LAWPUBL 425 : Employment Law

Law

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A study of individual and collective employment agreements and the underlying statutory framework of employment law in New Zealand including the Employment Relations Act 2000, Human Rights Act 1993, Privacy Act 2020, Holidays Act 2003, Minimum Wages Act 1983, Wages Protection Act 1983, Equal Pay Act 1972, and Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987.

Course Overview

This course is for students who are keen to develop a practical understanding of employment law in New Zealand. Internal assessment will involve participation in a joint oral assessment with an accompanying memorandum or a moot with accompanying submissions.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: LAW 231, 241 Restriction: LAW 430

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Recognise the role of tikanga including whanaungatanga and mana in employment relationships (Capability 1.1)
  2. Critically reflect on the effects of the imbalance of power inherent in employment relationships (Capability 1.2)
  3. Describe and explain theoretical framework and practical nature of employment law (Capability 3.1)
  4. Critically apply employment law to complex fact scenarios (Capability 3.2)
  5. Engage with transdisciplinary perspectives of employment law (Capability 5.1)
  6. Evaluate legal positions taken in employment law (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
  7. Articulate and critique reasoned legal arguments (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 6.1)
  8. Develop innovative and creative perspectives and arguments in employment law (Capability 4.2 and 5.1)
  9. Articulate employment law concepts and arguments clearly (Capability 6.1)
  10. Collaborate in critiquing employment law concepts (Capability 7.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Interactive Oral / Moot 25% Individual Coursework
Memorandum / Submissions 25% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Interactive Oral / Moot
Memorandum / Submissions
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This is a standard 15-point course. There will be around 36 hours of lectures in this course. The guideline for the total workload for this course is 150 hours.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered in two delivery modes:

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled lectures. 
Scheduled lectures will steamed live via Zoom and will also be available as recordings. 
Attendance on campus is not required for the final exam which will be conducted using Inspera.
Study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled lectures which are streamed live via Zoom. Lectures will also be available as recordings. 
Attendance on campus is not required for the final exam which will be conducted using Inspera.
Study material will be released progressively throughout the course.
This course runs to the University semester/quarter timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

It is recommended that students purchase:
  • Simon Schoeld New Zealand Employment Law Guide 2025 (CCH New Zealand Ltd, Auckland, 2025); and
  • Alice Coppard, Geo McLay, Chris Murray, and Jonathan Opin New Zealand Law Style Guide (3rd ed, Thomson Reuters, Wellington, 2018).

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This year the course will have an oral assessment element.  

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (including but not limited to ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Microsoft CoPilot) for any reason for any assessment on this course is strictly prohibited.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 31/10/2024 08:58 p.m.