A snapshot of New Zealand’s Minimum Wage.

A snapshot of New Zealand’s minimum wage.

Did you know that New Zealand was the first nation to set a minimum wage? In 1938 the First Labour Government set the minimum wage at $0.25 per hour, to prevent exploitation of workers in the manufacturing industry.

By the end of the 20th Century most countries had introduced minimum wage legislation, and these regulations are now viewed as a way to help lower-income families. With news that the rate is set to rise again on 1 April 2018, we’ve created this infographic to share the interesting history of the minimum wage in New Zealand.