Paid parental leave extends from 18 weeks to 22 weeks on Sunday, 1 July.

This is the first step in the Government’s plan to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks by 2020.

Maximum weekly payments are also increasing by 4.7%. The maximum rate for eligible employees and self-employed parents will rise from $538.55 to $563.83 gross per week.

The paid parental leave extension aims to support working families with newborns and young children and help reduce financial stress.

Parents of babies due or delivered from 1 July 2018 are eligible for the increased paid parental leave. The Inland Revenue Department processes paid parental leave payments. For more information and to apply click here.

This Sunday will also see an increase in the number of Keeping in Touch days. These allow parents to do limited work while on parental leave, if they choose to, for example to attend a team day or change announcement. The number of Keeping in Touch days will increase from 40 to 52 hours from Sunday.

For employers, the changes have minimal impact. Businesses are already required to provide a minimum 26 weeks in job-protected unpaid leave for eligible employees.

For more information about parental leave, visit Employment New Zealand