There are different types of pay an employee can get, including wages, salary, commission, and piece rates.
Payment of wages/salary
Employees must be paid in money (NZ banknotes and coins) unless:
- their employer is the Crown or a local authority, then the employer can choose to pay the employee by cheque
- the employee agrees or asks in writing to be paid by postal order, money order, cheque or bank deposit. If the employee wants to change to be paid in cash, they need to tell their employer in writing. Their employer then has to make the change as soon as possible and within 2 weeks
- the employee is away from the proper or usual place for the payment of their wages, then they can be paid by postal order, money order or cheque
- the employment agreement provides some other form of payment.
Employers can’t tell employees how they must spend their money.
Tools and Resources
Working for accommodation - Frequently asked questions - PDF 476KB
Answers to common questions about working for accommodation.
Employee Learning Module
Sick leave, bereavement leave, alternative holidays, and public holidays – employee rights and responsibilities.
Page last revised: 06 July 2022