The Government says hearing screening for newborns is now available through all district health boards.
It says the programme will cost more than $6.5 million a year, and is expected to identify 10 babies a month who have been born with significant hearing loss.
Health Minister Tony Ryall says babies are now able to be screened at all 20 DHBs within a month of birth, whereas in the past many children weren't diagnosed until about the age of four.
The roll-out of the national programme began in 2007, with 11 DHBs offering it for the past year. Mr Ryall says those boards have detected at least 32 babies with hearing loss, who are now receiving help with language learning and development.
