Hundreds of midwives have marched to the steps of Parliament to demand better pay and working conditions.
They marched from Civic Square to the Beehive, chanting "One, two, three, four, we don't want to be so poor."
The midwives were joined by dozens of supporters from the community including young mothers with their babies.
At Parliament, they handed over a petition to Health Minister David Clark which had gathered more than 12,000 signatures.
Midwives are hopeful that the Government will deliver more funding to their profession in its first Budget in two weeks' time.
College of Midwives spokesperson Andrea Sarty said midwives were leaving the because it was not sustainable, with some rural midwives earning just $7.23 an hour and city workers earning $12.80.
"There's a sustainable finding model sitting there ready to go," she told Newshub.
"All the Government needs to do is commit to it. That will stop midwives from leaving the profession which they're doing in droves at the moment."
Newshub.
