New FASD Hub to Bring Specialist Support Closer to Eastern Bay of Plenty Families

Children and families in the Bay of Plenty will soon have access to dedicated Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) assessment and support closer to home, with Kawerau selected as one of just three locations nationwide to receive a new community-based specialist hub.

The Government has announced a record $9 million investment in FASD services, establishing hubs in Rotorua/Kawerau, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.

The Rotorua/Kawerau service will be delivered through Hauora Tūwharetoa ki Kawerau and is expected to be operational by October.

For families across the Eastern Bay of Plenty, the announcement aims to address one of the biggest challenges surrounding FASD – long waits for diagnosis and limited access to specialist support.

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey said the investment marks the first time New Zealand has established community-based services dedicated specifically to FASD assessment, diagnosis and ongoing support.

"We know early intervention makes a real difference. By identifying children earlier and supporting families sooner, we can improve lifelong health, learning and development outcomes," Doocey said.

The Rotorua/Kawerau hub will receive $1 million over three years and will provide referral and screening services, comprehensive assessments, specialist support, family navigation and ongoing assistance for children and young people living with FASD. 

East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick said the investment would make a tangible difference for families who have struggled to access specialist services.

"Families have waited far too long to access FASD assessment and support, and this investment will make it easier for people to get the help they need, closer to home," she said.

Kirkpatrick said delays in diagnosis often meant children missed opportunities for early intervention while families faced unnecessary stress trying to navigate the health system.

"We know that getting the right support early can make a real difference to a child's development and long-term wellbeing."

She said having specialist services available within the community would also reduce the need for families to travel long distances to access care.

"It's about making support more accessible and ensuring families have someone to walk alongside them through the process," she said.

Until now, many Bay of Plenty families have had to navigate a fragmented system, often travelling significant distances or waiting months for specialist assessments.

Those delays can affect access to education support, disability services and tailored interventions during key developmental years.

FASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition caused by prenatal alcohol exposure and can affect memory, learning, behaviour, communication and emotional regulation.

The Government estimates suggest between 1,800 and 3,000 babies are born with FASD in New Zealand each year.

The latest funding builds on the Government's FASD action plan launched last year, which included an additional $4.6 million to improve prevention, diagnosis and workforce capability.

While the new hub will be based in Kawerau, it is expected to support families from across the wider Rotorua and Eastern Bay of Plenty region, reducing the need to travel outside the area for specialist services.

The Government says Rotorua and Kawerau were chosen because of the significant demand for FASD services and the barriers many local families face in accessing timely diagnosis and support.

The new hubs are also intended to provide ongoing guidance beyond diagnosis, helping whānau connect with health, education and social services while supporting children throughout their development.

Kirkpatrick said recognising Kawerau as one of the country's first FASD hub locations was an acknowledgement of the need within the region.

"Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. By improving access to earlier assessment and support, we're giving children with FASD and their families a better chance to thrive," she said.

"I'm pleased Kawerau has been recognised as an area where this investment will make a real difference, and I look forward to seeing the hub supporting local families when it opens later this year."