Paid parental leave extended for parents of pre-term babies

Labour hopes to get the needed support for legislation which would extend paid parental leave for all parents to 26 weeks. Photo / Getty Images

Paid parental leave will be extended for eligible parents with pre-term babies, the Government has confirmed.

The move comes as Labour hopes to get the needed support for legislation which would extend paid parental leave for all parents to 26 weeks.

Today's announcement that leave would be extended for parents with pre-term babies was previously signaled by Act leader David Seymour, who wanted the changes after he agreed to vote against a previous members bill in the name of Labour MP Sue Moroney.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse said how much extra leave a parent received would depend on how premature their baby was.

"Under the changes, eligible parents of pre-term babies will be entitled to a longer period of parental leave payments than the standard 18 weeks (as at 1 April 2016), if the baby is born prior to 37 weeks of gestation (considered full term)," Mr Woodhouse said in a statement.

"They will receive additional weekly payments for each week the baby was born prior to the 37 week gestation period. For example, a mother who gives birth at 28 weeks would receive nine additional weekly payments, making it a total of 27 weeks of payment."

The announcement is a win for the Act Party, after the Government agreed earlier this year to work with its leader David Seymour.

He wanted more support to be provided in situations of multiple birth, disability and pre-term births.

Mr Woodhouse said today's announcement was for families with pre-term babies, as assistance was already available for parents of multiple-birth children and to parents of children with disabilities.

The changes will be progressed as part of the Employment Standards Legislation Bill, currently before Parliament.

Paid parental leave for all parents would be extended to 26 weeks under legislation before Parliament.

Labour, NZ First, the Greens, and the Maori Party will vote in favour of Ms Moroney's members bill, meaning United Future leader Peter Dunne will have the deciding vote.

He has previously expressed support for 26 weeks, but has refused to say which way he will vote.

This year the Government increased paid parental leave from 14 to 16 weeks. A further lift to 18 weeks is due next year.

Mr Seymour said although he had opposed an earlier parental leave bill from Ms Moroney, it had identified gaps in current policy, notably the lack of special assistance for parents of pre-term babies.

"I pledged to lobby the Government on this issue, and am pleased with today's confirmation that, as a result of my talks with Mr Woodhouse, parents of pre-term babies will receive additional weekly payments for each week the baby was born prior to the 37 week gestation period."