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New Zealand will increase its adult minimum wage from April 1, 2026, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment announced in December. The reform follows the government’s annual minimum wage review and will apply across the country.
The Workplace Relations and Safety Minister announced that the adult minimum wage will rise to $23.95 an hour from April 2026, marking an increase of 45 cents from the current rate of $23.50 an hour.
Training and starting-out wages revised
The training and starting-out minimum wages will also increase from April 1, 2026. Both rates will rise to $19.16 an hour and will remain at 80 percent of the adult minimum wage, up from the current level of $18.80 an hour.
“This new rate will benefit around 122,500 working New Zealanders and strikes a balance between keeping up with the cost of living and not adding further pressure on the costs of running businesses,” said Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden in the official announcement.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
Impact on workers
An employee working 40 hours a week on the adult minimum wage will earn an additional $18 per week, or $936 a year before tax, compared with current pay levels.
The ministry said about 122,500 workers who currently earn below the new minimum wage rates are expected to benefit from the increase.
The minimum wage applies to all employees aged 16 and above who are legally employed in New Zealand.
The Workplace Relations and Safety Minister announced that the adult minimum wage will rise to $23.95 an hour from April 2026, marking an increase of 45 cents from the current rate of $23.50 an hour.
Training and starting-out wages revised
The training and starting-out minimum wages will also increase from April 1, 2026. Both rates will rise to $19.16 an hour and will remain at 80 percent of the adult minimum wage, up from the current level of $18.80 an hour.“This new rate will benefit around 122,500 working New Zealanders and strikes a balance between keeping up with the cost of living and not adding further pressure on the costs of running businesses,” said Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden in the official announcement.
(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
Impact on workers
An employee working 40 hours a week on the adult minimum wage will earn an additional $18 per week, or $936 a year before tax, compared with current pay levels.The ministry said about 122,500 workers who currently earn below the new minimum wage rates are expected to benefit from the increase.
The minimum wage applies to all employees aged 16 and above who are legally employed in New Zealand.
