Significant shake-up to New Zealand’s employment law landscape set to proceed in the New Year

Minister Brooke van Velden. (Image: NZME)

Fri, 12 Dec 2025

As an early Christmas present for employment practitioners and Minister Brooke van Velden, the Education and Workforce Select Committee has reported back on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, recommending its passage.The bill represents the most significant overhaul of New Zealand's employment law in years, introducing four key changes:A contractor “gateway” test to provide certainty on worker classification.Stronger consideration of employee behaviour in personal grievance processes.A $200,000 income threshold exemp...

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