Annual Report 2006: Part two - Delivering on our outcomes
Paid parental leave
Paid parental leave is a government-funded payment for parents who take leave from their job to care for a new baby or adopted child. Inland Revenue distributes paid parental leave on behalf of the Department of Labour.
This year we distributed $101 million in paid parental leave to 19,906 parents, compared to $76 million to 19,264 parents last year. This increase was influenced by legislation changes16.
The maximum amount of paid parental leave is inflation indexed each year. It was paid out at a weekly rate of $357.30 from July 2005, and $372.12 from July 2006. The average payment this year was $345.30 per week and 87% of applicants received the maximum rate. This year we processed 94% of applications within five working days.
Paid parental leave has been extended to cover self-employed mothers from July 2006 if they have been working an average of 10 hours a week or more for either six or 12 months immediately before the birth or adoption of a child. They are able to transfer this leave to their eligible partners in the same way as employees.
16. From 1 December 2004, parents became eligible for payments if they had worked for the same employer for six months (previously 12 months) before the expected date of delivery or adoption of a child, and the payment period increased from 12 to 13 weeks. From 1 December 2005, the payment period increased from 13 to 14 weeks.
Date published: 06 Nov 2006
Back to top
