The Employment Leave Act is scheduled to replace the Holidays Act 2003 on 6 August 2028. The transition to the new legislation represents a major change for payroll, which is one of the reasons a two-year implementation period has been provided.
Payroll practitioners need to understand the new requirements and begin preparing early. There will be significant work to undertake over the next two years, and organisations will need to make important decisions well before the new Act comes into effect.
Preparing for the Employment Leave Act
NZPPA is developing a range of webinars and training opportunities to help payroll practitioners understand the proposed changes and prepare for implementation.
The programme will cover the key areas payroll practitioners need to understand, from the fundamentals of the new framework through to employment agreements, notional rosters, calculations and statutory tests.
NZPPA Special Webinars
August 2026
Introduction to the Employment Leave Act 2026 for Payroll Practitioners
Date & Time: 13 August 2026, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
This introductory 3.5-hour webinar provides payroll practitioners with a practical introduction to the proposed Employment Leave Act. It explains the new framework, introduces key concepts and terminology, and outlines the major payroll implications to help organisations begin preparing for implementation.
Employment Agreement Readiness for the New Employment Leave Act
Date & Time: 27 August 2026, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
This practical 3-hour webinar will help payroll, HR and employment professionals understand how employment agreements will interact with the proposed Employment Leave Act and what changes organisations should begin reviewing now.
COMBO Special: Preparing for the Employment Leave Act – Two-Webinar Package
Dates: 13 & 27 August 2026
Get both August webinars in one package. This combination provides a practical introduction to the proposed Employment Leave Act and explores the employment agreement, payroll and HR changes organisations should review as they prepare for implementation.
September 2026
Introduction to Notional Rosters Under the Employment Leave Act for Payroll
Date & Time: 10 September 2026, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
This introductory 2-hour webinar explains the purpose and use of notional rosters under the proposed Employment Leave Act. It will cover when they are required, how they differ from employment agreements and work rosters, and their impact on leave calculations for payroll.
Introduction to the New Calculations and Statutory Tests Under the Employment Leave Act for Payroll
Date & Time: 17 September 2026, 9:30 am – 11:30 am
This introductory 2-hour webinar gives payroll practitioners a practical overview of the key calculations, statutory tests and new hours-based framework proposed under the Employment Leave Act. It will help practitioners understand how annual leave, sick leave, public holidays and related payments are expected to work under the new legislation.
Employment Leave Act Calculations & Rosters Package
Dates: 10 & 17 September 2026
Get both September webinars in one package, covering notional rosters on 10 September and the new calculations and statutory tests on 17 September. Together, the webinars provide a practical foundation for understanding two important areas of the proposed Employment Leave Act.
On-Demand Recorded Webinars
All NZPPA webinars are recorded and can be purchased as on-demand webinars, allowing you to access the content at a time that suits you.
More on-demand webinars coming soon…
New NZPPA Training
NZPPA is developing a new training framework covering the key payroll requirements of the proposed Employment Leave Act.
The new NZPPA training programme will focus on the areas of the Act most relevant to payroll, with courses ranging from introductory concepts through to advanced payroll topics. Further details will be released as the legislative framework and implementation requirements become clearer.
- In-person: Coming November 2026…
- Virtual classroom: Coming November 2026…
- eLearning: Coming November 2026…
Stay Up to Date
The Employment Leave Act represents a major change for payroll practitioners. Now is the time to start understanding the proposed framework, identifying potential impacts and preparing your organisation for the transition.
NZPPA will continue to provide updates, webinars and training opportunities as more information becomes available.