Leave entitlements in New Zealand: annual leave, public holidays and long service leave explained
New Zealand's statutory minimum leave entitlements are 4 weeks of paid annual holidays after 12 months' continuous employment and up to 12 paid public holidays a year, both set by the Holidays Act 2003 (New Zealand Legislation, retrieved 9 September 2026), while long service leave has no legal minimum and exists only where an employer agrees to it. This hub indexes our full leave-entitlements cluster; bereavement and sick leave have their own clusters, linked below.
What this cluster covers, and what it doesn't
This hub covers the general employment-leave-rights territory of the Holidays Act 2003: annual holidays, public holiday pay, cashing up leave, and long service leave, which sits outside the Act entirely. Two closely related leave types are covered in their own clusters instead, because each has enough depth to need one: bereavement leave in our when someone dies cluster, and sick leave in our off-work-sick cluster. The table below is the full map of New Zealand's minimum leave entitlements, wherever they are covered on QuoteHub.
| Leave type | Minimum entitlement | Qualifying period | Where it's covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual holidays | 4 weeks a year | 12 months' continuous employment | This cluster |
| Public holidays | Up to 12 paid days a year | From day one, if it's an otherwise working day | This cluster |
| Long service leave | None; employer-negotiated only | Set entirely by the employment agreement | This cluster |
| Sick leave | 10 days a year, up to a 20-day cap | 6 months | Off-work-sick cluster |
| Bereavement leave | 3 days (close family) or 1 day (other) | 6 months | When someone dies cluster |
(Holidays Act 2003; see each linked guide's own References section for full citations, retrieved 9 September 2026.)
Every guide in this cluster, at a glance
Each guide below links to the full detail, figures and sources for that specific question.
| Guide | The figure it answers |
|---|---|
| Annual leave entitlement in NZ | 4 weeks after 12 months' continuous employment |
| How annual leave pay is calculated | The higher of ordinary weekly pay or average weekly earnings |
| Public holiday pay in NZ | 12 public holidays a year; at least time and a half if worked |
| Long service leave in NZ | Not a legal right; typically 2 weeks after 10 years in the Public Service |
| Cashing out annual leave in NZ | Up to 1 week of the 4-week minimum, per year |
| NZ employment leave law changes 2026 | Employment Leave Act 2026 replaces the Holidays Act from 6 August 2028 |
(Each figure sourced and dated on its own guide; see the References section of this page and each linked guide.)
Key qualifying periods, at a glance
Every leave type has its own qualifying period before it applies, which is the single most common source of confusion in this cluster.
| Leave type | Qualifying period | What happens before that |
|---|---|---|
| Annual holidays | 12 months' continuous employment | No entitlement yet, unless taken in advance by agreement |
| Public holidays | From day one, if it's an otherwise working day | Applies immediately; no qualifying period |
| Sick leave | 6 months' continuous employment | No entitlement yet under the Holidays Act |
| Bereavement leave | 6 months' continuous employment | No entitlement yet, though an employer may still grant leave |
| Long service leave | Set entirely by the employer's own agreement | No entitlement unless your agreement specifically provides one |
(Holidays Act 2003, ss16, 63; see each linked guide's own References section for full citations, retrieved 9 September 2026.)
What types of leave am I entitled to in New Zealand?
New Zealand employees have five statutory minimum leave entitlements under the Holidays Act 2003: 4 weeks of annual holidays, up to 12 public holidays, 10 days of sick leave, 3 or 1 days of bereavement leave, and family violence leave, all set out by law regardless of what your employment agreement says (Employment New Zealand, Leave and holidays, retrieved 9 September 2026). Long service leave sits outside this list entirely, since it is never a legal requirement.
How much annual leave do I get in my first year of work?
None yet, under the current Holidays Act. Your 4-week annual holiday entitlement arises only once you complete a full 12 months of continuous employment with the same employer; before that point your employer can let you take leave in advance by agreement, but nothing has legally vested yet. See our annual leave entitlement guide for the full detail.
Is sick leave different from annual leave?
Yes, in almost every respect. Sick leave is 10 days a year after 6 months' employment, taken in full days when you are actually unwell, while annual leave is 4 weeks a year after 12 months, taken for rest and recreation whenever agreed with your employer. Our sick leave entitlement guide, on the off-work-sick cluster, covers sick leave in full.
Do part-time employees get the same leave entitlements as full-time?
Yes, in proportion to their own working week. A part-time employee becomes entitled to the same 4 weeks of annual holidays and 10 days of sick leave as a full-time employee, calculated against their own days or hours worked rather than a full-time pattern, once they meet the same 12-month or 6-month qualifying periods (Employment New Zealand, Taking annual holidays, retrieved 9 September 2026).
What happens to my leave entitlements if I change jobs?
Annual holidays not yet taken are paid out in full in your final pay when you leave, calculated under the ordinary final-pay rules in our annual leave entitlement guide. Your qualifying period resets with a new employer: you need another 12 months before a new annual leave entitlement arises, and another 6 months before sick leave or bereavement leave entitlements arise again. Long service leave, where it exists, is almost always tied to continuous service with one specific employer and does not transfer.
Are leave entitlements different for casual employees?
Genuinely casual employees, whose work is so irregular that providing scheduled annual leave is impractical, are usually paid 8% of gross earnings with each pay instead of accruing a 4-week entitlement, under section 28 of the Holidays Act 2003. A casual employee who in fact works a regular, predictable pattern does not meet this test and should instead build up the standard entitlement, calculated against their own working week; see our annual leave entitlement guide for the full rule.
How many public holidays does New Zealand have?
Up to 12 a year: 11 national holidays plus Matariki, plus your region's own anniversary day, though a Mondayised holiday and its actual date are never both claimable, and you cannot claim more than 4 public holidays over the Christmas and New Year period regardless of your work pattern (Employment New Zealand, Public holidays rights for employees, retrieved 9 September 2026). See our public holiday pay guide for the full 2026 dates and pay rates.
Is long service leave something every employer has to offer?
No. Unlike every other entitlement on this hub, long service leave is not required by the Holidays Act 2003 or any other statute. It exists only where an employer has agreed to it in an employment agreement, collective agreement or workplace policy, most commonly in the Public Service. See our long service leave guide for who typically offers it and how much.
Can I cash up my annual leave instead of taking it as time off?
Yes, up to 1 week of your 4-week annual holiday entitlement each year, by written request, and your employer can decline. See our cashing out annual leave guide for the full process and limits.
Is New Zealand's leave law about to change?
Yes. The Employment Leave Act 2026 passed into law on 7 August 2026 and will replace the Holidays Act 2003 from 6 August 2028, moving annual leave, sick leave, bereavement leave and public holidays from lump-sum entitlements to hourly accrual (Employment New Zealand, Employment Leave Act 2026, retrieved 9 September 2026). Nothing changes for the entitlements on this hub until then. See our employment leave law changes guide for the full comparison.
More questions about leave entitlements in NZ
How many weeks of annual leave do I get in NZ?
A minimum of 4 weeks a year, once you have worked continuously for the same employer for 12 months, under section 16 of the Holidays Act 2003. Full detail, including what happens before that 12-month mark, is on our annual leave entitlement guide.
What happens to unused annual leave when I resign?
It is paid out in full in your final pay, at the higher of your ordinary weekly pay or average weekly earnings for any vested entitlement, and at 8% of gross earnings for any portion accrued since your last anniversary. Our annual leave entitlement guide sets out both calculations in full.
How is annual leave pay calculated in NZ?
Your employer must work out both your ordinary weekly pay and your average weekly earnings, then pay whichever is higher for each week of leave taken, under section 21 of the Holidays Act 2003. Our annual leave pay calculator explainer works through both formulas step by step.
What is the 8% annual holiday pay rule?
It is a separate "pay-as-you-go" arrangement, only available to employees on a fixed-term agreement under 12 months or those who work so irregularly that a scheduled 4-week entitlement is impractical. See our annual leave calculator explainer for exactly who qualifies.
What is time and a half pay for public holidays?
If a public holiday is an otherwise working day and you work it, your employer must pay at least one and a half times your relevant daily pay for the hours worked, under section 50 of the Holidays Act 2003. Our public holiday pay guide covers the full pay rules for every scenario.
Do I get a day in lieu if a public holiday falls on my day off?
No. An alternative holiday only arises if you actually work a public holiday that is an otherwise working day for you; if the holiday simply falls on a day you never work, nothing is owed. See our public holiday pay guide for the full alternative holiday rule.
How many public holidays are there in NZ each year?
Up to 12: 11 national holidays plus Matariki, though you can only claim one regional anniversary day per year and no more than 4 over the Christmas and New Year period. Our public holiday pay guide lists every 2026 date.
Is long service leave a legal requirement in NZ?
No. Unlike every other entitlement covered on this hub, the Holidays Act 2003 does not require any employer to offer long service leave; it exists only where negotiated into an employment agreement or workplace policy. See our long service leave guide for who typically offers it.
How many years of service do you need for long service leave?
There is no single national answer, since it is not a statutory entitlement. Among Public Service agreements that offer it, the most common pattern is 2 weeks after 10 years, then 1 week every 5 years after. See our long service leave guide for the full breakdown by agreement type.
How much annual leave can you cash out in NZ?
Up to 1 week of your 4-week minimum entitlement each year, requested in writing, and your employer can decline without giving a reason. Our cashing out annual leave guide covers the full process and limits.
Is cashed-out annual leave taxed differently?
No. It is taxed through PAYE the same as any other pay; there is no separate tax treatment for cashing up leave. See our cashing out annual leave guide for how the payment amount itself is calculated.
What changed in NZ's employment leave law in 2026?
The Employment Leave Act 2026 passed into law on 7 August 2026, but nothing about your current entitlements actually changed this year: the current Holidays Act rules stay in force until the new Act commences on 6 August 2028. See our employment leave law changes guide for the full timeline.
Did annual leave entitlements change in 2026?
No. The 4-week minimum is unchanged and stays that way until 6 August 2028. What passed in 2026 was the legislation that will eventually change how leave is calculated, not a change to this year's entitlement. Full detail is on our employment leave law changes guide.
What is the new law for sick leave in NZ?
There is no new sick leave law in effect in 2026; the current 10-day entitlement with a 20-day carry-over cap has applied since 2021. Sick leave does change under the Employment Leave Act from 2028; see our employment leave law changes guide and our sick leave entitlement guide for the current rules.
How much sick leave am I entitled to right now?
10 days a year after 6 months' continuous employment, with unused days carrying over up to a 20-day maximum, under the current Holidays Act 2003. Our sick leave entitlement guide, on the off-work-sick cluster, covers this in full, including medical certificate rules and what happens on ACC.
How much bereavement leave am I entitled to?
Three paid days for the death of a close family member, or one paid day for other deaths your employer accepts as a bereavement, once you have worked for the same employer for six months. Our bereavement leave guide, on the when someone dies cluster, covers this in full.
Where leave questions usually lead next
Leave questions rarely stand alone. If you are leaving a job, our losing your job cluster covers redundancy pay, notice periods, the first 30 days after redundancy and Jobseeker Support. If illness is involved, our off-work-sick cluster covers sick leave entitlement, how long you can be off work sick and financial help when you're sick. If a death is the reason, our when someone dies cluster covers bereavement leave in full.
If a change in income from any of these events means your household needs to review its cover, comparing income protection or life insurance is worth doing at the same time as sorting out your leave. Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name. Start a free comparison if you would like a licensed adviser to review your own cover.
Adviser's view
QuoteHub built this cluster because employment leave questions almost always arrive stacked: someone wants to know their annual leave balance at the exact moment they are also weighing a resignation, a redundancy, or an illness, and the right answer depends on getting the leave type right before the number can mean anything.
Compare your cover with a licensed NZ adviser · free, no obligation.
Cite this page QuoteHub NZ (2026). Leave Entitlements NZ 2026: Annual, Holiday, More. www.quotehub.co.nz/guides/leave-entitlements. Updated 2026-09-09.
References
- Holidays Act 2003, section 16 (Entitlement to annual holidays)
- Employment New Zealand: Leave and holidays
- Employment New Zealand: Taking annual holidays
- Employment New Zealand: Public holidays rights for employees
- Employment New Zealand: Employment Leave Act 2026
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