A last-minute change to a member's bill extending paid parental leave has been narrowly defeated in Parliament, 61 votes to 60.
Sue Moroney Photo: Supplied
Under the amendment, paid parental leave would have been extended from 14 to 24 weeks just for parents of babies born prematurely or with a disability, and for families who have a multiple birth.
Sponsor of the bill Labour MP Sue Moroney made the change to try to gain support from the Government after it said it was unaffordable to extend paid parental leave to all parents.
During the committee stages of the bill National and its support partner ACT voted against the amendment.
The legislation would continue to be debated clause by clause on the next member's day in the House, but it was likely to eventually be defeated by the Government.