How many referees do you need in NZ?

The convention, the exceptions, and the two-referee problem when you are employed.

The short version

The convention

Two, one of them a recent manager. Some roles ask for three, government roles often do.

The real number

Have three or four briefed so any two can be produced confidently. One good backup converts awkward into handled.

When you are currently employed

Past managers plus a colleague or client covers it, and the consent rules keep your boss out until offer stage.

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 two ever not enough?

Senior and government roles sometimes want three. Ask early so the third is not a scramble.

Can I reuse the same referees for every application?

Yes. Brief them once per role type and refresh before heavy hunting.

What if one referee goes quiet mid-process?

That is the backup's job. Brief everyone upfront.

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