Act Party leader David Seymour says he doubts there are merits in extending paid parental leave for all parents to 26 weeks.

Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson

Mr Seymour voted against a Labour Party member's bill that would have applied to every parent, but said he was negotiating to get the extended payment for those who have had multiple births, or babies that were premature or had special needs.

He told Morning Report he believed most New Zealanders only have children they can afford, and he was on the side of people who wait, save, sacrifice and prepare for children.

"So I'm not opposed to paying taxes for people with unexpected additional needs, but I am opposed to continuously extending transfers, taxing people who choose to delay or not have children in order to subsidise people who basically want a bigger handout."