He Wāhi Haumaru evolved from Breastfeeding NZ, a supportive online community established in 2010. For over a decade, we’ve been connecting whānau (family), offering peer support, and providing resources through Facebook and Instagram.
In 2023, we reimagined our online community to better support whānau Māori and all families across Aotearoa (New Zealand). Gifted the name ‘He Wāhi Haumaru’ by Carol Storey (Te Whakatōhea), we worked with young Māori to create a visual identity that reflects our kaupapa (project).
Our mission today extends beyond the digital realm. In collaboration with Women’s Health Action and Canterbury Breastfeeding Advocacy Service, we’re bringing our supportive and empowering ethos to physical spaces. We encourage businesses and public venues to display our tohu (symbol) and celebrate breastfeeding friendly environments.
Remember, it takes a whānau to feed a pēpi.
You’ve got this, we’ve got you.
Kei a koe tēnei. Kei a mātou koe hoki.
Whāinga (Purpose)
He Wāhi Haumaru, meaning a safe and supportive space, is an initiative that shows people in the community that your space welcomes whānau, pēpi (babies), tamariki (children), and any form of infant feeding (including breastfeeding/chestfeeding*).
This free tohu (symbol) can be displayed at any establishment that is safe, supportive and welcoming. Once an establishment shows commitment to the kaupapa, they will also be put on our nationwide directory.
He Wāhi Haumaru has been developed by the team behind Breastfeeding NZ, and the ongoing kaupapa is a collaboration between Breastfeeding NZ, Canterbury Breastfeeding Advocacy Service and Women’s Health Action.
He Wāhi Haumaru Background
For more than a decade Breastfeeding New Zealand has been a supportive and engaging community for whānau across their breastfeeding journey. The community on Facebook, and now Instagram, has provided a safe and supportive space for whānau to share their experience, seek advice and access resources.
In 2023, we started to reimagine the community. To return to our roots in supporting whānau Māori and other families across Aotearoa. We began working with whānau to develop a new visual identity for the community – and one that could equally be applied out in the world.
Common across our work with communities across Aotearoa was the need to support whānau. Carol Storey (Te Whakatōhea) gifted us the name He Wāhi Haumaru, meaning a safe and caring space. We worked with young Māori parents and Nikki Kennedy (Ngāti Porou, Te Whakatōhea, Te Aitanga a Mahaki) of Taputapu Toi to create a visual identity for He Wāhi Haumaru.
Our concept is distinctly Māori. An image of a parent and child sits on a background of woven harakeke (flax). Our hope is that when people see this displayed, they will feel at ease to feed pēpi, knowing they are in a supportive and nurturing space.
Canterbury Breastfeeding Advocacy Service
The Canterbury Breastfeeding Advocacy Service is a Health Promotion initiative funded by Te Whatu Ora, and managed by Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust. The Canterbury Breastfeeding Advocacy Service aims to advocate for whānau by providing up to date information and education to our community, collaborating with other health professionals, and ensuring that Waitaha (Canterbury) is a place where breast/chestfeeding is celebrated. We believe that all whānau have a right to informed consent when it comes to choosing how to feed their pēpi, so we do the informing part.
Infant feeding in all of its forms should be done in spaces and places where everyone feels safe and comfortable.
Mō tātou a mō ngā uri a muri ake nei
“For us and for those who come after us”
You can reach us at: www.canbreastfeed.co.nz
Women’s Health Action
Women’s Health Action delivers quality information and health promotion initiatives, we engage with diverse communities nationwide to provide insights into the real-time needs of those accessing and delivering health care. We also support the development of people-centred public health strategies, policies, and campaigns for Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora and The Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora.
We hold particular expertise in:
- First 1000 days – Maternal and Child health and nutrition (particularly breastfeeding, infant and young child nutrition and perinatal mental health)
- People-centred research and policy analysis
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Care
- Cervical and Breast screening
- Weight and Size Based Discrimination and Body Image
- Engagement with wāhine māori
- Engagement with rainbow and gender-diverse communities
Ina oranga te wāhine, ka ora te whānau, ka ora te hapū, ka ora nga iwi e
“When women are in good health, the whānau, hapu and iwi will flourish.”
You can reach us at: www.womens-health.org.nz