This year’s World Breastfeeding Week will see mothers across New Zealand attempting to break the record set last year of 1571 women breastfeeding simultaneously.

Locations are being set up across New Zealand for mothers and babies to come together and celebrate breastfeeding. 

Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service is supporting Big Latch On events throughout Bay of Plenty. Whakatāne mothers wanting to join the event can come along to Allandale School on Alexandra Ave at 9:30 am on Friday, 2nd August. 

The Big Latch On will also be held at other venues across the Bay of Plenty:

• Tauranga – Wesley Community Church, 100/13th Ave, Tauranga
• Waihi - WHISK Cafe, 34 Rosemont Rd, Waihi
• Ōpōtiki  - Memorial Park Community Hall, Albert Street, Ōpōtiki

For contact details, visit Women's Health Action Trust.

This year the World Breastfeeding Week theme is peer support, which recognises that successful breastfeeding requires support from family, friends and the community. Research shows that appropriate community, peer support and family links are critical for breastfeeding women and have a positive influence on breastfeeding rates and duration.

Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service recommends that mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months and then continue to breastfeed along with the introduction of solid foods.

For more information about World Breastfeeding Week and the Big Latch On event visit Toi Te Ora Public Health Service or Womens Health Action Trust.