NZ employment law: What changed in 2026 and what employers need to prepare for next

Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 8.00AM-9.00AM, Auckland CBD

NEW EVENT

📅 Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
⏰ Time: 8:00am-9:00am
📍 Venue: Level 15, 51 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD
🥐 Catering: Light breakfast and drinks provided

New Zealand’s employment law landscape shifted significantly during 2026, introducing changes that affect how employers engage contractors, manage personal grievances, negotiate employment agreements and approach workplace health and safety.

Led by Sanam Permal, a practising employment lawyer in New Zealand and Australia and founder of Law Lenz, this roundtable will bring together HR professionals and people leaders to examine the most important employment law developments of 2026, their practical implications for employers and the changes organisations should begin preparing for now.

You will learn:

• The most significant New Zealand employment-law changes introduced during 2026
• How the new rules affect contractors, personal grievances, dismissals and individual employment agreements
• What recent health and safety reforms mean for employers and people leaders
• What employers need to know about the proposed replacement of the Holidays Act
• Which employment agreements, policies, payroll processes and management practices may need to be reviewed
• The practical steps HR teams should prioritise as they prepare for 2027

About our guest speaker Sanam Salmani

Sanam is a well seasoned employment lawyer, but with a twist! She's the driving force behind Law Lenz, New Zealand's go-to employment law podcast for employers and HR professionals. By day, she is an in-house employment lawyer advising across ANZ, SEA & the UK. By night, she transforms into a vibrant podcast host, imparting practical insights.

After over 7 years in the industry and always being called as a last resort to deal with personal grievance claims, Sanam thought there must be a better way. With Law Lenz, she aims to redefine the approach to employment law – not just getting it done, but getting it done right! Sanam's mission is to empower businesses to harness employment relations in their workplace. Law Lenz delivers bite-sized, easy-to-digest information. Think of Sanam as your guide through the intricate world of employment relations, delivering insights, practical tips, and real-world cases with a touch of light-hearted fun.

Her podcast: https://lawlenz.podbean.com
Her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanam-a-salmani/

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