Employment Relations Act 2000 amendments
On 21 February 2026, the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 came into force, which clarifies contracting arrangements, simplifies personal grievances and reduces complexity at the start of employment relationships.
The Government has reintroduced the ability to make pay deductions in response to partial strikes.
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Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026
The policy and legislative process for the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 is complete. The Act came into force on 21 February 2026.
Information related to the policy development of the Act can be found in the proactively released documents below.
Read the recent announcements from the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety:
Increased certainty for contractors coming(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
More flexible dismissal process for high-income employees(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
Removing rewards for poor employee behaviour(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
Cutting red tape at the start of employment(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
New Bill to boost labour market flexibility(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
Select Committee reports back on Employment Relations Amendment Bill(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
Reform brings more flexibility for workers and confidence for employers(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
Pay deductions for partial strikes
In July 2025 the Government reintroduced the ability to make pay deductions in response to partial strikes through the Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Act 2025.
Information related to the policy development of this Act can be found in the proactively released documents below.
More information on changes to partial strikes can be found from the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety’s announcements:
Pay deductions for partial strikes to be reintroduced(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
NZ law change restores balance - fairer rules for partial strikes(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz
Guidance for employers and employees
Strikes(external link) — Employment New Zealand
Proactively released documents
Documents relating to providing greater certainty for contracting parties
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Briefings: Advice on providing greater certainty for contracting parties [PDF 4.5MB]
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Regulatory Impact Statement: Contractors – Providing greater certainty for contracting parties [PDF 868KB]
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Providing greater certainty for contracting parties [PDF 1.2MB]
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Providing Greater Certainty for Contracting Parties – Minute of Decision [PDF 332KB]
Documents relating to introducing an income threshold for unjustified dismissal personal grievances
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Initial advice on setting a high-income threshold for personal grievances [PDF 275KB]
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Personal grievances: A threshold for unjustified dismissals [PDF 230KB]
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Personal grievances: Second order policy issues for an income threshold [PDF 369KB]
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Advice on the transitional provision for the personal grievance income threshold [PDF 605KB]
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Extract from 2425-0319 MBIE Workplace Relations and Safety Policy weekly report for the period from 13 to 19 September 2024 [PDF 97KB]
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Regulatory Impact Statement: Introducing an income threshold for unjustified dismissal [PDF 523KB]
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Introducing an Income Threshold for Unjustified Dismissal [PDF 147KB]
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Introducing an Income Threshold for Unjustified Dismissal – Minute of Decision [PDF 136KB]
Documents relating to changes to eligibility to remedies for personal grievances
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Initial advice on eligibility to remedies for personal grievances [PDF 263KB]
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Further advice on eligibility for remedies for personal grievances [PDF 736KB]
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Decisions on eligibility for remedies for personal grievances [PDF 273KB]
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Extract from BRIEFING-REQ-0008363: MBIE Workplace Relations and Safety Policy weekly report for the period from 24 January 2025 to 30 January 2024 [PDF 138KB]
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Regulatory Impact Statement: Strengthening consideration and accountability for the employee's behaviour in personal grievance process [PDF 577KB]
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Strengthening consideration and accountability for the employee's behaviour in the personal grievance process [PDF 167KB]
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Strengthening consideration and accountability for the employee's behaviour in the personal grievance process – Minute of Decision [PDF 145KB]
Documents relating to changes to employers' obligations when a new employee begins work
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Briefing: Initial process options for considering changes to the 30 day rule [PDF 497KB]
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Regulatory Impact Statement: Removing the 30 day rule and reducing the related information disclosure and reporting requirements for employers [PDF 604KB]
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Freedom of Choice and Cutting Red Tape at the Beginning of Employment [PDF 352KB]
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Freedom of Choice and Cutting Red Tape at the Beginning of Employment - Minute of Decision [PDF 404KB]
Documents relating to pay deductions for partial strikes
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Employment Relations Amendment Bill 2025: Approval for Introduction [PDF 496KB]
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Employment Relations Amendment Bill 2025: Approval for Introduction – Minute of Decision [PDF 323KB]
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Regulatory Impact Statement: Partial strikes [PDF 456KB]
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Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Bill – Approval for Introduction [PDF 346KB]
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Employment Relations (Pay Deductions for Partial Strikes) Amendment Bill – Approval for Introduction – Minute of Decision [PDF 187KB]
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Collective Bargaining Rebalance – Allowing for Pay Deductions in Response to Partial Strikes [PDF 208KB]
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Collective Bargaining Rebalance – Allowing for Pay Deductions in Response to Partial Strikes – Minute of Decision [PDF 158KB]