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  | busymum   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 12236
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: Increases to maternity leave? Posted: 06 May 2007 at 8:57am
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   There may be increases to paid maternity leave - here's the link | 
 
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  | .Mel   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 14 January 2007
 Location: Orewa
 Points: 9078
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 06 May 2007 at 9:11am | 
 
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   I hope they decide to do something about it sooner rather than later, I'd be keen for 16 weeks or even 20weeks. Not sure if I'd go back to work after that though. 
 I've already put number 3 on the list at our local daycare, for next year, as they are so full all the time.. they aren't part of the 20 hrs free either which is a bummer; but they have recently increased their fees by $10 a day!
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     Mr Mellow (16)
 Miss Attitude (8)
 Destructa Kid (3)
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  | peanut butter   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 20 February 2007
 Points: 8044
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 06 May 2007 at 10:06am | 
 
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   Iwas hoping the something may have cone out of the budget but it doesnt look like it.  I guess it will only come about when I am not eligible....bloody murphy's law!  Apparently in Canada you get full pay for 6 months and then 50% etc down to nothing at 12 months.....that is 50% of what you were earning I think....but they do pay higher taxes.
 I need to learn more about day cares....off to start a new topic.
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  | Paws   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location:  Auckland
 Points: 5860
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 06 May 2007 at 10:15am | 
 
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   Bet they don't increase any decent amount.  Is it Switzerland that the paid leave is one year?  Now that's something I would love to see and really would give parents the choice to be able to stay home at least for the first year.
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  | Lissy   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
 Points: 492
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 06 May 2007 at 8:38pm | 
 
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 |  Paws wrote: 
 Bet they don't increase any decent amount. Is it Switzerland that the paid leave is one year? Now that's something I would love to see and really would give parents the choice to be able to stay home at least for the first year.
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 Yes, it would make things sooooo much easier. Some mothers feel ike they have too go back and it is not fair.  Our children are important and the best thing they need is TIME. | 
 
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     Harlan Drew DOB: 06.12.06 & Stepmum to Ethan & Christian, DOB: 25.02.99
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  | busymum   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 12236
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 06 May 2007 at 9:01pm | 
 
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   Yea I agree. It really saddens me when 3mo's are in full-time care because the leave has run out    | 
 
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  | Roksana   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Manurewa, Auckland
 Points: 6137
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 10:32am | 
 
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   Recently I phoned Income support to ask: "If after 14 weeks I decided to stay home with my new baby untill the baby was 6 months old, what support can I get from Income Support?" Answer: Nothing! Since it is your choice not to work" 
 Wow I thought, NZ Govt, really encourages women to have kids!!    | 
 
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  | caliandjack   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 10 March 2007
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 12487
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 10:32am | 
 
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   The beginning of that article was discussing the development of babies in care. I would love to see the maternity leave extended to 6 months. Noticed this is an election promise.
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  | Roksana   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Manurewa, Auckland
 Points: 6137
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 11:20am | 
 
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   Yah...when is the next election?? May be I should hold out to have number two till then?? LOL
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  | Two Blondinis   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 4370
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 11:35am | 
 
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   We could only afford for me to take 4 months off work with Caitlin as apparently we're "well off" *pfft* and only qualify for $5 extra a month on the Working Families thing (I told them they could keep it, but not so politely   )
 We're now saving every spare penny for #2 as I'd like to take at least 6 months off in total. I REALLY wasn't ready to leave my baby after just 4 months even though I know she is getting the best possible care with her Nanny (my Mum)
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  | Roksana   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Manurewa, Auckland
 Points: 6137
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 11:48am | 
 
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   I know.... they told us IRD would give us Accom suppliment...I went to their site and it said $71 a week...oh yah thanks sooo much!! My mortgage is 90% more than that!! Arrrgg
 It hard to save you know, with every bloody bill to pay and Day care.....but yah we are trying and I might just work from home for few hours a weeks so that I can get that bit extra. But honestly I feel ripped off. Both DH and I pay mega tax and yet in return I get practically nothing. IT SUCKS NZ!!!
 Stop winging Roksana and get on with it    | 
 
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  | busymum   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 12236
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 3:53pm | 
 
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   Next election is the end of 2008 I think?
 When DH starts his new job we will be entitled to $60? per week accom... it's not heaps but all tipped into savings does help a lot.
 
 Edited by busymum
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  | megrac   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 31 March 2007
 Location: whangarei
 Points: 200
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 4:03pm | 
 
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   i am a homebased childcarer and have to be classed as  self-employed even though i work through a business so i havent qualiflied for any maternity leave in the past we really have had to suffer on one income when we had our babies but i will look into what if anything i can get now. 
 Edited by megrac
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  | caliandjack   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 10 March 2007
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 12487
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 4:42pm | 
 
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   Self employed mothers are now eligible for the 14 wks paid maternity leave Meg, get in touch with IRD and get what you are entitled to.
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  | Carmel   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Stratford
 Points: 639
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 6:18pm | 
 
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   It absolutely gutted me at the time, as being on the 14 week leave I had to go back to work (only for four days but still was horrible) when piper was only 2 months old as finances would not cover for longer and I was also lucky that a close friend was able to care for her. I would love the leave to increase to at least 20 weeks    | 
 
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  | MummyFreckle   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 08 February 2007
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 4120
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 6:34pm | 
 
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   There are different rules for self-employed people, but its all fairly straightforward. I think you just have to prove that you have been self employed for X period of time.  I have been a contractor (so self employed) since 2001 so we are good. In fact as DH is self employed too (same deal) he is entitled to 14 weeks too (but he would earn much more working....so thinks he will just take a couple of weeks...still nice he will get paid for it!!)    | 
 
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  | linda   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 02 September 2003
 Points: 1211
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 07 May 2007 at 8:39pm | 
 
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   If they increase the paid parenal leave it probably wouldn't come into effect until the end of Labours term...so like 2011.  Bit like this year with the rebate for 3 & 4 year olds.  Also countries in Europe esp Scandinavia pay a much higher tax than us.
 We also pay heaps in tax and have two kids at childcare.  It seems to me that in many cases both parents have to work so in those cases there should be some kind of tax rebate which would have happened if National got in.  Personally I was very annoyed (being polite here) that Labour got in again.
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