Parental leave in New Zealand (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Primary carer leave is up to 26 weeks, partner's leave is 1 or 2 weeks, and extended leave brings the total to up to 52 weeks. Inland Revenue pays parental leave payments for up to 26 weeks, up to a weekly maximum. An employee cannot be dismissed for taking parental leave.

RuleWhat applies
Maternity leaveTaking parental leavePrimary carer leave is up to 26 weeks for an employee who is pregnant or has given birth, if they worked for the same employer an average of at least 10 hours a week in the 6 months before the due date. It can start up to 6 weeks before the due date and must be taken in one continuous period. [1]
Paternity leaveTaking parental leaveA spouse or partner can take 1 week of unpaid partner's leave after 6 months with the same employer, or 2 weeks after 12 months (average of at least 10 hours a week). It can start in the 21 days before the due date and the latest start is 21 days after the birth. [2]
Parental leaveTaking parental leaveExtended leave is up to 52 weeks minus the weeks of primary carer leave taken, for a primary carer with 12 months with the employer, or up to 26 weeks minus the primary carer leave taken with 6 months. It is usually taken after primary carer leave. [3]
Pay during leaveTaking parental leaveParental leave payments from Inland Revenue match regular income up to a maximum, for up to 26 weeks. They stop if the person returns to work before the 26 weeks are up or stops being the primary carer. Payments are taxable. [4]
Job protectionTaking parental leaveAn employee cannot be dismissed for going on parental leave. The employer must keep the job open if the leave is up to 4 weeks and is the first period of leave for that child. For longer leave the job must be kept open unless it is a key position or the role becomes redundant; in some cases a 26-week period of preference applies. [5]

Notes

  • The employee must have worked for the same employer for an average of at least 10 hours a week in the 6 months before the due date (12 months for the longer entitlements).
  • Partner's leave is unpaid. Extended leave is usually unpaid, because payments cover 26 weeks and these usually match the primary carer leave.
  • Inland Revenue pays the higher of ordinary weekly pay and average weekly income, up to a maximum before tax of $811.05 a week for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 ($788.66 a week for the year before). Amounts are in New Zealand dollars.

Sources

  1. Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): Primary carer leave | Employment New Zealand (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): Partner's leave | Employment New Zealand (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  3. Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): Extended leave | Employment New Zealand (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  4. Inland Revenue (Te Tari Taake): Paid parental leave overview (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  5. Employment New Zealand (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment): What happens while on parental leave and your return | Employment New Zealand (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.