Plunket is temporarily reducing some of its services to prioritise those most in need and allow staff to help with the response to Covid-19.
Baby feet Photo: 123RF
Plunket chief executive Amanda Malu said all of the organisation's face-to-face services have been suspended during the lockdown.
Its Well Child services will be provided by phone or video conferencing.
All families with newborns up to three months, as well as Māori and Pacific families, and those with longer-term needs will be prioritised for that.
"We hope this new prioritised service will help address inequities that might arise during this pandemic and ensure our service response is targeted at those who need us most during this time," Malu said.
PlunketLine will continue to be available 24/7 to all families who need support.
Online parenting education programmes and virtual community groups and other forms of parenting support will also be available.
Temporarily reducing the Well Child service meant staff could be redeployed elsewhere in the health system.
"We have a large health workforce and we already have a number of Plunket staff redeployed to support Healthline, PlunketLine, community testing clinics and other essential health services across the country, and we only see the need for this growing," Malu said.
Read more about the Covid-19 coronavirus:
- See all RNZ Covid-19 news
- A timeline: How the coronavirus started, spread and stalled life in New Zealand
- Covid-19 symptoms: What they are and how they make you feel
- Touching your Face: Why do we do it and how to stop
- Scientific hand-washing advice to avoid infection
- Coronavirus: A glossary of terms
- The Coronavirus Podcast