Pregnant women travel to Tauranga as Whakatāne maternity services downgraded
Tuesday 14 October 2025 · 4 outlets · 3 reports · updated 
More than 200 women from the Eastern Bay of Plenty travelled to Tauranga Hospital to give birth this year due to a lack of local obstetricians. Data shows Whakatāne Hospital recorded only 86 births since its maternity service was downgraded in mid-January, with one third of transfers being emergency cases.