Blog / Minimum wage NZ 2026
Minimum wage in NZ 2026: what you should be paid at 16, 17, 18 and 20
Starting your first job, or wondering if you're being paid right? Here are New Zealand's minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026, which one applies to you, and what to do if your pay looks wrong.
The rates from 1 April 2026
| Minimum wage | Per hour | 40-hour week |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | $23.95 | $958.00 |
| Starting-out | $19.16 | $766.40 |
| Training | $19.16 | $766.40 |
Before tax. Source: Employment New Zealand. From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 the rates were $23.50 (adult) and $18.80 (starting-out and training) (previous rates).
Which rate applies to you?
Under 16: no minimum wage
The minimum wage only starts at 16. If you're 14 or 15, your employer doesn't have to pay a set minimum – but they do have to pay you the rate you agreed, for every hour you work. Read more in jobs for teens in NZ: first jobs at 15 and 16.
16 or 17: starting-out, then adult
If you're 16 or 17, you can be paid the starting-out wage ($19.16) until you've worked for the same employer for 6 months in a row. After 6 months with that employer, you must get at least the adult minimum wage ($23.95).
The 6 months are counted in calendar months from your first day – it doesn't matter how many hours or days a week you work. Time you worked there before you turned 16 counts, and so does leave. If you move to a new employer, the 6 months start again.
16 to 19 in industry training
If your employment agreement says you have to do industry training of at least 40 credits a year to become qualified in your job, the starting-out wage can apply until you turn 20.
18 or 19 after time on a benefit
If you're 18 or 19 and have been on certain benefits (such as Jobseeker Support or Youth Payment) for 6 months or more, the starting-out wage can apply until you've worked 6 months in a row for one employer.
20 and over in training: the training wage
If you're 20 or older and your employment agreement says you have to do at least 60 credits of industry training a year – for example as an apprentice – you can be paid the training minimum wage ($19.16). It has to be an approved industry training programme: being trained by your employer when you start a job doesn't count.
Everyone else 16 and over: the adult rate
If none of the above fits, you must get at least $23.95 an hour.
Good to know: if part of your job is supervising or training other workers, the starting-out and training rates don't apply. You must get at least the adult minimum wage. This is about supervising or training as a regular part of your job, not a one-off.
Your pay rights in a nutshell
- Every hour counts. The minimum wage applies to every hour you work (Employment NZ).
- Trials. A short skills test in an interview, like making two or three coffees, doesn't have to be paid. But working a whole shift, or even a few hours, would likely count as employment (Employment NZ).
- Get it in writing. Every employee must have a written employment agreement. Read your pay rate and hours before you sign.
- Your agreement can be higher. If your agreement says more than the minimum, you must be paid that rate.
- KiwiSaver. From 1 April 2026, 16 and 17-year-olds in KiwiSaver who contribute from their pay also get compulsory employer contributions – usually 3.5% of their pay (Inland Revenue).
How to check your pay
- Look at your payslip: hours worked and pay before tax.
- Divide the pay before tax by the hours. That's your hourly rate.
- Compare it with the rate that applies to you above.
Example: you're 17, worked 12 hours and got $229.92 before tax. $229.92 ÷ 12 = $19.16 an hour – fine for your first 6 months with that employer. After 6 months, that same week should pay at least $287.40.
If you're being paid too little
- Talk to your manager first – it's sometimes an honest mistake, like a missed birthday or the 6-month mark.
- If that doesn't fix it, contact Employment New Zealand on 0800 20 90 20. You can report underpayment safely.
- YouthLaw gives free legal help to young people.
Minimum wage is the floor, not the goal
Plenty of jobs pay more than the minimum, especially once you have skills. Some trades pay very well once you're qualified – see high-paying jobs in NZ without a degree. Week by Week helps you spot the skills you already have and the next step towards better-paid work.
Questions
What is the minimum wage in NZ in 2026?
From 1 April 2026 the adult minimum wage is $23.95 an hour before tax. The starting-out and training minimum wages are $19.16 an hour.
What is the minimum wage for a 16 year old in NZ?
A 16 or 17-year-old can be paid the starting-out wage of $19.16 an hour until they've worked 6 months in a row for the same employer. After that, they must get at least the adult minimum wage of $23.95.
Is there a minimum wage for 15 year olds in NZ?
No. There is no minimum wage for employees under 16. You still have to be paid the rate you agreed for every hour you work.
How much is the minimum wage per week in NZ?
For a 40-hour week, the adult minimum wage comes to $958 before tax, and the starting-out or training minimum wage to $766.40.
When does the minimum wage go up?
The government reviews the minimum wage every year. New rates usually start on 1 April. No new rate for 2027 had been announced when we checked on 3 October 2026.
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Sources
- Employment New Zealand, Minimum wage rates and types (rates from 1 April 2026; last modified 1 April 2026, checked 3 October 2026)
- Employment New Zealand, Previous minimum wage rates (checked 3 October 2026)
- Employment New Zealand, Pre-employment trials (checked 3 October 2026)
- YouthLaw Aotearoa, Before you start work (checked 3 October 2026)
- Inland Revenue, KiwiSaver changes (checked 3 October 2026)