Kapiti Parents Centre Celebrate Fifty Years Supporting Families in the Community

Kapiti Parents Centre is celebrating fifty years of supporting new and expecting parents in the Paekakariki to Te Horo area with a full-day of family fun on Saturday, 1 September at St Pauls Church Hall, Kapiti Road, Paraparaumu.

“It’s really special to be able to celebrate so many years in the community,” says event organizer Mary-Ann Moore. “There are families that have been in the Kapiti community for generations and we look forward to seeing a lot of re-connections – as well as a lot of happy kids – on the day!”

Past President Bridget Best has been involved in the Kapiti Parents Centre for over fifteen years, after joining the Childbirth Education class with her first pregnancy. “Little did I know back then that the people we met would go on to become lifelong friends.”

Best has been involved with the centre ever since. “I joined the committee when my first child was six months old, as I loved what Parents Centre stood for, and liked being able to give back to the community that supported me so much during such a big life transition. Over the fifteen years I have held roles from organising CBE classes to being committee President. I believe Kapiti Parents Centre has a strong presence in Kapiti, and we have a lot of community support behind us.”

“For fifty years, to have had KPC delivering childbirth education, parenting courses, Little Wigglers music and dance classes, and many more services – we are so lucky as a community, and as a committee to have had volunteers to support us in organising and delivering all these important services.”

All new parents are vulnerable, the knowledge and support they get from Parents Centre and its volunteers is invaluable. Parents Centre New Zealand are the primary provider of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Parent education in New Zealand with 46 community-based Centres across the country.

“At Parents Centre New Zealand Inc, we believe that parenting is everything. Our philosophy embraces working with parents to equip them with the knowledge, skills and support so they can be the best parents they can possibly be,” says Heather Hayden, Parents Centres Chief Executive.

Kapiti Parents Centre, one of the 46 community-based Centres, have been offering support and education for new and existing parents since 1968. They run well attended pregnancy, childbirth and parent education programmes, on-going support networks for new mothers, activities for pre-schoolers and hot topic events.

Parents Centres have achieved many milestones which are now part of everyday childbirth and raising a family in New Zealand. These milestones include:
• Advocating for mother’s maternity needs, including informed consent to obstetric procedures such as anaesthetisation;
• Fathers and partners / whānau present at the birth;
• Initiation of antenatal education classes in New Zealand;
• Successful lobbying for open visiting hours and parents-stay for children in hospital;
• Promoting flexible working conditions for parents.

Celebrations commence at 10am with activities happening throughout the day and the cake cutting around 11.30am. There will be morning tea, a bouncy castle and the petting zoo as well as a sausage sizzle and more.
ENDS

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