Mothers who have just given birth will be given the option of staying in hospital or birth care facilities for up to three days.
The Government has put aside $34 million over the next four years for the new initiative, announced in Thursday's Budget.
You can follow Stuff’s live coverage of Budget 2026 here.
Until now, a mother's postnatal stay has been determined by their specific needs. Staffing and other constraints at some facilities has sometimes meant they have had to leave earlier than they wished.
The law will now be changed to create a legal entitlement for all women to access a minimum 72-hour postnatal stay.












