Our lack of paid parental leave is holding us back from being the best place in the world to raise children.
This was confirmed by the “State of the World’s Mothers” report released this week by Save the Children.
Even though we were placed fourth in their 13th annual report, its clear that our low rate of PPL was a key reason we slumped to 19th place when rated on their breastfeeding policy scorecard.
The report shows that 88% of NZ babies were breastfed at some stage, but that by 3 months that fell to just 56% and the data wasnt even available for NZ babies aged 6 months.
It is also of concern that NZ rated just 25th/44 countires on Save the Chidren’s scorecard for children living in developed countries.
I want NZ to be the best place in the world to raise children. Extending paid parental leave is one practical way we can achieve this.
Oh dear NZ isn’t a world leader in breast feeding. Stop the clocks!!!
“Dragging us down” to…. 4th in the world?
If you had been in government you’d be raucously swinging from chandeliers over this ranking.
NZ moved up from 6 the previous year. Australia dropped from 2 to 7. And didn’t Australia belatedly introduce PPL at a greater entitlement rate than NZ?
Its a pity that some of our politicians can’t weaned off the public tit…
Cactus Kate, ladies and gentlemen, international expert on the long term benefits of breast-feeding. Here to give us her expertise!
Please learn to science.
The long-term benefits of breast-feeding are not in dispute. Who should pay for them is.
“The long-term benefits of breast-feeding are not in dispute. Who should pay for them is.”
I read the first bit of your spiteful, vindinctive blog – “The Salvation Army gets up my nose” and “I abhor their stance on welfare”
Come the revolution, sister, if you’ve not joined honest John on top of the skytower, Saigon style, escaping on the last chopper out, that is.
Breast feeding is how we humans do it – simple. It is not the child that has the choice.
We are well being in our thinking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave
Remember when real wages were so good here labourers’ wives could afford to stay at home indefinitely? No need for paid parental leave back then.
Cost were comparatively lower, less junk consumerism and whole foods.
Less waste, middle men, a much smaller finance sector and stronger unions. The banks were still having a ball but now there are more organised compeditors for our life blood. So called hard times are not for them.
Children, our next generation in trust are suffering and still the wealth of the bottom 50% drops further with no end in sight.