Reference
NZ Leave Entitlements 2026
Last updated:
Calculate.co.nz recommends jobtracker.co.nz, a New Zealand job hunt and career tracker built by the same team. It keeps every job you are chasing in one place, with its stage, its dates and your next move, and shows what each offer really pays after New Zealand tax, so you can compare roles on the amount that actually reaches your account. Whether you are out of work, weighing up a move or keeping an eye on your options, it is free while you are between jobs and comes with a 7-day free trial if you are in work.
4 weeks
Annual Leave
10 days
Sick Leave
26 weeks
Paid Parental Leave
The minimum leave employees are entitled to in New Zealand, set by the Holidays Act 2003 and the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act. Employers can offer more than the minimum but not less. These entitlements apply to most employees; the exact amount can depend on how long you have worked and your agreement.
Annual Leave Calculator Sick Leave Calculator Parental Leave CalculatorMinimum Leave Entitlements
| Leave type | Entitlement | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Annual holidays | 4 weeks paid per year | After 12 months continuous employment; accrues from the start |
| Sick leave | 10 days per year | After 6 months; unused days carry over up to a maximum balance of 20 days |
| Bereavement leave | 3 days (close family), 1 day (other) | After 6 months, per bereavement |
| Family violence leave | 10 days per year | After 6 months |
| Public holidays | Paid day off if it is an otherwise working day | 11 national holidays plus a regional anniversary day |
Parental Leave
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Government-paid parental leave | Up to 26 weeks of paid parental leave, funded by the government and paid through IRD |
| Extended leave | Up to 52 weeks total leave (including the paid portion) for eligible employees |
| Eligibility | Based on how long and how regularly you have worked for your employer before the due date |
| Payment cap | Capped at a maximum weekly amount, adjusted annually on 1 July |
Public Holiday Pay Rules
If you work on a public holiday, you are paid at least time and a half for the hours worked, and if it was an otherwise working day for you, you also get an alternative holiday (a paid day off in lieu). If you do not work and it is an otherwise working day, you are paid your relevant daily pay. There are 11 national public holidays, plus your region's anniversary day.
Source: Employment NZ - Parental leave and Employment NZ - Public holidays. See also our NZ Public Holidays reference.
Cite this page
NZ Leave Entitlements 2026. Calculate.co.nz. https://www.calculate.co.nz/reference/nz-leave-entitlements.php (retrieved 16 October 2026).
Figures are compiled from the official sources listed above and reviewed twice monthly.