Overtime and Break Laws in New Zealand (2026)
Employment Relations Act 2000; Minimum Wage Act 1983 · Reviewed 2026-10 · Private-sector employees
Overtime
No statutory overtime premium. Overtime pay is whatever the employment agreement says, and every hour must be paid at least the minimum wage.
Breaks and lunch
Paid 10-minute rest breaks and unpaid 30-minute meal breaks, set by the length of the work period.
Overtime in New Zealand
The law sets no overtime premium of its own here. What overtime pays is up to the employment contract or the collective agreement.
- Overtime may be built into a salary or paid at the normal rate, as long as pay for all hours worked is at least minimum wage.
- Many employment agreements still set time and a half or similar; that is contractual.
- Public holiday pay rules are separate, under the Holidays Act 2003.
Breaks and lunch in New Zealand
- Rest break: 1 × 10 minutes, paid, for shifts of 2 hours or more.
- Rest break: 2 × 10 minutes, paid, for shifts of 6 hours or more.
- Rest break: 3 × 10 minutes, paid, for shifts of 10 hours or more.
- Rest break: 4 × 10 minutes, paid, for shifts of 14 hours or more.
- Meal break: 1 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 4 hours or more.
- Meal break: 2 × 30 minutes, unpaid, for shifts of 12 hours or more.
| Shift | Rest breaks | Meal break |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | 1 × 10 min, paid | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 6 hours | 2 × 10 min, paid | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 8 hours | 2 × 10 min, paid | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 10 hours | 3 × 10 min, paid | 1 × 30 min, unpaid |
| 12 hours | 3 × 10 min, paid | 2 × 30 min, unpaid |
- 2 to 4 hours: one rest. Over 4 to 6: one rest and one meal. Over 6 to under 10: two rests and one meal. 10 to 12: three rests and one meal. Over 12 to 14: three rests and two meals. Over 14 to 16: four rests and two meals.
- Timing and length can be agreed; if not agreed, breaks are spread through the work period. A clause that cuts the minimum has no effect.
- Narrow exemptions (essential and national security services) allow compensatory measures instead.
Pay by New Zealand rules in Kloqk
Kloqk is a free time clock. In Settings, open Payroll, press Rules by country and pick New Zealand: the overtime and break rules above fill in, and every timesheet, report and payroll export follows them. Change any number to match your own contract.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the overtime rule in New Zealand?
No statutory overtime premium. Overtime pay is whatever the employment agreement says, and every hour must be paid at least the minimum wage.
What breaks are required in New Zealand?
Paid 10-minute rest breaks and unpaid 30-minute meal breaks, set by the length of the work period.