Other situations

Parental leave payments are the same if more than 1 baby is born at the same time, like twins.

In situations like surrogacy and adoption where the baby is not staying in the birth mother’s care, both the birth mother and the primary carer are entitled to primary carer leave and parental leave payments as long as they’re eligible. The birth mother’s entitlements do not end when she hands over care of the baby, and she can continue to receive payments while taking time off work to recover from the pregnancy.

Parental leave payments are available for the next child as long as at least 6 months have passed since the end of the last parental leave payment period, regardless of whether you or your partner received the last payment. This includes parental leave payments that had started before a stillbirth or miscarriage. There needs to be a 6-month gap between the end of those payments and the start of payments for another child.

Members of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) are generally treated as employees of the Chief of Defence Force so they can get parental leave payments. Their conditions of service set by the Defence Act 1990 are treated as their employment agreement.

Members of the NZDF should check their conditions of service or talk to their chain of command to confirm what payments they are entitled to.

Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 - Public Act 71AB Application to members of Armed Forces – New Zealand Legislation (external link)

If you’re working overseas, you may be eligible for parental leave payments if there is sufficient connection between the overseas work and New Zealand.

Each application is assessed individually. If you’re working overseas and want to get parental leave payments, you’ll need to apply online through Inland Revenue.

Apply for paid parental leave – Inland Revenue (external link)