# Hiring Official source: https://www.employment.govt.nz/starting-employment/hiring Scanned: 2026-06-07T03:31:31.402Z Use this as a current official guidance reference, not as a substitute for legal advice. ## Page Text Home Starting employment Hiring Starting employment Hiring Good employment relationships begin with a good hiring process (sometimes called a ‘recruitment’ process). There are a number of steps in hiring a new employee. Starting employment Rights and responsibilities Types of worker Hiring The hiring process Hiring your first employee Hiring young people Hiring temporary migrants Employment for disabled people Discrimination against transgender people Pre-employment trials Tests and checks Employers on stand-down Trial periods Probationary periods Employment agreements The hiring process Find out about employer responsibilities when hiring, advertising a job, and providing reasonable accommodation. Hiring your first employee What you need to know if you are becoming an employer for the first time. Hiring young people There are rules employers need to follow when they hire people 19 years old or under. Hiring temporary migrants Before hiring someone from overseas, you need to make sure they have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Employment for disabled people Disabled people bring diverse and valuable skills and perspectives to the workplace. They contribute to a workforce that reflects the community and customers it serves. Discrimination against transgender people A person’s gender identity and expression are part of who they are, not a lifestyle choice. Transgender people should be protected from discrimination in employment. Pre-employment trials Sometimes it is appropriate to ask job applicants to perform tasks as part of the interview process, so you can assess whether they have the skills needed for a job. Tests and checks Find out about doing pre-employment tests and checks before a person starts their job. Tests and checks can include drug and alcohol testing, and criminal record and reference checks. Employers on stand-down Employers who breach employment standards may be restricted from supporting visa applications and put on the employer visa stand-down list. Trial periods Find out what trial periods are, when employers can use them and employee rights during a trial period. Probationary periods Find out what probationary periods are, when they can be used and employee rights during a probationary period.