Do you know what sick leave you’re entitled to?
With winter bugs doing the rounds, it’s worth knowing what the rules are about sick leave. So what are you entitled to?
• In general you’re entitled to 5 days’ of sick leave each year after you’ve worked for your employer for 6 months.
• You can accumulate any unused sick leave up to a total of 20 days.
• Sick leave can be used when you’re sick or when you need to be off work to look after someone else who is sick or injured (your partner, child, or someone who relies on you for care).
• Even if you’re a part-time or casual worker, you’re still entitled to 5 days’ of sick leave a year (once you’ve worked for 6 months continuously or for an average of 10 hours per week, and at least one hour in every week or 40 hours in every month).
• Your employer can require you to provide a medical certificate if you’re sick for 3 or more days in a row, and you’ll need to pay to get it. If they want proof of sickness sooner then they will have to pay the costs of getting the proof.
These are the minimum sick leave entitlements. Your employer can agree to give you more.
Check out our website for more information about sick leave and other employment rights and responsibilities. If you’ve got questions get in touch with a CAB near you, call us on 0800 367 222 (0800 FOR CAB), or contact us online.
Alan and Hazel Kerr share Senior New Zealander of the Year Award 2026
Dr Alan and Hazel Kerr describe themselves as ‘just ordinary old Kiwis’, despite being named as the 2026 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealanders of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau.
The amazing couple prompted a standing ovation at a star-studded Auckland event which recognised their tireless efforts, with Alan travelling to and from Gaza and the West Bank 40 times to help children over 20 years, and Hazel travelling 20 times.
Click read more to find out more.
Poll: The Fuel Squeeze ... How are you navigating rising costs? ✈️
Between the news about the Nelson Port and Airport facing "huge ramifications" from global unrest and the creeping prices at the local petrol station, it feels like getting from A to B (or flying out of the region) is becoming a major math problem.
With fuel prices and airfares set to stay high for the foreseeable future, we want to know how the Nelson community is pivoting. Are you changing your habits, or just grit-and-bearing it?
We want to know: How are you adjusting your travel and commute to beat the price hikes?
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25% Dusting off the bike
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0% Working from home
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75% Nope, same as always
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0% Other. (Tell us your secret strategy in the comments!)
A Journey of Growth and Care
From student nurse to Village Manager, Ruben Kumar’s journey at Ryman reflects years of dedication, growth, and a passion for caring for others.
Today, as Village Manager, Ruben leads the community with the experience gained from progressing through multiple roles across the organisation.
Click read more to learn more about Ruben's journey at Ryman.
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