Employment Law Articles & Insight
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 5–11 October 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. O’Connell v Geneva Finance Limited – Settlement agreement doesn’t bar directors’ duties claims David O’Connell was employed as managing director of Geneva Finance Limited (GFL). […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 28–4 October 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Arora v PA Service 2018 Limited – Wage and holiday pay arrears of $60,656.60 Gurdev Singh Arora worked for PA Service 2018 Limited but was […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 21–27 September 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. 2026-NZERA-682: Joost v Caltado Missio — Costs award where employee claim fails against company directors Christo Joost brought a claim against three individuals (Caltado Missio, […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 14–20 September 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Filisi Beswick v Friendly Loans Limited – Costs award for unlawful wage deduction and dismissal Ms Beswick was unlawfully underpaid and then dismissed by her […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 7–13 September 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Duane April v Coatrite Fire Limited — Costs award following successful personal grievance claims Mr April established personal grievances for unjustified disadvantage and unjustified dismissal […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 31–6 September 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Tracey McMillan v SILC Limited – Timing of personal grievance claims and raising grievances within statutory deadlines Ms McMillan worked for SILC, a supported living […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 24–30 August 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Turner v Big B Cartage Limited — Unjustified dismissal with inadequate investigation and process David Turner worked as a truck driver for Big B Cartage […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 17–23 August 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Mikayla Zhang v Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora — Jurisdictional dismissal over late grievance filing Ms Zhang worked for Health NZ and raised concerns […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 10–16 August 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Belinda de Zwart v Landpower Group Limited – Unjustified disadvantage and dismissal in redundancy restructure Ms de Zwart worked as General Manager People and Culture […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 3–9 August 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Ashleigh Sanders v Hamilton City Council — Micromanagement and bullying at zoo workplace Ms Sanders worked at Hamilton Zoo and raised concerns about her manager’s […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 27–2 August 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Port of Napier Limited — Dismissal for undisclosed criminal convictions justified An employee who failed to declare serious criminal convictions from Australia on his pre-employment […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 20–26 July 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Gazi Mainul Hassan v University of Waikato – Dismissal for signing overseas employment contract Dr Hassan, a senior lecturer, signed an employment agreement with United […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 13–19 July 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Duane April v Coatrite Fire Limited – Unjustified dismissal, underpayment, and racial comments Mr April, a spray painter on a work visa, was employed from […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 6–12 July 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Duane Farrell v Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections – Costs award for successful personal grievance claims Mr Farrell and the Corrections Association of […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 29–5 July 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. A Labour Inspector v Dosanjh Horticulture Limited — Penalties for systematic wage and holiday pay breaches A horticulture company operating a “banking hours” system allowed […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 22–28 June 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Bottle Box Holdings Limited – Failure to supply wages and time records A Labour Inspector investigated whether Bottle Box Holdings Limited (BBH) and Manpreet Singh […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 15–21 June 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. NZEI Te Riu Roa Inc v Secretary for Education — Pay equity settlement obligations and question of law referral The Secretary for Education applied to […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 6–12 June 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. EQX v KiwiRail Limited — Interim reinstatement granted pending substantive hearing A Container Terminal Operator employed by KiwiRail was assessed as “Permanently Unfit for […]
Summary Of ERA Determinations: Week of 25–31 May 2026
Each week the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) publishes its determinations. Below is a summary of the cases determined this week, with key points for New Zealand business owners and employers. Kelvin Lewis Taylor v Destro Limited – Independent contractor status for brand ambassadors Mr Taylor engaged with Destro Limited as a Brand Ambassador under an […]
ERA Finds Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) Breached Good Faith and Consultation Obligations in Major Restructure
A determination released on 18 March 2026 by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has found that Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) breached both its collective agreement consultation obligations and its statutory duty of good faith in connection with a sweeping organisational restructure proposed in November 2025. The decision in New Zealand Public Service Association Inc Te Pūkenga […]
The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026: What It Means for Employers and Workers in New Zealand
The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 20 February 2026 and came into force the following day, representing the most significant overhaul of New Zealand’s employment law framework since the 2018 amendments. The Act amends the Employment Relations Act 2000 across several key areas, including contractor classification, personal grievance remedies, dismissal protections for high-income […]
ERA confirms dismissal justified for misuse of staff discount despite long service
A decision handed down on the 21st January 20026 between DLH and The Farmers Trading Company Limited at the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) provides helpful guidance for employers on the management of staff discount schemes and the limits of leniency for long-serving employees. The Authority confirmed that dismissal was justified where an employee deliberately misused […]
Porn-addicted Law Firm Boss Suspended — Ordered to Pay $5,000 to 2 Employees
A recent decision by the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal highlights the serious consequences employers face when they expose workers to unsafe or inappropriate conduct. An Auckland sole-practitioner lawyer (whose name is suppressed) has been suspended after repeatedly displaying pornography in view of staff.
Exploitation of Migrant Workers: Southland Dairy Farm Pays $215,000 in Penalties
Deliberate Breach Of Employment Law In a significant ruling by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), the Southland dairy business Rural Practice Ltd (RPL) and its owner, Reza Abdul‑Jabbar, have been ordered to pay a total of NZ$215,000 in penalties for multiple deliberate breaches of employment law relating to three Indonesian migrant workers. This case underscores […]
Unjustified Dismissal Of An Employee After 17 Months Of Sick Leave
Exploitation Of Vulnerable Employee A recent decision of the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) [2025] NZERA 646 3064332 highlights the serious consequences for employers who exploit vulnerable workers or fail to properly honour employment agreements. The case involved a Turkish national employed at a Dunedin café who successfully recovered more than $43,000 in unpaid wages, after […]
Shop Workers Awarded $590k Over Exploitation and Unjustified Dismissal
Workers Describe ‘Mental Torture’ and Exploitation in Employment Case A recent determination by the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has found that Fiji Food Distributors NZ Limited (FFDL) and its directors seriously breached New Zealand’s employment laws, including employee exploitation and unjustified dismissal. The case, formally recorded as [2025] NZERA 659, involved several Christchurch-based shop workers […]
NZ 2025 Employment Law Rulings on Unjustified Dismissal
Recent Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and Employment Court decisions have shed light on how personal grievance claims are being handled in workplaces across Aotearoa. From trial-period dismissals to Covid-19 vaccination disputes, these rulings remind both employers and employees that fair process and good faith remain at the heart of New Zealand employment law. Unjustified Dismissal […]
The Sad Case of Mr Thomas Pona — When a Flawed Investigation Led To Unjustified Dismissal
Introduction The story of Mr Thomas Pona is a reminder that even well-meaning employers can make serious mistakes if they don’t follow a fair and impartial process when investigating misconduct. Mr Pona was a loyal and hardworking employee at Coin Total Wellington Limited. When stock went missing, he suddenly found himself accused — and later […]
A Great Goodbye – How to Pull Off a Professional Resignation
Why Leaving Well Matters, Resigning from your job can be one of life’s big turning points. Whether you’re chasing a new challenge, moving cities, or simply need a fresh start, the way you say goodbye can shape your reputation and future references. In employment law, how you resign can be just as important as why […]
Why Sexual Harassment Complaints Are So Hard — and What Employers Must Do
What Is Sexual Harassment? Sexual harassment is any unwelcome or offensive behaviour of a sexual nature that a reasonable person would find intimidating, humiliating or distressing. It includes (but is not limited to) unwanted touching, sexual jokes or remarks, intrusive questions about private life, repeated requests for dates, suggestive gestures, or comments about appearance. It […]
Sweat Equity in New Zealand: Understanding Rights and Realities
What Is Sweat Equity? “Sweat equity” refers to contributing labour, time, or expertise to a new or early-stage business instead of being paid a wage immediately. The “sweat” is the work done now, and the “equity” is the promise of a future ownership stake or shareholding. This model is common in tech start-ups, creative ventures, […]
Trial Shifts & Pre Training: When NZ Employment Trial Periods Are Invalid
Trial Periods and Early Training: When Timing Makes Them Invalid The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has consistently held that a 90-day trial period will not protect an employer if employment starts before the agreement is signed. This includes situations where a new hire begins induction, shadowing, or training under the employer’s direction before the employment […]
Employment Dispute Lawyers Which One Is Best for You
Whether you’re an employer handling difficulties at work or an employee suffering unjust treatment, navigating employment disputes can be a difficult process. Finding the best legal counsel is essential to reaching a fair and efficient resolution. This article will help you in selecting the best employment dispute lawyer for your needs. Understanding Workplace Disputes: Employment […]
Duties and responsibilities of Employers and employees
New Zealand has strict employment laws for both employers and employees. Both of the parties need to follow these to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship. By mandating businesses to grant you certain employment rights, the law protects you and your rights. These consist of sick leave and four weeks of annual vacation, and a discrimination-free […]
Redundancy in New Zealand: Your Essential Employer’s Guide
Redundancy, Your Step By Step Guide For New Zealand Employers. The following business owner redundancy guide has been written based on many years of experience and a deep understanding of the Employment Relations Act 2000 of New Zealand. If you are considering redundancy, please contact us for an initial consultation. We have helped many of […]
Dismissal from Work: What’s the Next Step?
Dismissal from Work: What’s the Next Step? Being fired from a job can be very discouraging, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed in such situations. Understanding your rights and the actions you can take, especially if you’re dismissed due to redundancy, poor performance, or other reasons, is crucial. In New Zealand, resources such as Employmentlaw […]
How do I make an employee redundant in NZ?
Saying goodbye to an employee can be tough, especially if it’s because your business needs are changing. In New Zealand, that situation is called a legal redundancy, and there are certain rules you gotta follow under employment law redundancy to make sure things are fair and legal for everyone involved. This guide will walk you […]
Navigating the Trial Period: A Guide for New Zealand Employers and Employees
Navigating the Trial Period: A Guide for New Zealand Employers and Employees The New Zealand employment landscape recently saw a significant shift regarding trial periods. As of December 23rd, 2023, all employers can leverage 90-day trial periods when hiring new employees. This change offers benefits for both employers seeking a good fit and employees wanting […]
What do you do if you are bullied at work?
Bullying is NEVER, EVER acceptable in any circumstances. What do you do if you are bullied at work? Steps to consider if you are being bullied at work. Keep a diary of all incidents of bullying behaviour-email yourself so you have proof. Inform your employer if you believe there is a pattern of bullying emerging. […]
Bullying behaviour at work
When you are bullied at work, some people find it hard to accept it is happening. Many employees suffer for a long time in silence. Bullying is NEVER,EVER acceptable in any circumstances. Worksafe NZ/Hau Maumaru Aotearoa defines bullying as “repeated and unreasonable behaviour directed towards a worker or a group of workers that creates a […]
How to ask your boss for a mental health day
There is no shame in requesting a mental health day. Our hearts and minds can only do so much before they need a break. Asking for a day off should be no different from breaking a leg, but we can feel guilty. Here are some tips for you on how to ask for a mental […]
How does Resolve Legal work with their clients?
Unless you have a lawyer in the family, most people’s view of one is either What they’ve heard from their family orWhat they’ve seen in courtroom dramas on NetflixSo how do Resolve Legal Employment Lawyers work? We can’t speak for anyone else, but we can tell you how our employment lawyer Viv d’Or at Resolve Legal guides […]
Support for employees in a crisis
There is support for employees in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle. These are challenging times on a professional and a personal level, and we must look after ourselves and each other. If you need free HR or legal advice to safeguard your job at this difficult time – we are here to help. Here is a list […]
5 way to beat the back to work blues
It is natural to feel blue at the end of a holiday. Let’s help banish those blues with 5 ways to help you get back to a work routine. 1. Ease back into it Go back to work midweek, so you have a shorter working week. Start with the small, easy-to-do tasks for a quick […]
7 Soft Skills to help you shine in your workplace
Soft skills are essential in your workplace. NZ online selling platform Trade Me Jobs says “in recent years, bosses are emphasizing soft skills because, without them skills, the workplace doesn’t work.” We’ve put together a week’s worth of Soft Skills to help you shine in your workplace. Don’t Over Communicate-Less Is More. Keep your communications […]
Workplace Issues
People spend over a third of their adult lives at work, and stress issues, related to the job are common for many. It is difficult to create a workplace where everyone gets along well and there is no friction between their positions, expectations, and personalities. As a result, some job problems may result in undesirable […]
