About Us

Petal Foundation began with a simple belief: every baby deserves to experience safety, love and nurturing care from the very beginning of life. 

The Beginning

Founder Jo Stevenson's vision was shaped over more than a decade as a Barnardos caregiver, where she welcomed babies into her home during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Jo saw first hand the tough start many babies had. These little ones came to her with signs of neglect that would break anyone's heart — bodies smeared with faecal matter, illnesses like gonorrhea and other STDs, signs of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and more. Some babies had experienced months of instability, being passed around different carers while plans were made for their future. During this time she witnessed the significant impact that love, stability, and attachment can have for long term emotional health, particularly in a baby’s first few months.  

Petal’s Vision 

Jo registered Petal Foundation as a charity in 2018 with a vision to provide a dedicated, nurturing environment where babies can experience safety, connection, and comfort at a time when their own whānau cannot.  From the beginning, Petal was developed alongside respected kaumātua, whose wisdom and guidance helped shape the Foundation's approach to care. Together, they created the Petal Model of Care, grounded in te ao Māori and informed by the principles of te whare tapa whā. This holistic framework recognises that wellbeing extends beyond physical needs and includes emotional, spiritual, family and cultural connections. 

Our Kaupapa 

Petal is an independent charitable trust providing emergency, respite, safe, and transitional care for newborns and young babies (pēpi), across all cultures, when a family hits crisis or needs safe short-term care. In a warm home with specialised carers and strong clinical support, Petal keeps babies safe while giving māma and whānau time and space to recover, and make informed choices about what comes next. Where it is safe and possible, the goal is to give baby and family the best chance of staying together long-term.  

Within the Petal Home, babies are nurtured through all dimensions of wellbeing. Their physical needs are met with expert care and attention. Their emotional wellbeing is supported through secure attachment, comfort and consistency. Their wairua (soul) is honoured through love, belonging and respect for who they are. Their connections to whānau, culture and identity are protected wherever possible, recognising the importance of these relationships for a child's future. 

Petal provides the care that sets the foundation for long-term emotional health, and Jo is very proud of the experienced team of carers, volunteers, specialists, community partners and supporters that have grown behind Petal since it began.   

Jo is personally committed to giving every Petal baby the strongest possible start in life, knowing that better beginnings create brighter futures. 

Charity and Compliance 

Petal Foundation is incorporated under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957. Registration dated 15/11/2016. The foundation is run as a Trust Board, whereby the Trust is governed by the Trustees and supported by the advisory Trustees. A day-to-day structure is put in place to manage the operations of the facility.