Tena koe,

I am making a request under the Official Information Act 1982 regarding the design of New Zealand’s Paid Parental Leave (PPL) scheme, with particular focus on child wellbeing, shared parenting, and international comparisons.

I acknowledge that fathers in New Zealand may access paid parental leave if they become the primary carer. However, this request concerns whether the current framework adequately supports a child’s need to form and maintain strong relationships with both parents in the early months of life, without forcing families into caregiving or financial trade-offs.

Please provide the following information:
Child bonding and shared parenting
a. Any policy advice, analysis, or briefing documents held by the Ministry discussing the importance of infants bonding with both parents during the first year of life. If not, why?
b. Any analysis of the impact on child wellbeing when one parent (commonly the father) returns to full-time work immediately following the birth of a child. If not, why?

Primary carer requirement and trade-offs
a. Policy advice explaining the rationale for requiring one parent to relinquish primary carer status in order for the other parent to access paid parental leave.
b. Any analysis of the potential impacts on mothers and infants when fathers become the primary carer primarily to access paid parental leave, including effects on maternal bonding and household income.

Financial and social impacts
a. Any modelling or analysis on the financial impact on families where fathers continue full-time work due to the absence of paid leave available to both parents concurrently.
b. Any assessment of whether current paid parental leave settings discourage shared caregiving during the newborn period.

International comparison with other developed nations
a. Any reports, advice, or internal analysis comparing New Zealand’s paid parental leave system with other countries system, for example, Canada’s provision of extended paid leave for mothers alongside paid leave entitlements for fathers or partners (who are secondary carers of the baby)
b. Any assessment of how other developed countries approach to paid leave for both parents supports early parent–child bonding compared with New Zealand’s primary-carer-based model.
Why it’s considered that only one parent can handle the perfect care of the baby while mothers also recovering from postpartum complications. I know that partners can access unpaid leave for two weeks if they are employed for required time but that would have big impact on financial stability of the family so why that was never considered in the previous analysis or policy advise.

Alternative policy models
a. Any advice or analysis held on paid parental leave models that allow both parents to take paid leave without requiring one parent to forgo time with the child or income.
b. Any consideration given to non-transferable or concurrent paid parental leave for fathers alongside mothers.

Future policy work
a. Any current or planned policy reviews, proposals, or advice considering changes to paid parental leave settings to better support shared parenting and early child development. If not, why?

I acknowledge that this response would be drafted by MBIE however for Minister’s noting, I would appreciate that the response be sent with Ministerial sign off and her comments on this sensitive matter.

I am happy to receive the requested information electronically. If any part of this request is refused under the Act, please specify the grounds for refusal and provide any information that can be reasonably released.

Yours faithfully,

Sam