Resources

Multiples New Zealand is the national body that represents a network of over 20 affiliated clubs across New Zealand.

There are currently over 1500 families throughout New Zealand who benefit from the group.

We aim to provide education, support and advocacy to all of these families and all new members.

Our mission is to help mothers' to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, education, information and encouragement .

We also promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.

Questions or worries about breastfeeding? Our accredited La Leche League Leaders are experienced mothers who have been trained to provide information and support for breastfeeding.

We can help over the phone, you can come along to our informal meetings, or ask a questions via email and on social media.

All of this is free and confidential.

For parents whose baby is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, this website provides information for parents and visitors.

There is also a useful video tour to familiarise families who may use the Newborn Services NICU facility.

We're here for a very simple reason. To make a difficult start to life that little bit easier.

We do this by supporting parents and whānau through a time that no one is prepared for.

The Work and Income Multiple Birth Home Help Payments are available to help families of multiples with the cost of home help to complete household tasks normally performed in the home, such as cleaning, cooking and doing the laundry. This benefit is not means tested. New Zealand citizens or permanent resident are eligible if they have given birth to twins or adopted twins and have another child under the age of five years old, or have given birth to or have adopted triplets, or higher order multiples.

Parents of twins can get 240 hours, to be used within 12 months. Those who have given birth to triplets or more are entitled to 1560 hours, to be used within 24 months. Home help is granted from the date that the babies are born if they are born at home, or from the date that they are discharged from the hospital.

You may use your allotted hours in any way that suits your family needs, such as short term full-time help, or longer term part-time help. However, there is no further entitlement once the hours are used up or once the maximum period has ended. It is strongly recommended that parents begin the application process before their multiples are born, and have a home helper in mind—suggestions from multiple birth clubs include employing senior high school or university students, or advertising on a local supermarket notice board, or to use a home-based childcare company or nanny organisation, such as PORSE. Most multiple birth clubs will be able to provide the application forms, and help you complete them, or you can contact Work and Income.

You can get more information by downloading the factsheet

BreastFedNZ is an app to find breastfeeding help, information and support.

The purpose of this app is to provide simple ‘in the moment’ support and information to help women and their babies, alongside their partners and support networks, achieve their breastfeeding goals from birth to weaning.

There are six chapters, all covering key phases of breastfeeding. Just tap on the chapter you want and scroll down the index to find what you need. As simple as that!

This app has been written with a conversational style so it is more personal for the reader. It includes personal stories and photos from mothers throughout their breastfeeding journey, as well as links to other networks and organisations for further information.