Law Lenz: Employment Law Done Right

A contractor gets hurt on a job. He claims he was actually an employee. A single missing document decides the approach in 2026.

This is Part 2 of our three part series on the Employment Relations Amendment Act (ERAA). On 21 February 2026, the biggest shake up to contractor law in 25 years came into f...

It has been four months since the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 became official. So we put the call out to our Law Lenz listeners. Ask our host Sanam anything. And you did.

This episode kicks off a three-part series on the legislation. What it changed, what cases we have seen so far, and th...

After a couple of months heads down building, Law Lenz officially has a proper home! And Sanam is way too excited about it.

In this episode she breaks down what she's been building, what Law Lenz now offers, and why she started it in the first place. Spoiler: too many good...

The two biggest payroll changes of the year land on the same day! 

In this episode, join Sanam as she breaks down exactly what changes are coming up on 1 April 2026, what you need to do before your first April pay run, and the questions that are front of mind for employers.

Sanam covers:

• The change to KiwiSaver default rates
• The pay date rule that trips people up when a pay period crosses 1 April
• What to do when an employ...

Guess who’s back… and newly married!

After a couple months away for a big, bold, beautiful and very chaotic wedding, Sanam is back behind the mic! And she is ready to dive into the latest shake up in New Zealand employment law.

The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 has officially passed.

That means new rules, new thresholds, and plenty of questions for employers.

What does the contractor gateway test actually mea...

Engaging a contractor usually starts with good intentions. Sometimes it can end with you realising you have an employee on your hands instead.

This bite sized breakdown gives you a practical look at why contractor arrangements often fall apart when you move from paper to practice. In this episode, join me, Sanam, as I unpack what a true contractor actually looks like in the real world. Not in theory. Not in templates. In practice.

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Is the Holidays Act finally getting scrapped? The Coalition Government has officially announced plans to ditch the Holidays Act and replace it with a new Employment Leave Act. If your brain immediately went to “uh oh… payroll,” you’re not alone!

In this episode, join host Sanam as she breaks down everything we know so far about the announcement. From key changes to what the new rules mean for different type...

You’ve just been hit with a personal grievance. Stress is high and the stakes feel even higher. The last thing you need is confusion about who to turn to or how to brief them.

In this episode, host Sanam talks through the difference between lawyers, advocates and consultants, and how to decide who is the best fit for you. She also shares what to say when you meet with them, how to avoid wasting time and money, and a simple fr...

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk has ignited global conversations about free speech, politics, and the boundaries of expression. But how does this play out in your workplace? In New Zealand, political expression by employees is a legal minefield. Employers must carefully balance freedom of expression with the duty to protect reputation, maintain trust, and comply with employment law standards.

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Pay secrecy in New Zealand workplaces is on its way out! With the Employment Relations (Employee Remuneration Disclosure) Amendment Bill moving through Parliament, employers will soon no longer be able to rely on confidentiality clauses to stop staff talking about pay.

This is more than a legal technicality. It’s a cultural shift that will shape workplace transparency, trust, and team dynamics. It's critical to know how the l...

The Coldplay kiss cam broke the internet last week and no one expected to see a CEO and CPO (yep, the head of HR!) in the spotlight. But beyond the headlines lies a much juicier compliance dilemma.

We recognise that many employers across New Zealand probably haven't even thought about workplace relationships or where they can go wrong. In this episode, host Sanam pulls apart the legal implications of workplace romances, especially...

Job advertisements are often overlooked in the compliance conversation, but under New Zealand employment law, they matter more than you might think. The language you use can shape your brand, attract the right candidates, or land you in legal trouble (yikes!).

In this episode, join host Sanam as she breaks down the legal risks hidden in everyday job ads. From subtle bias in wording to outright discriminatory requirements. You&rsquo...

In this Ask Law Lenz episode, we tackle one of the most common and misunderstood questions in New Zealand workplaces: “Can I just hire them as a casual?”

While it might be easy to label someone a casual employee, ensuring they actually are casual in the eyes of the law is a whole different story.

Join host Sanam as she unpacks what legally defines a casual employee under New Zealand employment law, busts common myths, a...

Dismissing an employee always feels scary. Even if you think you've got it in the bag, you’re left wondering… have I done everything right?

Because the reality is when you get it wrong, it can cost you time, trust, and cash. So what does “getting it right” actually look like?

In this episode, we're diving into a real-life case from the Employment Relations Authority involving a shift manager, suspicious GPS...

Law Lenz is officially back from break! While we were gone, employment law kept on moving. So much so, that on 13 May 2025, the Coalition Government passed urgent changes to New Zealand’s Equal Pay laws. By introducing hierarchical comparators, that claims must have "merit" and redefining what counts as a female-dominated workforce, the changes have impacted employees across industries such as healthcare, teaching and correct...

The minimum wage increase is just around the corner - 1 April 2025 isn’t far away. The big question is, are you ready? Many employers focus on payroll adjustments, but there’s a lot more to consider. From pay parity concerns to budgeting strategies, pricing reviews, and employee conversations, this episode breaks down everything you actually need to consider.

Join host Sanam as she walks through key steps to ensure a sm...

Wage theft has become a major topic of debate, especially with Australia recently criminalising intentional underpayments. The conversation has recently resurfaced in New Zealand and it seems we may be following suit.

In this episode, we explore New Zealand’s Wage Theft Bill, officially known as the Crimes (Theft by Employer) Amendment Bill. This proposed law aims to make it a criminal offense for employers to intentionally w...

Big changes are coming to New Zealand’s Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). The government is rolling out a series of reforms throughout 2025, fundamentally shifting the way employers hire and retain migrant workers.

So, what’s changing? From scrapping the median wage requirement to adjusting job check processes, reducing experience thresholds, and introducing new seasonal visa pathways, these reforms are designed to ...

It’s a new year, and major reforms are on the horizon! In late 2024, the Coalition Government unveiled sweeping changes set to shake up New Zealand’s employment law landscape. These updates aren’t just policy tweaks, they’re set to reshape how businesses operate in 2025 and beyond.

Join host Sanam as she unpacks these reforms in plain English and provides insights to help you prepare.

What’s in this ep...