New Zealand Breastfeeding Alliance - NZBA

07/02/2026

04/02/2026

The latest news from NZBA is out now!

Welcome to our first pānui for 2026.  WABA has recently released its slogan for World Breastfeeding Week 2026: Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works. Our mahi is guided by the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Imitative (BFHI) evidence-based documents. 

04/02/2026

04/02/2026

The latest SUDI Prevention Aotearoa webinar is now available.

The National SUDI Prevention Coordination Service delivers a quarterly webinar series designed to inform, connect and upskill the SUDI Prevention workforce and kaimahi working alongside whānau.

03/02/2026

Save the date for the Big Latch On 2026!

The Big Latch On is back for 2026! Save the date - Friday 27th - Sunday 29th March. Visit www.blo.org.nz for more information

29/01/2026

Welcome to the Baby Friendly whānau, Alex.
We are so glad you have made Aotearoa your home.

Welcome Alex - our new Lactation Consultant at Whanganui Hospital

Alex describes herself as a “birth and baby nerd,” and it’s easy to see why. Her passion for supporting whānau began early, inspired by a childhood documentary and eventually shaped into a career in postnatal nursing in the U.S. Over time she discovered how powerful breastfeeding support can be, not just for pēpi but for parents finding their confidence. That passion led her to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and to dedicate herself to helping families through one of life’s most tender seasons.

Recently, Alex and her husband made the bold decision to move their whānau, two children, two cats, and a whole lot of determination, around the world. They were searching for a place that matched their values: safety, community, connection to nature. New Zealand kept rising to the top of their list. When they learned Whanganui Hospital needed a lactation consultant, the pieces fell into place.

Alex often says, “Whanganui picked me,” and the fit has been a good one. Her children have settled into school and kindy, she and her husband are building friendships, and she’s finding her place within Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora in Whanganui.

“It didn’t take long to see how fortunate we were to land here,” she says.

We’re delighted to welcome Alex to our hospital. Her knowledge, compassion, and global experience are already strengthening the support we offer to new parents and babies in our community.

22/01/2026

Congratulations team! What an awesome job.

Hawkes Bay Maternity Staff are thrilled to have passed another Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) audit and accreditation. The mission of BFHI is to protect, promote and support breastfeeding world-wide. Both Hastings and Wairoa maternity services have maintained their baby friendly status.

The BFHI audit is an ongoing quality improvement programme where each step is monitored and assessed. Our first accreditation was in February 2007, with this being the 6th audit that Hawkes Bay has passed and assessments are now every 4 years.

Baby Friendly Aotearoa standards known as The Ten Steps, are based on WHO and UNICEF BFHI standards developed in the 1980s. This global assessment tool is the foundation of the audit process for all countries.

The overall aim of BFHI is to enable services to better support whānau with infant feeding and for whānau to develop close, loving relationships, ensuring that all infants get the best possible start in life.

21/01/2026

Great mahi from our member organisation Te Rito Ora
👇The Janm Aur Parvarish February timetable is out now!

🇳🇪 Free for all pregnant Indian women, all sessions presented in Hindi, except Labour & Birthing (support for questions with Hindi speaker). To enrol, encourage women to email:
Cm-terito.ora@tewhatuora.govt.nz with their:
Full name
NHI number
phone number
Due date
where they live in NZ

🧡🤍💚They will receive a welcome email with links to join, and they will continue to receive monthly updated timetables.

20/01/2026

IBFAN WEBINAR on Food Safety with Yasmine Motarjemi, Nestlé Whistleblower.

IBFAN WEBINAR on Food Safety with Yasmine Motarjemi, Nestlé Whistleblower

In November, a new US company called ByHeart recalled its Powdered Infant Formulas (PIF) in the USA because of risk of Clostridium botulinum contamination. This was followed in January, with a recall in 60+ countries of Nestlé’s infant, follow-on, pre-term and specialised formulas Austria’s Health Ministry has said that the recall is the largest in the company’s history, affecting more than 800 products from over 10 Nestlé factories. Contamination outbreaks are especially problematic in the Global South and settings where the risks of using formula are greater, diagnosis is restricted and access to treatment is reduced. The global online promotion and sale exacerbates the risks, idealising products and encouraging unquestioning trust.

One of our key speakers will be Yasmine Motarjemi, WHO’s Food Safety Senior Officer from 1990-2000 and Global Director of Food Safety at Nestlé and Assistant Vice-President (2000 to 2010). Yasmine will explain how she was forced to leave her job after repeatedly raising concerns about Nestlé’s mismanagementof food safety. All the time she was in post at Nestlé, her department of food quality, the cockpit of the Company,was never inspected by government authorities, not even when food incidents occurred. She refused to be silenced and became a whistleblower. Her new book Ce que l’empire Nestlé vous cache(What the Nestlé empire is hiding from you) was published in 2025 Bernard Nicolas, Yasmine Motarjemi.

Speakers:
Yasmine Motarjemi, WHO’s Food Safety Senior Officer from 1990-2000 and Global Director of Food Safety at Nestlé and Assistant Vice-President (2000 to 2010)
Patti Rundall, Policy Director, IBFAN Global Advocacy

Further information is available on the website:
https://www.ibfan.org/ibfan-webinar-on-food-safety-with-yasmine-motarjemi-nestle-whistleblower/

IBFAN - Since 1979 Protecting Breastfeeding

07/01/2026

******INFANT FORMULA RECALL******
Please be aware that Nestlé brand ‘Alfamino’ Infant Formula (0-12 months) recalled due to the possible presence of the toxin cereulide.

· The affected imported products are notavailable in supermarkets. They are prescribed and available through hospitals, pharmacies, and GPs.

· A small amount may have been bought over the counter at pharmacies or online.

· There have been no reports of associated illness but if your child has consumed this product and you have any concerns about their health, seek medical advice.

· Symptoms include severe or persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, or unusual lethargy, which would typically appear between 30 minutes and 6 hours after exposure.

· If you have any concerns about your child's health, contact your healthcare provider, or call Healthline on 0800 611 116 for free advice.

This recall does not affect any other Nestlé brand products in New Zealand.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED THIS PRODUCT:

1. Check the batch and date mark on the bottom of the tin.

Batch numbers are affected by this recall:
Use by 17.04.2027, Batch number 51070017Y2
Use by 18.04.2027, Batch number 51080017Y1
Use by 28.05.2027, Batch number 51480017Y3
Use by 29.05.2027, Batch number 51490017Y1
Use by 22.07.2027, Batch number 52030017Y1.

2. If you have the affected Alfamino formula at home, DO NOT FEED it to your baby, if at all possible. Return it to the place of purchase.

If you have any of the affected batches and are concerned and or have no alternative infant formula in the short term, contact Healthline on 0800 611 116, which can help.

For more information go to:

Recalled on 7 January 2026 by Nestlé. Cereulide toxin is produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.

31/12/2025

Last chance for the earlybird rate for NZLCA’s 2026 online conference!