Is 26 weeks parental leave too much?

An insurance company analysis has found mums of babies typically lift about one tonne a day. Photo / Thinkstock

Extending parental leave to six months is a move in the right direction, but a few steps too far, according to Herald online readers.

In a Herald online poll of over 5000 readers today more than 60 per cent disagreed with Labour's policy to increase paid parental leave to 26 weeks.

While most people spoken to by the nzherald.co.nz thought the idea was good in principle, questions of affordability were rife, and many felt a smaller increase would be more practical.

Labour announced as part of its childrens policy yesterday that it intends increasing paid parental leave to 18 weeks in 2014 and 26 weeks by 2015. The policy is estimated to cost $68 million in 2014/15, rising to $166 million by 2018/19.

Alyce McKenzie, a 25-year-old student from Australia, said 26 weeks was too long.

"There will be a lot of money going towards that that could be going towards other things."

Australia has recently extended parental leave to 18 weeks, paid at a higher rate than in New Zealand.

Expectant father Alec Ekeroma, 26, agreed that something closer to Australia's parental leave period would be more affordable for New Zealand.

"Fourteen weeks is really just enough to get used to being a parent, but 26 just seems like it would cost too much."

When account manager Jamie King's children were born in the United Kingdom, his wife took six months paid parental leave. UK mothers are legally entitled to up to 39 weeks statutory maternity pay at 90 per cent of their gross wage.

While he admits parents need all the help they can get in the early stages of their children's lives, he said Labour's policy seemed impractical in light of the economic climate.

"We can all dream up wonderful ideas, but if you can't tell us where the money's coming from it's bollocks."

Labour leader Phil Goff this morning told TV ONE's Breakfast that the policy was affordable because it would be phased in over six years.

Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly told Newstalk ZB he believed Labour was taking "a big leap of faith" by trying to predict the economic situation so far into the future.

Mr Goff, however, maintains that prioritisation is all that is needed.

"The Government found enough money to give $1000 a week in tax cuts to the most wealthy people in this country and we say we can't afford not to take our children out of poverty?"

James Allen, a 20-year-old make-up artist, holds similar views.

"We could afford to spend millions of dollars on the World Cup. Parents work harder than anyone else and this is definitely more important than rugby."

Jari Jaaskelainen, a 47-year-old website manager, said New Zealand's parental leave is "ridiculous"compared with the rest of the world.

His sister in Finland took six months parental leave, at 60 per cent of her regular wage.

"We can afford it, it is worth is and it will pay off in the future," said Jaaskelainen.

Labour's children's policy also includes extending Working for Families eligibility and providing free 24/7 primary health care access for children under six.

In total the policy is expected to cost $713 million over six years.