Minimum wage reviews
This page provides the Cabinet papers and regulatory impact analyses for previous reviews of the minimum wages.
On this page I tēnei whārangi
The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety is required by law to review the minimum wages annually, to take effect 1 April each year.
2026 minimum wage
The 2026 minimum wage will be $23.95 per hour from 1 April 2026.
2025 minimum wage
The 2025 minimum wage is $23.50 per hour from 1 April 2025.
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Minimum Wage Order 2025 – Minute of Decision [PDF 329KB]
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Minimum Wage Order 2025 [PDF 257KB]
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Minimum Wage Review 2024 [PDF 1.1MB]
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Minimum Wage Review 2024: Setting the 2025 rates [PDF 374KB]
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Minimum Wage Review: Setting the 2025 rates – Minute of Decision [PDF 183KB]
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Review of MBIE’s Minimum Wage model [PDF 558KB]
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Peer Review Report on Motu’s Review of the MBIE Minimum Wage Model [PDF 329KB]
2024 minimum wage
The 2024 minimum wage was $23.15 per hour.
2023 minimum wage
The 2023 minimum wage was $22.70 per hour.
2022 minimum wage
The 2022 minimum wage was $21.20 per hour.
2021 minimum wage
The 2021 minimum wage was $20 per hour.
Minimum wage review, December 2020 [PDF, 1.5 MB]
Minimum wage 2021 Cabinet paper [PDF, 350 KB]
Minimum wage review 2020 – Minute of Decision [PDF, 138 KB]
2020 minimum wage
The 2020 minimum wage was $18.90 per hour.
Minimum wage review, December 2019 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Minimum wage 2020 Cabinet paper [PDF, 786 KB]
Minimum wage 2020 regulatory impact statement [PDF, 5.5 MB]
2019 minimum wage
The 2019 minimum wage was $17.70 per hour.
Minimum wage review, November 2018 [PDF, 1.2 MB]
Minimum wage 2019 Cabinet paper [PDF, 456 KB]
Minimum wage 2019 regulatory impact statement [PDF, 512 KB]
2018 minimum wage
The 2018 minimum wage was $16.50 per hour.
Minimum wage 2018 Cabinet paper [PDF, 359 KB]
Minimum wage 2018 regulatory impact statement [PDF, 230 KB]
2017 minimum wage
The 2017 minimum wage was $15.75 per hour.
Minimum wage 2017 Cabinet paper [PDF, 93 KB]
Minimum wage 2017 regulatory impact statement [PDF, 1.4 MB]
2016 minimum wage
The 2016 minimum wage was $15.25 per hour.
More information on wage rates
Current and historical minimum wage rates(external link) — Employment New Zealand
More information about the minimum wage(external link) — Employment New Zealand