Clark counters goading on country's low birth rate

United Future has challenged Prime Minister Helen Clark to say where she stands on the country's low birth rate.

Helen Clark forcefully responded to goading from the party's deputy leader, Judy Turner, in Parliament yesterday, telling the House she would never judge or give her opinion on how many children a family should have.

Mrs Turner was tackling Helen Clark's suggestion in her speech at Tuesday's opening of Parliament that the country needed to boost female participation in the workforce and offer better childcare services.

Helen Clark cited the high participation rate of women in Scandinavian countries as a target for New Zealand.

But Mrs Turner asked why the Prime Minister was pursuing Scandinavian policies when they had resulted in extremely low birth rates.

Helen Clark replied: "Something I will never give a judgment or opinion on is how many children a family should have. I regard that as a very personal decision."

Mrs Turner pressed on, asking why she was pursuing a "quick-fix" policy of pushing women into work when it would only restrict "vital population growth".

The Prime Minister retorted that it was National leader Don Brash who was trying to push women out to work against their will and cut their benefits if they refused.

Mrs Turner later issued a statement saying New Zealand's birth rate had fallen to 1.9 children per family, well below the replacement rate of 2.1.

She said that in Sweden the birthrate was just 1.5 children.

"It that is going to be the result for New Zealand of Helen Clark not making judgments, then the sooner she starts the better."