Parental Leave Payment Calculator

Government paid parental leave gives eligible New Zealand parents an income while they take time off to care for a new child. This Parental Leave Payment Calculator estimates your weekly payment and the total across the leave period you choose, up to the maximum of 26 weeks. You enter your gross weekly earnings before the baby arrived and the number of weeks of leave you plan to take. The payment matches your ordinary weekly pay but is capped at a government maximum, which is $788.66 a week for the year from 1 July 2025, so higher earners receive the cap rather than their full pay. The tool applies the cap, then multiplies the weekly amount by your number of weeks to show the total before tax. Expectant parents, partners sharing leave, and self-employed people planning their finances around a new baby use this to budget for the months ahead. Self-employed parents receive at least a minimum weekly rate even if their earnings were low. Good practice is to plan your household budget around the capped figure rather than your normal salary, since the gap can be large for higher earners. Remember the payment is taxable income, so tax is deducted before it reaches you, and you may also be eligible for Best Start payments once parental leave ends. Apply through Inland Revenue early, keep evidence of your earnings, and check the current cap, as it is adjusted each July. This is a guide only, so confirm your exact entitlement with IRD.

Weekly payment = lesser of weekly earnings and the cap. Total = weekly payment x weeks. Estimate only, not financial or tax advice.