The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Employees in New Zealand

Employees are entitled to four weeks of paid annual leave, a benefit accessible once they complete their initial year of service with the employer. When it comes to the appilcability of annual leave, the following details are noteworthy:

• Upon termination, unused leave is compensated.
• Upon the end of the year, unused leave can be carried over.
• For fixed-term workers engaged for less than 12 months, an alternative arrangement exists where they receive 8% holiday pay in lieu of the standard four weeks of leave.

In New Zealand, maternity leave, also known as primary carer leave, lasts for 26 weeks and is funded by the government. It is a statutory requirement and can start up to 6 weeks before the expected due date. If medical reasons require an earlier start, the mother is still entitled to a full 20 weeks after childbirth. Additional details about maternity leave are as follows:

• Pregnant employees have the right to take up to 10 days of unpaid leave for pregnancy-related appointments.
• The entitlements for primary carer leave also extend to employees assuming the role of primary carer for an adopted child under 6 years of age.

In New Zealand, paternity leave, also known as partners leave, allows partners to start their leave 21 days before the baby's due date or when they become the primary caregiver for a child under six years. It ends 21 days after the baby's birth, unless the baby is discharged from the hospital more than 21 days after birth, in which case the leave ends on the discharge day or when the partner becomes the primary caregiver. Fathers or partners have the following entitlements:

• One week of unpaid leave if they’ve worked for you for six months for at least an average of 10 hours a week.
• Two weeks of unpaid leave if they’ve worked for you for 12 months for at least an average of 10 hours a week.

Employees in New Zealand benefit from a sick leave entitlement, as mandated by the Holidays Amendment Bill. The leave is not pro-rated, ensuring that employees receive the full entitlement regardless of their employment status. Sick Leave is applied as follows:

• After six months of continuous employment, individuals are entitled to a minimum of 10 days of sick leave annually.
• Casual employees, with six months of continuous employment or an average of 10 hours per week, are also eligible for sick leave.
• Up to 10 unused sick days can be carried over each year, accumulating to a maximum of 20 days in total

10 days of unpaid leave, which is given to employees for pregnancy-related appointments.

This considers the relationship to the deceased, responsibilities for arrangements, and cultural practices, offering three days of paid leave for the loss of a close family member.

Parents in New Zealand have the option of taking extended leave, which can be shared between both partners and even be taken concurrently. Parental leave entitlements are subject to the following details:

• Parental leave duration, up to 52 weeks, depends on the service length of both parents, provided they have each been employed by their current employer for more than 12 months.
• This provision is in addition to primary carer and partner’s leave.
• Extended leave is unpaid.