Parental leave in NZ 'envy of Asia', says minister

Nanaia Mahuta

New Zealand's 14 weeks of parental leave on partial pay is the envy of many Asian countries, says Youth Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta.

Ms Mahuta made the comment after representing New Zealand at a 16-nation ministerial meeting on gender equality.

She said delegates at the conference in Japan outlined what each of their countries was doing to promote gender equality and work-life balance.

A clear theme was that throughout Asia, women had to choose between having a career or having children.

"Each country is wanting to respond to that, to say, 'It shouldn't be a choice, there should be policies that enable women to have children and work, if that is their choice'," Ms Mahuta said.

"The common theme in Asia was that employers needed to be more responsive in this regard, so our moves to have paid parental leave for 14 weeks [on partial pay] is quite significant in Asia.

"Most countries that gave presentations yesterday have paid parental leave for eight weeks on partial pay."

In New Zealand, paid parental leave can be taken by either parent and is capped at $372.12 a week before tax for 14 weeks.

It was yesterday extended to include the self-employed.

Ms Mahuta said that, and other measures such as 20 hours of free early childhood education for three and four-year-olds from July next year, gave New Zealand women options.

"The forum provided the opportunity to say, 'This is our response, this is New Zealand's experience' and, I guess, following on from this discussion, countries will follow up on examples that they believe most suit them."

- NZPA