Mothers who died in the Christchurch earthquake will be remembered at an Auckland event to mark International Day of the Midwife.

Up to 500 people are expected to attend a five kilometre walk in New Zealand’s largest city and release balloons in remembrance of the earthquake victims on Mother’s Day.

The event, organised by the Auckland University of Technology midwifery department, WorldVisionNZ and the New Zealand College of Midwives’ Auckland region, will take place as part of a host of activities to mark International Day of the Midwife on May 5.

New Zealand midwives will also join those around the world taking to the road to raise awareness and funds to tackle global inequalities in maternal and newborn health.

The walk is the start of a journey that finishes at the International Confederation of Midwives Congress in Durban next month.

More than 60 percent of all maternal deaths occur in six countries; India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while more than five million infants around the world die each year as a result of preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications.

In comparison, New Zealand is home to a world class maternity system with almost 3000 midwives now practicing and where more than 99.9 percent of women have a midwife present at the birth of their child.

New figures show there were almost 64,000 babies born in New Zealand last year and the average age of a first time mother is 30.

New Zealand College of Midwives CEO Karen Guilliland will attend the ICM council meeting to discuss solutions to the maternal mortality figures in developing countries.

"Globally more than 340,000 women die each year, with millions more suffering infection and disability, as a result of preventable maternal causes and the lack of a midwife to attend to them," she said.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation professional nursing advisor Kate Weston said there was still work to be done to reduce maternal and infant mortality in New Zealand.

Ms Weston said the NZNO was advocating for equitable access to a midwife for all pregnant women.

"Timely access to midwifery care is so important," Ms Weston said.

"Early engagement with a midwife with ongoing care through pregnancy protects and promotes positive outcomes."