The steps to hiring in New Zealand
The hiring process in New Zealand is similar to the one you’re likely familiar with in your own country. It follows five basic steps: advertising the job, evaluating applications, interviewing candidates, sending job offers, and onboarding new employees.
1. Advertise job vacancies in New Zealand
Define the role, responsibilities, and required qualifications in the job description. Popular job boards in New Zealand include Seek, Trade Me Jobs, Jora, LinkedIn, and Indeed.
Best practices for drafting job ads include:
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State the company name, job title, and location.
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Include application instructions and a closing date.
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Be clear about whether the role is full-time, part-time, permanent, or temporary.
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Avoid language that could be seen as discriminatory.
2. Evaluate applications in New Zealand
Screen applications in compliance with anti-discrimination laws. Select candidates who best meet the criteria for the role. Document your reasons for shortlisting or rejecting candidates in case you need to justify your decisions. We recommend using a checklist or scoring system based on the job requirements to ensure fairness.
3. Interview candidates in New Zealand
Interview candidates who made it onto your shortlist. You can do these interviews in person or virtually. Use structured, nondiscriminatory interview questions. Gia can help you create questions that follow anti-discrimination laws in New Zealand, so you can find the best fit for the role while complying with local regulations.
4. Making job offers in New Zealand
Contact your chosen candidate to offer them a position with your company. Draft a written offer of employment, including a compliant employment agreement. This is required by New Zealand law. Make sure the employment agreement meets all statutory requirements like pay, hours, leave entitlements, and notice periods.
5. Onboarding new employees in New Zealand
Now you canonboard new employees. Register the new employee with Inland Revenue for PAYE, ACC, and KiwiSaver. Set up payroll and provide necessary workplace training and induction. Provide information on workplace policies, health and safety, and employee rights.
If you’re working with an EOR like G-P™, you won’t have to worry about the administrative burden of onboarding. We’ll streamline the process, so you can focus on training your new hire and integrating them into your company culture.
Hiring contractors in New Zealand
Working with independent contractors in New Zealand can be a cost-effective way to test the market and build a presence without the commitment of full-time employees. Contractors based in New Zealand understand local consumer behavior, rules, and business practices. They’ll be ready to start working quickly with their own equipment and established work processes.
Hiring contractors allows you to easily adjust your talent pool based on your business needs, without the complexities and costs of employment.
Before you enter an agreement with an independent contractor in New Zealand, consider the following:
1. Employees vs. independent contractors in New Zealand
It’s important to understand the difference between employees and independent contractors. In New Zealand, employers hire employees to do work and, in return, pay them a regular salary and benefits. Independent contractors provide services. Unlike employees, contractors set their schedules, use their own equipment, and work on specific projects, rather than having an ongoing role.
2. Penalties for misclassification in New Zealand
Classifying someone as a contractor when they’re not can lead to severe penalties. If misclassification occurs, you’ll have to:
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Pay employer KiwiSaver contributions for the period of misclassification, plus possible interest.
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Face employment law penalties of up to NZD 20,000 per breach.
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Deal with banning orders that prevent hiring for up to 10 years.
3. How to pay contractors in New Zealand
G-P Contractor™ takes away the messy, time-consuming process of hiring and paying international contractors. You can create and issue contracts and pay contractors with just a few clicks, all while ensuring a compliant process.
Hire employees and contractors in New Zealand with G-P
Our SaaS and AI-powered products – EOR, Contractor, and Gia – support companies as they build and manage global teams.
G-P is the recognized leader in global employment with more than a decade of experience, the largest team of HR, legal, and compliance experts, and a global proprietary knowledge base.
Make your expansion to New Zealand easier with G-P. Contact us or book a demo today.