Parental Leave Calculator

In New Zealand, eligible primary carers are entitled to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, as of July 2020. This can be taken as a continuous block, or — in some cases — split between eligible parents. The 26-week entitlement applies to employees and eligible self-employed people who meet the minimum employment criteria. In addition to the paid period, you may take up to 52 weeks of unpaid extended leave (combined between primary and secondary carers). The 26-week paid period replaced the previous 22-week entitlement and reflects ongoing increases to parental support in New Zealand. Parental leave payments are administered by IRD and paid to you via your normal pay cycle or directly by IRD if self-employed. Source: Employment New Zealand — Parental Leave (employment.govt.nz).

As of April 2025, the maximum parental leave payment rate in New Zealand is $754.21 gross per week (before tax). This rate is reviewed annually on 1 July and is pegged to 100% of the minimum wage for a 40-hour week. If your regular weekly earnings are less than this maximum, you receive your actual earnings rate instead. For example, someone earning $600 per week gross receives $600 per week in parental leave payments. Parental leave payments are taxable income, so PAYE is deducted and your net payment will be lower depending on your tax code. Self-employed people calculate their entitlement based on their average weekly earnings over the 26 weeks prior to the expected due date. Source: IRD — Parental Leave Payments (ird.govt.nz) and Employment New Zealand (employment.govt.nz).

To be eligible for paid parental leave in New Zealand, you must have been employed or self-employed by the same employer for at least six months, working an average of at least 10 hours per week, immediately before your due date or the date you take custody of a child under six. Both employees and eligible self-employed people can qualify. You must be the primary carer — that is, the person who will be caring for the child on a day-to-day basis. Secondary carers (such as partners) may be entitled to two weeks of paid partner's/paternity leave, subject to meeting their own eligibility criteria. Casual and fixed-term employees may qualify if they meet the hours and period requirements. Immigration status may affect eligibility; New Zealand citizens, residents, and some visa holders qualify. Source: Employment New Zealand — Parental Leave Eligibility (employment.govt.nz).

In New Zealand, both parents can receive parental leave entitlements simultaneously only in limited ways. The primary carer receives the 26 weeks of paid parental leave. The secondary carer (partner) is entitled to up to two weeks of paid partner's/paternity leave, which can overlap with the primary carer's paid leave. Beyond those two weeks, the secondary carer may take unpaid leave. Primary carers can also transfer some or all of their remaining paid leave entitlement to the secondary carer, provided both parents meet their respective eligibility criteria and the transfer is agreed. However, only one parent can receive paid parental leave payments for the same week at a time under the primary carer entitlement — the transfer arrangement effectively passes the entitlement from one to the other. Source: Employment New Zealand — Parental Leave (employment.govt.nz).