NZ Parental Leave Pay Calculator 2026 | After-Tax Income

Your income & leave

Both questions are about you — your salary and how long you're taking off

Your annual salary

Before tax (gross)

How long will you take off?

PPL covers up to 26 weeks

After 26 weeks PPL ends — weeks 27+ are unpaid. Best Start ($77/wk) kicks in automatically.

Employment type

Affects how IRD calculates your PPL

Variable/self-employed: PPL is averaged across your 26 best-earning weeks

The government pays up to 26 weeks of PPL, capped at $788.66 gross/week (July 2025–June 2026). If your weekly wage is below the cap, you receive your full weekly wage.

Enter your salary to continue.

Deductions from your PPL

IRD deducts these automatically before paying you

KiwiSaver contributions

Optional during leave — but IRD matches employer contribution if you opt in

None

3%

4%

6%

8%

10%

Student loan

12% is deducted on earnings above the $24,000/yr threshold

No student loan

Yes, I have one

Employer top-up

Some employers voluntarily top up PPL to your full salary — check your employment agreement

No top-up

Topped up to full salary

Partial top-up

Extended employer paid leave

Does your employer continue paying you beyond the 26-week government PPL period?

No

Yes

Partner's income (optional)

Adds your partner's take-home to get your full household picture during leave

Partner's annual salary

Before tax — leave blank if they're also on leave, or if you want just your own income

We estimate their net take-home using NZ PAYE tax rates.

Best Start: $77/week for the first 3 years of your child's life. You cannot receive it while on PPL — it starts automatically when your PPL payments end. Means-tested for families earning over $79,000/yr from April 2026.

Your estimated income during leave

Weekly figures, after tax and all deductions — based on IRD's published 2025–26 rates

Your PPL weekly
—
Net, after tax & deductions

Household weekly

—

Your PPL + partner's income

Income difference

—

vs your normal household income

Income timeline

Govt PPL

Partner / Employer

Best Start

Wk 1 Wk 13 Wk 26 Wk 52

Your income

Partner

Before baby

See week-by-week breakdown ▼

Week	Phase	Your income (net)	Partner (net)	Household total

Rough guide only — not financial advice. Figures are estimates using IRD's published rates for 2025–26. Tax uses NZ PAYE brackets effective 1 April 2025; ACC levy at 1.6%. Always confirm with IRD or a financial adviser before making decisions.