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New Zealand Initiatives to Pay Parents: Possibilities for the Antipodes?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

Jennifer Curtin
Jennifer Curtin*
Affiliation:
School of Administrative Studies, University of Canberra
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Abstract

In 1998, a private member’s Bill, the Paid Parental Leave Bill, was introduced into the New Zealand Parliament. Although it was subsequently defeated, the Bill stimulated debate over paid parental leave in both New Zealand and Australia - two countries conspicuous in international terms for their lack of such provisions. It showed that a progressive approach could be devised to fit the New Zealand context, and raised hopes that increasing political pressure would stimulate a move towards extension of parental rights in the Antipodes. Ultimately, the Bill proved too much of a challenge within the present New Zealand system, and the potential for change was confounded by lack of political support. However, future political compromises around the issue of paid parental leave remain a possibility in the volatile New Zealand political system.

Type
Symposium on Parental Rights and Work/Family Balance
Information
The Economic and Labour Relations Review , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , December 1999 , pp. 188 - 202
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1999

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Footnotes

*

The author would like to thank Frank Castles, Anne Junor, Gillian Whitehouse and referees for helpful comments.

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