How much annual leave you get

All employees are entitled to at least 4 weeks’ paid annual leave (annual holidays) for each year they have worked for their employer.

You get your annual leave entitlement on the anniversary of the day you started working for your employer. 

Your work anniversary can only change if:

  • your work has an annual closedown, or
  • you take a continuous period of leave without pay of more than 1 week.

Most employers let you take annual leave before your 1-year anniversary — this is called leave in advance.

Your employment agreement must set out how much annual leave you’re entitled to. 

If you work regular hours

If your work hours vary each week

If you’re on a fixed-term contract or work off-and-on

If you contract or work for yourself

Find out more information about annual leave on the Employment New Zealand website:

Impact of parental leave on annual leave

When you’re on parental leave you continue to build up annual leave.

When you return to work after parental leave, you’re still allowed to take 4 weeks’ annual leave a year, but what you get paid is likely to be less because your average weekly earnings over that time were less.

Carrying over annual leave

Your annual leave does not expire if you do not take it within the year — but your employer might have limits on how much leave you can carry over.

If you build up too much leave:

  • your employer can make you take some or all of it — following a fair process
  • you can cash up some of your annual leave — though your employer has to agree to it.

Cashing-up annual holidays — Employment New Zealand

Other types of leave

Who to contact for more help

If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact the following agency.

Utility links and page information

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