Many Kiwis are concerned the costs of being a parent have reached an unreasonable level.

According to new research from Kiwibank, 70 percent of people believe the financial and child-care pressures on parents have gotten harder in the modern world.

Kiwibank's Chief People Officer, Charlotte Ward, says people feel there's a 'penalty' that comes with choosing parenthood.

"We know from phrases like 'the motherhood penalty' that this actually does disproportionately affect women. Also, 55 percent of people from the research agree there's a penalty in terms of career advancement opportunity." 

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