Guides
Plain-English answers, checked against Work and Income and Employment NZ. Each starts with the short version.
RedundancyWhakakore tūranga7 guides
What happens, what you're owed, and what to do next.
- You've just been told your job is at risk: what to do this weekA calm, practical plan for the first days after hearing about a restructure or redundancy proposal in New Zealand.7 min read
- If your employer goes into liquidation or bankruptcyPreferential claims, what you can claim, and what to do right now.4 min read
- Redundancy consultation step by step: what a fair process looks likeThe steps your employer must follow before making your role redundant in NZ, what to ask for at each stage, and how to spot a sham consultation.8 min read
- How were you selected for redundancy? Selection criteria and how to challenge themWhen several people do similar jobs, how must an NZ employer pick who goes? What fair criteria look like, and how to question your score.7 min read
- Redundancy pay in NZ: is there a payout, and how do you negotiate one?There is no statutory redundancy pay in NZ. How to check your contract, what employers sometimes offer, and how to ask for more.8 min read
- Union member? Collective agreements, redeployment and public-sector job cutsHow a collective agreement changes your redundancy rights in NZ, what unions like the PSA can do, and what to expect when government agencies cut jobs.8 min read
- Your last day after redundancy: a checklist (property, pay, references, your data)Everything to do and ask for on your last day in NZ: final pay, returning property, statement of service, references, KiwiSaver, Privacy Act requests.7 min read
Money & billsPūtea20 guides
Stretch your cash, talk to lenders, protect your credit.
- Help with urgent costs: grants, hardship and billsSpecial Needs Grant, Temporary Additional Support, Advance Payment, Accommodation Supplement and more. What exists and how to ask.7 min read
- How redundancy pay and final pay are taxed in NZRedundancy compensation is taxable income, and IRD says it's taxed at the lump sum rate. What that means, KiwiSaver, student loans and getting a refund.6 min read
- Emergency budget for your first month without a jobA practical one-month survival budget for New Zealanders after redundancy: what to pay first, what to pause, and a worked example.9 min read
- Can't pay the power, gas, internet or phone bill?Hardship options for power, gas, internet and phone bills in NZ, and how to complain to Utilities Disputes if you're stuck.7 min read
- KiwiSaver when you're out of work: pause, hardship withdrawal or leave it?Savings suspension, hardship withdrawals, switching funds, and what happens to employer contributions if you lose your job in NZ.9 min read
- Tax after redundancy: final pay tax, tax codes and IRD helpHow your final pay and redundancy payment are taxed in NZ, tax codes (M, SB, SH, S, ST), end-of-year tax and what to do if you owe IRD.8 min read
- Student loan and child support when you're unemployed or moving overseasWhat happens to student loan repayments and child support if you lose your job or go overseas, in plain English.7 min read
- Managing debt after job loss: priorities, debt collectors and your optionsHow to rank your debts, deal with debt collectors, avoid consolidation traps, and understand the No Asset Procedure and credit reporting in NZ.10 min read
- Buy now pay later, payday loans and fast cash: why to be carefulThe risks of BNPL, payday lenders and mobile traders when you're out of work, and safer alternatives in NZ.6 min read
- Job scams in New Zealand: how to spot them and what to do if you've been caughtFake job ads, recruitment scams, advance fee and loan scams targeting jobseekers in NZ, with red flags and how to report them.7 min read
- Food support in New Zealand: foodbanks, pantries and grantsHow to get food help in NZ when money is tight: foodbanks, community pantries, Work and Income food grants, KiwiHarvest, Salvation Army, and school food.6 min read
- Cheaper living: transport, phone, health costs and car running costsPractical ways to cut living costs in NZ when you're out of work: transport, phone plans, GP and prescriptions, and car costs.8 min read
- Insurance when you lose your job: what to keep, what to cancelWhich insurance to keep, drop or change after redundancy in NZ, and how to claim on redundancy cover, income protection and mortgage repayment insurance.8 min read
- Selling things to raise cash: what to sell first and how not to get ripped offWhich assets to sell, how selling affects benefits, and how to sell a car, property or valuables fairly in NZ.7 min read
- You've got a redundancy payment: what to do with the moneyHow to use a redundancy lump sum in NZ: emergency buffer, debts, tax and benefits impacts, and what to avoid.8 min read
- ACC, income protection and other claims if you're hurt or ill while out of workHow ACC works if you're injured while unemployed, what it pays, and how it fits with Work and Income and private insurance claims in NZ.6 min read
- Using your savings and investments after job loss: what to draw on firstHow to think about the order you use cash, term deposits, managed funds and shares after redundancy in NZ, and how savings affect Work and Income help.9 min read
- Tax on selling investments in NZ: PIE funds, overseas shares, property and interestA plain-English guide to how interest, managed funds (PIEs), shares, overseas shares and property sales are taxed in New Zealand, and what to check if your income drops.9 min read
- Financial advisers, investment scams and deposit protection after redundancyHow to check a financial adviser in NZ, where to complain, the scams that target people after job loss, and what the Depositor Compensation Scheme covers.9 min read
- Bank hardship policies and mortgage help in NZ: what the banks say they offerWhat ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Kiwibank publish about hardship help for home loans, the common mortgage options and their costs, and what to do before you miss a payment.9 min read
Work and IncomeAhumoni19 guides
Benefits, grants, stand-downs and your obligations.
- How to apply for Jobseeker Support after losing your jobStep-by-step: eligibility, current weekly rates, income limits, documents, what happens at your appointment.8 min read
- Stand-down periods: when your first payment arrivesHow Work and Income sets your stand-down, how holiday pay and redundancy pay affect it, and what to do if you can't wait.5 min read
- Jobseeker obligations and the traffic light systemWhat you have to do to keep getting Jobseeker Support, what happens if you miss something, and how to get back to green.5 min read
- Resigned, fired or on a trial period: what support can you still get?The 13-week non-entitlement period, constructive dismissal and trial periods explained.4 min read
- My partner works: will I still get Jobseeker Support?How a partner's pay affects Jobseeker Support in NZ: couple income limits, the 35 cent rule, worked examples, and what you can still claim.8 min read
- Working part-time or casual while on Jobseeker SupportHow earnings reduce Jobseeker Support or Sole Parent Support, how to report casual hours in MyMSD, deadlines, and how to avoid overpayments.8 min read
- Accommodation Supplement: how much you can get for rent, board or a mortgageAccommodation Supplement in NZ explained: entry thresholds, the 70% rule, areas 1-4, boarders, homeowners, asset limits and upcoming changes.9 min read
- Temporary Additional Support, food grants, advances and recoverable assistanceHow TAS works, plus Special Needs Grants, food help, Advance Payments and Recoverable Assistance: limits, how to ask and what changes in 2027.9 min read
- Community Services Card, Winter Energy Payment and cheaper healthcareWho qualifies for a Community Services Card, SuperGold, the Winter Energy Payment, and how to cut GP, prescription and dental costs in NZ.7 min read
- Health condition, injury or disability: Jobseeker Support, Supported Living Payment and Disability AllowanceIf you can't work full time because of health, how the NZ payments differ: medical certificates, 15-hour rules, SLP rates and Disability Allowance costs.9 min read
- Retraining after redundancy: Student Allowance, Jobseeker and study rulesCan you study and keep Jobseeker Support? How Student Allowance and Jobseeker Support Student Hardship work, plus the 2026 changes for 18-19 year olds.7 min read
- Social housing, income-related rent and emergency housing in NZHow to get on the social housing register, how income-related rent is calculated, and what emergency housing grants require, including 2027 changes.8 min read
- Injured and out of work: ACC weekly compensation vs Jobseeker SupportHow ACC weekly compensation works in NZ, how Work and Income treats it, and what to do if you lose your job while injured.6 min read
- Made redundant at 60 or older: Jobseeker, NZ Super and KiwiSaverWhat to do if redundancy hits in your 60s: Jobseeker Support until 65, when to apply for NZ Super, KiwiSaver, and the new residence rules.7 min read
- Benefit obligations and sanctions: what changed in 2025-26A plain guide to the traffic light system, the new activities (Upskilling, Report Job Search and more), seminars, the 18-19 Parental Assistance Test, and your rights.8 min read
- How to challenge a Work and Income decision: review and appeal steps with scriptsStep-by-step Review of Decision, Benefits Review Committee and Social Security Appeal Authority process in NZ, with deadlines and sample wording.8 min read
- Overpayments, benefit debt and what Work and Income checksWhy NZ benefit overpayments happen, how to find out what you owe, how to arrange repayments, when debts are written off and what information they can check.7 min read
- MyMSD walkthrough, beating the phone queue, and going overseas on a benefitHow to register for MyMSD, what to do online vs by phone, how to cope with Work and Income wait times, and the rules for travelling while on a benefit.7 min read
- What financial help could I be entitled to? A guide by situationA quick table of NZ government payments and subsidies by situation: single, couple, parent, renter, homeowner, health condition, over 60, with 2026 figures.6 min read
Your rightsNgā motika13 guides
Employment law in plain English.
- Redundancy rights in New ZealandWhat a fair redundancy looks like, what you can be paid, and when a redundancy might not be genuine.9 min read
- Your final pay explained (including the public holiday rule)How final pay, annual leave, the 8% payment and the public holiday extension work when you leave a job in NZ.6 min read
- Personal grievances: the 90-day deadline and how to raise oneHow to challenge an unfair redundancy or dismissal in NZ: deadlines, how to word it, mediation and the Employment Relations Authority.6 min read
- Notice period, garden leave and pay in lieu: what you're owedHow notice works when you're made redundant in NZ: worked notice, pay in lieu, garden leave, taking leave in notice, and what if you get none.6 min read
- Settlement agreements and mediation: how to negotiate an exit dealHow free MBIE mediation works, what a record of settlement means, and what to check before signing a settlement after redundancy in NZ.8 min read
- Taking your case to the Employment Relations Authority: process, costs and free helpWhat happens if mediation fails: lodging with the ERA, the $71.55 fee, investigation meetings, costs, remedies and where to get free help.8 min read
- Business sold or contract lost? Rights for cleaners, caterers, security and other 'specified' workersIf your employer sells the business or loses a contract, specified employees (cleaning, catering, laundry, orderly, caretaking, security) can transfer on the same terms.7 min read
- Casual, fixed-term, part-time or on a trial period: do redundancy rules apply to you?Your rights when your hours are cut or your job ends if you're casual, fixed-term, part-time or in a 90-day trial in NZ.8 min read
- Are you really a contractor? The 2026 gateway test and what to do when the work endsSince 21 February 2026 NZ uses a gateway test to decide if you're a contractor. What it says, what rights contractors have, and what to do if work stops.7 min read
- Made redundant while pregnant, on parental leave, sick, injured (ACC) or grievingExtra protections if your redundancy lands during pregnancy, parental leave, illness, ACC or bereavement in NZ, and what an employer must show.7 min read
- Earning $200,000 or more: what the new dismissal rules mean for redundancySince 21 February 2026, high-income employees in NZ generally can't bring an unjustified dismissal grievance. What still applies and how to negotiate.6 min read
- Restraint of trade after redundancy: can they stop you working for a competitor?When a non-compete or non-solicitation clause can be enforced in NZ, why redundancy often weakens it, and how to ask to be released.6 min read
- Ten common employer mistakes in redundancies (and what they mean for you)The errors NZ employers most often make in redundancy: predetermination, bad criteria, missed pay. Check your own case against this list.6 min read
Finding workRapu mahi21 guides
CVs, interviews, agencies and the hidden job market.
- Finding work after redundancy: a practical playbookWhere jobs are advertised, how to use free MSD services, how to approach recruiters and how to use your network.6 min read
- A week-by-week job search plan (and how to stay motivated)A realistic 8-week plan for finding work in New Zealand: what to do each week, how to track applications, and how to keep going when it's slow.9 min read
- How to write a New Zealand CV (length, what to leave out, gaps, redundancy)What a New Zealand CV should look like in 2026: length, format, what not to include, how to explain gaps and redundancy, and getting past automated screening.10 min read
- NZ CV example: a full worked CV for someone made redundantA complete New Zealand CV example, line by line, for a mid-career worker made redundant, with notes on why each part works.7 min read
- Cover letters in NZ: how to write one, with examplesHow to write a short, convincing New Zealand cover letter, with ready-to-adapt examples for advertised jobs, cold approaches, career changers and redundancy.8 min read
- LinkedIn for NZ job seekers: a practical set-up and outreach guideHow to set up a LinkedIn profile that gets noticed by NZ recruiters, use 'Open to Work' sensibly, and reach out to people without being awkward.8 min read
- Where to find jobs in NZ: SEEK, Trade Me, Indeed, LinkedIn, government and sector job sitesHow each major NZ job site works, plus sector-specific and government job boards (councils, health, education, farming, GETS) and which to use when.10 min read
- The hidden job market: how to find unadvertised jobs and network (with scripts)Many NZ jobs are filled without an ad. How to tap them with networking, informational chats and direct approaches, with word-for-word scripts.9 min read
- Recruitment agencies in NZ: how they work and how to get the best from themHow NZ recruitment agencies make money, what to expect, how to register, and what to do if you hear nothing. Generic, so verify details with each agency.8 min read
- Temp, contract and fixed-term work as a bridge back to permanent workHow casual, temp, contract and fixed-term work differ in NZ, your rights in each, how they affect benefits, and how to use them as a stepping stone.8 min read
- Job interviews in NZ: preparation, STAR answers, panels and video interviewsHow NZ job interviews work, how to prepare, the STAR method with examples, common questions, panel and video interviews, and questions to ask them.11 min read
- 'Why were you made redundant?' How to answer in an interview (with scripts)Word-for-word ways to explain redundancy, being let go, and short stints in NZ interviews, plus what you don't have to say.7 min read
- Salary expectations and negotiating a job offer in NZHow to answer 'what are your salary expectations?', research a fair range, negotiate an offer, and what to check in an employment agreement before signing.8 min read
- References, gaps and long-term unemployment: handling the awkward bitsHow to choose and brief referees, what former employers can say, and how to explain gaps, long searches and caring or health breaks to NZ employers.8 min read
- Age and discrimination in job hunting: what NZ employers can't ask or doThe Human Rights Act grounds, what employers can and can't ask in ads, forms and interviews, how to answer, and how to complain.9 min read
- Job scams in NZ: how to spot fake job offers and what to doWarning signs of fake jobs in New Zealand (work-from-home tasks, upfront fees, fake recruiters), how to check an offer, and what to do if you've been caught.7 min read
- Transferable skills and changing careers after redundancyHow to map the skills you already have to new roles, test a new field cheaply, and write the story that makes a career change credible.9 min read
- Government job help in NZ: Direct Career Service, work brokers, Mana in Mahi, Flexi-wage and moreWhat free career and job-finding help Work and Income and MSD offer, and the employer-subsidy programmes (Mana in Mahi, Flexi-wage, Skills for Industry) that can help you get hired.10 min read
- Seasonal work in NZ: a month-by-month calendar (horticulture, harvest, farms, ski fields, tourism)When seasonal jobs peak across New Zealand: pruning, thinning, harvest, calving, shearing, ski fields, summer tourism and Christmas retail, and how to get them.9 min read
- Moving for work: other regions, remote jobs and working overseasWhether to move for a job, what help exists (Transition to Work grant), how to search remote and overseas roles, and what to check before you go.8 min read
- The NZ job market in October 2026: unemployment, who's hiring and what it meansA snapshot of unemployment (5.6%), job ads, regions and groups as at October 2026, with what to expect and how to adjust your search.7 min read
WellbeingHauora8 guides
Looking after yourself and your whānau.
- Looking after yourself after job lossPractical ways to protect your mental health, your relationships and your routine while you're out of work.5 min read
- Grief, shame and losing your identity after job lossWhy losing a job can feel like a bereavement, what helps, what to say to people, and where to get free support in New Zealand.7 min read
- Free and low-cost mental health support in New ZealandHow to get free counselling through your GP (Access and Choice), what Work and Income can pay for, and which helplines to call.7 min read
- In crisis, or thinking about suicide: who to call in New ZealandImmediate help if you're having thoughts of suicide or worried about someone, with free NZ helplines and what to do next.5 min read
- Routine, sleep and exercise while you're job huntingA realistic daily structure, sleep tips and free ways to stay active in NZ, including Green Prescription, so job hunting doesn't take over.6 min read
- Alcohol, drugs and gambling when you've lost your jobWhen coping habits become a problem, how to spot it, and free confidential NZ helplines for alcohol, drugs and gambling.6 min read
- Job loss, relationship strain and telling the kidsHow to talk to your partner, children and whānau about redundancy, share the load and protect your relationship under money stress.6 min read
- Family violence, financial abuse and job loss: getting safe and getting supportIf job loss has made home unsafe or a partner controls your money: free NZ helplines, family violence leave, safety and money steps.7 min read
HousingKāinga2 guides
Rent, mortgages and keeping a roof over your head.
- How to talk to your bank about hardship and mortgage optionsHow to ask a New Zealand lender for hardship help: mortgage options, what the law says, and word-for-word scripts.9 min read
- Renting after redundancy: arrears, landlord talks and your rightsIf you can't pay rent in NZ: how rent arrears notices work, how to negotiate, boarders and flatmates, and where to get help.9 min read
RetrainingWhakangungu12 guides
Courses, subsidies and changing careers.
- Retraining in New Zealand: what is actually funded in 2026A clear map of what help exists to retrain after redundancy in NZ as at October 2026, what has ended, and where to start.8 min read
- Fees Free is ending: who can still get it?Fees Free for tertiary study ends on 31 December 2026. Here is who still qualifies, how to claim, and what to do if you finish in 2027.6 min read
- Student Loan and Student Allowance if you are retraining as an adultWho can borrow, who can get a Student Allowance, the age cut-offs, and the 2026 rates for adults changing careers.8 min read
- Can I study while on Jobseeker Support?The rules for studying on a benefit in NZ: full-time vs part-time, obligations, Training Incentive Allowance and Course Participation Assistance.7 min read
- Apprenticeships in NZ now that ITOs and Te Pūkenga have changedWho you sign with, what Apprenticeship Boost pays, and how Industry Skills Boards replaced Workforce Development Councils.8 min read
- Work and Income training help: Skills for Industry, Mana in Mahi and moreThe training programmes Work and Income runs or funds in 2026: Skills for Industry, Mana in Mahi, Jobs and Skills Hubs, driver licence help and free online courses.7 min read
- Micro-credentials, short courses and free online learning in NZHow to build skills cheaply while job hunting: NZQA micro-credentials, library eLearning, Work and Income's free courses and what to avoid.6 min read
- Getting your overseas qualifications recognised in New ZealandHow NZQA's International Qualification Assessment works, when you need it, and how it differs from professional registration.6 min read
- Licences, tickets and certificates that help you get hired in NZDriver licence classes and endorsements, forklift, Site Safe, first aid and how to get help paying for them.6 min read
- Changing careers into in-demand jobs in NZ: what the evidence saysA realistic look at health, construction, trades, teaching, tech and agriculture as career-change options in New Zealand in late 2026.8 min read
- Māori and Pacific training pathways: trades training, iwi and community providersMāori and Pasifika Trades Training, scholarships, iwi-led programmes and how to find support that fits you and your whānau.5 min read
- Retraining and job hunting after 50 in New ZealandPractical, age-aware advice: your rights against age discrimination, the best retraining options and how to present your experience.6 min read
Families & kidsWhānau4 guides
Payments, childcare and keeping family life steady.
- Working for Families when you lose your job: what changes for your kids' paymentsFamily Tax Credit, In-Work Tax Credit, Best Start and Unsupported Child's Benefit explained for NZ families after redundancy, with 2026-27 rates.9 min read
- Sole Parent Support, Jobseeker as a solo parent, and how child support interactsWho gets Sole Parent Support in NZ, work obligations by child's age, income rules, and how child support counts against your benefit.8 min read
- Childcare Subsidy, OSCAR and school costs when you're out of workHow the NZ Childcare Subsidy and OSCAR Subsidy work, what free school lunches cover, and where to find help with uniforms and school costs.7 min read
- Money, partners and whānau: talking about it when one of you loses a jobHow to talk about money with your partner and whānau after redundancy, share the load, and handle household finances together in NZ.7 min read
Visas & migrantsManene14 guides
What redundancy means for your visa and your options.
- Made redundant on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV): what happens to your visa?Lost your job on an AEWV? What the rules say, what your employer must tell Immigration NZ, and the options to stay lawful in New Zealand.9 min read
- Changing employer on an AEWV: Job Change step by stepHow a Job Change works after redundancy: what the new employer needs, documents, timing, and what to do if the sale of a business is involved.8 min read
- Lost your job on a partner, post-study, working holiday or seasonal visa?How job loss affects partner, post-study, working holiday and RSE visas, and where to check your own conditions.8 min read
- Residence visa holders: can you get Jobseeker Support? The two-year rule explainedWho can get a benefit in NZ: residence class visas, 'ordinarily resident', the two-year rule, hardship exceptions and what Work and Income can still do.8 min read
- On a temporary visa with no income: what help is (and isn't) available?No benefit but need food or rent help? What Work and Income can't pay, what community food help, foodbanks and charities can, and where to get free advice.8 min read
- Being exploited by your employer on a work visa: how to report it and what protects youSigns of migrant exploitation, how to report to Employment New Zealand (0800 200 088), and the free Migrant Exploitation Protection Work Visa.8 min read
- Unpaid wages, illegal deductions and 'pay-back' demands: what migrant workers can doRecover unpaid wages and holiday pay, and what to do about deductions, kickbacks and two sets of contracts.7 min read
- Stay or leave? Making the decision after job loss on a visaA calm way to compare staying in New Zealand with leaving: timelines, selling up, tax, final pay, and what to sort before you fly.8 min read
- Leaving New Zealand: KiwiSaver, student loan, ACC and taxWhat happens to your KiwiSaver, student loan and tax when you move overseas, including to Australia, and who to tell.7 min read
- New Zealanders in Australia: your rights if you lose your job or are thinking of movingSpecial Category Visas, Centrelink, protected vs non-protected status and the citizenship pathway for NZ citizens in Australia.7 min read
- Coming home to New Zealand with no job: benefits, IRD, KiwiSaver and healthReturning Kiwi? How Work and Income decides 'ordinarily resident', what help you can get, and what to sort with IRD, KiwiSaver and health.7 min read
- Refugees and former refugees: help if you lose your jobSupport for refugees, former refugees and asylum seekers: benefits, employment services, English classes, and community organisations.6 min read
- English help and job search for migrants: free classes, interpreters and community groupsFree English classes, interpreters when dealing with government, translated CAB information and migrant community organisations.7 min read
- Free immigration advice and how to check an adviser is licensedWho is allowed to give immigration advice in NZ, how to check the IAA register, avoiding unlicensed agents, and free help options.6 min read
Self-employmentPakihi6 guides
Contracting, freelancing and starting your own thing.
- Should you go self-employed after redundancy? An honest checklistThe real pros and cons of working for yourself in NZ, how to test your idea cheaply, and where to get free help and funding.8 min read
- Sole trader or company? Choosing a business structure in NZHow being a sole trader, a company or a partnership differs for liability, tax and admin, and how to set up each one.6 min read
- Tax, GST, provisional tax, ACC and invoicing for the newly self-employedWhat to set up with Inland Revenue and ACC, when GST applies, how provisional tax works, invoicing basics and working-from-home costs.9 min read
- Contractor or employee? The 2026 gateway test, Uber and gig workHow NZ decides if you're a contractor or an employee since the gateway test began on 21 February 2026, and what it means for Uber, DoorDash and other gig work.9 min read
- Self-employed and on Jobseeker Support: income, abatement and irregular payHow earnings reduce Jobseeker Support, what Work and Income needs from self-employed people, and how to smooth out irregular income.7 min read
- Franchises, MLM and buying a business: how to avoid costly mistakesWarning signs for pyramid schemes and MLM, what to check before buying a franchise or an existing business, and where to get independent advice.7 min read
By industry & regionAhumahi19 guides
Sector- and region-specific advice and local support.
- Public service job cuts in NZ: your rights, redeployment and voluntary redundancyThe 2026 plan to shrink the core public service, how restructures work, redeployment, voluntary redundancy and what the PSA can do for you.8 min read
- Health NZ, hospital and aged care job losses: what to do if you work in healthNon-clinical cuts at Health NZ, nurse hiring freezes and aged care closures: your options, your rights and where health skills are still wanted.7 min read
- Teacher, university, polytechnic and early childhood job cuts: what to knowRedundancy and restructure rights for education workers: schools, early childhood, universities and polytechnics, with a verified 2026 example and options.8 min read
- Construction slump: what to do if you lose building or trades workBuilders, labourers and tradies facing layoffs as construction contracts: Site Safe, pathways, subcontractor risk, benefits and where trades are still hired.8 min read
- Subbies and tradies: retention money and what to do when a head contractor failsHow retention money works under the Construction Contracts Act, what happens when the payer is liquidated, and how to claim and complain.7 min read
- Forestry and wood processing job losses: mill closures, harvesting and what support existsSawmill, pulp and plywood closures in Northland, Nelson, Waikato and Bay of Plenty: your rights, MSD support and options for forestry workers.8 min read
- Manufacturing, freight, steel and smelter job losses: your optionsManufacturing lost about 10,000 jobs in two years to early 2026. What to do if you work in factories, NZ Steel, Tiwai Point, freight or food processing.7 min read
- Farm, meat processing and seasonal work: when the season ends or the farm is soldSeasonal rules, farm sales, sharemilking, farm worker housing, meat works layoffs and what support you can access. Includes Farmstrong and wellbeing.8 min read
- Tech and IT layoffs in NZ: contracting, remote work overseas and visasIf you work in software, IT or digital roles and have been laid off: rights, contracting pitfalls, remote work for overseas employers and visa implications.7 min read
- Media, journalism and creative job cuts: redundancy, freelancing and what nextFor journalists, broadcasters, designers, screen and music workers after newsroom and production cuts: your rights, freelancing, ACC and pathways.6 min read
- Retail, hospitality, tourism and airline job losses: hours cut, closures and your rightsIf a shop, cafe, hotel or airline cuts your hours or closes: minimum wage, hours cuts, redundancy, chain insolvency and where to look.8 min read
- Banking, finance, professional services, engineering, science and call centres: redundancy and next stepsWhite-collar redundancy in NZ: bank restructures, professional services, engineering, Crown Research Institutes, and call centre offshoring.8 min read
- When your own business fails: liquidation, personal guarantees, IRD debt and what you can claimA practical guide for NZ owners, directors and sole traders closing a struggling business: options, debts, employees, IRD and income support.11 min read
- Auckland: job market, who is hiring and local help after redundancyAuckland lost about 21,000 jobs in two years to early 2026. Key sectors, how to find work, and local services for redundant Aucklanders.7 min read
- Wellington and the Hutt: public service heartland job market and local helpWellington depends on government jobs. What public service cuts mean locally, where else to look, and local support after redundancy.6 min read
- Waikato and Bay of Plenty: job market, key employers and local helpDairy, forestry, kiwifruit, ports and construction: what job losses and hiring look like in Waikato and Bay of Plenty, with local support.6 min read
- Northland, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne-Tairāwhiti: job market and local helpForestry, horticulture and rural economies on the east and north: recent job losses, who is hiring, and local support.6 min read
- Taranaki and Manawatū-Whanganui: job market, energy sector changes and local helpEnergy transition, dairy, defence and meat processing: job market and local support in Taranaki, Manawatū, Whanganui, Horowhenua and Tararua.6 min read
- South Island: Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast job market and helpThe South Island rate was 3.7 percent in mid-2026, but sector pain is real: Eves Valley, Air NZ engineering and university cuts.7 min read
For specific situationsNgā tāngata13 guides
Older workers, young people, disability, Māori, Pacific peoples and more.
- Redundancy and job loss in rural and farming communitiesSupport for farmers, farm workers and rural workers losing work: Rural Support Trust, Farmstrong, men's mental health and Work and Income help.6 min read
- Returning to work after a break: women, parents and carersHow to handle a career gap, rebuild confidence, know your rights on discrimination and flexible work, and find free support.6 min read
- Sole parents: job loss, Sole Parent Support and juggling workWhat Sole Parent Support covers, work obligations by child's age, what happens at 14, and how to cope with job loss as a sole parent.6 min read
- Carers: support if you care for someone and have lost workSupported Living Payment for carers, Carer Support subsidy, Funded Family Care and how to look after yourself as an unpaid carer.6 min read
- Job loss at 50, 55 or 60+: age discrimination, KiwiSaver and NZ SuperYour rights as an older worker, what to do about age bias, how NZ Super and KiwiSaver work at 65, and where to get help.7 min read
- Young people (16 to 24): not in work, study or trainingYouth Service, Youth Guarantee, Youth Payment, Jobseeker for 18 to 24s, and free support like Youthline for young people out of work.6 min read
- Job loss with a disability or health condition: your rights and supportEmployment Service, Workbridge, Disability Allowance, Jobseeker on health grounds, Supported Living Payment and reasonable accommodation in NZ.8 min read
- Support for Māori: employment, whānau and kaupapa Māori wellbeingWhānau Ora, iwi and kaupapa Māori services, Māori helplines, training support and Te Whare Tapa Whā when you've lost work.6 min read
- Support for Pacific peoples: work, aiga and wellbeingPacific employment programmes, Whānau Ora via Tātou Collective, Pasifika helplines, church and community support after job loss.5 min read
- Finding work with a criminal record: Clean Slate and what employers can askHow the Clean Slate scheme works, when you must disclose, Corrections reintegration support and practical tips for job hunting with convictions.6 min read
- Job loss for rainbow and LGBTQIA+ people: rights and supportDiscrimination protections, OutLine, RainbowYOUTH, InsideOUT Kōaro and finding inclusive workplaces after job loss in NZ.5 min read
- Leaving the military: finding work and looking after yourselfNZDF career and transition coaches, Veterans' Affairs planning, RSA support and translating military skills into civilian jobs.5 min read
- Limited English or reading and writing difficulties: getting help with forms, work and benefitsHow to get help with Work and Income forms, job applications and employment rights if English or literacy is a barrier, including free adult literacy tutoring.5 min read