New mothers will be entitled to a minimum 72-hour stay after giving birth.
Home / New Zealand / PoliticsCherie HowieReporter·NZ Herald·28 May, 2026 05:00 PM4 mins to readThe Minister of Finance talks to Katie Bradford about what Budget 2026 sets out to achieve.To follow the latest Budget coverage, click here for our live blog.When Kate Osborne heard Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ Budget would give mothers the choice of longer postnatal stays in hospital and birth care, she was surprised.
The Tauranga mum thought the three days she
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The initiative is expected to cost about $34m over four years; the start date is unknown.
The law will be changed to legally entitle mothers to 72 hours of postnatal care.
Extra funding will expand maternity beds and staff so families get support from day one.
The Finance Minister paused her Budget 2026 speech for a moving tribute to her family.
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Spending focused on health, defence, transport and education.
