Health Minister Tony Ryall announced on Thursday, before this month's Budget, an extra $54.5 million over four years for maternity care and services.
He said $33.2 million would go to maternity services over four years to improve safety and quality. Also, $21.3 million, focused on first-time mothers, would boost WellChild services. Ms Long hoped a postnatal depression support service could be strengthened and extended from Dunedin to cover the rest of Otago, and Southland.
The service, launched in 2009, depended on fundraising and grants, and was unable to meet the demand in Dunedin.
Each year about 1180 babies in Dunedin were enrolled with Plunket, and up to 153 mothers experienced post-natal depression, which significantly affected a mother's ability to bond and care for her baby, Ms Long said.
In many other areas of New Zealand, district health boards funded such services, she said.
In the South, women with the most severe cases of postnatal depression were picked up by the DHB, but less severe cases were also concerning.
Ann Jones, who gave birth to her third son, Aidan, on Thursday in Queen Mary Maternity Centre, Dunedin, said support for mothers was crucial at an "overwhelming" time. She believed equal focus should be placed on all women after giving birth, not just first-time mothers.
Fathers also often needed emotional support, she said.
