New Zealand, also known as Aotearoa, is an Oceanic island nation in the southern hemisphere. It is made up of over 700 islands, including the larger North (e Ika-a-Māui) and South (Te Waipounamu) Islands. The total area of the islands is 268,021 square kilometers. To the east of New Zealand is Australia, which is approximately 1,200 miles across the Tasman Sea. It has the 52nd largest national economy globally by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). New Zealand is a member of several treaties and global organizations, including the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Six, and more.
*Please note that the official currency is the currency of remuneration when employed through WorkMotion in New Zealand.
Fast-track your talent onboarding while ensuring 100% compliance with local regulations.
Calculate net salary post deductions and compare it with the salary in other countries instantly.
Receive process support by an experienced team of experts & pay your talent on time and in their local currency
Easily onboard your remote talent in New Zealand through our Employer of Record (EOR) solution. Our subsidiaries and network partners make this process fast and 100% compliant.
New Zealand, also known as Aotearoa, is an Oceanic island nation in the southern hemisphere. It is made up of over 700 islands, including the larger North (e Ika-a-Māui) and South (Te Waipounamu) Islands. The total area of the islands is 268,021 square kilometers. To the east of New Zealand is Australia, which is approximately 1,200 miles across the Tasman Sea. It has the 52nd largest national economy globally by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). New Zealand is a member of several treaties and global organizations, including the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Plus Six, and more.
*Please note that the official currency is the currency of remuneration when employed through WorkMotion in New Zealand.
The national holidays mentioned below are valid for the year 2025.
| January 1 | New Year's Day | |
| January 2 | Day After New Year’s Day | |
| February 6 | Waitangi Day | |
| April 18 | Good Friday | Movable |
| April 21 | Easter Monday | Movable |
| April 25 | Anzac Day | |
| June 2 | King's Birthday | First Monday in June |
| June 20 | Matariki | Movable, Maori New Year |
| October 27 | Labor Day | Movable |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | |
| December 26 | Boxing Day |
The approximate time for sharing the contract with an employee in New Zealand is 6 business days assuming no special requests or changes to our standard employment contract. Any such requests or changes would need to undergo internal and external review, directly leading to a time delay.
NOTE: This number is subject to change and is only an estimation of the Contract Sharing Time. The estimated Contract Sharing Time begins from the moment that WorkMotion has received all required information from both the client and the employee.
The welfare system includes universal healthcare, a public pension, family tax credits, and more. In place of individual premiums, social security is financed through taxes. The social security system operates based on residence, is non-compulsory, and mostly non-contributory.
| Employer Contributions | Amount |
| Work Levy | Variable based on industry, risk, claims history, and liable income |
| Working Safer Levy | NZD 0.08/100 of payroll |
| KiwiSaver | 3% (flat-rate) |
| Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Scheme | 1% of gross salary |
The employee should not work more than 40 hours per week, excluding overtime. When less than 40 hours are expected, the employer should fix the hours to be spread over no more than five days per week.
Overtime is not established specifically in any labor codes in New Zealand. Therefore, employers are not required to pay an increased rate for overtime by law, although some places of work may choose to. Any additional work outside of the agreed working hours is classified as overtime and is voluntary. There is no maximum number of overtime hours.
The trial period must be included in the employee agreement. The period can last any length of time, as long as it is established in writing and is considered “reasonable” in relation to the length of the contract.
Notice periods are typically declared in the employee agreement. If there is not a notice period defined in the employment agreement, then it is normally between two and four weeks. This applies regardless of whether it is the employer or employee giving the notice to terminate the employment.
The employee should not work more than 40 hours per week, excluding overtime. When less than 40 hours are expected, the employer should fix the hours to be spread over no more than five days per week.
Overtime is not established specifically in any labor codes in New Zealand. Therefore, employers are not required to pay an increased rate for overtime by law, although some places of work may choose to. Any additional work outside of the agreed working hours is classified as overtime and is voluntary. There is no maximum number of overtime hours.
The trial period must be included in the employee agreement. The period can last any length of time, as long as it is established in writing and is considered “reasonable” in relation to the length of the contract.
Notice periods are typically declared in the employee agreement. If there is not a notice period defined in the employment agreement, then it is normally between two and four weeks. This applies regardless of whether it is the employer or employee giving the notice to terminate the employment.
The welfare system includes universal healthcare, a public pension, family tax credits, and more. In place of individual premiums, social security is financed through taxes. The social security system operates based on residence, is non-compulsory, and mostly non-contributory.
| Employer Contributions | Amount |
| Work Levy | Variable based on industry, risk, claims history, and liable income |
| Working Safer Levy | NZD 0.08/100 of payroll |
| KiwiSaver | 3% (flat-rate) |
| Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) Scheme | 1% of gross salary |
