New Zealand has a chance to make a real impact in the lives of our children by extending the time parents are supported to spend with their new baby.
Although the Government has committed to increasing the entitlement from 14 to 18 weeks by next year, it’s still shy of the six months families need and compares poorly internationally.
Australia already offers 18 weeks, the United Kingdom offers 52 weeks, and Sweden offers 16 months.
Join us in helping to make sure Sue Moroney’s bill for 26 weeks paid parental leave becomes a reality for Kiwi families.
#8moreweeks
26forbabies.wordpress.com 
August 1, 2013 at 4:08 pm
I am totally for the 26 weeks as the first years are the most important for our little ones….Why be forced back to work and get strees then have to bring that home with you….it not only effects our children but the whole environment.
26 Weeks for a life time of benificial moulding our future.
August 8, 2013 at 3:53 pm
Our children are the future of this country. What’s best for them should be priority.
August 16, 2013 at 6:46 pm
Definitely supporting 26 weeks – we need to give our mother’s the chance to be the first educators of our children and show them we value their role and we value our children enough to give them the best start they deserve.
September 26, 2013 at 11:33 am
Support
October 10, 2013 at 9:29 am
Just discovered that student loan repayments still get deducted when you are receiving the 14 weeks paid parental leave! Not impressed. I have remained in NZ ever since I graduated as a Registered Nurse and yet there are no real financial benefits in doing so! Not looking forward to living within a very tight budget come baby’s arrival in April. Rant over.
October 11, 2013 at 11:31 am
Supporting the 26w!
I had no choice but to return to work when my twins were 4 months! My leave started well before they were born! Hardest thing a mother has to face! I’m due in April and hope this is passed before babies arrival!
January 28, 2014 at 9:11 pm
I agree with the 26 weeks, when my daughter was 3months old I had to ho back to work and it was not nice to leave her so young. Due again in September hope this gets passed before then
February 26, 2014 at 4:38 pm
I’m a small business owner, and I know how challenging it often is for small businesses to juggle the needs of their staff, their customers and their business. I know how hard it can be to find great staff to cover parental leave, AND I support 26 weeks paid parental leave – our children need it, our new parents deserve it. I’m also a woman who has chosen not to have children AND I support 26 weeks paid parental leave, our families need it and our communites will benefit from it.
March 26, 2014 at 3:05 pm
I very much support the increase in paid parental leave, the current leave entitlement allows only enough time to allow the mothers body to re-adjust and recover, never mind get used to the new responsibilities of parenthood. Adding the stress of having to get back to work after a short duration off is detrimental to both the baby and the parents.
April 5, 2014 at 11:53 am
I am totally agree with 26 weeks. All comments above are obviously true, I wish the next country leaders have the same vision like us.
May 29, 2014 at 11:39 am
I am concerned about world population numbers – we are currently at a level beyond the carrying capacity of the planet. This sort of policy needs to have tools that don’t encourage couples to have large families. That would fly in the face of global efforts to manage population growth. Perhaps we need to set it for 2 babies only.
July 30, 2014 at 11:42 pm
Totally agree with 26weeks. We mothers would like to spend as much time with our new born as possible and in saying this breast feeding. We all know breast feeding is more beneficial to babies but so is money. Currently as much as we want we still have to leave our baby to join work force. Wouldn’t it be better for both baby and mother if this is granted. Our families need this….our community needs this…..
March 26, 2015 at 9:26 am
100% support 26 weeks
July 30, 2015 at 9:24 pm
I just heard about this initiative and I want to support it 100%. I recently returned to NZ from the UK and am about to have my first baby. I am very disappointed by the disconnect between the WHO recommendation to breastfeed exclusively for six months and the 3 1/2 month paid parental leave on offer in NZ. It is contradictory and damaging for the family unit here in NZ. Please pick this issue up again and tell me how I can help!
October 23, 2015 at 4:52 pm
Yes! I am all for 26 weeks! This time is the most important time to build the love, nature and support a baby needs for a great start of their life. The only person who can fully give it to them is there parents.
November 4, 2015 at 3:24 pm
Agree that this is an added pressure. I’ve heard that it is possible to negotiate your SL repayments down to 1%. I’d recommend that you contact your local IRD office to discuss.
June 6, 2016 at 7:35 am
I’m all for 26 weeks! Not only should we extend it but the Govt should look at increasing the maximum limit of payments. At the moment parents are entitled to $516.85 per week, which then gets taxed! That baffles me. New Zealanders already pay for this entitlement through tax and then the Govt double dips and taxes you again. In the end what this results to is families get a pittance for doing what is the most important jobs in their lives – raising good, upstanding, and contributing members of society.
April 3, 2017 at 1:58 pm
I also support 100 percent for this initiative. Even the developing countries like India (second largest populated in the world) have 6 months full paid maternity leave and developed country like New Zealand have only 4 months with only minimum wages, unbelievable
November 16, 2017 at 7:56 am
We need equal time for both parents, both to strengthen our families, and to close the gender pay gap.
November 16, 2017 at 7:58 am
We need to look after our children and mothers, but also our fathers.