Child Health & Parenting Organisations Move Closer

Media Release

3 February 2005

Child health and parenting organisations move closer

Two of the country's leading parenting organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support each other in improving parenting skills and child health for New Zealand families.

While Plunket and Parents Centres NZ will maintain their independence, they are committed to a collaborative working relationship which will assist parents to better access the range of services they offer.

Plunket's New Zealand president, Kaye Crowther, has welcomed the formal link.

"Our organisations have a combined experience of 150 years in parenting and child health. Children and parents will be the winners in this closer working relationship established with Parents Centres," she says.

Parents Centres' chief executive, Viv Gurrey, and Plunket chief executive, Paul Baigent, say the relationship will deliver greater benefits in the provision of parenting information to the wider community. Staff, volunteers and members of both organisations will be able to access specialist speakers, advice, education and training.

"Together we will work to co-ordinate services to gain maximum advantage for parents, many of whom are shared clients of Parents Centres and Plunket," says Viv Gurrey.

"While we both have our own independent contractural relationships with service funders which will continue, we are confident that the strength of the Plunket and Parents Centres' relationship will be welcomed by parents throughout New Zealand," she says.

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