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A pregnant woman who is due to give birth during the nation-wide shutdown says she fears being forced into having a homebirth.
Twenty-seven-year-old Fili Tagaloa says she knows of other pregnant women who have been advised by maternity staff to consider giving birth at a birthing unit if they can or at home if they're well enough to do so.
Ministry of Health guidelines sent out to community midwives this week state that if a woman feels safe to do so, homebirth is an option they could consider and to avoid the hospital as much as possible.
But Ms Tagaloa says her home is not equipped for it and she's worried she may have no choice.
Indira Stewart reports.