A bill that extends paid parental leave has passed in Parliament this afternoon.
In July next year the number of paid weeks a parent can spend with their baby will rise from 18 weeks to 22.
In 2020 it will rise again to 26 weeks.
During its third reading at Parliament this afternoon, many politicians paid tribute to former Labour MP Sue Moroney, who battled for years to get the bill through Parliament, only to have the National government veto it.
New Zealand First's Tracey Martin said the new government was proud to be helping families.
"And it is with some pride that we stand up on this side of the house and in the first 100 days stand by children, stand by mothers and fathers and say 'this is a government now that will support you.'"
