Unfair Dismissal (Unjustified Dismissal) Case Summaries | ERA New Zealand

Regina Rasheed was principal of Zayed College for Girls for about 14 years before being dismissed by the Commissioner in June 2025. The ERA found unjustified disadvantage, unjustified suspension, unjustified dismissal, breaches of the collective agreement and good faith, and ordered reinstatement, lost wages, 23 days sick leave reimbursement, $40,000 compensation, and a Trust penalty...

Natalie Butler-Smith was a part-time permanent farm assistant who went on parental leave and expected to return to work in February 2024. Before her return, the Partnership told her that her employment was being terminated because of health and safety issues arising from her having a baby on the farm. The ERA found the dismissal unjustified and ordered $32,432...

Raheel Reddy worked as a barber for Studio Image Limited. After he was late attending work because he was viewing a replacement car after an accident, Studio Image sent text messages telling him he would be paid his remaining leave and should collect his tools. The ERA found this was a dismissal, not a resignation, and that the dismissal was unjustified.

Junchen Xu worked for Aurora Developments Limited as a project quantity surveyor. The ERA found he was an employee from 1 March 2021, despite the employer saying the first month was only learning and observation. The ERA also found his redundancy dismissal was unjustified because ADL did not consult, did not provide a proposal, and did not explain the business reasons before ending his employment.

Devon Whitham worked at Brutal Ink in New Plymouth after responding to a Facebook post for a piercing apprentice. The ERA found she was an employee of Brutalitees Limited, not an independent contractor, and that her dismissal at a heated meeting on 19 September 2024 was unjustified. The ERA ordered unpaid wages, holiday pay, 13 weeks lost remuneration, $15,000 compensation, and penalties...

Mujahid Khan was dismissed by the Ministry for Primary Industries after 18 years as a senior quarantine officer. MPI relied on complaints about a lunch visit to a friend's house during work hours, use of an MPI vehicle, and an allegation that he raised his voice at a colleague. The ERA did not finally decide the unjustified dismissal claim, but found there was a serious question to be tried and ordered interim reinstatement to payroll within 5 working days and to his former position within 7 working days...

Cardinal Logistics Limited dismissed the Applicant after he refused a drug and alcohol test, but the ERA found Cardinal did not establish genuine and reasonable grounds for requiring that test. Cardinal let him keep driving for about two hours after the alleged safety complaint, failed to verify the allegation, and the dismissal and suspension were found unjustified.

Sasha Lee worked as personal assistant to the sole director of the JNJ Group, but her actual role extended across a range of group businesses. The ERA found she was employed by JNJ Management Limited, not National Holdings Limited, but that JNJ had unjustifiably disadvantaged her by removing key duties without consultation and unjustifiably dismissed her by redundancy. JNJ was ordered to pay $105,342.25 gross wage arrears, $34,373.75 gross annual holiday pay, $17,500 compensation, and 13 weeks' lost wages...