Ms Clare Hutchinson-de Ranitz, of Hamilton, ONZM for services to midwifery
Clare Hutchinson-de Ranitz was a founding member of the New Zealand College of Midwives and became the inaugural Lead Maternity Carer in the Waikato region. She helped establish River Ridge Birth Centre at Southern Cross Hospital to provide an alternative birthing option for whānau, other than hospital or home births. When that Centre closed, she established River Ridge East Birth Centre, a purpose-built Primary Birthing Facility. She has overseen its operations since 2002, which has since seen more than 11,000 babies born. To provide lactation consultant services for free, she helped create the Hamilton Breastfeeding Trust. She is a member of the Waikato Maternity Quality and Safety Committee. Ms Hutchinson-de Ranitz supported Single Parent Services Waikato for many years, providing food, clothing and other support.