Critics say National's promise of 30 weeks parental leave isn't enough

The National Party has promised to gradually extend paid parental leave from 26 to 30 weeks by 2029 if re-elected. 

That would see the entitlement lift to 27 weeks in next year’s Budget, before rising again in the following two Budgets. 

The announcement came days after NZ First candidate Stuart Nash resigned his candidacy after calling National MP Katie Nimon lazy for taking leave after having a baby. 

But, some commentators have said the plan doesn’t go far enough. 

Today on The Front Page, military veteran, leadership expert and founder of #workschoolhours movement, Dr Ellen Joan Ford joins us to unpack what the policy could mean for families, employers, and the wider debate about who should pay for it. 

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