Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Calculator NZ 2027
Calculate your IRD Paid Parental Leave entitlement under the 2026-27 rules — up to 26 weeks at the greater of 80% of your usual weekly pay or the minimum rate (NZ$249.84/wk), capped at NZ$811.05/wk for higher earners. Includes eligibility check and partner-shared leave.
How PPL Is Calculated
Employees receive their usual weekly pay capped at NZ$811.05 per week (the 2026-27 cap, indexed annually to average weekly earnings). Self-employed parents receive the greater of 80% of their average weekly self-employed income or the minimum rate of NZ$249.84/week, also capped at NZ$811.05/week. The cap means high-earning parents see a substantial drop in income during leave.
Eligibility — The 260-Hour Test
You qualify if you have worked at least 10 hours per week on average across any 26 of the 52 weeks immediately before the baby is due (or the day you take over care of an adopted child). Self-employed work counts. Multiple jobs combine. The test is on average — not a hard threshold each week.
Sharing Leave with a Partner
The 26 weeks can be shared between two parents in any pattern — one takes all 26, the partner takes part, or they alternate. Partners can also take partner's leave (1 or 2 weeks unpaid) plus negotiated extended unpaid leave. IRD requires written agreement from both employers when sharing PPL.
Returning to Work and Keeping in Touch Days
You can do up to 64 hours of paid Keeping in Touch (KIT) work for your employer during your PPL period without losing entitlement. KIT hours over 64 reduce PPL pro-rata. Most parents use KIT for handover meetings or short project finishes — not for any sustained work resumption.
Sources: ird.govt.nz Paid Parental Leave 2026-27 rates, employment.govt.nz parental leave. Last updated: May 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026-27 weekly cap?
NZ$811.05 per week — the maximum PPL payment regardless of usual pay. This figure is indexed to average weekly earnings and adjusted annually on 1 July.
Can my partner and I both take PPL?
No — only one parent receives PPL at a time. You can transfer some or all of the 26 weeks between parents, but you cannot both receive PPL in the same week.
Does PPL count as taxable income?
Yes. PPL is taxed at your normal PAYE rate via the M tax code, the same as wages. Your year-end IR3 will show PPL as part of your total income.
Can I get PPL on a casual contract?
Yes, if you meet the 260-hour test over the qualifying 26 of 52 weeks. Casual, fixed-term, and seasonal workers all qualify on the same hours basis.
Is this tool private?
Yes. All math runs in your browser. Pay and hours inputs are never sent, stored, or shared.