Government to veto paid parental leave bill

NZ Herald 17 September 2015
Paid parental leave is back on Parliament’s agenda – and the Government has been urged not to use a veto to stop legislation that would extend leave to 26 weeks.

A Labour Party bill to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks passed its first reading, 61 to 60 in Parliament last night, but only with the support of United Future leader Peter Dunne.

This year, paid parental leave was increased from 12 weeks to 14 weeks on April 1, and will be extended to 16 weeks in April next year.

The Labour bill, in the name of Sue Moroney, would extend paid parental leave to 22 weeks in April next year, and to 26 weeks from April 2018.

It would also introduce flexibility for some contact hours with the work place by the parent on leave without losing the entitlement to paid parental leave.

The bill now goes to a select committee for public submissions.
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