COVID-19 Update – Aug 21

COVID-19 Update August 2021 Despite the uncertainty created by the re-emergence of COVID-19 in the community, and the inability to predict exactly how long the country will remain in lockdown,…

Employee vs Independent Contractor – Aug 21

Employee vs Independent Contractor: The Times They Are a-Changin' Working as an independent contractor affords a lot of flexibility around how, when and where work is performed, and for how much. At…

Holidays Act Changes and Fair Pay Agreements – Jul 2021

Holidays Act Changes and Fair Pay Agreements In 2018 the Government established the Holidays Act Taskforce (the Taskforce) to address challenges with the Holidays Act 2003 (the Act), following a…

Employers’ Obligations under the Minimum Wage Act 1983 – Jan 2021

Clarifying Employers' Obligations under the Minimum Wage Act 1983 The Employment Court’s first decision on issues arising out of COVID-19: clarifying employers’ obligations under the Minimum Wage Act…

Privacy Act 2020 – Dec 2020

Privacy Act 2020 The new Privacy Act 2020 (the Act) came into force on 1 December 2020. The Act brings New Zealand in line with a global shift towards strengthening the protection of personal…

COVID-19 Resurgence Wage Subsidy – Aug 2020

The Government has announced a new two-week payment (Resurgence Wage Subsidy) for employers (including those who are self-employed) who have been financially impacted by the resurgence of COVID-19…

Privacy Act 2020 – Jul 2020

Privacy Act 2020 Parliament passed the Privacy Act 2020 (the Act) with unanimous support on 30 June 2020. The Act will repeal the Privacy Act 1993 and come into force on 1 December 2020. The Act…

COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension – May 2020

The government has announced an extension to the wage subsidy scheme to help businesses affected by COVID-19. The extension will support businesses and their staff to maintain an employment…

Working at Alert Level 2, COVID-19 – May 2020

New Zealand will move to Alert Level 2 on the COVID-19 alert level system on Thursday 14 May. This means restaurants, cafes, retail and public venues such as cinemas and gyms will be allowed to open,…

Changes to COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme – Apr 2020

On 24 April 2020 the Government announced an extension to the COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme, ahead of the move to Alert Level 3. Previously directed towards essential workers only, the eligibility…

Changes to Employment Relations Act 2000 under the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 – Apr 2020

An Order in Council made under section 15 of the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 has made some temporary changes to the Employment Relations Act 2000 (the Act) while the Epidemic Notice is in place.…

Public Holidays in Lockdown – Apr 2020

With Good Friday and Easter Monday occurring during the COVID-19 Alert Level 4 lockdown (and possibly ANZAC Day if the lockdown is extended), it is important employers understand their obligations…