New Zealand

Additional leave compliance rules and complexities

Annual leave

Almost all workers in New Zealand get at least 4 weeks of paid leave each year. This does not extend to casual workers, though, who get 8% holiday pay in lieu of leave. After spending six months in a role, employees get at least 5 days’ paid sick days a year.

Sick leave

For every subsequent 12 months, they spend in the role, the amount of paid sick leave they can take in a year increases by 5. This extends to all employees, including casual and part-time workers.

Maternity and paternity leave

Instead of maternity leave and paternity leave, New Zealand has primary care leave and partners leave. Primary care leave can be up to 26 weeks on government benefits of up to $585.80 per week. Partners leave extends to up to two weeks of unpaid leave, which partners can take any time in the period of 21 days before or after the child’s birth. In addition to primary care leave and partners leave, New Zealand parents can take up to 10 days of unpaid “special leave” for pregnancy appointments, and up to 52 weeks of extended unpaid leave to spend more time with their children.