Our tamariki deserve better

This post was written by Taone O’Regan and originally published on tetauraki.co.nz. See the original article. It's reproduced here with permission. 

These are not statistics; these are preventable tragedies that should never have occurred in New Zealand in 2025. 

The data paints a devastating picture. Since 2017, there have been 42 cases of congenital syphilis nationwide, with eight stillbirths and four neonatal deaths. What makes this crisis even more unconscionable is its disproportionate impact on Māori – 73 percent of cases are whānau Māori. 

While regions across the North Island and parts of the central regions have implemented routine third-trimester screening for syphilis, Te Waipounamu continues to lag behind. Our pregnant women and their babies are being denied the same level of protection available elsewhere in the country. 

This geographical inequality is not just unfair, it’s dangerous. Syphilis can be contracted during pregnancy, even after a negative first-trimester test. Without routine third-trimester screening, we are leaving a critical window of vulnerability wide open, gambling with the lives of our most precious taonga. 

The cruel irony is that congenital syphilis is entirely preventable. A simple blood test and treatment with antibiotics can save lives. Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa have been advocating for third trimester screening as best practice, to enable timely treatment, and to ensure it is available to every whānau. 

While third-trimester screening is urgent, we must also address the systemic failures that led to this crisis: 

• Access barriers: Many cases occurred in women with no or late antenatal care, highlighting the need for more accessible, culturally responsive services 
• Healthcare workforce shortages: The shortage of GPs and midwives, particularly in rural areas, creates dangerous gaps in care
• Cultural responsiveness: Eurocentric health services are failing Māori and Pacific whānau

Te Tauraki calls for immediate action: 

1. Urgent implementation of routine third-trimester syphilis screening for all pregnant women in Te Waipounamu
2. Ring-fenced funding to ensure no region is left without this essential protection
3. Investment in accessible, culturally responsive antenatal services that meet the needs of all communities

4. Expansion of the healthcare workforce, particularly midwives and sexual health specialists in underserved areas

The government talks about improving health outcomes and addressing inequities. Here is a clear, actionable opportunity to save lives. No more studies, no more delays, no more excuses. 

Our babies deserve better. Our whānau deserve better. Te Waipounamu deserves the same level of protection as the rest of the country. 

Te Tauraki is a subsidiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, operating both as an Iwi Māori Partnership Board and a Whānau Ora commissioning agency. As such, Te Tauraki operates at the intersection of policy and service delivery, uniquely positioned to advocate for transformative health outcomes for whānau Māori across Te Waipounamu.