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Well Child / Tamariki Ora services for under fivesDisclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child. Key points to remember
 Back to TopWhat are Well Child / Tamariki Ora services?You and your child have the right to use free Well Child / Tamariki Ora services, which will support you to ensure your child grows and develops to their full potential.
Well Child / Tamariki Ora services are offered free to all New Zealand children from birth to five years. They include health education and promotion, health protection and clinical assessment, and family / whānau care and support.
Well Child / Tamariki Ora services:
Back to TopWho provides Well Child / Tamariki Ora services?From birth to four-to-six weeks
You and your child will receive your Well Child / Tamariki Ora service from your LMC (lead maternity carer). Your LMC is your midwife or your GP (general practitioner), or in the case of a shared care arrangement, both. From four-to-six weeks to four-to-five years of age
You and your child will receive your Well Child / Tamariki Ora service from a Well Child provider. Your LMC will give you a list of Well Child providers in your area. You can choose who will carry out Well Child / Tamariki Ora care. Well Child providers will include some of the following:
From five years of age
You and your child will receive your Well Child / Tamariki Ora service from a general practice team (doctor and practice nurse), health provider and / or Public Health Service. Back to TopBreastfeeding supportSupport and help with breastfeeding is available from:
If you are having difficulty breastfeeding, you can be referred to a specialist lactation consultant.
Back to TopWell Child / Tamariki Ora checksYour child is entitled to 12 free health visits under the Government’s Well Child / Tamariki Ora service. These visits, along with other Well Child / Tamariki Ora services, aim to give your child the best start in life by protecting against illness, detecting problems early and providing support to you.
The checks are for your child from birth to four-to-five years of age.
From birth to four-to-six weeks, there are four Well Child health checks provided by your midwife or GP (general practitioner):
From four-to-six weeks to three years, there are a further seven core Well Child health checks available from your Well Child Provider at important stages in your child's life:
B4 School Check is the eighth and final Well Child health check.
See the section below:
Back to TopB4 School Check The B4 School Check is the final Well Child check. It is a free health and development check for four year olds. The B4 School Check helps to make sure your child is healthy and can learn well at school. It is also a chance to discuss your child's health and development with a specially trained registered nurse.  For more information, see:
Back to TopDental careYour Well Child provider will encourage you to enrol your child with a dental therapist for free advice and treatment. Ideally, all children should have their first dental visit by the time they are one year old, although the age you can enrol your child varies from one region to another. You can ask your Well Child provider, GP (general practitioner), local primary school dental clinic, or your family dentist when you can enrol your child.
For more information, see the following fact sheets on this website:
Back to TopHearing and vision testsScreening for hearing and some vision problems for your child should occur at birth and again at various ages up to around 11 or 12 years.
See:
Back to TopImmunisationImmunisation is a vital part of Well Child / Tamariki Ora services.
Immunisations for your child under five are given at:
It is important these are given on time as delaying vaccinations leaves children unnecessarily vulnerable to infection.
There is an immunisation certificate at the back of your Well Child / Tamariki Ora Health Book. This certificate needs to be completed by your child’s vaccinator and shown when your child starts at an early childhood centre, kohanga reo or primary school.
For further information, see the following fact sheet on this website:
Back to TopPlunketPlunket is the main provider of free services to keep your child well. Plunket nurses offer:
See Where to go for more information for Plunket's contact details.
Back to TopYour general practice teamYour GP (general practitioner) and practice nurse are key resources for your child’s well-being. All children need a general practice team. Ideally, the team will know your family well and can support you and your child with:
Remember, visits for children under six years of age are free or have a minimal charge.
Back to TopYour Well Child / Tamariki Ora Health Book This Ministry of Health book is a parent information, health and immunisation record for your child from birth to five years. You should receive a free copy after the birth of your child. If you haven’t received one, ask your LMC (lead maternity carer), your GP or Well Child provider for a copy. Keep the book somewhere safe and write down all the special and important things that happen to your child. Take it with you every time you take your child to a health appointment.
The last section in your Well Child / Tamariki Ora Health Book is for you and your Well Child providers to record your child’s development. Before each of the scheduled Well Child / Tamariki Ora checks, this section prompts you to think about your child’s development and to raise any concerns you might have. There is a list of some things to talk about at your child’s next check.
Back to TopWell Child / Tamariki Ora information in other languagesDesigned to be used with your Well Child / Tamariki Ora Health Book, Useful Information: Children 0 – 5 years is a 12-page booklet which lists key messages about child development and health for parents / caregivers. The booklet is available in the following languages.
     Back to TopWhere to go for more information and supportFamily Start
Family Start is a free home-based service to support parents and families so children have the best possible start in life. The service covers health and well-being, positive parenting and support for social issues for your family. You can be referred from six months before the birth of your child up to one year after. To find out if Family Start operates in your area, you can ask your Well Child provider, your GP (general practitioner) or your LMC (lead maternity carer). You can also call the Family Start national co-ordinator on 04 978 4239 for details of your nearest Family Start provider. LLL (La Leche League) New Zealand
LLL New Zealand is part of an international organisation which is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the world's leading authority on breastfeeding. LLL New Zealand has approximately 140 leaders who are experienced in breastfeeding and have been trained in the latest techniques that can make breastfeeding work for you. Contact details of New Zealand groups and group leaders are available at the LLL New Zealand website. La Leche League New Zealand offers:
Postal address: PO Box 50780, Porirua 5240
Phone 64 4 471 0690
Email: admin@lalecheleague.org.nz
Website: http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz
Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health website has a section on Well Child Care for Well Child providers. The section includes the Well Child / National Tamariki Ora National Schedule Handbook and the Well Child / Tamariki Ora National Schedule. It is aimed at health professionals but may be useful to parents, caregivers and whanau who want detailed information to help ensure that their children get the very best services available and all the appropriate free checks and advice. Website: http://www.moh.govt.nz
PAFT (Parents as First Teachers)
PAFT is based on the philosophy that parents are their children's first and most important teachers. The aim of the PAFT programme is to help parents to participate more effectively in their children's early development and learning. PAFT provides free, practical support and guidance to families with young children. This support lasts from before birth to three years. Funding is available for a limited number of families only and enrolment criteria may apply. Contact Family and Community Services for more information or to find out if there is a programme near you.
Plunket
Plunket is New Zealand's leading provider of Well Child and family health services in New Zealand. Plunket programmes aim to support families with young children. In some cities additional individual support and practical help for parents is provided. Plunket Karitane Family Centres provide extra help and support on parenting issues, including breastfeeding, infant nutrition, sleeping, child behaviour and other child health concerns. For your local Plunket office or Plunket Karitane Family Centre, check the Plunket website or look under Plunket in your phone book.
Plunket also provides:
Postal address: PO Box 5474, Wellington 6145
National office phone: 64 4 471 0177
National office fax: 64 4 471 0190
Email: plunket@plunket.org.nz
Website: http://www.plunket.org.nz/
Well Child / Tamariki Ora website
The Well Child / Tamariki Ora website aims to assist Well Child / Tamariki Ora health providers to work together with families to provide the best support, health promotion and prevention for all New Zealand children under five. The information can also be useful to parents, caregivers and whanau to help ensure that their children get the very best services available and all the appropriate free checks and advice. Website: http://www.wellchild.org.nz/ Back to TopAcknowledgementsThis fact sheet was produced in collaboration with the National Well Child / Tamariki Ora Week Coordinator.
Back to TopYour notesEndorsement
This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 16/07/2010
CopyrightFact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation. © The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2010
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