We represent employers and employees in employment disputes in New Zealand. All employees have rights under the Employment Relations Act 2000. This blog discusses common and relevant issues in New Zealand employment law.
![Lautusi Isaako v ABS Builders Limited [2025] NZERA 678 - Employee status confirmed, dismissal by text, 3 months lost wages, $15k compensation, holiday pay arrears, costs](/Images/site/EmploymentAdvocatesAucklandCard.jpg)
In Lautusi Isaako v ABS Builders Limited [2025] NZERA 678 (Auckland), the ERA found Mr Isaako was an employee (not a contractor) and was unjustifiably dismissed by a text message. The Authority ordered $15,210 gross reimbursement of 3 months lost wages, $15,000 compensation for humiliation and injury to feelings, plus holiday pay arrears ($1,684.80 annual holidays and $1,275 public holidays). No penalties were ordered. Costs of $2,250 and filing fee reimbursement of $71.55 were awarded.
ERA held the employee was not dismissed after a confrontation on a removal job, so the unjustified dismissal claim failed. However the employer acted unjustifiably in how it engaged with the employee about the incident and the pay dispute, causing disadvantage. Orders: $15,000 compensation, plus wage arrears for 9 hours (and 8% holiday pay). Costs reserved.
A long-serving firefighter was summarily dismissed for alleged serious misconduct. The ERA held the conduct relied on did not meet the serious misconduct threshold and the dismissal was unjustified. Reinstatement was declined as not reasonable or workable. Remedies included $25,000 compensation...
A clinic worker was dismissed for redundancy after the employer became insolvent, lost its lease, and transferred the business to a third party. The ERA accepted insolvency drove the closure, but held redundancy consultation was still required and the dismissal was unjustified. Orders: $2,035.50...
A dairy farm senior assistant disclosed neurodiversity conditions and a medicinal cannabis prescription before starting work. After disputes over contract terms and leave/tenancy issues, the employer suspended him indefinitely on vague health and safety grounds and then went silent for months....
The Authority ordered remedies and addressed unjustified dismissal issues (partly successful). Mr Mon was dismissed by text message on 19 July 2023, and his employment came to an end two weeks later on 2 August 2023 after Mr Mon had worked out his notice period.
The Authority ordered remedies and addressed unjustified dismissal issues. Non-publication orders [3] Following the investigation meeting by AVL on 1 August 2025, the Authority Officer at my direction, invited the representatives to make submissions on whether non-publication...
The Authority ordered remedies and addressed unjustified dismissal issues. Mr Chand claimed he was unjustifiably disadvantaged and unjustifiably dismissed by RCIL on 15 January 2023.
