The Associate Health Minister says it is exciting that more young Maori women want to become midwives.
Turiana Turia was in Hastings on Tuesday to officially open the new national office for the Maori Midwives Collective Nga Maia.
The collective, which was established in 1993 by a small group of midwives, now has about a 120 members all over New Zealand.
Tariana Turia says it is very heartening that the number of Maori midwives continues to increase as there is a huge need for their skills.
She says midwives play a very important role in what is the most profound moment in a family's life, the birthing of their tamariki.
