Unions and the advocacy group 26 for Babies have praised the Government for its decision to increase paid parental leave.
The leave will increase to 22 weeks from July next year and to 26 weeks from July 2020.
"No matter what people do for work, families should come first," said Council of Trade Unions secretary Sam Huggard.
"Having new parents returning to work when they are rested and feel ready is better for workplaces too," he said.
Rebecca Matthews-Heron, spokeswoman for 26 for Babies, said the group was ecstatic.
"From nurses to Playcentre, from unions to Unicef, governments have always had clear advice that the right thing for babies is time at home to bond with their families," she said.
The previous government used its financial veto to kill the bill put up by MP Sue Moroney.
That bill has been resurrected and will be introduced to Parliament this week.
This time it will be passed quickly.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said because it had previously gone through the process - the government blocked it at its last legislative stage - it didn't need the same treatment as a new bill.
"This is a key part of our Families Package and one all three parties of Government have been proud to support because it's the right thing to do," she said.
"We want children to have the best start in life - evidence shows that having a parent at home as long as possible to care for a child provides a huge benefit for that child's development."
The Government carries the cost of paid parental leave, and Ms Ardern said increasing it would cost $325 million over the next four years.
"It's what we budgeted for and fits within our fiscal plan," she said.
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