Maternal Feminism

Whānau Wahine

What is a Maternal Feminist?

Maternal feminism is a movement that recognises caregiving, motherhood, and feminine identity as powerful forces for social good. It values the unique contributions women make through nurturing, emotional labour, and community-building—often unseen, yet essential to the wellbeing of society. Rather than separating motherhood from empowerment, maternal feminism honours it as a valid and vital form of leadership. At its heart, it calls for a world that supports mothers so they can thrive—not just survive—and shape a more compassionate future.

Motherhood is power. Womanhood is purpose. Children matter.

The Value of a Woman and a Mother

Mothers are not secondary — they are central.
Mothers are mentors, leaders, and nurturers, playing a vital and dynamic role far beyond mere “support positions” in both family and community life.

At Mums4Mums, we celebrate the strength and influence of mothers as the backbone of society, guiding and inspiring the next generation with wisdom and care.
We honour their biological reality and lived experience as women, and we advocate for policies and language that reflect this truth.

A society that can clearly define and value motherhood is one that truly invests in its future.

Join the Campaign - Protect Motherhood

Honouring the Gift of Family

At Mums4Mums, we deeply honour the gift of family — in all its beautiful diversity of shape and story. We affirm that stable, loving family relationships are foundational to the wellbeing of children, mothers, and society as a whole.

As maternal feminists, we recognise the sacred bond between mothers and their children and the lifelong role mothers play in forming the hearts, minds, and values of the next generation.

We celebrate the irreplaceable contributions of families in raising resilient children, supporting emotional health, and transmitting cultural and moral wisdom.

While we stand firmly for the biological reality and unique experiences of women and mothers, we extend respect to all individuals and do not stand in opposition to any group.

Our advocacy is not about exclusion — it’s about preserving space to name and honour motherhood with integrity, clarity, and love.

The Value of a Child

Children are not burdens. They are the future and worthy of intentional love and protection

Children are not burdens but precious gifts, embodying the future of our communities with boundless potential. At Mums4Mums, we believe they deserve intentional love, care, and protection to thrive and grow. Their well-being is a shared responsibility that strengthens our society for generations to come.

Protecting the Language and Reality of Motherhood

At Mums4Mums, we believe that mothers — as women — deserve to be seen, named, and respected in every space that exists to serve them.

We have formally lodged a complaint with the Midwifery Council of New Zealand in response to changes in its scope of practice and language that remove the word “woman” in favour of gender-neutral terminology. We believe this shift undermines the very reality of the biological and relational experience of motherhood.

We have also raised serious concerns with PADA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa) for similar reasons. While we share common ground in supporting maternal mental health, we differ in a critical area: the erasure of sex-based language that recognises women as mothers.

Our position is clear:
Words matter. Definitions matter.
You cannot protect or support women — or mothers — if you cannot name them.

We have uploaded copies of our letters of complaint to both the Midwifery Council and Charities Services for public transparency.

This is not about exclusion.
It is about recognition, clarity, and safeguarding the spaces, services, and language that exist to serve women, especially during the life-changing journey of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.