M.03.08 Mother with child placement

Ara Poutama Aotearoa can house women with their children at each women’s prison.

These facilities are also referred to as the Mothers with Babies Unit (MBU).

The MBU provides a safe and supportive environment to build and maintain positive attachment between mother and child, and support child and maternal wellbeing.

A woman may request approval to keep her child with her in an MBU up to 24 months of age.

Underpinning all decisions relating to the MBU is the best interest of the child.