Labour will hold National to parental leave promise

Labour will hold National to its promise to increase the support given to new parents of premature, multiple birth and babies born with disabilities, Labour’s paid parental leave campaigner Sue Moroney says.

“I am naturally disappointed that after battling for three years to extend paid parental leave, tonight my Member’s Bill will be defeated.

“However, I am buoyed by comments by Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse that he will consider extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks for the parents of premature babies, multiple birth babies and babies born with disabilities when further legislation is introduced in June.

"It's disappointing for these New Zealand families that they will have to wait longer for extended paid parental leave just because National won't vote for a Labour Bill.

“It is mean-spirited of the Government to play politics with people's lives, when those families need that support now," says Sue Moroney.

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