"Cafe owner advertises for younger staff, ignores discrimination laws", 7 April 2019

A cafe owner who has advertised for younger staff because they "work with us the best" says he doesn't care if it's illegal.

The Black Pearl Cafe in Palmerston North was advertising for workers between the ages of 18 and 27 in a notice in the shop window.

Owner Paul Eak Leang told Stuff he knew it was illegal to include an age range but said it was not his intention to discriminate against anyone.

"I find that those ages [18-27-year-olds] work with us the best ... It's about the nature of the business."

Leang said it was hard for younger and older workers to cooperate in a cafe environment and most people above the advertised age were not interested in hospitality work.

...Under the Human Rights Act 1993, it is illegal to discriminate on the base of age, unless it is a genuine requirement, such as if the person would have to work in a bar.

It is also illegal to display advertising material that demonstrates the intention to discriminate illegally.

...Discrimination complaints can be laid through the Human Rights Commission. If issues are not sorted through informal measures or mediation, people are able to go to the Human Rights Review Tribunal, which can award up to $350,000 in damages.