New Zealand unfair dismissal (unjustified dismissal) case summaries from the Employment Relations Authority (ERA), explaining key facts, outcomes, and lessons for employees and employers.
These unfair dismissal (unjustified dismissal) case summaries cover Employment Relations Authority (ERA) decisions from across New Zealand. Each case highlights the facts, the Authority's reasoning, and the outcome, so you can see what tends to help or hurt a dismissal justification.
If you are dealing with a dismissal dispute, these examples can help you understand common errors in process, the standard of reasonableness applied, and typical remedies where a dismissal is found to be unjustified.
![Auto John Huntley-Byrne v Dallison 2021 Limited [2026] NZERA 354 - unjustified café dismissal by text message](/Images/site/EmploymentAdvocatesAucklandCard.jpg)
Dallison 2021 dismissed café worker Auto John Huntley-Byrne by text after end-of-shift tasks were left incomplete. Although the employer had legitimate concerns, it did not hold a proper disciplinary meeting or provide the support-person and response rights required by its own documents.
Jennifer Jacobsen was dismissed by email only days into part-time work for Cube Innovations. Cube relied on a 90-day trial even though the evidence indicated she had started work before signing the agreement and the employer had not given the contractual notice required by the clause.
Cameron Keen's work and pay with Prestige Paving stopped after the employer ceased providing him with work rather than carrying out a formal dismissal process. The ERA examined whether that practical exclusion from employment amounted to a dismissal and whether any justification existed.
Stephen Nunn was dismissed by Port Nicholson Fisheries after investigations into crayfish compliance issues. The case examined the quality of two disciplinary investigations, including reliance on an earlier warning, withheld information, unseen CCTV material, suspension and whether alternatives to dismissal were considered.
Fiona Scott signed a casual agreement with Ritchies but in practice regularly drove urban bus routes. After disciplinary issues arose, the employer relied on the casual characterisation and later ended her work, raising questions about her real status and the justification for dismissal.
Long-serving school principal Regina Rasheed was suspended and dismissed after a series of complaints and governance interventions at Zayed College for Girls. The ERA examined the factual basis for the allegations, the fairness of the investigation and a second suspension imposed during the process.
Barber Raheel Reddy was dismissed by text after ongoing lateness and attendance concerns. Studio Image argued he had resigned or that termination was justified, but there had been no proper disciplinary process giving him a fair opportunity to answer the concerns.
Part-time farm assistant Natalie Butler-Smith was dismissed in February 2024 around the end of parental leave, with the employers raising health-and-safety concerns and disputing aspects of work performed during leave. The respondents did not appear at the investigation meeting.
