Reference Ace › Guides › Employee representations clauses in NZ: the clause that catches liars

Employee representations clauses in NZ: the clause that catches liars

The quiet contract term that turns an application lie into dismissal years later.

The short version

What it is

A term in many NZ employment agreements saying the information you gave during hiring was true and correct, and influenced the decision to employ you.

Why it bites late

A misstatement discovered in year two is a misconduct matter under the clause, not ancient history. Dismissals for it happen, and they are upheld.

What it covers

Referee claims, qualification claims, history claims, why you left. Essentially everything you said to get hired.

Where Reference Ace fits in

The honest version of this problem is solvable, and it lasts. No usable referee? We check real examples of your work, confirm they're yours, and vouch for them openly as an independent reviewer. Got referees? We brief them properly, run a practice of the exact call employers make, and use the consent rules that keep your current employer out of it until you have signed. Nothing to hide, nothing that unravels in year two.

Common questions

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Is the clause in every agreement?

Variants are extremely common, especially in corporate and government agreements. Check yours.

Does it cover what my referee said?

If you knew the referee was lying, yes, that is your misstatement. It is exactly why fake referees fail legally.

What does the honest approach get me?

Everything true and well briefed is defensible forever. Nothing in your file can ever be turned against you.

No referee? Show us your work

Reference Ace checks real examples of your work, confirms they're yours, and vouches for them to employers by name, always as an independent reviewer and never as a former boss. Got a referee already? We brief them and run the practice check before a real employer calls.

See how it works and pricing