Going Home to NZ - What do I need to know?

[wahine12]

We left NZ in 2003 and are heading back because we now have one kid and one on the way and want to be close to the family.

What's changed? What do we need to know? How much is a flat white? Can I breastfeed in public at a cafe or will people expect me to sit in the 'family room' at the shopping centre?

I'm also having our 2nd child in Masterton (where my parents live) and really don't know what to expect. First child was in France - highly medicalised and very perfunctory service. My mum rang the doctor who told her just to come in when I arrived in the country - all seemed very casual and friendly after France. Anything I should be doing now to organise further? Do they still do Plunket visits/clinics? How do I meet other mums?

We leave in December and I'm looking forward to the peace and quiet. But also, as I don't have a job or contacts in my current field (I changed careers overseas), it's a bit daunting.

What do I need to know?

I have breastfed in Masterton coffee shops, playground etc - no eyes raised at all.

However the only time I ever had any comments about breastfeeding (UK, US, NZ) was in the hospital in Masterton, having lunch in the cafe, when a "helpful" doctor told me I could use the family room - I told him my baby would be having her lunch in the same place as us!! I think that was the particular person and not a reflection on the overall attitude though.

My sister had a baby in Masterton, and couldn't say enough good things about it. She had a great room (I think with kitchenette off it), was allowed to stay until she felt fine enough to go home, and the care was brilliant.

I would recommend kiwibaby in Glenfield, Auckland for car seat and buggy advice. (There are other kiwibaby stores but they are not linked and we had a bad experience at one of them.) They really know their stuff. The regulations don't seem to be as strong here but you can get safe stuff, at a price.

The only time I've had hassle about feeding in NZ was when I was giving DD a bottle after giving up breastfeeding! Tbh, I felt a lot of public pressure to breastfeed which really wound me up. I fed till 9 months but I do think it should be a choice.

There are plenty of excellent carseats in NZ!

Try Babystar for a start.