Restrictions OK
Jurisdiction Employment Relations Authority - Auckland
Reference No AA 54/08
Hearing date 31 Jan 2008
Determination date 20 February 2008
Member Y S Oldfield
Representation M Ryan ; M Dew
Location Auckland
Parties Davidson v Y3K Energy Pty Ltd & Anor
Summary PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Identity of employer – Triangular employment – First respondent registered in Australia - Second respondent registered in New Zealand (“NZ”) and wholly owned subsidiary of first respondent – “K” director of both respondents – Second respondent ceased trading and appeared insolvent – Applicant shareholder, director and initially full time employee of first respondent – Full time role not sustainable so applicant accepted offer of “temporary caretaker role” managing second respondent – Applicant claimed would return to work in Australia after temporarily managing NZ business - Applicant claimed employed by first respondent – Respondents argued fixed term employment with second respondent – Respondents argued applicant paid by second respondent and paid NZ tax – Applicant argued employment agreement (“EA”) named first respondent as employer – Authority found insufficient evidence to depart from express terms of EA – Found no ambiguity or inconsistency in plain meaning of EA - Found not credible to suggest K simply made mistake in drafting – Found EA provisions consistent with applicant being employed by Australian company to work in NZ – First respondent employer – Investigation of substantive issues to proceed
Result Orders made ; Costs reserved
Main Category Practice & Procedure
Cases Cited Colosimo and Anor v Parker (Unrep, Perkins J, 6 Dec 2006, AC 68/06)
Number of Pages 10
PDF File Link: aa 54_08.pdf [pdf 945 KB]