Children / Inequality

Childcare costs too high for Napier mother to return to work

18:13 pm on 19 April 2023

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A social media post from a Napier mum who's crunched the child care numbers and says its too expensive to go back to work has sparked a lively debate, and highlighted a potential blindspot in government policy.

Anna Catley and her husband have three children under three - a son and twin daughters. The sales and marketing manager ran the numbers for a return to work and says they simply do not add up.

Anna explains she'd need to earn more than $35 an hour to be left with $170 dollar a week in her pocket after paying for childcare.