NZ Supreme Court rules against New Zealand Basing Ltd requirement to retire at age of 55

14 September, 2017

New Zealand's Supreme Court ruled (13-Sep-2017) to allow an appeal by two Cathay Pacific pilots based in Auckland. The pilots, David Brown and Glen Sycamore, appealed to Cathay Pacific wholly owned subsidiary New Zealand Basing Ltd (NZBL), regarding a requirement for the pilots to retire at the age of 55. The Court said NZBL sought to exercise the requirement, when Mr Brown and Mr Sycamore challenged the requirement's lawfulness under New Zealand's Employment Relations Act 2000. The Court stated If the right not to be discriminated on grounds of age is applicable, the pilots cannot be required to retire until they reach the age of 65. [more - original PR]