Country guide · New Zealand

Quitting your job in New Zealand

Notice in your agreement

Your notice period is set by your employment agreement. If the agreement is silent, you are expected to give fair and reasonable notice, which often lands around two to four weeks depending on the role. Read your agreement first, give the notice it requires, and serve it well, because that keeps your final pay and your reference in good shape. New Zealand's employment relationships run on good faith, so an orderly exit is worth the effort.

Final pay and holiday pay

Your final pay includes payment for annual holidays you have accrued but not taken, calculated under the Holidays Act, alongside any wages owed. Depending on your circumstances there may be other entitlements too. Holiday pay calculations in New Zealand have their own rules, so it is reasonable to ask your employer to show how the figure was worked out, and to get the final amount and pay date in writing. General principles are in our leave payout guide.

Public and private health

Publicly funded health care is based on residency and eligibility, not on your job, so resigning does not affect it. That keeps the New Zealand picture simple. If you held private health insurance through your employer, the only thing to check is whether you need to arrange your own policy to keep that cover going. See health insurance after quitting for how this compares across countries.

Your KiwiSaver

Your KiwiSaver account stays yours and keeps being invested. When you leave a job, your employer stops making contributions through payroll; if you start new work, employer and your own contributions can resume, and the scheme has its own rules for pausing. KiwiSaver is locked for retirement in most cases, with limited exceptions, so it is not money to spend as quitting runway. More in retirement accounts after quitting.

Jobseeker Support

This is the planning caution for New Zealand. You may be able to apply for Jobseeker Support, but leaving a job voluntarily can lead to a stand-down period before payments start, and support is income-tested. So do not assume immediate payment after you resign. Size your runway without relying on it, and check your eligibility with Work and Income directly. Treat any payment you receive as a cushion, which is how the quit calculator approaches it, counting only income that already exists.

Key takeaways

• Your notice comes from your employment agreement, or fair and reasonable notice if it is silent.
• Unused annual holidays are paid out in your final pay under the Holidays Act.
• Public health cover is unaffected; sort your own policy if you had employer private cover.
• KiwiSaver stays yours and keeps growing; it is locked for retirement, not runway.
• Jobseeker Support can carry a stand-down after a voluntary quit, so plan without it.

Frequently asked questions

How much notice do I have to give to resign in New Zealand?

Your notice period is set by your employment agreement. If the agreement does not state one, you are expected to give fair and reasonable notice, which often works out to two to four weeks depending on the role. Read your agreement first and give the notice it requires, since serving it properly protects your final pay and your reference.

Do I get paid for unused annual leave when I quit in New Zealand?

Yes. Your final pay includes payment for any annual holidays you have accrued but not taken, calculated under the Holidays Act. It may also include other entitlements depending on your situation. Confirm the figure in writing so you know exactly what to expect in your last pay.

What happens to my KiwiSaver when I quit my job in New Zealand?

Your KiwiSaver account stays yours and keeps being invested. When you leave a job your employer simply stops making contributions through payroll, and you can arrange contributions yourself if you take new work or pause them under the scheme rules. KiwiSaver is locked for retirement in most cases, so it is not quitting runway.

Can I get Jobseeker Support if I quit my job in New Zealand?

You may be able to apply, but leaving a job voluntarily can lead to a stand-down period before payments begin, and support is subject to income and other tests. Do not assume immediate payment after resigning. Plan your runway without relying on it and check your eligibility with Work and Income directly.

People also ask

Does public health cover change if I quit my job in New Zealand?

No. Publicly funded health care in New Zealand is based on your residency and eligibility, not on your job, so leaving work does not affect it. If you had private health insurance through your employer, check whether you need to arrange your own policy to keep that cover.

When do I get my final pay after quitting in New Zealand?

Final pay is usually made in the pay period after your last day, or as set out in your employment agreement. It should include any owed wages and your unused annual holidays. Ask for the figure and the date in writing before you leave.

Can my employer make me leave before my notice ends in New Zealand?

Your employer can agree to an earlier finish or, depending on your agreement, may have options around how your notice is worked. Because employment relationships run on good faith, the cleanest path is to discuss and agree any change to your notice in writing rather than simply stopping work, which could affect your final pay.

How much should I save before quitting a job in New Zealand?

Six months of essential expenses is a sound default. With public health cover unaffected and holiday pay included in your final pay, your runway figure is often cleaner than in the US, but plan it without assuming Jobseeker Support given the possible stand-down. Increase the figure for dependents, debt, or a slow job market.