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8% Holiday Pay in NZ: When It Applies
8% holiday pay applies when you leave within 12 months, on earnings since your last anniversary, and for casual pay-as-you-go work. See your amount.
1. How long did you work there?
Holiday pay in your final pay
$0.00
How it works
- ✔Under 12 months: you get 8% of your gross earnings, less any annual holiday pay already paid.
- ✔12 months or more: untaken leave is paid as if you took it at the end, at the higher of ordinary weekly pay and average weekly earnings, plus 8% of earnings since your last anniversary.
- ✔It's taxed as part of your final pay and must be paid by the pay day of your last pay period.
- ✔Public holidays and alternative days owed are paid on top (not included here).
Estimate under the Holidays Act 2003, rules last checked October 2026. The new Employment Leave Act changes this from about 2028. Not legal advice. If you're underpaid, ask your employer in writing, then contact Employment New Zealand (0800 20 90 20). 🔒 Everything stays on your device.
Questions people ask
Do I get holiday pay if I leave before 12 months?+
Yes. You get 8% of your gross earnings since you started, less any annual holiday pay you've already been paid.
How is untaken annual leave paid when I leave?+
After 12 months, untaken leave is paid at the higher of your ordinary weekly pay and your average weekly earnings over the last 12 months, plus 8% of what you've earned since your last work anniversary.
When must my final pay be paid?+
On or before the pay day for your final pay period.
Is the new Employment Leave Act in force?+
It passed in July 2026, but the current Holidays Act still applies until the new law comes into force (expected around 2028).