Holiday Pay Calculator NZ

Work out your holiday pay in New Zealand: annual leave pay, 8% pay-as-you-go holiday pay for casuals, final pay when you leave a job, and public holiday pay. Based on the Holidays Act 2003.

Holiday Pay Calculator NZ

Work out casual 8% holiday pay, annual holidays pay, holiday pay on your final pay, and public holiday pay under the Holidays Act 2003.

Genuine casual employees, and some short fixed-term employees, can have holiday pay added to each pay at 8% of gross earnings, if their employment agreement clearly says so.

$
Your pay before tax, not counting the holiday pay itself.

When you take annual holidays you are paid at the greater of your ordinary weekly pay and your average weekly earnings over the last 12 months.

$
What you normally earn in a week, before tax.
$
Before tax, in the 12 months before your leave starts.

When employment ends you are paid any annual holidays you are owed, plus 8% of your gross earnings since your last anniversary (or your start date), less annual holidays already paid for that time.

$
Use your start date if you have worked for less than 12 months.
$
Gross pay you already received for annual holidays taken since then.
Only if you have completed a full year of work and have not yet taken the leave.
$
The greater of your ordinary weekly pay and average weekly earnings.

If you work on a public holiday you are paid at least time and a half for the hours worked, and get an alternative holiday if it was a day you would normally work. If you do not work, you are paid your relevant daily pay when it falls on a day you would normally work.

$
Enter 0 if you did not work.
Estimated Holiday Pay
$0.00
before tax

Breakdown

These are estimates of gross (before tax) holiday pay based on the Holidays Act 2003. Your actual entitlement depends on your employment agreement, your pay history and your circumstances, and the law may change. Check Employment New Zealand (employment.govt.nz) or ask your employer or a professional adviser before relying on these figures.

How holiday pay works in New Zealand?

  • Annual holidays: after each 12 months of continuous employment, employees are entitled to at least four weeks of paid annual holidays.
  • Pay rate for annual holidays: the greater of ordinary weekly pay or average weekly earnings.
  • 8% pay-as-you-go: only allowed for genuine casual employees and some short fixed-term employees, and only if the employment agreement says so clearly. It is added to each pay instead of building up leave.
  • When you finish a job: you are paid out any unused annual holidays, and 8% of your gross earnings since your last anniversary, less any leave already taken for that period.
  • Public holidays: New Zealand has 12 public holidays, including Matariki. They are separate from your four weeks.
  • Sick leave: 10 days a year after six months of employment.

Worked example: casual 8% holiday pay

Step

Amount

Gross pay for the week

$1,000.00

Holiday pay (8%)

$80.00

Total pay

$1,080.00

Worked example: annual holidays pay

Step

Amount

Ordinary weekly pay (OWP)

$1,200.00

Gross earnings in last 12 months

$64,000.00

Average weekly earnings (AWE) = $64,000 ÷ 52

$1,230.77

Rate used (the greater of the two)

$1,230.77

Pay for 2 weeks of leave

$2,461.54

Worked example: final pay

Step

Amount

Gross earnings since last anniversary

$30,000.00

Holiday pay owing (8%)

$2,400.00

Less annual leave already paid for this period

$0.00

Holiday pay on final pay

$2,400.00

Worked example: working on a public holiday

Step

Amount

Hourly rate

$30.00

Hours worked

8

Pay at time and a half ($30 × 1.5 × 8)

$360.00

Alternative holiday

1 paid day (if it was a normal working day)

Is holiday pay taxed?

Yes. Holiday pay is taxable income, and KiwiSaver and ACC apply to it as with normal pay. How it is taxed depends on how it is paid: annual leave taken during employment is taxed like regular wages, while a lump sum on final pay can fall under IRD’s extra pay rules. Check IRD for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

At least four weeks of paid annual holidays after each 12 months of continuous employment, plus public holidays and sick leave.

Only for genuine casual employees or some short fixed-term employees, and only if the employment agreement clearly says so. It is not allowed as a shortcut for ordinary permanent staff.

At the greater of your ordinary weekly pay and your average weekly earnings from the last 12 months.

Your unused annual leave, plus 8% of your gross earnings since your last anniversary, less leave already taken for that period.

12, including Matariki. If one falls on a day you would normally work, you are paid for it. If you work it, you get at least time and a half and an alternative holiday.

A bill to replace the Holidays Act was before Parliament in 2026. Until it becomes law, the Holidays Act 2003 applies. We update this page when the rules change.

Related calculators and guides

Disclaimer:

This calculator gives an estimate based on the Holidays Act 2003 and is not legal or tax advice. Your entitlement can depend on your employment agreement and circumstances. Check Employment New Zealand (employment.govt.nz) and Inland Revenue, or ask your employer or a professional.