Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service Dr Neil de Wet said breastfeeding provides many important health benefits for the mother and child.
"Breastfed babies have less chance of getting diarrhoea and vomiting illnesses and of developing chest and ear infections."
In the Western Bay of Plenty, women can participate at Katikati Midwives on Friday at 10.30am.
For those women who cannot make it to a Big Latch On event in their local community, there is an option to participate online via the Big Latch On Facebook page, which encourages breastfeeding mums to post breastfeeding selfies with the hashtag #BigLatchOnNZ.
For more information about Big Latch On events and World Breastfeeding Week, visit www.ttophs.govt.nz/breastfeeding_week or www.womens-health.org.nz.