Work

Job hunting

Find vacancies, apply for jobs and prepare for interviews.

Government jobs

Search for jobs in government, sign up for job alerts and find out how to apply for government vacancies.

When you get a job offer

You'll need to agree on your pay, hours and working conditions. You can get money to help pay the costs of starting a new job.

90 day trial period

The trial period is a voluntary agreement between you and your employer and has to be written in your employment agreement or contract.

Joining KiwiSaver when you start work

When you start a new job, you'll automatically be enrolled in KiwiSaver if you're eligible and not a member already. You can also join through your current employer or directly with a provider.

Working on public holidays

You’re entitled to a paid day off on public holidays that fall on days you’d normally work. If you choose to work, you should be paid at least time and a half and get another paid day off later.

Public holidays and anniversary dates

Dates for national public holidays and regional anniversary days.

Special rules at Christmas

There are 4 public holidays over Christmas and New Year.

Working over Easter

Only Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. Easter Sunday is not a public holiday.

Alternative holidays (days in lieu)

If you work on a public holiday and it's a day you usually work, you'll get an alternative holiday — a paid day off you can take later. This is sometimes also called a day in lieu.

Shift workers and public holidays

You can be paid time and a half for the hours you work on a public holiday or transfer the holiday to another time.

Transferring a public holiday

Anyone can ask their employer to transfer a public holiday to another day.

How much annual leave you get

Almost all workers are entitled to at least 4 weeks’ paid annual leave a year. You get your annual leave entitlement on the anniversary of the day you started working for your employer.

Taking time off

You and your employer have to agree when you'll take time off.

What you'll be paid while you're on annual leave

Your employment agreement tells you when you'll get paid for time off and how your pay is worked out.

Cashing in leave

You can swap up to 1 week of your annual leave for cash each year — up to 5 days if you work a regular 5-day week, or one quarter of your annual entitlement if you don't.

Unpaid leave

You can take unpaid leave if your employer agrees to it.

How much sick leave you get

After you’ve been at your job for 6 months, you’re legally entitled to at least 5 days’ sick leave a year.

Leave if you’re sick or caring for a sick family member

If you're sick you need to tell your employer and, after 3 days, provide a doctor's certificate.

What you’ll get paid while you’re on sick leave

When you're sick, you should be paid what you’d get if you’d worked a normal day.

Unused sick leave

You can carry over some unused sick leave to the next year.

Leave if you're injured

Sick leave arrangements depend on whether you were injured at work or somewhere else.

Running an online business

If you've set up a website for your business and you're selling things using the site, you still need to follow consumer laws.

Selling on online shopping sites

If you're just selling your old stuff on sites like Trade Me you're okay. If you're making money from regularly selling things online, this is treated like any other business income. Make sure that you’re paying proper business tax.

Using your home for business

If you’re self-employed and run your business from home, you can claim the part of your house you use for business as an expense in your tax return.

How to start your own business

Learn the basics of setting up a new business.

Your last pay when you leave a job

When you leave a job, you’re responsible for checking your final pay is taxed correctly. If it isn’t, you could get a bill from IRD at the end of the tax year.

Redundancy

Your employer can only make you redundant if your position is no longer required. They can’t make you redundant for performance, pregnancy or illness.

Your last pay when you're made redundant

When you're made redundant from your job, you’re responsible for checking your final pay is taxed correctly. If it isn’t, you could get a bill from IRD at the end of the tax year.

Your last pay if you're fired

When you're fired from a job, you’re responsible for checking your final pay is taxed correctly. If it isn’t, you could get a bill from IRD at the end of the tax year.

Planning for retirement

It pays to plan for your retirement as early as possible.

Your last pay when you retire

When you retire from your job, you’re responsible for checking your final pay is taxed correctly. If it isn’t, you could get a bill from IRD at the end of the tax year.

Retirement age

For most people there is no official retirement age in New Zealand, but there are some exceptions.

Getting NZ Superannuation or the Veteran's Pension

SuperGold cards

Managing your money in retirement

KiwiSaver withdrawals after you turn 65

You can withdraw all your savings when you turn 65, as long as you've been a KiwiSaver member for at least 5 years.

Minimum wage

$15.75 an hour if you're 16 years or older.

Your options when you have a problem at work

If you've got a problem at work talk to your boss directly. If you can’t solve it you can get help from both government and other organisations. Some of this help is free.

Fired or unfairly dismissed

If you’ve been fired unfairly you can bring a personal grievance against your employer, but not if you’re within a 90-day trial period.

Age discrimination at work

It's illegal for an employer to discriminate against you because of your age, whether in the workplace or when you apply for a job.