Justice Centre | 19 Aitken Street
DX SX10088 | Wellington
T 04 918 8800 |
F 04 918 8820
[email address] | www.justice.govt.nz
18 January 2024
Chris McCashin
[FYI request #23952 email]
Our ref: OIA 108346
Tēnā koe Chris
Request for Coroners Court information on deaths that occurred during childbirth
Thank you for your email of 1 November 2023 to Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), information on deaths that
occurred during childbirth. Specifically, you requested:
The data I have requested is basic - I require no causes of deaths.
All I want are the numbers through the years [2020-2023] that died during childbirth -
given we are a first world country I don't expect there to be many.
On 29 November 2023 your request was transferred to the Ministry of Justice (the Ministry)
for response under section 14 of the Act.
In response to your request, I can confirm that 1 maternal death during childbirth was
reported to the coroner between 1 January 2020 and 18 December 2023. A death was
reported to the coroner for the infant on the same day. It is important to note that this case is
an open inquiry under investigation by the coroner. This means the Ministry is unable to
release further information as the cause and circumstances of the death are provisional until
the coroners findings have been released.
If you require any clarification of the information contained in this response, please contact
Joe Locke, Media & Social Media Manager, on 021 636 416, or email [email address]
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to complain to the Ombudsman
under section 28(3) of the Act. You can contact the Office of the Ombudsman by calling
0800 802 60; or emailing [email address]
I trust this information assists.
Nāku noa, nā
Jacquelyn Shannon
Group Manager, Courts and Tribunals, Regional Service Delivery