New Zealand: Employment Leave Act receives Royal Assent

30 September 2026 1 min read

By Kieron Creagh

At a glance

On 6 August 2026, New Zealand's Employment Leave Act 2026 (Act) received Royal Assent, introducing a major overhaul of the country's leave framework.
The Act will replace the Holidays Act 2003 from 6 August 2028, moving to an hours-based system for accruing, taking and paying annual leave and sick leave, with the aim of simplifying leave calculations and reducing compliance challenges for employers.
To read more, please refer to our Employer Readiness Guide.

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