chat today covers practical advice on keeping your whānau warm while staying safe. Whether it's heaters, fires, or rugging up in the car, we're here to talk about it.

23/06/2026

Great reminder from our friends at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora!

Moderate illness like a cold, runny nose or mild fever is usually not a reason to delay childhood immunisations but you can always check in with your vaccinator for peace of mind.

Not every sniffle needs a cancellation 🤧

Moderate illness, like a cold, runny nose, or mild fever, is usually not a reason to delay childhood immunisations. If you're unsure, give your vaccinator a call before cancelling. Staying on schedule helps keep children protected from preventable diseases 💙

23/06/2026

The Village NZ offers free online resources and events each month, covering pregnancy, postpartum and early motherhood, centred on the first 1,000 days.

Here is a range of offerings coming up in the next month. To find out more visit: https://thevillagenz.org/

PREGNANT.
• Prenatal Pelvic Flow (online) 1 July
• Antenatal 3-part course (online) starting 7 July
• Emotional Preparedness for Birth and Baby (online) 28 July

NAVIGATING LIFE WITH A NEW BABY
• Postnatal Pelvic Flow (online) 3 July
• Lactation Consultant Support (online) 16 July
• Fourth Trimester 3-part course (online) starting 22 July

BEYOND THE NEWBORN STAGE
• Perinatal Mental Health Support Group (online) 29 July
• Circle of Security 4-part course (online) starting 4 August

A free community hub supporting New Zealand mums through the first 1000 days. Connect with trusted resources, events, and whānau who get it.

22/06/2026

Annah has been volunteering with her local Plunket for 3 years now, supporting local whānau while building meaningful connections for herself and her daughter. Annah helps run two playgroups, supports a clothing exchange, and co-facilitates an intergenerational playgroup at Burlington Retirement Village. 👶🏽👩🏼‍🦳

“Volunteering for Plunket has helped me heal a lot,” says Annah. “It has given me confidence in myself and helped me build my village around me and my daughter. It has given my daughter and me lifelong friends.”

You can read Annah's story, as well as the other amazing volunteers we've been talking about this National Volunteer Week on our website: https://www.plunket.org.nz/about-plunket/news-and-resources/news/plunket-people/national-volunteer-week-meet-annah/

19/06/2026

To all of our volunteers - thank you 💜
Whether it's been one month or 60 years, everything our volunteers do adds up to make a huge impact for whānau and communities.

18/06/2026

Meet Kayla, one of our many wonderful volunteers we're celebrating this National Volunteer Week. Kayla hosts one of our Plunket in the Neighbourhood (PIN) group in Wellington. Between caring for her twins and her university studies, Kayla provides a space for whānau to come together to build friendships, share challenges, and celebrate being a parent. 💜

“Much of my passion comes from my own experiences navigating parenthood, which showed me both the value of supportive services and how isolating it can feel when those supports are limited or hard to access.”

Read Kayla's full story and learn more about our PIN groups on our website: https://www.plunket.org.nz/about-plunket/news-and-resources/news/plunket-people/national-volunteer-week-meet-kayla/

17/06/2026

When it’s cold, more blankets can feel like the right thing.

But for pēpi, a clear bed is the safest bed.

Keep them warm with layers or a sleep sack, not loose bedding.

Clear bed, cosy pēpi. 💤

16/06/2026

Through volunteering, Aino is building social connections and gaining experience in her field.

14/06/2026

We've been seeing a lot of searches about whooping cough on our website recently and while it can feel scary, there are things you can do to protect pēpi and tamariki. That's the message from Dr Owen Sinclair, paediatrician and President of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand.
The whooping cough vaccine is free and needed for hapū māmā every pregnancy. Immunisation for pēpi is also free and given in 3 doses at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 5 months.
Immunisation is the best protection from whooping cough - just get it done. 👏

11/06/2026

When Cara-lee welcomed her third baby, exhaustion was taking a serious toll. Her newborn's reflux and dairy intolerance meant broken sleep night after night, and with tiredness came real safe sleep risks. Returning to Plunket felt like coming home - and it was her Plunket nurse who made all the difference, introducing Cara-lee to the pēpi pod and safe sleep guidance she calls a "game changer".

"There were times I needed advice, times I just needed to vent, and times I simply needed to cry. My Plunket nurse supported me through all of it without judgement. She listened, reassured me, and helped me find solutions."

Read Cara-lee's full story on our website.