A long-awaited primary birthing facility in Tauranga has today opened its doors for the first time.

Bethlehem Birthing Centre is for women having natural, non-complicated births.

Prime Minister John Key opened the Bethlehem Birthing Centre in October. Photo: Twitter.

It is free for all expectant women eligible for publicly-funded maternity services in New Zealand to give birth and stay three nights post-natally at the centre.

Private options are also available.

The privately-owned facility is a new concept in Tauranga, and has the support of Tauranga Hospital and Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

The purpose-built, 12-room centre was officially opened by Prime Minister John Key last month, and is open for births from today.

For co-founders Nicky Campbell and Chloe Wright, today's opening is the fulfilment of a vision to provide a primary birthing facility in Tauranga for women who want to give birth naturally, and learn about caring for their baby in a safe, comfortable and supportive setting.

Both are thrilled that the centre is able to offer another choice for women who want to have a natural birth with the support of their lead maternity carer (LMC).

'We want to provide a safe and beautiful non-clinical setting for women having a natural birth, in a nurturing environment,” says Nicky.

'It is important to us that the centre is publicly funded, so all women in our community can have the opportunity to use the facility.

'The centre will be a sanctuary for new mums and their families, where mums and their babies will have the best chance to bond and achieve a positive start in life together.”

Chloe and Nicky say today's opening arose from a vision to work in partnership with birthing mothers, their partners and families, to help create an informed, active and natural birthing experience.

'We are committed to giving our best care to all mothers and babies, and the centre will be run according to our values of commitment, respect, enthusiasm, diversity, integrity and trust,” says Chloe.

'Every mother will be treated with respect and the birthing centre will be a place of integrity and trust to promote honest open communication and actions. The birthing centre is for all expectant women.”

Every mother at the centre will have her own room, in which she will give birth and also receive post-natal care, staying up to three nights after the birth. Fathers can also be comfortably accommodated on the first night after birth.

Each room is en suite and includes a queen bed and a bath that can be used as a birthing pool.

As a primary care facility, no specialists, obstetricians or GPs are on site, but women in labour and their midwives are supported by registered health professionals, who are on-duty at the birthing centre 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A registered midwife is always on call and more staff will be available if required.