Rostering and time tracking for New Zealand shift-based teams
Rosters, time tracking, payroll, HR and team communication — all in one platform for shift-based businesses.
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Rostering, timesheets, payroll export and HR in one system
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Agreed hours, roster changes and cancellations all recorded
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Hours-based records, ready for the 2028 leave changes
See how shift-based teams manage their workforce with RosterElf
Staff scheduling, time tracking and payroll — one platform for New Zealand teams
Quickly create and share rosters from any device — save time and reduce last-minute chaos.
Explore roster softwareSee wage costs in real time as you build rosters. Stay on budget before you publish.
Explore labour budgetingPerfect Match® suggests available, qualified staff based on skills, availability and cost.
See Perfect Match®Staff get instant notifications and can view rosters, swap shifts and update availability from the app.
Explore roster software
Know exactly when and where staff clock in with GPS location capture and photo verification.
View time trackingPhoto ID and GPS ensure the right person clocks in at the right location.
See verificationSee who's on shift, who's late, and who's missing — all from your dashboard.
View attendanceReview and approve timesheets with one click. Flag exceptions automatically.
Explore timesheets
Under the Employment Relations Act, an employee’s agreed hours belong in their employment agreement — and zero-hour contracts are unlawful. RosterElf records the hours you actually roster, so what you scheduled is documented.
See rosteringAn availability provision needs reasonable compensation, and cancellation terms must be written into the agreement. Roster changes and cancellations are timestamped, so you can show what was asked and when.
Explore roster changesThe adult minimum wage is $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026, with starting-out and training rates at $19.16. Track hours against rates so you can see whether every employee is paid at or above the rate that applies to them.
See time trackingThe Employment Leave Act 2026 replaces the Holidays Act on 6 August 2028 and moves annual leave from weeks to hours accrued from day one. Accurate hours are the input that change needs, and that is exactly what your rosters and timesheets produce.
View timesheets
Send payroll-ready timesheets directly to Xero NZ in seconds — no manual data entry.
See payrollHours and rates calculated and formatted — ready for Xero NZ, Smartly or your own payroll provider.
View payrollNo more copying numbers between systems. Reduce errors and save hours every pay run.
Explore integrationTrack every change to timesheets with complete history for your wage and time records.
View audit trail
Send contracts, policies and right-to-work documents digitally so new starters complete everything before day one.
See onboardingTrack required documents, expiry dates and acknowledgements so nothing slips through the cracks.
View policiesManage holiday requests, statutory leave balances and approvals in one system, synced with rosters to avoid clashes.
Manage holidaysStore employee details, documents, certifications and history securely in one place — always up to date.
Explore HR tools
Message individuals, teams or your whole workforce — all within RosterElf.
View communicationStaff get instant alerts for new rosters, shift changes and open shifts.
See notificationsShare important updates with read receipts so you know who's seen them.
Explore messagingNo more WhatsApp groups. Keep work communication professional and private.
View features
See labour costs, hours worked and budget tracking at a glance.
See analyticsTrack late arrivals, no-shows and overtime patterns across your team.
View reportsPredict wage costs before you publish rosters. Stay within budget.
Explore forecastingDownload reports for payroll, compliance audits or management reviews.
View compliance
Results reported by shift-based businesses
less time spent on scheduling
reduction in staff turnover
increase in productivity
faster payroll processing
Based on data reported by RosterElf customers. Individual results may vary.
Reviews from our customers
Read what our clients have to say about us
Andrew Nathan
November 13, 2025
"We are extremely happy with Roster Elf, it's a great improvement on the previous system we were using. Sean and all the staff have been fantastic, really know their stuff and make using RosterElf a pleasure."
Monica Van De Laak
October 16, 2025
"Sean was an amazing help, very patient and thorough."
Mary C.
October 13, 2025
"I can see my roster, enter availability, put leave in advance and clock on and off easily."
Built for shift-based industries across New Zealand
RosterElf is trusted by businesses where compliance, payroll accuracy and staff coordination matter.
Hospitality
Rosters, hours records and payroll export for fast-moving hospitality teams.
Retail
Flexible rosters and labour cost control for multi-location retail teams.
Healthcare
Workforce compliance, time tracking and payroll for care-based teams.
Care homes
Roster management and compliance for residential and domiciliary care providers.
Pubs & bars
Simplified roster scheduling and payroll for licensed venues.
Logistics & warehousing
Shift scheduling and time tracking for warehouse and distribution teams.
Trusted by shift-based businesses
From independent cafes to multi-site retail and care groups, thousands of teams run their rosters, timesheets and payroll exports on RosterElf.
Workforce management software vs manual methods
See how workforce management software compares to spreadsheets and paper-based roster management.
| What you need | Spreadsheets | Paper / WhatsApp | Workforce Management Software |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create rosters | Manual (hours) | Manual + errors | Automated (minutes) |
| Share with staff | Email/print | SMS/WhatsApp | App + notifications |
| Track actual hours | Separate system | Manual timesheets | Built-in clock in/out |
| Calculate pay | Manual formulas | Calculator | Auto wage calculations |
| Handle swaps | Endless messages | Phone calls | Self-service in app |
| Compliance | Hope for best | No audit trail | Automated checks |
| Mobile access | Limited | None | Full mobile app |
| Cost | "Free" + 4hrs/week | "Free" + chaos | One price per employee/mo |
Solve the hardest workforce problems — without adding admin
Build accurate rosters with confidence
Create rosters with the right people, skills and coverage for every shift.
Built-in checks help prevent under-staffing, over-staffing and last-minute changes that disrupt operations.
Keep the records New Zealand employment law expects
Rostered hours, roster changes, cancellations and leave are captured as you build the roster — so your wage and time records are a by-product of scheduling rather than an end-of-month reconstruction.
That matters more from 2028, when annual leave moves from weeks to hours accrued from day one.
Reduce payroll errors
Hours, breaks and rates flow directly into Xero NZ — eliminating manual re-entry and costly mistakes.
Timesheets are checked before export, so staff are paid correctly the first time, every time.
Cut hours of manual admin every week
Automate repetitive tasks like roster building, approvals, timesheets and holiday tracking.
Managers spend less time on admin and more time running the business.
Control labour costs before they blow out
See the cost impact of rosters in real time, including overtime and premium rates.
Make informed decisions before shifts are published — not after payroll is processed.
Keep staff aligned and informed
Share rosters, shift updates and announcements in one secure workplace app.
Reduce missed messages, no-shows and confusion caused by SMS or WhatsApp groups.
Real results from real businesses
See how hospitality, healthcare and care teams use RosterElf to cut admin, reduce costs and support your compliance efforts.
Bush kids childcare
95% time saved on payroll
The embassy
45 min manager training
Pressed earth
50% cost savings
Inspire care
Easy team adoption
Bagel O's
2.5+ years loyal
Toowoomba catholic
5 min rosters for 86 staff
Still comparing the usual suspects?
Don't just take our word for it— Browse verified Xero reviews and start your free 15-day trial today.
All-in-one rostering, HR & time tracking. Top-rated Xero app with award compliance.
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All-in-one rostering, HR & time tracking. Top-rated Xero app with award compliance.
Employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication app with Xero integration.
Staff scheduling and time tracking with Xero integration. One-click timesheet to invoice.
HR, payroll & benefits platform. Syncs employee data with Xero.
Simple per-employee pricing
One price per employee per month. No lock-in contracts, no setup fees, every feature included, cancel anytime.
Core
Rostering and time & attendance, with payroll-ready timesheets.
Full Suite
Rostering, payroll export and the HR Hub in one system.
HR
Onboarding, documents, policies and training on their own.
New Zealand pricing in NZD is being confirmed. Book a demo and we will quote the plan that fits your team, or start the free 15-day trial — no credit card required.
Book a demo to get NZ pricing →Real support from people who understand your business
At RosterElf, support isn't a ticket system — it's part of the product. Our team helps you set up correctly, get your rosters and hours records right, and stay on top of the changes coming to leave in 2028. No scripts. No offshore handoffs. Just real help when you need it.
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Support on Australian and New Zealand hours — phone, email and live chat
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Free onboarding assistance to get your team set up quickly
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Comprehensive help centre with video tutorials and guides
Latest insights
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Workforce management software FAQs
- Most businesses are up and running within a day. Import your employees via CSV, configure your roster templates, and you're ready to publish your first schedule. Our team provides free onboarding assistance.
- No installation required. RosterElf is 100% cloud-based and works in any modern web browser. Employees download the free mobile app from the App Store or Google Play to view rosters and clock in.
- Yes, you can bulk import employees, pay rates, and roster templates via CSV. If you're switching from Deputy, another platform, or spreadsheets, our onboarding team can assist with migration.
- Yes, all plans include a free 15-day trial with full access to every feature. No credit card required. Start your free trial today and see how RosterElf works for your business.
- After your trial, simply choose a plan that suits your team size. Nothing is charged when the trial ends, and there is nothing to cancel — it simply expires after 15 days. If you need more time to evaluate, contact our support team for an extension.