Minimum wage to increase by 2 per cent from April

Friday 12 December 2025 · 5 outlets · 5 reports · updated Fri 12 Dec 2025, 4:26pm

In this story Brooke van Velden

The adult minimum wage will rise to $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced the 2% increase, which aims to balance cost of living and business pressures. Starting-out and training rates will move to $19.16 per hour.

How they headlined it

4h

11:23am3:58pm

1. 1NewsFri 12 Dec 2025, 11:23am

   Minimum wage to increase 2% from April 1 (opens in new tab)

2. StuffFri 12 Dec 2025, 11:30am

   Minimum wage to increase by 45c to $23.95 an hour (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldFri 12 Dec 2025, 11:36am

   Minimum wage to increase from April next year, Govt commits to bigger rise than last year (opens in new tab)

4. RNZFri 12 Dec 2025, 3:58pm

   Minimum wage workers to get pay increase next year (opens in new tab)

5. Otago Daily TimesFri 12 Dec 2025, 4:26pm

   Opposition unimpressed with 'measly' minimum wage rise (opens in new tab)