Working conditions vary in New Zealand depending on the kind of work you’re doing and the location you’re working in.However, there are some common workplace trends:
- More people are working on contracts instead of in tenured jobs but long-term employment relationships often develop.
- More non-standard employment (part-time, temporary, casual and self-employed work), and that trend is likely to continue.
- More people want greater flexibility in the way they work and this is one reason for the increase in part-time and self-employed work.
- More people work from home, especially in jobs with a high information technology component.
- More people are working longer hours, especially in professional jobs - we now recognise that workplace stress is a problem and we’re trying to reduce it.
- More recognition of the need to balance work and life, and to provide good child care for working parents.
The Department of Labour is the government agency responsible for employment. The Employment Relations Service is part of the Department of Labour. It produces factsheets on all kinds of topics to do with working in New Zealand – holidays, employment agreements, pay, parental leave, workplace safety and lots more. Use our links to find out more.
ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)
Everyone in New Zealand is covered by a Government run accident compensation scheme. It covers all citizens, residents and temporary visitors. But in return you don’t have the right to take legal action for personal injury.
It means that if you suffer an injury that is caused by an accident, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) will pay a large part of your medical bills. The scheme covers all accidental injuries, no matter how they happened. Everyone who is self-employed or who employs other people has to pay a levy or fee to ACC.
PAYE (employee income tax)
If you’re employed by someone else, your income tax is taken directly from your pay. It’s called PAYE, which means “pay as you earn”. Your employer takes income tax directly from your salary or wage payments.
You can find out more about personal income tax from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) or read about tax in the Government section of our Living in New Zealand guide.
OSH (Occupational Safety and Health)
We try in New Zealand to make sure that workplaces are safe and healthy. Nobody wants an injury or a death to happen at work. The Health and Safety in Employment Act was passed in 1992 and an amendment in 2002. Its main purpose is to prevent injury or harm to people at work. It’s about making work activities safe and healthy for everyone.
Employers have the main responsibility for this. They work with their staff to reduce danger or risk as much as possible. The Occupational Safety and Health Service helps with advice and information.