New Zealand’s parental leave scheme provides government-funded paid leave to eligible parents. The amount you receive depends on your income, with a maximum cap set by the government. This page explains the scheme and helps you calculate your expected payments.
Paid parental leave in NZ replaces your usual weekly income up to a maximum of $811.05 a week before tax (from 1 July 2026), for up to 26 weeks. On $60,000 a year (about $1,154 a week) you'd get the maximum; on $35,000 (about $673 a week) you'd get about that weekly amount. Payments are taxable and paid by IRD every fortnight.
Parental Leave Pay Calculator
Calculate Your Parental Leave Pay
How NZ Parental Leave Works
Duration
The primary carer (the birth parent, or someone taking permanent care of a child under 6, such as through adoption) can get up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave.
A spouse or partner doesn’t normally get paid parental leave unless the primary carer transfers some of it to them. Employees can take 1 or 2 weeks of unpaid partner’s leave (after 6 or 12 months with their employer).
Employees who have worked for their employer for 12 months or more can take extended leave (unpaid) as well, up to 52 weeks of leave in total.
Eligibility
To qualify for the payment you must be the child’s primary carer and have worked an average of at least 10 hours a week for any 26 of the 52 weeks before the due date, as an employee (all jobs combined) or self-employed. It doesn’t have to be one employer.
How Pay Is Calculated
For an employee, IRD uses the higher of your ordinary weekly pay and your average weekly income over your best 26 weeks in the 52 weeks before the due date, up to the maximum of $811.05 a week. The maximum rises each 1 July (it was $788.66 from 1 July 2025). The calculator above uses your annual income divided by 52 as a simple estimate of your usual weekly income.
Key Numbers at Different Income Levels
| Annual Income | Weekly Income | Weekly Parental Leave Pay | 26-Week Total (Gross) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35,000 | $673 | $673.08/week | $17,500 |
| $45,000 | $865 | $811.05/week | $21,087 |
| $60,000 | $1,154 | $811.05/week | $21,087 |
| $90,000 | $1,731 | $811.05/week | $21,087 |
| $150,000 | $2,885 | $811.05/week | $21,087 |
Once your usual income is over about $42,175 a year ($811.05 × 52), you get the maximum. Everyone above that receives the same amount.
Tax on Parental Leave Payments
Paid parental leave is taxable like a salary or wage: IRD deducts PAYE from each payment based on your tax code. It’s part of your income for the tax year, so if you’re off work for much of the year your PAYE may more than cover your tax, and you’d get a refund after 31 March.
KiwiSaver During Parental Leave
KiwiSaver contributions from paid parental leave are optional. If you ask IRD to deduct them, IRD also makes an employer contribution of 3.5%. If your employer keeps paying you a salary or wage during leave, they keep deducting and contributing as usual. The government contribution (up to $260.72 a year) still applies if you contribute enough between 1 July and 30 June.
Employer Top-Up Payments
Some NZ employers offer employer-funded top-ups that bring your pay closer to your full salary. They aren’t legally required. When weighing a job offer, ask about parental leave top-ups: for higher earners the difference between a full top-up and none can be large over 26 weeks.
How to Apply
Apply to Inland Revenue in myIR, before you return to work and before your baby’s first birthday (or within 12 months of taking permanent care of a child under 6). Tell your employer about your planned leave in writing as well.
Sources: Inland Revenue paid parental leave pages and 2026 rate notice; Employment New Zealand parental leave pages (checked 30 September 2026).