In 2019 the Ministry of Health | Manatū Hauora instigated a project to review, revise and refresh the National Strategic Plan of Action for Breastfeeding 2008–2012 as part of the Maternity Action Plan 2019–2023. The scope of the project was to review the lapsed plan, with the aim of producing an enduring strategy to address barriers to establishing and maintaining breastfeeding in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This process involved a comprehensive review of these strategies and guidelines:

The review also drew on numerous other national and international documents that demonstrate effective and innovative approaches to strategy development, such as:

Several different approaches were tested before agreeing on a pae ora framework. This Strategy is intended to provide an appropriate balance of national level commitments and responsibilities as well as providing useful tools and guidance for regional implementation.

Additional resources informing the Strategy include: