Taranaki’s Truby King – the story of Plunket. 

Born in New Zealand (1958)

On May 14, 1907, Plunket New Zealand was formed. The meeting which led to the foundation of the society was held by Dr Truby King. King was a medical superintendent and lecturer in mental diseases. He believed that by providing support services to parents, the society could ensure children were fed on a nutritious diet and therefore reduce child mortality rates. He also believed that this would improve adult health as the children got older.

Originally called the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, Plunket got its name from an early patron of the Society, Victoria Alexandrina Plunket mother of eight and wife of then Governor of New Zealand, William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket

Within a year, the society had first opened The Karitane Home for Babies in Dunedin, and then opened centres in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. In 1912, King made a lecture tour on the Plunket Society. In these tours he was highly successful in attracting support for the society, partly because he exaggerated the effect on infant mortality rates. As a result of his tour, 60 new centres opened around New Zealand, each employing a nurse. The centres were badged as Plunket Rooms; however, they are now referred to as Plunket Clinics.

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