Protected Employment and Obligations
The best results come from engaging with your employer in an open and honest manner.
Protected employment
It is expected that you, as a Defence Person, engage with your employer in good faith in an open and honest manner when requesting leave. As a serving reservist you are entitled to a number of leave allowances under Part 1 of the Volunteer Employment Protection Act 1973. These consist of:
Up to three weeks
for routine part-time service or training such as field exercises and weekend or evening training
Up to three months
for whole-time service or training such as initial basic training, officer commissioning courses, short-term operations and annual exercises
Your obligations
In order to be eligible for military leave permissions you must give your employer advanced warning of your upcoming military service or deployment.
Fourteen days minimum notice
to your employer for part-time and whole-time service and training
Employment New Zealand explains the role that the Volunteer Employment Protection Act plays in supporting part-time elements of the Armed Forces.
Find out more about the Volunteer Employment Protection Act. (external link)