NZ Minimum Wage Rates
Every adult, starting-out, and training minimum wage rate since 2020, each effective 1 April, taken from the Minimum Wage Order that set it.
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The Minimum Wage Calculator applies PAYE, ACC, KiwiSaver and student loan to any of the rates below for your own hours.
Every NZ minimum wage rate since 2020
Each row takes effect on 1 April of the year shown and applies until the next Order. All rates are gross (before tax) hourly rates; the last column is what a 40-hour week comes to at the adult rate.
| From 1 April | Adult | Starting-out | Training | 40hr week (adult) | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Current | $23.95 | $19.16 | $19.16 | $958 | Minimum Wage Order 2026 (SL 2026/16) |
| 2025 | $23.50 | $18.80 | $18.80 | $940 | Minimum Wage Order 2025 (SL 2025/16) |
| 2024 | $23.15 | $18.52 | $18.52 | $926 | Minimum Wage Order 2024 (SL 2024/16) |
| 2023 | $22.70 | $18.16 | $18.16 | $908 | Minimum Wage Order 2023 (SL 2023/13) |
| 2022 | $21.20 | $16.96 | $16.96 | $848 | Minimum Wage Order 2022 (SL 2022/44) |
| 2021 | $20.00 | $16.00 | $16.00 | $800 | Minimum Wage Order 2021 (SL 2021/24) |
| 2020 | $18.90 | $15.12 | $15.12 | $756 | Minimum Wage Order 2020 (LI 2020/9) |
Every figure is taken from the Minimum Wage Order for that year and cross-checked against Employment New Zealand's published current and previous minimum wage rates pages.
Adult vs starting-out vs training — who gets which rate
| Situation | Rate | From 1 April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 16+, not starting-out or training | Adult | $23.95 |
| 16-17yo, under 6 months with current employer; or 18-19yo on a specified benefit 6+ months; or 16-19yo on 40+ credits/yr training | Starting-out | $19.16 |
| Aged 20+, agreement requires 60+ credits/yr industry training | Training | $19.16 |
There is no separate rate by age above 16 — a 57-year-old and a 20-year-old past their starting-out window earn the same adult minimum. Every employee aged 16 or over — full-time, part-time, casual, fixed-term or agency — must be paid at least the rate for their category for every hour worked, unless they hold a rare minimum wage exemption permit.
Minimum wage vs the Living Wage
The minimum wage is the legal floor set by Government and reviewed every 1 April. The Living Wage is a separate, voluntary rate calculated independently by Living Wage Movement Aotearoa NZ from the cost of living, reviewed every 1 September. No employer is legally required to pay it.
| Rate | Statutory? | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Adult minimum wage | Yes — Minimum Wage Act 1983 | $23.95 |
| Living Wage (1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2027) | No — voluntary | $29.90 |
The Living Wage is currently $5.95 an hour above the adult minimum.
What changed on 1 April 2026
The adult rate rose $0.45 from $23.50 to $23.95 — a 1.9% increase. Starting-out and training rose $0.36 to $19.16. At 40 hours a week, that is about $936 more a year before tax. See the Minimum Wage Calculator for the after-tax difference.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current NZ minimum wage?
From 1 April 2026, the adult minimum wage is $23.95 an hour. The starting-out and training minimum wages are both $19.16 an hour. These are gross (before tax) legal minimums set under the Minimum Wage Act 1983 — an employer cannot pay less for any hour actually worked.
What was the minimum wage in previous years?
1 April 2026: $23.95 adult, $19.16 starting-out/training; 1 April 2025: $23.50 adult, $18.80 starting-out/training; 1 April 2024: $23.15 adult, $18.52 starting-out/training; 1 April 2023: $22.70 adult, $18.16 starting-out/training; 1 April 2022: $21.20 adult, $16.96 starting-out/training; 1 April 2021: $20.00 adult, $16.00 starting-out/training; 1 April 2020: $18.90 adult, $15.12 starting-out/training. Full table below.
How often does the minimum wage change?
Once a year, from 1 April. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) reviews the rates annually, the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety recommends new figures, and the Government makes a Minimum Wage Order under the Minimum Wage Act 1983 that revokes and replaces the previous Order.
Who gets the starting-out or training rate instead of the adult rate?
The starting-out rate applies to 16-17 year-olds who haven't worked 6+ months for one employer, 18-19 year-olds who've been on a specified benefit for 6+ months, or 16-19 year-olds whose agreement requires 40+ credits/year of industry training. The training rate applies to workers aged 20+ whose agreement requires 60+ credits/year of industry training. Everyone else — including all casual, part-time and fixed-term workers aged 16+ — gets the adult rate.
Is the Living Wage the same as the minimum wage?
No. The minimum wage is the legal floor, reviewed each 1 April. The Living Wage is a voluntary rate independently calculated by Living Wage Movement Aotearoa NZ and reviewed each 1 September — no employer is required to pay it. The current Living Wage (1 Sept 2026 – 31 Aug 2027) is $29.90 an hour.
Where do these figures come from?
Each row is taken from the Minimum Wage Order for that year (made under the Minimum Wage Act 1983) and cross-checked against Employment New Zealand's published current and previous minimum wage rates pages. The Order is the primary legal source; Employment New Zealand's page restates it.
Sources
- Employment New Zealand — Minimum wage rates and types
- Employment New Zealand — Previous minimum wage rates
- MBIE — Minimum wage reviews
- Minimum Wage Act 1983
- Living Wage Movement Aotearoa NZ
- Minimum Wage Order 2026 (SL 2026/16)
- Minimum Wage Order 2025 (SL 2025/16)
- Minimum Wage Order 2024 (SL 2024/16)
- Minimum Wage Order 2023 (SL 2023/13)
- Minimum Wage Order 2022 (SL 2022/44)
- Minimum Wage Order 2021 (SL 2021/24)
- Minimum Wage Order 2020 (LI 2020/9)
Related Calculators
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Reflects the minimum wage rates in force from 1 April 2026, verified against the Minimum Wage Order.