PPL is open to working mothers and adoptive parents, when they have a newborn or adopted child under six years old. Eligible mothers have 14 weeks paid leave, and eligible fathers/partners have 2 weeks unpaid leave. These count towards a total of up to 52 weeks extended leave (all of which is unpaid except the 14 weeks maternity leave).[1] If both parents are eligible, the mother can transfer the paid weeks to the father/partner. If the father/partner is eligible for payment but the mother is not, then no PPL can be taken. The eligibility for unpaid extended leave is based on each parent individually.
If the recipient has had the same employer for six months, mothers have 14 weeks job protection, and fathers/partners have one week. If they have had the same employer for one year, job protection holds for the duration of leave. Employees must have averaged ten hours work per week over the eligibility period,[2] including at least one hour in each week or 40 hours in each month. PPL is paid at 100% of earnings, up to a maximum. [3] For 30 June 2009 to 30 June 2010, the maximum is $429.74 per week. In 2008-9, it was $407.36. The $429.74 payment is 86% of full-time minimum wage, and 80% of median full-time earnings. [4] PPL must be taken full-time in one consecutive block.
[1] Which can be taken shared between both parents.
[2] The eligibility period is the last 26 weeks if the individual has been employed for that whole time; or the average of the last 52 weeks if the individual has not been employed continuously for the last 26 weeks but has been employed for at least 26 out of the last 52 weeks.
[3] “Earnings” is the average per-week rate during the eligibility period.
[4]Weekly minimum wage is $500 ($12.50 per hour multiplied by 40 hours). Median weekly full-time earnings were $537 in the June 2008 quarter. Figures for the June 2009 quarter were not released at the time of this report. Source: Statistics New Zealand, 2008. New Zealand Income Survey: June 2008 Quarter – Revised. Accessed 19/9/2009 at http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/work_income_and_spending/income/nzincomesurvey_hotpjun08qtr.aspx