The short version
- Paid parental leave pays up to 26 weeks, at up to $811.05 a week before tax from 1 July 2026, if you've worked enough in the past year.
- Best Start adds up to $77 a week in your child's first 3 years, and the family tax credit pays up to $152 a week for your eldest child, depending on income.
- Health care is free: Well Child Tamariki Ora visits until 5, and doctor visits and prescriptions are usually free until 14 once your child is enrolled with a general practice.
- From age 3, 20 Hours ECE covers up to 20 hours a week of early childhood education with no fees.
Most free baby stuff lists are written for the U.S., and the registry welcome boxes on them only ship to U.S. addresses. In New Zealand, the real help for new parents comes from Inland Revenue, Health New Zealand and the Ministry of Education. Here's the free baby stuff in NZ you can claim in 2026, and what each one needs.
Free baby stuff in NZ at a glance
| Support | What you get | Income test? |
|---|---|---|
| Paid parental leave | Up to 26 weeks, up to $811.05 a week before tax | No, but needs a work record |
| Best Start | Up to $77 a week for the first 3 years | Yes, for children born from 1 April 2026 |
| Family tax credit | Up to $152 a week for your eldest child | Yes |
| Well Child Tamariki Ora | Free health and development visits until 5 | No |
| Free doctor visits | Free GP, nurse and after-hours visits until 14 | No |
| 20 Hours ECE | Up to 20 hours a week of early learning with no fees | No |
1. Paid parental leave
If you take time off work to care for a new baby, paid parental leave pays you for up to 26 weeks. Inland Revenue bases it on your usual pay, up to a maximum of $811.05 a week before tax from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. Having twins doesn't change the amount.
To qualify, you need to be the child's primary carer and to have worked an average of at least 10 hours a week for any 26 of the 52 weeks before your due date. Employees and self-employed people can both qualify. You can apply before you've met the work record, as long as you'll meet it by your due date. Payments stop if you go back to work or stop being the primary carer before the 26 weeks are up.
2. Working for Families: Best Start and the family tax credit
Best Start pays up to $77 a week during your child's first 3 years. For children born on or after 1 April 2026, it reduces once family income is over $79,000. If you're getting paid parental leave, Best Start usually starts once that ends.
The family tax credit is the main Working for Families payment. With a family income of $44,900 or less, you get the full amount: $152 a week for your eldest child and $124 a week for each other child. Above that, it reduces by 27.5 cents for every extra dollar. Use Inland Revenue's calculator to estimate yours, and apply through myIR.
3. Free health care for your baby
Well Child Tamariki Ora is a free series of health and development visits from around 6 weeks up to 5 years, including the B4 School Check at age 4. Your midwife usually refers you to a provider, such as Plunket.
Enrol your baby with a general practice at birth. It's free, and once your child is enrolled, visits to the doctor, practice nurse and after-hours doctor are usually free until they turn 14, and so are prescriptions. Enrolling early also means your baby can have their first vaccinations at 6 weeks. Check that your practice offers zero-fee visits for children.
4. 20 Hours ECE from age 3
From their third birthday until they start school or turn 6, children can get up to 6 hours a day and 20 hours a week of early childhood education with no fees at services that offer 20 Hours ECE. On the enrolment form, say which hours should be covered. You may still pay for any hours beyond the 20.
See every perk for families in New Zealand, or compare with free baby stuff in Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
How much is paid parental leave in NZ in 2026?
Up to 26 weeks of payments, based on your usual pay, up to a maximum of $811.05 a week before tax from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027.
Who qualifies for paid parental leave in NZ?
The child's primary carer, if they've worked an average of at least 10 hours a week for any 26 of the 52 weeks before the due date. Employees and self-employed people can both qualify.
How much is Best Start in NZ?
Up to $77 a week during your child's first 3 years. For children born on or after 1 April 2026, it reduces once family income is over $79,000.
Are doctor visits free for children in NZ?
Usually, yes. Once your child is enrolled with a general practice, which is free, doctor, nurse and after-hours visits and prescriptions are usually free until they turn 14.
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