Having a baby in New Zealand: pregnancy care, birth, parental leave and family payments
If you are pregnant in New Zealand, choose a lead maternity carer (LMC), usually a midwife, as soon as you can; your LMC looks after you through pregnancy, birth and after the birth, and midwife care is free if you are eligible. After the birth, register the baby and apply for their IRD number. Working parents can apply for paid parental leave, and families can check whether they can get Best Start and Working for Families.
What do I do first when I am pregnant?
Pregnancy and birth: midwives and antenatal care
Choose an LMC soon after you find out you are pregnant; they look after your pregnancy and birth.
- Who can be your LMC: A midwife, a private obstetrician, or a GP (family doctor) with obstetric training. Your LMC cares for you through pregnancy and birth, and looks after you and your baby until your baby is 6 weeks old.↗
- When to choose one: Choose your LMC as soon as you know you are pregnant.↗
- Cost of a midwife: Free for New Zealand residents and other eligible women.↗
- How often you have checkups: If you are healthy, usually once a month until 32 weeks. After 32 weeks, checkups are more frequent.↗
Where can I give birth, and what care is there afterwards?
Pregnancy and birth: midwives and antenatal care
You can give birth at home, at a birthing centre or in hospital; after the birth there are visits and free Well Child services.
- Where you can give birth: At home, in a birthing centre, in a small maternity unit or in a hospital. All are safe if there are no complications. Most people in New Zealand give birth in hospital.↗
- Visits after the birth: Your LMC visits you at least 7 times, in hospital and at home. After about 5 weeks, they hand over your care to a Well Child Tamariki Ora service.↗
- Well Child Tamariki Ora: Free for all children under 5. Provided by organisations such as Plunket.↗
- Newborn screening: Newborn metabolic screening (heel-prick blood test) is offered when your baby is 48 to 72 hours old. A hearing screening is offered before your baby is 1 month old.↗
What do I need to do after the baby is born?
Best Start payment for new babies
Register the birth, and apply for the baby's IRD number at the same time.
- Birth registration: Usually within 2 months of the birth. Registering the birth and applying for your baby's IRD number are both free↗
How does parental leave work?
Paid Parental Leave
Parents who meet the work test can get paid parental leave; partners can take unpaid partner's leave.
- Maximum per week (before tax): NZ$811.05↗
- How long payments last: 26 weeks (6 months) in a row. Payments stop if you go back to work early.↗
- Work hours needed: In the 52 weeks before your baby's due date (or before you became the primary carer), you worked an average of at least 10 hours a week in any 26 of those weeks.↗
- Residence status: You do not need to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. Your work must have a 'sufficient connection' to New Zealand.↗
- Partner's leave (unpaid): If your partner has worked for the same employer continuously, for an average of at least 10 hours a week: 1 week after 6 months, or 2 weeks after 12 months.↗
Pregnancy and birth: midwives and antenatal care
You can take unpaid special leave for pregnancy appointments.
- Time off work while pregnant: You can take up to 10 days of unpaid special leave during pregnancy for checkups, antenatal classes, scans and similar appointments.↗
What payments can we get?
Best Start payment for new babies
Best Start is paid for the first years after the birth and reduces for higher-income families.
Working for Families tax credits
Families with children can check whether they can get Working for Families.
Common questions
What is the process for having a baby in New Zealand?
Choose an LMC (usually a midwife) as soon as you know you are pregnant; they care for you through pregnancy, birth and afterwards. After the birth, register the baby and apply for payments. When to choose one: Choose your LMC as soon as you know you are pregnant. Cost of a midwife: Free for New Zealand residents and other eligible women. Birth registration: Usually within 2 months of the birth. Registering the birth and applying for your baby's IRD number are both free.
Does it cost money to have a baby in New Zealand?
If you are eligible, maternity care is free, but private services cost extra. Cost of a midwife: Free for New Zealand residents and other eligible women. Citizens and permanent residents: Maternity care is free, unless you choose a private obstetrician or a private sonographer (ultrasound). Things you may pay for: Antenatal or birth classes, some tests done at private laboratories, private obstetricians and private maternity hospitals.
What payments can I get from the government when my baby is born?
The main one is Best Start, and families can also check Working for Families. Weekly amount: Up to NZ$77. How long you can get it: The first 3 years after your child is born, until your child's 3rd birthday. Family tax credit (eldest child): Up to NZ$7,921 a year (NZ$152 a week).
How long is paid parental leave, and how much is it?
If you meet the work test: How long payments last: 26 weeks (6 months) in a row. Payments stop if you go back to work early. Maximum per week (before tax): NZ$811.05. Work hours needed: In the 52 weeks before your baby's due date (or before you became the primary carer), you worked an average of at least 10 hours a week in any 26 of those weeks.
Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.
Which guides and official sources is this based on?
When you are pregnant in New Zealand, your first step is to choose a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC). This is usually a midwife. Your LMC looks after you during your pregnancy and the birth. They also care for you and your baby until your baby is 6 weeks old. If you are eligible, most maternity care is free. After your baby is born, you also get free Well Child Tamariki Ora health checks.
Best Start is part of Working for Families. It gives your family extra money for the first 3 years after your child is born, up to NZ$77 a week. For children born on or after 1 April 2026, the first year also depends on your family income.
If you have a baby, or start caring for a child under 6, you may get government-funded parental leave payments. This applies if you are the primary carer, you stop work to care for the child, and you worked enough hours in the past year. You apply to Inland Revenue, and payments last for 26 weeks in a row. From 1 July 2026, the maximum is NZ$811.05 a week before tax. Your partner can ask their employer for 1 or 2 weeks of unpaid partner's leave. Your partner can also take over part of your parental leave payments.
If you have dependent children, you can apply to Inland Revenue (IRD) for Working for Families payments. There are four main types: family tax credit, in-work tax credit, minimum family tax credit and Best Start. How much you get depends on your family income and how many children you have. You must also meet residence requirements.
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The AI answers using this guide and official New Zealand government websites.