For more than 110 years, Whānau Āwhina Plunket has been there to make sure every baby and toddler in Aotearoa gets the best possible start.
As the country’s leading provider of free support for whānau with young children, Plunket offers much more than health checks and parenting advice. Its community-based services include local parent groups, drop-in centres, and educational programmes that help parents navigate everything from feeding to first aid.
Among the most vital of these is the Injury Prevention Programme, which focuses on car seat safety, a major factor in protecting tamariki from harm on the road. Every week in The West, Plunket’s Injury Prevention Coordinators meet parents doing their best to keep their little ones safe on the road, often without the right tools, knowledge, or funds.
In West Auckland, two dedicated Injury Prevention Coordinators work directly with families to help ensure children travel safely.
Under New Zealand law, all children under seven must use a car restraint. But with so many options – capsules, boosters, and convertible seats – many parents find it confusing to choose the right one. And for whānau already under financial pressure, the cost can be overwhelming.
‘We have a limited number of car restraints we can gift to families facing hardship,’ says Kimiyo Yamasaki, West Auckland’s Injury Prevention Coordinator.
‘Just as important is the education we provide, helping parents choose, fit, and use car seats safely.’ Kimiyo and her colleague often partner with other community organisations, such as occupational therapists, the police, early childhood centres, and the He Wero School for Young Parents in Henderson.
They provide advice on buying or hiring car seats, check that restraints are installed correctly, and help prevent common, and sometimes dangerous, mistakes. ‘Most parents really try to do their best,’ Kimiyo says. ‘But with the cost-of-living crisis, some buy second-hand car seats online, not realising they might be unsafe, expired, or the wrong fit.’
Other frequent issues include keeping babies in capsules they’ve outgrown or placing rear-facing seats in front of airbags, both of which can lead to serious injury or death in a crash.
‘We always encourage parents to contact us before buying a second-hand car seat,’ Kimiyo adds. ‘Even sending us a quick photo can stop you from making an expensive or unsafe purchase.’ The service is free to whānau, wherever possible.
‘As a charity, we receive no government funding for our Injury Prevention Programme in West Auckland,’ explains Bronwyn Harvey, Northern Regional Grants Specialist. Instead, Plunket relies on grants, donations, and local fundraising to keep this work going. And thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Your West Support Fund, even more Westie kids are now travelling safely.
Since receiving funding five months ago, the West Auckland team has supported 115 whānau through one-on-one sessions, group education, and car seat checks. ‘We focus on those with the highest needs,’ says Bronwyn.
‘Without Plunket, many of these families wouldn’t get the support they need to keep their tamariki safe.’ With every car seat checked and every whānau supported, Plunket’s team is helping build a safer future for West Auckland’s youngest residents.
Learn more about Plunket’s Injury Prevention Programme and how you can help on their website.
