Insights

New Employer Wage Laws 2025: Criminal Penalties for Withholding Pay
Employment
New Employer Wage Laws 2025: Criminal Penalties for Withholding Pay
The Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Act 2025 introduces criminal penalties for employers who intentionally withhold wages or entitlements from their employees. This means wage disputes can now lead to prosecution, fines, or even imprisonment. While the law targets deliberate underpayment, employers must be cautious with payroll accuracy, deductions, and compliance with the Wages Protection Act 1983. Genuine mistakes won’t attract criminal liability, but poor recordkeeping or ignorance of entitlements may not offer protection. Now more than ever, robust payroll systems and legal compliance are essential.
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Andrew Little Joins Gibson Sheat Lawyers
Employment
Andrew Little Joins Gibson Sheat Lawyers
Former Leader of the Opposition and Cabinet Minister Andrew Little has transitioned from the halls of Parliament to the world of legal consultancy.
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Closedown periods, annual leave and working on a public holiday
Employment
Closedown periods, annual leave and working on a public holiday
What you need to know before this holiday season
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Understanding The New Rules on Personal Grievance and Sexual Harassment
Employment
Understanding The New Rules on Personal Grievance and Sexual Harassment
The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2023 extends the time for personal grievance claims to be raised which involve allegations of sexual harassment from 90 days to 12 months.
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Can employees be stopped from taking on a second job?
Employment
Can employees be stopped from taking on a second job?
In New Zealand, employees have the right to work for other employers, even if they are already employed full-time.
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Understanding The Fair Pay Agreements Bill
Employment
Understanding The Fair Pay Agreements Bill
The Fair Pay Agreements Bill (“the Bill”) provides a framework for employee unions and employer representatives of a specific industry or occupation to bargain fair pay agreements (“FPAs”).
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Children were employees at Gloriavale
Employment
Children were employees at Gloriavale
The Employment Court has ruled that three members of the Gloriavale Christian community were employees not volunteers
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Public holidays when you're on ACC - who pays?
Employment
Public holidays when you're on ACC - who pays?
Should employers pay workers who are off work on ACC for public holidays? 
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Vaccine Mandates - the High Court decision on NZDF & Police
Employment
Vaccine Mandates - the High Court decision on NZDF & Police
Yardley v Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety – understanding the decision declaring the government’s NZDF and Police vaccination mandates unlawful.
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Covid-19 Legislation update - Workplace Issues
Employment
Covid-19 Legislation update - Workplace Issues
We’ve heard the commentary, read the media articles, and mused over it with acquaintances – but what do the new government changes really mean for employers?
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Employment: Trial vs. probationary periods - what is the difference?
Employment
Employment: Trial vs. probationary periods - what is the difference?
Trial and probationary periods look very similar and are used for similar reasons but they are fundamentally different.
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Case Study: Minimum wage impacts on workers in lockdown
Employment
Case Study: Minimum wage impacts on workers in lockdown
At times it feels like a distant memory, but for some people, the battle over lost wages from Covid-19 lockdowns has continued long after the country felt it was getting back to normal…the first time.
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Employment Webinar - Vaccinations and your employees
Employment
Employment Webinar - Vaccinations and your employees
Advice accurate as at 28 October 2021. 
Join Gibson Sheat's Employment Team of Mike Gould and Nikki Farrell as they discuss the New Zealand regulations around vaccination in the workplace.
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COVID-19 - Issues for employers at Alert Level 3
Business Information
COVID-19 - Issues for employers at Alert Level 3

Requirements for workplaces at Level 3 are:

  • People must work from home if that is possible,
  • Contactless,
  • Physical distancing for workers,
  • Contact tracing.
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No Jab, No Job?
COVID-19
No Jab, No Job?

We’ve put together some helpful questions and answers about the vaccine and employment rights.

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