Ardern streams about Families Package

AUCKLAND: The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has spoken to the public for the first time since leaving hospital after the birth of her child a week ago.

The Prime Minister posted a Facebook livestream of herself, holding what she called her ‘‘human hot water bottle’’, baby Neve, to share her excitement about the Government’s Famil ies Package which came into effect yesterday.

The package worth more than $5 billion was one of the ‘‘most significant changes’’ to the welfare system that had been made in decades, The Prime Minister said.

‘‘This is the thing I am most proud of.’’

Families with newborn babies would be $60 better off a week, she said.

‘‘It’s really an acknowledgement about that being such an important period.

‘‘Best start I am so, so proud of, from that time that it was designed on the floor of my friend’s home in Hastings, we tested it with a lot of people, worked it through and it stood the test of time.

‘‘I think the principle behind it is really, really solid.’’

The Families Package, which was funded by cancelling the previous National government’s planned tax cuts, will cost $5.53 billion over five years.

The Government estimates that by 202021, when the Families Package is fully rolled out, there will be about 384,000 families with children who will be better off by about $75 a week.

It is projected to lift the number of children living out of poverty by 64,000, or about 41%, by the year 2020.

Other Families Package measures which took effect yesterday included. —

An increase in paid parental leave from 18 to 22 weeks, and a further increase to 26 weeks on July 1, 2020.

A rise in the Family Tax Credit and Working for Families abatement threshold, making 26,000 more families eligible, rising to 39,000 by 202021. An automatic winter energy payment for beneficiaries, superannuitants and veterans’ pension beneficiaries. Those who do not want it can opt out.

An increase in the orphan’s benefit, unsupported child benefit and foster care allowance by $20.31 a week. Increases in accommodation supplement and benefits, announced by the previous National government.