NZ annual holiday pay at the higher of ordinary weekly pay and average weekly earnings
Estimates only, not financial advice. What you type stays on your device. Checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026.New Zealand annual holiday pay is the greater of ordinary weekly pay and average weekly earnings, which are the last 12 months' gross earnings divided by 52. On $1,200 a week and $65,000 a year that is $1,250 a week, so 2 weeks of holidays pay $2,500. Leaving adds 8% of gross earnings.
2026-27 · Rates and rules read from the sources listed on this page (the earliest on 16 Oct 2026); they may have changed since.
Choose taking holidays, leaving after 12 months, or leaving before 12 months.
Type your ordinary weekly pay and your gross earnings for the last 12 months.
Type the weeks taken or still owed, and when leaving your gross earnings since your anniversary or start.
Read the holiday pay: the weeks at the higher weekly rate, plus 8% when you leave.
Under the Holidays Act 2003, employees in New Zealand are entitled to no less than 4 weeks of paid annual holidays after each 12 months of continuous employment. This page works out the pay for them in the three situations Employment New Zealand describes.
Taking holidays. Holiday pay is at least the greater of your ordinary weekly pay and your average weekly earnings. Ordinary weekly pay is what you are normally paid for a week, including regular allowances and overtime. Average weekly earnings are your gross earnings for the 12 months before the holiday divided by 52, or by the weeks you have worked if under a year.
Leaving after 12 months. Your final pay includes the entitled weeks you have not taken, paid at the higher of the two weekly rates, plus 8% of your gross earnings since your last anniversary. The 8% includes the other payments in your final pay, so this page adds the payment for the untaken weeks to the earnings you type.
Leaving before 12 months. You get an annual holiday payment of 8% of everything you earned since you started, including the other payments in your final pay.
Already paid. Holiday pay paid for holidays taken in advance, or as pay-as-you-go 8% on each pay, comes off the 8% due. Type it under More options.
The law is changing. The Employment Leave Act will replace the Holidays Act in August 2028. Until then the current rules apply, and this page uses them.
Not included. Working out ordinary weekly pay with the formula, public holidays that fall within leave paid out at the end, alternative holidays, cashing up a week, and PAYE tax. An estimate, not legal advice.
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Annual holiday pay is at least the greater of your ordinary weekly pay and your average weekly earnings, which are your gross earnings for the last 12 months divided by 52. On $1,200 ordinary weekly pay and $65,000 a year, the average is $1,250, so 2 weeks pay $2,500.
No less than 4 weeks of paid annual holidays after each 12 months of continuous employment. Holidays are not accrued day by day under the Holidays Act; the 4 weeks arrive on each anniversary. You can take holidays in advance by agreement with your employer.
Your final pay includes the entitled annual holidays you have not taken, paid at the higher of ordinary weekly pay and average weekly earnings, plus 8% of gross earnings since your last anniversary, including the other payments in your final pay, less any holiday pay already paid.
An annual holiday payment of 8% of your gross earnings since you started, including the other payments in your final pay, less anything already paid for holidays taken in advance or as pay-as-you-go. On $30,000 of earnings the 8% is $2,400.
An employer and employee can agree to add at least 8% of gross earnings to each pay instead of 4 weeks of paid annual holidays, but only on a fixed-term agreement under 12 months or where work is too irregular to give holidays normally. Amounts already paid this way come off the 8% due at the end.
Employment New Zealand says the Employment Leave Act will replace the Holidays Act in August 2028 and that the current Holidays Act rules must be followed until then. This calculator uses the current rules: the 4 weeks, the higher weekly rate and the 8% on leaving.
Rates and rules change; check the source before you rely on a figure.
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