ABOUT US
This website has reopened for mothers and whānau to use as a resource for milk donation thanks to the generosity of the Auckland New Zealand College of Midwives Committee.
The Mothers Milk NZ Story
Mother's Milk NZ emerged in 2009, after co-founder, Emma, discovered there were no community breast milk banks in New Zealand. Initially MMNZ was a Facebook and Instagram landing page for mothers/māmā and families/whānau to connect and share milk which later developed to include a website and other IT software support to facilitate smooth milk sharing across the country.
Since the birth of Mother's Milk NZ in 2009, the demand for donor milk steadily increased. Initially, reactions from most of the public exclaimed distaste for donor milk - "Ew no!". Later on, milk recipients developed as a fringe group of 'well read' parents as the research into breast milk qualities and their unparalleled benefits developed and was published to the public. With the establishment of the first Human Breast Milk Bank in New Zealand opening in Christchurch Hospital in February of 2014, the public awareness exponentially increased and so did the demand for this 'liquid gold'.
In 2017 Emma was contacted by several mothers within the space of 2 weeks, all from Christchurch, mothers who could not access donor milk from the Christchurch Human Milk Bank - as it was reserved for hospital inpatient babies. When this request for milk arrived in the MMNZ inbox it also became apparent they needed to freight this milk down to Christchurch and so it began, MMNZ screened and organised the collection of donor breast milk throughout the country a first for NZ and an attempt to create equity for NZ babies, who all deserved to receive breast milk.
World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF both recommend mother's milk is the gold standard for babies and when mothers' milk is not available, donor breast milk is the next best thing.
Currently there remains a shortage of screened donor milk across New Zealand. However there are now breastmilk banks in Christchurch, Wellington, Palmerston North for NICU/SCBU babies and community milk banks in Christchurch - Rotary Community Breastmilk Bank as well as Palmerston North's Whāngai Ora Milk Bank also serves it's community.
Mother's Milk NZ would love to see blood screening tests become free for all mothers who have surplus milk to donate, along with the establishment of community breast milk banks in all the major cities, towns and remote rural communities.
This charity was run by a team of volunteers for over 6 years as a fully-fledged service using grant funding and public donations to help fund blood screening tests. When able our milk recipients were asked to contribute towards the blood test costs. Recipients also paid a small administration fee and freight when required.
In early 2023 we Closed our doors due to lack of access to grant funds for wages, something that became vital due to the huge demands for donor milk and long hours spent volunteering.
This website was reopened to support donors and recipients understand what is considered safe donor milk sharing, so that they are able to make informed choices for themselves and their baby.
