Opposition Leader Bill English says he will support the government's move to extend paid parental leave, despite vetoing the bill to do the same last year.
Paid parental leave is to be extended from 18 weeks currently up to 22 weeks next July and to 26 weeks by July 2020.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it's part of the Labour-led Government's promise to better support working families with new-born and young children.
Mr English, speaking this morning to TVNZ 1's Breakfast programme, said despite his government turning back Sue Moroney's bill in June last year, his government had actually intended to implement similar measures eventually.
The PM made the announcement today saying in a statement "we want children to have the best start in life".
"We'd always said we would extend as there was the capability to do so," Mr English said.
Mr English, a father of six himself, said more paid parental leave will be good for parents and children.
"We'll support it - it'll be good for mothers and babies," Mr English said, adding that "I hope they can build in the flexibility that would allow both parents to take periods of that at the same time".
Asked why he had vetoed the bill last year, Mr English said the timing was not right at that point.
"It would have brought it in much sooner," Mr English said.
National had also promised to extend parental leave during its election campaign.
Carol Beaumont, spokesperson for the National Council of Women, said the extra time will benefit society and parents alike.
"We all benefit - if children get the best possible start, that's going to have good consequences - health, education, for our whole community," Ms Beaumont said.
"For many women I think this is just going to make such a huge difference because of that constant juggling, the penalty that women pay at the moment for being a parent in terms of their career and financial independence - initiatives like this are really critical.
"It gives longer time for bonding for both parents, but the primary caregiver can really build a good bond in that first six months.
"We know now that many mums are going back to work before they would ideally like to."
Legislation will be introduced to parliament to make the necessary changes next week, Mr Ardern said.
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