All newborns deserve access to safe sleeping devices

The Government needs to ensure that all new babies have access to a wahakura safe sleeping device, the Green Party said today.

The Child and Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC) special report on sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) shows that there is much more that can be done to prevent babies dying in New Zealand.

“Every single baby in Aotearoa needs access to a wahakura safe sleeping device,” said Green Party health spokesperson Julie Anne Genter.

“The National Government has announced it will fund 4000 to 8000 babies to get access to a safe sleeping device, but this needs to be extended so that it is made available to all parents with a newborn.

“Finland has been providing pepi-pods, which are similar to wahakura, to all families who want them for 75 years now, and has seen its SUDI rates decline and babies lives saved.

“It is time for New Zealand to offer the same healthy and safe start to all of our children.

“The Green Party in government will make sure every family with a newborn are given a wahakura - baby pod, which includes a safe sleeping place as well as clothes, nappies and bedding.

“We want every single Kiwi kid to have a great start to life,” Ms Genter said.

Latest Children Announcements

Story

Time to get serious on delivering for families

The Green Party calls on the Government to get serious about supporting families.
Read More

Story

Greens welcome paid parental leave increase, urge Govt to go further

The Green Party is today welcoming the increase in paid parental leave payments, but is urging the Government to continue supporting families when ...
Read More

Story

National would make life harder for people

Christopher Luxon and the National Party are not telling the full story when it comes to childcare, the Green Party says.
Read More

Story

Greens welcome childcare support, call for more action

The Green Party is welcoming the modest support for families announced by the Labour Government but calling for more urgent action to ease the pres...
Read More

Story

Trust betrayed with passing of OT Bill

By passing the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki Bill in the face of overwhelming opposition from nearly every community, the Labour Government has fail...
Read More

Story

Green Party welcomes new report critiquing OT Oversight bill

The Green Party once again calls on the Government to withdraw its Oversight of Oranga Tamariki Bill.
Read More

Latest Health Announcements

Story

Scrapping Māori Health Authority tramples over Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The Green Party condemns the Government’s latest trashing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in rushing through legislation, without any public input, that wi...
Read More

Story

Cruel move to put tobacco profit over people’s health

Sacrificing the health of our rangatahi to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy few is a deeply cynical move and shows this Government is more influenc...
Read More

Story

Only the Green Party will deliver free dental care for all

With more Green MPs we can build on Labour’s announcement today and make dental care free for everyone.
Read More

Story

Greens release dental stories collection

The Green Party has today released a collection of stories showing exactly why dental care should be free in Aotearoa.
Read More

Story

Marama Davidson Free Dental for All Speech

Ata mārie and welcome. 
Read More

Story

Green Party promises free dental for all

The Green Party is today promising to make dental care free for everyone in Aotearoa.
Read More