Parental leave hours test: do your weeks add up to an average of 10?
To get parental leave payments as an employee, you need an average of at least 10 hours a week over any 26 of the 52 weeks before the due date. Inland Revenue takes your 26 best weeks, from all your jobs together, and averages them: 260 hours in those weeks is enough. Enter your weeks to see where you stand, and the leave tests with one employer.
Worked out for the example. Change the boxes to make it yours.
| The 52 weeks | 16 Mar 2026 to 14 Mar 2027 |
|---|---|
| Weeks entered | 52 weeks |
| Weeks of 10 hours or more | 14 of 52 |
| Hours in your best 26 weeks | 276 hours |
| Average over those 26 weeks | 10.62 hours a week |
| Parental leave payments test | Met |
| 6-month test for leave (last 26 weeks) | Met: 10.62 hours a week |
| 12-month test for leave (all 52 weeks) | Not met: 6.46 hours a week |
- The leave tests count the 6 or 12 months before the due date. The calculator uses the last 26 and 52 weeks, a few days different, so check a close result with your employer.
- Paid leave, unpaid leave your employer agreed to and weeks on ACC weekly compensation count as the hours you would normally have worked (s 72A).
- Employee hours and self-employed hours cannot be added together: each has to meet the test on its own (Inland Revenue).
Your Career adds the due date to life events, after asking, with the date to tell your employer. The weekly hours stay on this page. Part of the Career and Timesheets plan.
The test for parental leave payments
Section 2BA(4) of the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 says an employee meets the payment test if they have been employed for at least an average of 10 hours a week for any 26 of the 52 weeks immediately before the expected due date. Inland Revenue applies it by taking the 26 weeks with the most hours and averaging them, so weeks with no work do not count against you as long as 26 other weeks carry the average. In the example, 14 weeks at 12 hours and 12 weeks at 9 hours make 276 hours, an average of 10.62, which meets the test even though only 14 weeks reached 10 hours. Our guide to parental leave in New Zealand covers the rest of the rules.
Several jobs, casual work and breaks
For the payments, the hours from all your jobs as an employee are added together each week, so two casual jobs of 6 hours make a 12-hour week. Self-employed hours are tested separately and cannot be added to employee hours. Time away still counts as the hours you would normally have worked if it was paid leave, unpaid leave your employer agreed to, or weeks on ACC weekly compensation (section 72A). You can apply to Inland Revenue before you meet the test, as long as you will meet it by the due date. Our article on casual versus permanent part-time work explains how each arrangement works.
The leave tests are per employer
Payments and leave are separate. Job-protected leave depends on one employer: the 6-month test is an average of at least 10 hours a week with the same employer in the 6 months before the due date, and the 12-month test the same over 12 months (section 2BA(1)). Each job is looked at on its own (section 2A). Meeting the 6-month test usually means 26 weeks of primary carer leave; the 12-month test allows up to 52 weeks in all, with extended leave. The calculator works these on the last 26 and 52 weeks you enter and your start date, counted back in months as the Legislation Act 2019 does (section 56), so a result within a few days of the line is worth checking with your employer.
Reading your answer
A result under 10 shows the hours short across your best 26 weeks. Weeks still to come before the due date count at the hours you really work, and a stronger week replaces your weakest. The payment amount is a separate question, worked out in our paid parental leave calculator. Inland Revenue makes the decision and checks the other conditions, such as a sufficient connection to New Zealand. This is the law as it stands on 7 October 2026.
Questions
How many hours do I need to work to get paid parental leave in NZ?
An average of at least 10 hours a week over any 26 of the 52 weeks before the due date. Inland Revenue takes your 26 best weeks: 260 hours across them is enough.
Can I add hours from two jobs for parental leave payments?
Yes, for the payments. Hours from all your jobs as an employee count together each week. Self-employed hours are tested on their own and cannot be added to them.
Do casual workers get paid parental leave?
They can. The test is about hours, not the type of job: an average of 10 a week over your best 26 of the 52 weeks before the due date. Weeks with no work do not count against you if 26 other weeks carry the average.
Do weeks on sick leave or annual leave count?
Yes. Paid leave, unpaid leave your employer agreed to and weeks on ACC weekly compensation count as the hours you would normally have worked (section 72A of the Act).
Is the hours test for leave the same as for payments?
No. Leave depends on one employer: an average of 10 hours a week with that employer over the 6 or 12 months before the due date. Payments use any 26 of 52 weeks across all your jobs.
What happens when I save this?
Your account adds the due date to life events in Your Career, after asking, with the date to tell your employer and, once your start date is in Your Career, which leave it gives. The weekly hours are not saved. Your Career is part of the Career and Timesheets plan.
Sources
- Inland Revenue: work requirements for paid parental leave.
- Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987.
- Employment New Zealand: parental leave guide for employees.
- Legislation Act 2019.
More free tools: see all the calculators.