New Zealand First is promising thousands of dollars in payments to parents if elected, under a new policy it says will encourage more New Zealanders to have children and help reverse the country’s declining birth rate.
Announced today, the proposed Kiwi Kids Grant would provide a tax-free $5000 annual payment for the first three years of a child's life for each family's first, second and third child.
The monthly payments would be made through IRD and would come in addition to existing parental support, with parents of a first child also having the option of receiving the first year’s payment as an upfront lump sum.
To be eligible, at least one parent would need to be a New Zealand citizen.
New Zealand First party leader Winston Peters said the policy would help reduce one of the biggest barriers to starting or growing a family.
"The fact is, we need more Kiwis having more children," Peters said.
"This is an essential investment in our country's future demography, culture, and sustainable economic future.
"New Zealand needs to get our birthrate increasing before it's too late."
Peters said the number of children born to New Zealand citizens had fallen from 52,000 in 2006 to 36,000 in 2025, while the country's fertility rate had dropped to 1.53 births per woman — well below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to maintain the population.
"With an ever-decreasing birthrate, we will face a future where we are totally dependent on immigration to maintain our economy and mounting costs of supporting our population and growing our economy," he added.
According to New Zealand First, births to non-citizens increased from 8001 in 2006 to 14,380 last year, while the proportion of births to New Zealand citizens fell from 87% to 72% over the same period.
Peters said rising living costs were among the reasons many New Zealanders were delaying having children or choosing to have smaller families, and the grant was intended to help ease that financial pressure.
It was estimated the policy would cost about $400 million a year once fully implemented.
Former Defence Minister to stand for NZ First at election
Peters also announced today that former New Zealand Minister of Defence Ron Mark would be standing for the party in the Wairarapa electorate this election.
A former New Zealand Army soldier, Mark served as Minister of Defence between 2017 and 2020. He was the Carterton mayor between 2010 and 2014, before returning from 2022 to 2025.
He also stood as New Zealand First's deputy leader between 2015 and 2018.
"Ron brings proven leadership and a deep commitment to serving the people of New Zealand," Peters said.
"When Ron was the Minister of Defence, he had a huge impact on the Defence Force, was well respected within the ranks, and delivered massive changes and upgrades to our forces.
"Ron has a real chance here in the Wairarapa to help turn things around."
Speaking to 1News, Mark said making his return to frontline politics had "not been an easy decision", but that he had decided to do so due to growing concerns about New Zealand's security.
"As military man and person who thoroughly enjoyed and was successful in my job as Minister of Defence, I can’t ignore what’s going on globally. I am deeply concerned about the state of our defence forces and our security," Mark said.
Asked what portfolios he would seek if elected, Mark replied: "Veterans and defence."
He was also critical of the current state of the New Zealand Defence Force, saying he was "thoroughly disappointed with the performance of senior leadership".
"We’re in a parlous state, the like of which I can’t recall ever in the history of the New Zealand Defence Force," he concluded.
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