Currently  the New Zealand  government offers 52 weeks parental leave, 26 of those paid. That's all good and well but for someone like myself who could only do the paid leave it is very heart breaking saying good bye to our babies so young, to place in someone else's care  while missing out on those precious moments in the first 12months.  

With the price of living forever increasing plus childcare it feels like life is just one huge bill. Something has got to give and I know like myself and many other Mummas we would love the opportunity for paid parental leave to be paid for the first 52 weeks.

It is well known that what happens in the first year, not only matters, it matters a lot. Babies who have the right early movement experiences in their first year have better coordination, concentration, memory, behaviour and perception as they get older.

What is not well known is just how much of a dramatic influence parents can have over their babies’ brain growth and their future learning ability. 

Every parent deserves that chance. 

I petition 52weeks paid!