Babies and parents mobilise for 26 weeks paid parental leave in park near John Key's house on 4 May

On Wednesday 4 May between 9:30am and 11:30am, parents and their babies from the 26 For Babies coalition will be mobilising at a park near John Key’s house for 26 weeks paid parental leave.

The park is Alberon Reserve, off Staffa St and Alberon Place, Parnell.

This protest picnic is the first of a series of nationwide events that unions and advocacy groups under the umbrella of the 26 For Babies coalition are putting on across the country in the week before Mother’s Day (8 May), to mark next week’s second reading of the Bill to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks. The bill passed its first reading in September last year but the National government has said that if the bill got through to its third and final reading the Government would be required to use its power of financial veto against it.

At the picnic on 4 May, parents and babies will be making John Key a giant Mother’s Day card calling on him to implement 26 weeks paid parental leave. Although the Government has committed to increasing the entitlement from 14 to 18 weeks by next year, it’s still shy of the six months families need and compares poorly internationally Australia already offers 18 weeks, the United Kingdom offers 52 weeks, and Sweden offers 16 months.

Speakers at the picnic include:
Labour MP Sue Moroney (9:30am) – Sue is the author of the bill to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks.
Jacinta Fa'alili-Fidow (10am) - Jacinta is manager of TAHA Well Pacific Mother & Infant Service based at the University of Auckland.

ENDS

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