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The Vice-Chancellor delegates the approvals of leave to specific positions within the University. Where there is an entitlement or eligibility it is assumed that the person authorising such leave is doing so within that entitlement or eligibility.

There is no delegated authority to exceed the entitlement or eligibility provided in the relevant employment contract or University policy. Any such request requires the authorisation of the Vice-Chancellor.

Academic staff

Annual leave
Annual Leave Head of Department
Carrying forward up to 10 days annual leave entitlement from one year to the next. Head of Department
Carrying forward more than 10 days annual leave entitlement from one leave year to the next.

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Annual leave where it is intended to connect such leave with absences overseas in conjunction with Conference Leave or Official business.

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only) up to 10 days

Sick leave with pay
Sick leave HOD (forwarded to Payroll Services for recording)
Sick leave without pay
Up to 3 months Divisional Head (forwarded to Payroll Services for action.)
In excess of 3 months Staffing Advisory Committee (on the recommendation of the Divisional Head, Dean and HOD.)
Leave following an accident (ACC)
Work related HOD notifying Payroll
Non work related HOD notifying Payroll
Parental leave
Parental leave

Divisional Head in consultation with Human Resources (on recommendation of Dean or HOD).

Deans in consultation with Human Resources (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Leave without pay (see Leave Without Pay Guidelines)
Up to twelve months

Divisional Head (on recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Twelve months and over Staffing Advisory Committee (on recommendation of Divisional Head, Dean and HOD)
Conference Leave Divisional Head (Deans in Health Sciences) (on the recommendation of the HOD and Dean)
Bereavement/Tangihanga Leave
Up to 3 days in NZ HOD
Up to 5 days overseas HOD
In excess of 3 days in NZ

Divisional Head (on recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

In excess of 5 days overseas

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Sports leave

To represent New Zealand in a national sports team during an international competition (team selection must be on a national basis by means of an open national competition, i.e. not provincial or representative of any particular group.)

Limit of 10 days per year.

Vice-Chancellor (on the recommendation of the Divisional Head, Dean and HOD)
Trade Union Education leave
Trade Union Education Leave HOD on receipt of request from Human Resources
Jury Service leave
Jury Service leave HOD
Witness leave
Witness leave HOD
Leave for Maori Land Court and Waitangi Tribunal Hearings
Up to 5 days in any one year HOD
Over 5 days and up to 10 days in any one year

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of the Dean and HOD)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Discretionary leave
Discretionary leave Human Resources Director (on the recommendation of the Divisional Head, Dean and/or Head of Department) e.g. for compassionate reasons
Approval to work on a public holiday
Staff working on public holidays without approval will not be entitled to the provisions of the Holiday Act, 2003

Divisional Heads (or in the case of the Health Science Division, Deans of the Schools)

Further information on eligibility for payments when working on a public holiday can be found in the Holidays Act 2003.

Conference leave
Approval of conference leave

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD or Dean)

Dean in Health Sciences (on the recommendation of HOD)

Approval of annual leave connected with conference leave

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD or Dean)

Dean in Health Sciences (on the recommendation of HOD) up to 10 days OR Divisional Head (Division of Health Sciences) for more than 10 days

Leave of absence connected with conference leave See below under Leave of Absence
Leave of absence
Leave of Absence refers to a period of time when staff members are working away from their normal workplace. It is not Annual, Sick, Research and Study Leave, Conference Leave, Leave Without Pay or Discretionary Leave. Leave of Absence can be taken at any time and is not linked to Conference Leave alone. Only in exceptional circumstances will academic staff be allowed to take more than 20 days leave of absence per year.
Division of Health Sciences:
Up to 10 working days (not connected to conference leave) Head of Department
Up to 10 working days, if connected to conference leave Dean (on the recommendation of HOD)
Up to 20 working days (not connected to conference leave) Dean (on the recommendation of HOD)
Up to 20 working days, if connected to conference leave) Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)
21 working days or more Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic (on the recommendation of the Divisional Head, Dean, HOD)
Divisions other than Health Sciences:
Up to 10 working days Head of Department
Up to 20 working days Divisional Head (on the recommendation of the HOD and Dean)
21 working days or more Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic (on the recommendation of the Divisional Head, Dean, HOD)
Research and study leave
(Confirmed or Confirmation Path Academic Staff) Divisional Head (on the recommendation of the Dean and HOD)
Professional development leave (Senior/Teaching Fellows and Professional Practice Fellows only)
For conferences HOD
For courses/overseas study

Divisional Head (on recommendation of HOD)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

General staff

Annual leave
Annual Leave Head of Department
Carrying forward up to 10 days annual leave entitlement from one year to the next. Head of Department
Carrying forward more than 10 days annual leave entitlement from one leave year to the next.

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Annual leave where it is intended to connect such leave with absences overseas in conjunction with Conference Leave or Official business.

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only) up to 10 days

Sick leave with pay
Sick leave HOD (forwarded to Payroll Services for recording)
Sick leave without pay
Up to 3 months Divisional Head (forwarded to Payroll Services for action.)
In excess of 3 months Staffing Advisory Committee (on the recommendation of the Divisional Head, Dean and HOD.)
Leave following an accident (ACC)
Work related HOD notifying Payroll
Non work related HOD notifying Payroll
Parental leave
Parental leave

Divisional Head in consultation with Human Resources (on recommendation of Dean or HOD).

Deans in consultation with Human Resources (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Leave without pay (see Leave Without Pay Guidelines)
Up to twelve months

Divisional Head (on recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Twelve months and over Staffing Advisory Committee (on recommendation of Divisional Head, Dean and HOD)
Conference Leave Divisional Head (Deans in Health Sciences) (on the recommendation of the HOD and Dean)
Bereavement/Tangihanga Leave
Up to 3 days in NZ HOD
Up to 5 days overseas HOD
In excess of 3 days in NZ

Divisional Head (on recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

In excess of 5 days overseas

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Sports leave

To represent New Zealand in a national sports team during an international competition (team selection must be on a national basis by means of an open national competition, i.e. not provincial or representative of any particular group.)

Limit of 10 days per year.

Vice-Chancellor (on the recommendation of the Divisional Head, Dean and HOD)
Trade Union Education Leave
Trade Union Education Leave HOD on receipt of request from Human Resources
Jury Service leave
Jury Service leave HOD
Witness Leave
Witness Leave HOD
Leave for Maori Land Court and Waitangi Tribunal Hearings
Up to 5 days in any one year HOD
Over 5 days and up to 10 days in any one year

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of the Dean and HOD)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Discretionary leave
Discretionary leave Human Resources Director (on the recommendation of the Divisional Head, Dean and/or Head of Department) e.g. for compassionate reasons
Approval to work on a public holiday
Staff working on public holidays without approval will not be entitled to the provisions of the Holiday Act, 2003

Divisional Heads (or in the case of the Health Science Division, Deans of the Schools)

Further information on eligibility for payments when working on a public holiday can be found in the Holidays Act 2003.

Long service leave
Long service leave HOD subject to confirmation of eligibility by Human Resources.
Leave with pay
Time off in lieu of overtime or working weekends or public holidays Head of Department
Domestic leave
Up to 10 days in a leave year

Head of Department (in accordance with the Employment Contract) provided the staff member has sick leave entitlement.

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

In excess of 10 days in a year

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, for Division of Health Sciences only)

Study leave
For part-time tertiary studies or attendance at courses/conferences

Divisional Head (on the recommendation of HOD and Dean)

Deans (on the recommendation of HOD, forDivision of Health Sciences only)

Related Info

Key contacts

Dan Wilson
HR Manager, Promotions & Remuneration
dan.wilson@otago.ac.nz
03 479 8092
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