The number of students studying midwifery is on the rise in New Zealand.

New Zealand College of Midwives midwifery advisor Norma Campbell said midwifery has become a more "attractive career choice" thanks to increased Ministry of Health funding for undergraduate education.

Ms Campbell said that move coupled with the axing of a cap on student numbers has resulted in more than 200 spaces for 2012, up from just 120 last year.

"(That) will mean a stable supply of midwives in the future," she said.

Ms Campbell said with more graduates coming through, the average age of midwives – at 46 to 47 – will also drop, enabling more midwives to retire or pursue a career in research.

"We have worked closely with a number of groups, including the government, particularly over the last three years to address, what was then, a growing shortage of midwives in New Zealand," she said.

The college represents the majority of the 3000 practicing midwives in New Zealand, up from 2500 in 2009.

In New Zealand, 99.9% of women have a midwife present at the birth of their child.

The country’s maternity service is the envy of many countries, as New Zealand women have access to a free maternity service providing them with consistent care from one main practitioner, known as their Lead Maternity Carer (LMC), which can be midwives, GPs or obstetricians.

One of the biggest challenges now facing midwives is the retention and recruitment of midwives to rural areas.

Ms Campbell said the Midwifery Recruitment and Retention Service has made major inroads into attracting midwives to rural areas around the country.

"With a locum service, practice support, grants and other important initiatives, the more even distribution of midwives around the country has improved markedly," she said.