All About Hiring Employees in New Zealand
Get the information you need to hire in New Zealand. Learn how Justworks EOR can help you streamline international hiring and manage employees abroad.
The Benefits of an EOR for Hiring in New Zealand
Justworks helps small businesses hire and manage employees in New Zealand efficiently. From employment agreements to KiwiSaver contributions and compliant payroll, we handle the details, so you can stay focused on scaling your business. Get transparent pricing, a reliable platform, and expert support every step of the way. Whether you’re hiring one employee or a growing team, we make global hiring simpler.
Options for Hiring in New Zealand
Partnering with an EOR
Justworks takes charge of building your team within a few weeks, so you can avoid the expensive process of establishing a legal entity.
Justworks oversees most local HR operations:
Ensuring compliance with local labor laws and regulations
Creating employment contractsÂ
Managing payroll, payroll taxes, and related payments like withholdings and deductions
Administering local benefits
Hiring Practices
In New Zealand, written employment agreements are legally required and must be provided before or on the employee’s first day. Contracts must include core terms such as:
Names and contact details of both parties
Start date and work location
Job title and duties
Type of employment (permanent, fixed-term, casual)
Pay rate and frequency
Probation period terms (if used)
Termination process and notice periods
Signature of both employer and employee
Background Checks
Background checks are permitted as long as they’re relevant to the role, performed with the candidate’s consent, and comply with New Zealand’s privacy and data protection requirements. Reference checks are the most common, but must be limited to contacts provided by the applicant. Criminal checks and credit may be done for high-risk roles or financial positions. If a medical check is required for the role, employers must not use the results to discriminate against disabled applicants.
Ready to Hire Confidently in New Zealand?
Justwork makes building your global team seamless by helping you hire and onboard talent in New Zealand and beyond. Save yourself the time and hassle of international hiring today.
