Pregnancy Help demand high – but so are challenges

By CathNews New Zealand

September 25th, 2026

Those recognised at Catholic Caring Foundation’s Annual Caring Mass at Owairaka (Pregnancy Help Auckland/Facebook)

Many families with babies seek support from Pregnancy Help and many people are happy to donate pre-loved items, but the charity is finding joining those together increasingly challenging. Source: Radio New Zealand.

Pregnancy Help NZ general manager Sue Marshall said it is surprising how many everyday Kiwis need Pregnancy Help’s support.

“It’s around one in 20 families with a baby born in New Zealand every year reach out to us for help,” Ms Marshall said.

“A lot of what we give away, 95 per cent in fact, is pre-loved. It brings joy to people to give their baby clothing to another baby that needs them. The scale of that is huge – around 250,000 items of clothing passed on last year.

“There is no shortage of people wanting to donate items, and no shortage of people needing help, but there is a challenge in joining them together.”

Pregnancy Help is looking at different funding sources so “branch coordinators are not spending all their time trying to find grants to pay the rent”.

“We are looking at how we can use technology to . . . make things better, so that more people can find us,” Ms Marshall said.

“We are approached constantly by people wanting to set up other branches in different areas of the country, because the need is so great,” she added.

“All Kiwis benefit when children have the best possible start.”

For 50 years, Pregnancy Help has provided free practical support for mums and their babies and whanau across Aotearoa through a local branch volunteer-led model.

Ms Marshall said it is a tough time for many charities in New Zealand, with the funding pool shrinking and demand for funds high.

Last month, Pregnancy Help Auckland was recognised for its service to the community at the Catholic Caring Foundation’s Annual Caring Mass at Owairaka.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Catholic Caring Foundation for their generous grant and for the wonderful support they have provided to Pregnancy Help Auckland over many years,” the group said in a Facebook post.

“We truly value this long-standing partnership and look forward to continuing to make a difference together.”

FULL STORY

Pregnancy Help launches fundraising campaign (Radio New Zealand)

💛 A heartfelt thank you to the Catholic… (Pregnancy Help Auckland/Facebook)

Pregnancy Help Inc (Pregnancy Help NZ)