Invest In Our Future – Support Paid Parental Leave

The Green Party is supporting the 26 for Babies Coalition campaign to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks, and is calling on the Government to ditch their threat of a financial veto of Sue Moroney's bill.

"Paid parental leave is great for babies and great for parents," said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

"If we put the wellbeing of kids first then policies like paid parental leave are a no brainier.

"The Government has money to burn if you are one of the few who can buy shares in a power company, or are a polluter. The Government will subsidise those things.

"It is about priorities. There is money for paid parental leave but the Government would rather subsidise pollution and shares.

"Investing in babies in their first few months is critical. It sets kids up for life.

"The Green Party policy is for 13 months paid parental leave, and we are proud to be supporting the campaign and Sue Moroney's bill that moves us towards that goal."