Opotiki's Kapai Kai Cafe is leading the way in providing a supportive place for breastfeeding mums after becoming the first eatery in the town to achieve Breastfeeding Friendly accreditation from Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service.

A Breastfeeding Friendly place is a supportive environment where mothers can feel comfortable breastfeeding their babies.

Kapai Kai Cafe's staff members, Michelle Schiavi and Geneil Warren with their Breastfeeding Friendly signage from Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service.

A health improvement advisor from Toi Te Ora works alongside the business to put in place a breastfeeding friendly policy, signage, and staff training. When this has been completed, the business achieves Breastfeeding Friendly accreditation from Toi Te Ora.

The Breastfeeding Friendly initiative is run across the Bay of Plenty District Health Board (DHB) and Lakes DHB areas.

'We already support mothers to breastfeed in our café alongside their whanau,” says Kapai Kai Cafe's Michelle Schiavi.

'Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly accredited is another way we can support them.”

Earlier this year during World Breastfeeding Week the cafe hosted a Big Latch On event in which mums participated in a bid to break the record for the number of women breastfeeding simultaneously across New Zealand.

The event was supported by Whakatohea Iwi Social and Health Service's Tamariki Ora Nurse, Dale Grace, who, along with the team at Kapai Kai Café, is looking forward to next year's Big Latch On.

Kapai Kai Cafe now joins a growing list of accredited businesses across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes, with Taupo Kids Community Centre and Urbankids Early Learning Centre, Tauranga, having also achieved accreditation in the past week.

'We're really impressed with the amount of support and enthusiasm from businesses. Kapai Kai Cafe is a great example - they provide a welcoming and supportive space for mothers breastfeeding their pepi. Comfortable chairs are available and an area for other children to play,” says Toi Te Ora Health Improvement Advisor, Louise Harvey.