Minimum Wage New Zealand 2025: What’s the Current Rate and Weekly Salary?
If anyone wants to start a new job in New Zealand, it is essential to understand the country’s minimum wage. With the updation of each year, the current minimum wage New Zealand impacts your weekly or hourly salary, budget planning, or financial goals.
In 2025, New Zealand officially updated its minimum wage to support workers facing a rapidly increasing cost of living, including housing, food, and transport. Now, the current minimum wage is $23.15 per hour. If you work 40 hours a week, then your estimated earnings per week are $926.This is the minimum wage salary for 40 hours a week that most of the workers receive.
Workers who are 16 or above receive the minimum wage salary of 40 hours a week, which implies the adult minimum wage category. They receive a little lower pay, whether they are in training or are beginners.
In big cities like Auckland, the cost of living is high, but the minimum wage in Auckland remains the same as in other cities. If we compare the wages, then the average income in New Zealand is still higher than the minimum salary in NZ, but this wage is a stable income for those who are starting their first job or like starting their career.
Minimum Salary in New Zealand
In New Zealand , when workers work full-time, they receive pay at the minimum hourly rate is called the minimum salary because this is the total annual pay. For 2025, the hourly wage is $23.15 if a person is working 40 hours per week, then they would earn approximately $48,880 per year before any tax deduction. This amount is referred to as the minimum salary NZ or the minimum wage salary for 40 hours a week. It is important to konw your minimum salary in New Zealand because it helps for job seekers to compare the offers whether you live comfortable or not.
Who Qualifies for the Minimum Wage in New Zealand?
The minimum wage New Zealand is legally set for employees to protect their’ rights and ensure that all workers get fair pay for their work. People who are 16 or older than16 receive the adult minimum wage in NZ. Here are a few categories where different rates apply:
1. Standard Adult Employees
Adult minimum wage in NZ applies if your age is 16 or above, if you are not in training, or on a special contract. These employees earn the full minimum wage rate in NZ. If you are a full-time worker, meaning working 40 hours a week, then your weekly income is $926, and it will come to approximately $48,880 per year. This is the minimum salary in New Zealand, which most workers expect.
2. Starting-Out Wage Workers
Some younger employee don’t get their full minimum wage for their first six month.
3. Industry Trainees
Employees who are doing training in the industry are paid slightly less than the training minimum wage. Their pay is less than the current minimum wage. Once their training end, then they get the full minimum hourly rate
4. Special Cases (Disability-Based)
A disabled person also paid less than minimum wage in NZ, but in special cases:
- The employer must apply for official permission through the government to pay a lower wage. This is called a minimum wage exemption.
- Or the worker’s pay is decided based on what kind of work they do or how much they can manage.
Wage Calculation Tools
These are tools to calculate your wage
- Minimum wage calculator
- PAYE tax calculators
- Salary Guide New Zealand