Minimum wage in New Zealand: adult, starting-out and training rates
The minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate most employees aged 16 and over can legally be paid. Here is what the current rates mean and how to check your pay.
ManyJobs guide · Checked against official sources on 3 November 2026 · General information, not tax, legal or immigration advice.
The government reviews the minimum wage every year, and new rates usually take effect on 1 April. The figures below are the rates that apply from 1 April 2026. Always confirm the current rates on Employment New Zealand's minimum wage page, especially if you are reading this after the next annual review.
Current rates (from 1 April 2026)
| Rate | Per hour (before tax) |
|---|---|
| Adult minimum wage | $23.95 |
| Starting-out minimum wage | $19.16 |
| Training minimum wage | $19.16 |
The starting-out and training rates are set at 80 percent of the adult rate. For a full-time week of 40 hours, the adult rate works out at $958 before tax.
Who the adult rate applies to
The adult minimum wage applies to employees aged 16 or over who do not qualify for the starting-out or training rate. There is no separate "youth rate": a 16- or 17-year-old who has worked for the same employer for more than six months, for example, must generally be paid at least the adult rate.
The starting-out rate
An employer may pay the starting-out rate only to some groups of young people:
- 16- and 17-year-olds who have not yet completed six months' continuous employment with their current employer.
- 18- and 19-year-olds who have been receiving certain government benefits for six months or more and have not yet completed six months' continuous employment with an employer since starting to receive the benefit.
- 16- to 19-year-olds whose employment agreement requires them to do at least 40 credits of industry training a year.
If you do not fit one of these groups, the adult rate applies.
The training rate
The training minimum wage applies to employees aged 20 or over who are doing recognised industry training that involves at least 60 credits a year and whose employment agreement requires them to do it. Apprentices are a common example.
Is the minimum wage before or after tax?
Minimum wage rates are gross, meaning before PAYE tax, KiwiSaver, student loan repayments or other deductions. Your employer cannot make deductions such as uniform costs or till shortages that bring your pay below the minimum wage without your written consent, and some deductions are not allowed even with consent.
Salaried and piece-rate workers
If you are paid a salary, divide your pay for a period by the hours you actually worked in that period. The result must be at least the minimum hourly rate. This matters in roles with long or unpredictable hours, such as some duty-manager and supervisor positions. The same principle applies to piece rates and commission: total pay for the hours worked must meet the minimum.
How to check your pay
- Find your hourly rate on your employment agreement or payslip.
- Check the number of hours paid matches the hours you worked, including any training or required meetings.
- If you are on a salary, divide by the hours worked in the pay period.
- Compare the result with the current rate on Employment New Zealand's website.
If you think you have been underpaid, raise it with your employer in writing first. Employment New Zealand can give free information and has a process for problems that cannot be resolved directly. Underpaying the minimum wage is a breach of employment law, and employers can be ordered to pay arrears and penalties.
Looking beyond the minimum
Many employers pay above the minimum, and pay can also differ by role, experience and location. When you compare offers, look at the hourly rate together with guaranteed hours, penal or weekend rates, travel and training; our guide to comparing job offers walks through this.