Graduate Women New Zealand Supports Paid Parental Leave Bill

Graduate Women New Zealand [GWNZ] supports the 30 November 2017 passing of the Paid Parental Leave Bill. This Bill will bring paid parental leave up to 26 weeks by 1 July 2020. This will be done in two stages, with the first stage in effect from 1 July 2018 (22 weeks paid leave). This leave may be taken by parents regardless of their gender.

The Bill is a positive step for families in New Zealand, bringing more certainty to family income in a child’s first months, and enabling parents' greater flexibility regarding their careers. We hope that it is only the beginning, noting the New Zealand is still be ranked relatively low in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for parental leave systems. Graduate Women Wellington supports further leave increases in the future, including increases to the rate at which leave is paid, so that New Zealand provides similar standards to other OECD nations.

Bernadette Devonport

President

Graduate Women New Zealand

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