An overview of the changing structures of New Zealand labor law that culminated in the Employment Relations Act of 2000, this study provides a thorough analysis of the current state of the law as it affects areas such as the contract of employment, collective bargaining, security of employment, and trade unions. The book argues that New Zealand's current labor policies are a system of self-help rather than one of state dependency, marking a new yet unfinished phase in labor regulation. It includes a discussion of current tensions that are likely to impact on the development of the law and the structure of employment and industrial relations in the future.