A Labour MP has gone in to bat for breastfeeding mothers of New Zealand.
The member for Rotorua Steve Chadwick wants the right to breastfeed in a public place enshrined in law and is planning to introduce a private member's bill to parliament.
If passed, the infant feeding bill would modify the Human Rights Act, making discrimination against a breastfeeding mother illegal.
Midwifery advisor at the New Zealand College of Midwives, Norma Campbell says it is sad but necessary to have legislation that protects breast feeding mothers and their babies.
If nothing else she says it raises awareness of breastfeeding mothers' rights.
She says unfortunately there are sufficient examples where women have been told to stop breastfeeding their babies, that we need this form of legislation.
Campbell says the legislation is about no one being able to tell a mother she can't breastfeed her baby in public because they have a right to do that.
This week is World Breastfeeding Week , which runs from August 1 to August 7.
World breastfeeding week is celebrated in over 120 countries throughout the world, and aims to generate public awareness and support for breastfeeding.
