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Free tools › Annual leave by country

Annual leave: Australia vs New Zealand

Statutory annual leave in Australia and New Zealand, side by side, with the primary source for every figure.

How does annual leave compare between Australia and New Zealand?

Australia: 4 weeks' paid leave a year (5 for defined shiftworkers), accruing from day one, plus 8 national public holidays and state additions. New Zealand: 4 weeks' paid annual holidays after 12 months, plus up to 12 public holidays including Matariki. At five years' service that means 4 weeks in Australia and 4 weeks in New Zealand.

Australia vs New Zealand, side by side

AustraliaNew Zealand
The rule4 weeks' paid leave a year (5 for defined shiftworkers), accruing from day one, plus 8 national public holidays and state additions.4 weeks' paid annual holidays after 12 months, plus up to 12 public holidays including Matariki.
At 1 year4 weeks4 weeks
At 5 years4 weeks4 weeks
At 10 years4 weeks4 weeks
Key numbersEntitlement: 4 weeks a year (5 for award shiftworkers); Public holidays: 8 national; 10-13 typical by state; Leave loading: Award-dependent, commonly 17.5%Entitlement: 4 weeks after 12 months; Public holidays: Up to 12 (11 national + 1 regional); Pay-as-you-go: 8% of gross, narrow eligibility

Australia

The NES gives full-time and part-time employees 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year, accruing progressively and rolling over indefinitely, with unused leave paid out on termination. Shiftworkers defined by an award get 5 weeks. Leave loading (commonly 17.5%) applies only where an award or agreement provides it. Public holidays add 8 national days, with states typically taking the total to 10 to 13.

  • Entitlement4 weeks a year (5 for award shiftworkers)
  • Public holidays8 national; 10-13 typical by state
  • Leave loadingAward-dependent, commonly 17.5%
  • On terminationUnused leave paid out
  • Casuals get no paid annual leave; the 25% loading is the trade-off.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman (NES, Fair Work Act ss.86-87). Checked July 2026.

New Zealand

Every employee reaches 4 weeks of paid annual holidays at each 12-month anniversary. Public holidays top out at 12: 11 national days including Matariki, plus one regional anniversary day. Pay-as-you-go at 8% of gross is allowed only for genuine fixed-term roles under 12 months or truly irregular work, and calling someone casual is not enough on its own.

  • Entitlement4 weeks after 12 months
  • Public holidaysUp to 12 (11 national + 1 regional)
  • Pay-as-you-go8% of gross, narrow eligibility
  • The Holidays Act replacement (the Employment Leave Bill) is at select committee; once passed it takes effect only 24 months after assent, so current rules hold until roughly 2028-29.

Source: Employment New Zealand (Holidays Act 2003). Checked July 2026.

Hiring in both markets?

Put a full number on each side with the true-cost calculators: True cost of an employee (Australia) and True cost of an employee (New Zealand). The complete six-market picture is on the Annual leave by country page.

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from the government source for its market.

MarketSourceRule / effectiveVerified
AustraliaFair Work OmbudsmanNES, Fair Work Act ss.86-87Checked July 2026
New ZealandEmployment New ZealandHolidays Act 2003Checked July 2026
Where Compono fits

Comparing entitlements is the easy half of hiring across markets. The hard half is whether the person you hire in Sydney, Singapore or Seattle will actually work out, and that risk looks the same in every jurisdiction. Compono matches candidates on how they work, not just what the CV claims, so the hires behind these numbers hold up wherever you make them.

See how it works

Common questions

What is the rule on annual leave in Australia?

4 weeks' paid leave a year (5 for defined shiftworkers), accruing from day one, plus 8 national public holidays and state additions. The NES gives full-time and part-time employees 4 weeks of paid annual leave per year, accruing progressively and rolling over indefinitely, with unused leave paid out on termination.

What is the rule on annual leave in New Zealand?

4 weeks' paid annual holidays after 12 months, plus up to 12 public holidays including Matariki. Every employee reaches 4 weeks of paid annual holidays at each 12-month anniversary.

Where can I check the source figures?

The sources section below links the Australia and New Zealand government pages every figure on this page was verified against in July 2026.

This page is general information, not legal advice. We check figures annually and update them on a best-efforts basis, but employment rules change and we cannot promise everything here is current or complete. Before you act on it, confirm the detail with the Fair Work Ombudsman, Employment New Zealand or your own adviser. Last reviewed July 2026.