David Farrar: National promised 30 weeks paid parental leave

RNZ reports:

National has pledged to extend paid parental leave from 26 weeks to 30, if re-elected.

The party is also proposing to revive a policy that allows parents to take some or all of their leave at the same time.

The second part of the policy is arguably more important than the first. There can be huge benefits in having both parents at home during the first few weeks, or even couple of months. Allowing both parents to take paid leave at the same time, means each couple can choose what works for them. It could be:

• Mum takes 30 weeks paid leave
• Mum and Dad take 15 weeks each
• Mum takes 22 weeks paid leave and Dad takes 8 weeks

National has proposed changing the entitlement incrementally, increasing it to 27 weeks in 2027, 28 weeks in 2028, and then 30 weeks in 2029.

Labour left us a structural deficit, so any new policies that cost money have to be phased in over time, so that economic growth can fund them.

David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders