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Calculator Free, no sign-up Data as of 1 April 2003

Annual Leave and Holiday Pay Calculator

Calculates annual leave entitlement and holiday pay owed under the Holidays Act 2003 for employees in New Zealand, including final payouts upon termination.

Your details

The date you started your current job.

The date as of which you want to calculate your leave. For final pay, use your termination date.

Select the type of your employment agreement.

Your agreed ordinary hours of work each week.

The number of days you usually work each week.

Your ordinary rate of pay per hour. If salaried, calculate your equivalent hourly rate (annual salary / 52 / usual hours).

Your total gross earnings from employment in the 52 weeks immediately before the calculation date. Include all taxable pay. For the most accurate result, provide the actual figure. If your employment is shorter than 52 weeks, enter your total gross earnings since your start date. This input is critical for accurate calculations.

Total number of days of annual holidays you have already taken in this employment.

For fixed-term or casual work, select 'Yes' if 8% holiday pay has been included in your regular pay (pay-as-you-go).

Result

Total Holiday Pay Owed NZ$12,057.53

The total amount of holiday pay you are owed under the Holidays Act. This is your final result.

How it is calculated

Days of Continuous Service Total days worked since your start date.
1,374 days
Qualified for First Annual Holidays? Have you completed 12 months (365 days) of continuous employment?
Yes
Full Years Worked Complete 12-month periods of service after qualifying for first annual holidays.
3 years
Days Worked in Current Year Days worked in the current, incomplete year of service. Zero if not yet qualified.
279 days
Total Annual Leave Entitlement (Days) Total days of annual holidays you have earned up to the calculation date. For the first year, entitlement is 0 until 12 months are completed.
75.29
Annual Leave Balance (Days) Days of annual holidays you have left to take.
60.29
Ordinary Weekly Pay Your weekly pay based on your ordinary hours and rate.
NZ$1,000.00
Average Weekly Earnings (Last 52 Weeks) Your average weekly gross earnings over the last 52 weeks.
NZ$1,000.00
Relevant Daily Pay Rate The daily rate for paying annual holidays, based on the greater of ordinary weekly pay or average weekly earnings (Holidays Act s 21).
NZ$200.00
Value of Annual Leave Balance The monetary value of your untaken annual leave days.
NZ$12,057.53
8% Holiday Pay Owed Holiday pay owed for fixed-term or casual work if you have NOT completed 12 months of service and it was not paid as-you-go.
NZ$0.00
Keep in mind
  • This calculator deals only with annual holidays (annual leave) under the Holidays Act 2003. It does not calculate entitlements for public holidays, sick leave, or bereavement leave.
  • The 'Gross Earnings (Last 52 Weeks)' input is now required. For employment shorter than 52 weeks, you must enter your total gross earnings since your start date to ensure accuracy.
  • The calculation assumes your employment has been continuous. Breaks in service may affect your entitlement.
  • The Holidays Act is currently under review. This calculator is based on the law as of the date shown in the sources.

Indicative result, calculated from the details and the rules listed below. It does not replace an official calculation or advice from a professional.

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Individual Employment Agreement
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Annual Leave and Holiday Pay in New Zealand

Under New Zealand's Holidays Act 2003, most employees are entitled to paid annual holidays, often called annual leave. This calculator helps you determine how much leave you have accrued and the monetary value of any holiday pay you might be owed, particularly when your employment ends.

How Annual Leave Accrues

After 12 months of continuous employment with the same employer, you qualify for your first "annual holidays." You are entitled to 4 weeks of paid leave. This entitlement is based on your ordinary working week. For example, if you work 5 days a week, 4 weeks equals 20 days of leave.

Before completing 12 months of service, you do not accrue any annual leave. Once you qualify, you continue to accrue 4 weeks of leave for each subsequent 12-month period of continuous employment. If your employment ends part-way through a year after qualifying, your leave is calculated on a pro-rata basis for the portion of the year you worked.

How Holiday Pay is Calculated

When you take annual leave, or when it is paid out upon termination, the amount you receive is called "holiday pay." The law requires your employer to pay you the greater of two amounts:

  • Your ordinary weekly pay (your regular pay based on your agreed hours and rate), or
  • Your average weekly earnings over the last 52 weeks.

This daily rate is then multiplied by the number of leave days you are taking or being paid out.

Different Rules for Short-Term or Casual Work

If you are on a fixed-term agreement for less than 12 months, or if you are a casual employee with no regular work pattern, and you have not completed 12 months of service, different rules apply. You are generally entitled to 8% of your gross earnings as holiday pay. This can be paid as part of your regular pay ("pay-as-you-go") or as a lump sum when your employment ends. If it is paid as-you-go, you are not owed an additional lump sum. Once you complete 12 months of continuous service, even on a fixed-term or casual basis, you become entitled to annual holidays instead of the 8% payment.

Example Calculation

Maria started a permanent job on 1 July 2024, working 40 hours over 5 days a week for $30 per hour. On 30 June 2026, she has completed 2 full years of service (from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2026). She has taken 10 days of leave. Her gross earnings for the last 52 weeks were $62,400.

  • She qualified for her first 4 weeks after 12 months (on 1 July 2025).
  • Her total entitlement for two completed years is 2 * 4 weeks * 5 days = 40 days.
  • Her leave balance is 40 days - 10 days taken = 30 days.
  • Her ordinary weekly pay is $30 * 40 hours = $1,200.
  • Her average weekly earnings are $62,400 / 52 = $1,200.
  • Her relevant daily pay is $1,200 / 5 = $240.
  • The value of her leave balance is 30 days * $240 = $7,200.

This $7,200 is the holiday pay she would be owed if her employment ended on that date.

What to Do With This Information

Use this calculator to check your entitlements during employment or to verify your final pay. If you are preparing a new employment agreement or finalizing a termination, you can use the results to ensure the correct clauses or payout amounts are documented.

For a formal record of your employment terms, an Individual Employment Agreement is essential. When employment ends, a Letter of Termination of Employment should clearly state the final pay details, including any holiday pay payout calculated here.

Frequently asked questions

When do I qualify for annual leave?

You qualify for your first 4 weeks of annual leave after 12 months (365 days) of continuous employment with the same employer.

How is my daily pay rate for leave calculated?

It is based on the greater of your ordinary weekly pay or your average weekly earnings over the last 52 weeks, divided by the number of days you usually work in a week.

I'm a casual worker. Do I get annual leave?

Casual employees who have not completed 12 months of service generally receive holiday pay at 8% of their gross earnings, either paid with each pay (pay-as-you-go) or as a lump sum when the job ends. After 12 months of continuous service, they qualify for annual holidays.

What happens to my annual leave when I quit or am fired?

If you have completed 12 months of work, you must be paid out for any annual leave you have not taken. If you have worked less than 12 months, you are usually entitled to 8% holiday pay on your earnings (unless it was already paid as-you-go).

Does this calculator include public holidays or sick leave?

No. This calculator is only for annual holidays (annual leave) under the Holidays Act 2003. Public holidays, sick leave, and bereavement leave have separate rules and entitlements.

Why is the gross earnings input now required?

To ensure accurate calculation of your average weekly earnings and any 8% holiday pay, the actual gross earnings figure is essential, especially for variable hours or short-term employment.

Redundancy Pay Calculator

Calculates redundancy compensation, notice pay, and outstanding holiday pay for employees in New Zealand based on their employment agreement.

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