Modernising Paid Parental Leave

National is laying out a long-term vision to modernise Paid Parental Leave.

At the heart of National's plan to build the future are dedicated mums and dads, balancing long hours at work with the excitement and pressure that comes with raising young kids. The arrival of a new baby is often one of the happiest times in a family's life, but it also comes with higher costs and tough choices.

Now, National is laying out a long-term vision to modernise Paid Parental Leave as a whole and provide new mums and dads with the financial flexibility they need to spend more time at home with their new baby.

Our Plan for Kiwi Families

Extend paid parental leave

From 26 to 30 weeks in three stages over the next term, the first step in National's longer-term vision to extend paid parental leave to 40 weeks.

Shared parental leave

Allow parents the flexibility to take their paid parental leave entitlement at the same time, or in overlapping instalments.

Protect full holiday pay for new parents

Pass and protect new employment leave legislation so working mums and dads earn annual leave while on parental leave and are paid in full when they take it.

KiwiSaver top-up

Government KiwiSaver contribution for people on paid parental leave, even if the person is not contributing themselves.

Our Plan to Deliver

From 1 July 2027Budget 2027

27 weeks

Paid parental leave entitlement increases from 26 to 27 weeks. Shared parental leave, full holiday pay protections for parents returning from parental leave, and KiwiSaver contributions on paid parental leave take effect.

From 1 July 2028Budget 2028

28 weeks

Paid parental leave increases by a further week to 28 weeks.

From 1 July 2029Budget 2029

30 weeks

Paid parental leave increases by two weeks to 30 weeks, four more weeks than today.

More about the Policy

National is laying out a long-term vision to extend paid parental leave from six months to nine months, with an initial increase of four weeks over the next term.

Paid parental leave entitlements will increase from 26 weeks to 30 weeks over three Budgets — one week in 2027, one week in 2028, and two weeks in 2029.

Under National's policy, parents would have the option to take all or some of their paid parental leave at the same time.

New parents could mix and match their combined right to 30 weeks of paid parental leave as they see fit — together, then apart, then together again, in whatever order and combination works best for them. Every family has different needs.

Under the new Employment Leave Act, workers will continue to earn annual leave while on parental leave, and when they take annual leave after returning to work, they will be paid in full.

These changes take effect from 1 July 2027, ahead of the wider reforms, so parents see the benefit as soon as possible. A re-elected National Government will protect that legislation and oppose any efforts to water down the rights of working mums and dads.

National believes strong families are the cornerstone of a more prosperous society, and that starts with supporting every family to save for their future and build their own financial security.

From 1 July 2027, the Government will provide a KiwiSaver contribution to people on paid parental leave even if the person is not contributing themselves. The contribution is made at the default rate applied against the amount of paid parental leave a person is receiving.