NZ Government Announces Minimum Wage Increase

What’s changed?

The New Zealand Government has announced that it will increase the Minimum Wage, raising it to $17.70 per hour. This is an increase of $1.20 per hour and will come into effect on 1 April 2019.

What does this mean for you?

If you employ staff on the Minimum Wage, from 1 April 2019 you will need to pay them $17.70 per hour. Underpaying staff can lead to a breach of the Employment Relations Act which could result in penalties to your business.

New Wage Rates from 1 April 2019

• Adult Minimum Wage – $17.70 Per Hour
• Starting-Out Wage – $14.16 Per Hour
• Training Minimum Wage – $14.16 Per Hour

What do you need to do?

The increased rate will come into effect on 1 April 2019, so you need to start preparing your business for the new Minimum Wage pay rate. If you need help understanding and implementing these changes, please contact us on 0800 675 700 or email [email protected]