Drive to upgrade birthing unit

Franklin accounting firm Campbell Tyson has teamed up with the Middlemore Foundation to raise money for the renovation of Pukekohe’s two birthing rooms.

Anna Varma, of Campbell Tyson, said that for over 70 years, Pukekohe Hospital has been at the heart of the community.

“It’s where many of us took our first breath, welcomed our children, or stood alongside loved ones during life’s most important moments. Almost every family in Franklin has a connection to this very special place.”

While the facility has served the community well, the facilities, especially in the birthing units, are tired, outdated, and in need of an upgrade.

Together with the Middlemore Foundation, Campbell Tyson launched a campaign to raise funds for a renovation of the birthing suites. The initial fundraising target is $100,000, which would ensure a basic upgrade of the two birthing rooms.

“But the more we raise, the more we can do. The whole hospital could use some love, and every extra dollar helps us create a space that is safe, comfortable, and fit for future generations of mums and babies.”

Varma said that for many families, the Pukekohe Birthing Unit was more than just a building, it’s part of their story.

“This hospital has been part of so many special moments in my life, not only was I born here, but I also spent time here when I had my own children.

“Over the last few decades, it has also hosted many special visits meeting new siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and babies of close friends, and I know it’s just as special for so many other families.

“We’re very lucky to have this incredible service available in our community, and we want to help make sure it stays that way.”

Opened in 1953 as a 22-bed maternity hospital on the corner of Kitchener and Tuakau Roads, it was officially launched by Minister of Health J.R. Hanan in 1955. Since then, it has been a cornerstone of maternity care in Franklin and North Waikato, offering local families the chance to birth and receive care close to home, without the stress of travelling into the city.

In 2025, the Pukekohe Birthing Unit is a midwifery-led service for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Its facilities include two birthing rooms with large pools for labour and birth support, along with eight single postnatal rooms (including one queen-bed room), offering comfort for mothers and families. There is also a large dining room for patients and whānau in a welcoming environment where local midwives deliver care.

In 2024, the unit supported:

• 199 births.
• 537 postnatal women transferred from secondary facilities (including babies returning from NICU).
• Over 1,500 acute assessments.

Keen to donate to the cause? You can do that online here.