Please be aware that most seasonal work is quite physical and it may take a few days for your body to adjust to the work.
+ Record Keeping
Although your employer is required by law to keep employment records (see Employer Records below), it is strongly recommended that you also keep your own record of:
- The days on which you worked (dates),
- The number of hours you worked (make a note of when you started and finished, and when took breaks and how long the breaks were)
- Days you did not work and reasons
- Where you worked and what type of work you did
- If you are paid on a piece-rate, then the number of units you completed (e.g. if you are paid for picking by the bin or crate, record the number of bins or crates you completed)
- Record the details of any employment problems you have
You might like to carry a small notebook with you so you can make these records on the job. These records will be invaluable if you have a dispute with your employer.
+ Work Permits
If you are not a New Zealand permanent resident or citizen, you must have a valid work permit to work in New Zealand. Please
click here for more information about types of permits and how to get them.
+ Illness and injury
If you have an illness or injury that will prevent you from working safely or mean you may make others sick, you should tell your employer as soon as possible, rest, and return to work as soon as you are able to safely do so. You will not usually be entitled to sick pay for the days you do not attend unless you have been with the same employer for 6 months or more. The six month period is specified in law and your employment agreement will reflect this.
All employees, including NZ citizens, residents and visitors, are entitled to the same employment conditions and rights, including holiday pay and sick leave. This page outlines those entitlements. Much of the information has come from the Department of Labour Employment Relations Service website: www.ers.govt.nz.
+ IRD numbers and tax
IRD numbers
This is a unique number issued to you by the Inland Revenue Department. Apply for an IRD number by completing application form IR595. Then you will need to have your identity verified by an IR verification agent. Both Kiwibank and the Automobile Association (AA) can do this in ten to 12 days. Otherwise horticulture and viticulture workers can get an IRD number through the
PickNZ Regional Coordinators in one to two days if necessary.
Paying tax
You will be paying PAYE or Pay As You Earn tax. Most seasonal employees should use the M (main) or S (secondary) tax code, and all employees need to complete the IR330 tax form for their employer. Your employer takes the tax out of your weekly pay, usually at a rate of about 22.4%. If you are an overseas resident you may be able to claim back all or some of the tax you paid while working when you leave the country. Visit
www.ird.govt.nz or
www.taxrefunds.co.nz for more information.
+ Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
An ACC levy of 1.3% will be taken from your pay to cover any costs related to injuries caused by accidents. ACC is a personal injury scheme that covers the cost of treatment and rehabilitation for all people in New Zealand - even visitors. Visit
www.acc.co.nz for more information.
+ KiwiSaver
KiwiSaver is a work-based savings scheme open to New Zealand residents and citizens under the age of 65, but not visitors. You will be automatically enrolled when you start with a new employer, and you have six weeks to opt out of the scheme after automatic enrolment. Employees make regular contributions of 2%, 4% or 8% of their gross salary or wages and employers also make contributions. For more information go to
www.kiwisaver.govt.nz+ Equal Pay and Rights
Your employer can't pay employees differently if the only difference is that they are male or female.
Also, in most cases, your employer can't discriminate in hiring or firing, pay, training or promotion because of your race, colour, national or ethnic origin, sex or sexual orientation, marital or family status, employment status, age, religious belief or political opinion, or if you have a disability, or participate in certain union activities.
Your pay rate may be different to another worker if you work at a different speed, have different experience or skills, do different duties, if one of you is in recognised industry training, or is aged under 18.
+ Rest and Meal Breaks
Employees are entitled to:
- one 10-minute paid rest break if their work period is 2 hours or more but not more than 4 hours
- one 10-minute paid rest break and one unpaid 30-minute meal break if their work period is more than 4 hours but not more than 6 hours, and
- two 10-minute paid rest breaks and one unpaid 30-minute meal break if their work period is more than 6 hours but not more than 8 hours.
+ Health and Safety
Employers must provide a safe workplace, with proper training, supervision and equipment. This duty includes identifying, assessing and managing hazards, and investigating health and safety incidents.
Employees must take reasonable care to keep themselves safe, and to avoid causing harm to other people by the way they do their work. Employees may refuse work likely to cause them serious harm. Also, employees have the right to participate in improving health and safety.
+ Employer Records
You employer must keep wage and time records for six years. This includes the hours worked each day, including start and finish time, unpaid breaks taken, number of days of employment in each pay period, wages paid each period including how they were calculated (piece or hourly), salary deductions including tax. They must also keep records of holiday and other leave you have taken and what your current entitlement is; public holidays worked and alternative days taken and when public holiday entitlements were paid.
+ Unions
You have the right to join a union
+ Employment problems
You should have a problem resolution procedure in your employment contract. If you have not received a contract or the conflict procedure is not appropriate, you can file a complaint at a PickNZ office. Your information will help us to help you and also improve the work environment for other workers in the future. You can also check out
www.dol.govt.nz or phone 0800 20 90 20.
The information provided here is intended as a guide only, and is not a substitute for independent legal advice. Published and up to date as of October 2009
