Extend paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and finance spokesperson Nicola Willis announced on 26 July 2026 that a re-elected National government would lift paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks, phased in as 27 weeks in 2027, 28 weeks in 2028 and 30 weeks by 2029. Parents would also be able to split the entitlement between them. Willis said the change would give more parents the option to stay home with a new baby for longer, and put the cost at 27 million dollars in 2027/28, rising to about 119 million dollars in 2029/30, funded from Budget operating allowances. The weekly payment cap stays at 811 dollars and is adjusted each year. National says it eventually wants to reach 40 weeks but has not set a date. Labour leader Chris Hipkins questioned National's record, noting it opposed a Labour-led extension in 2016; Green co-leader Marama Davidson called the move too little, too late; and ACT leader David Seymour suggested the timing was political.
This overview is summarised by AI from public sources. It may contain errors and is a guide, not the definitive record — we welcome corrections.
Key milestones
National promises paid parental leave rise to 30 weeks by 2029
Luxon and Willis announced a re-elected National government would phase paid parental leave up from 26 to 30 weeks between 2027 and 2029, and let parents split the entitlement. National put the cost at 27 million dollars in 2027/28 rising to 119 million dollars in 2029/30. Hipkins questioned National's record on the issue, Davidson called it too little too late, and Seymour called the timing political.
Sources
- NZ Herald: National promises to extend paid parental leave ↗
- RNZ: National promises to extend paid parental leave from 26 weeks to 30 ↗