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Leave policy in New Zealand

Explore the leave policy in New Zealand, including annual leave, sick leave, public holidays, parental leave, etc. Know the mandatory leave laws in New Zealand.

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The leave policy in New Zealand is governed primarily by the Holidays Act 2003. Understanding the leave laws in New Zealand is essential for both employers and employees in the country. Employees are entitled to a range of leave types, including annual leave, sick leave, parental leave, bereavement leave, etc. 

Through this guide, you can gather detailed information on statutory leave in New Zealand. This also helps maintain the required compliance with employee leave entitlements. 

Payoneer Workforce Management, a trusted EOR service, helps with employee onboarding, payroll, benefits, and time-off management so that employees have proper leave entitlements in New Zealand.

Vacation & annual leave in New Zealand

Similar to Australia, employees are entitled to 4 weeks of annual leave in New Zealand. However, this leave can only be granted when the employee completes 12 months of service with the same employer. 

Public holidays

There are 11 public holidays in New Zealand. Here are the details of public holidays:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Day after New Year’s Day
  • Waitangi Day
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Monday
  • Anzac Day
  • King’s Birthday
  • Matariki
  • Labor Day
  • Christmas Day
  • Boxing Day

You can use the public holiday calendar for New Zealand while planning a vacation or trip.  

Sick leave in New Zealand

Among the mandatory leave entitlements in New Zealand, sick leave is an important one. Employees are entitled to 10 days of sick leave in New Zealand. 

The sick leave in New Zealand can be carried over if it has not been taken by the end of the period to which the leave relates. 

Maternity leave in New Zealand

Maternity leave in New Zealand is included as part of the parental leave in the country. The number of days of the approved leave depends on the service tenure of the new mother and her partner. 

Usually, the primary carer’s leave is up to 26 weeks. This is government-funded paid leave. 

The partner has 1-2 weeks of unpaid leave, depending on the employment tenure. 

Paternity leave in New Zealand

Paternity leave in New Zealand, similar to maternity leave, is covered under parental leave.

The number of days of sanctioned paternity leave depends on the service tenure of the mother and the partner.  

Other types of leaves in New Zealand

Along with the above-mentioned statutory leave in New Zealand, employees in New Zealand are entitled to other types of leave as well. Some prominent ones are as follows:

Bereavement leave

One of the prominent employee leave entitlements in New Zealand is that of bereavement leave. Employees are entitled to a minimum of 3 days of bereavement leave in the country.  

Domestic violence leave

Though this leave might sound unfamiliar, employees in New Zealand are entitled to domestic violence leave for 10 days per year. 

Explore Payoneer Workforce Management in New Zealand

Employees and employers must abide by the leave laws in New Zealand for compliance. Non-compliance can lead to legal hassle and penalties for the employer. Governed by the Holidays Act 2003, the leave policy in New Zealand helps maintain a perfect work-life balance in the country. 

Payoneer Workforce Management, a trusted EOR service, helps with onboarding, payroll, taxes, and time-off management to keep track of the paid time-off in New Zealand. The EOR service assists in ensuring that employees get their due leave entitlements in New Zealand. 

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Payoneer Workforce Management, a trusted EOR service provider, can assist with the management of leave policy in New Zealand. Our unified platform helps with handling leave approvals and leave tracking. The EOR service extends assistance with leave record maintenance and managing different kinds of leave in compliance with the leave laws in New Zealand. 

Yes, employees in New Zealand are entitled to a minimum of 3 days of bereavement leave for the death of a close family member and one day for the death of any other person with whom they had a close relationship. 

No, typically, public holidays in New Zealand are separate from annual leave entitlements. If a public holiday falls on a day an employee would normally work, they receive a paid day off without it affecting their annual leave balance. 

Yes, 15 days of unused sick leave in New Zealand can be carried forward to any subsequent 1-year period. This can be done for a maximum of 20 days of the current entitlement. 

Employees affected by family violence in New Zealand are entitled to 10 days of paid family violence leave per year.  

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