Paid Parental Leave (PPL) Calculator NZ 2027

How PPL Is Calculated

Employees receive their usual weekly pay capped at NZ$754.87 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$754.87/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.