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TakeHomePay
2026/27Updated for the 2026/27 tax year. Figures sourced from Inland Revenue.

New Zealand minimum wage 2026

The adult minimum wage is $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026. See every rate, what it is after tax, and how it’s changed over 10 years.

$41,318 take-home a year

That’s $794.58 a week, $1,589.17 a fortnight, or $3,443.20 a month after PAYE and ACC. The effective tax rate is 17.1%.

Gross
$49,816
PAYE tax
$7,626
ACC levy
$872

Based on $23.95/hour × 40 hours a week, after PAYE and ACC (no KiwiSaver or student loan). Adjust below.

Minimum wage take-home pay calculator

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Your results

Your estimated take-home pay

$794.58a week

$41,318 a year · effective tax rate 17.1%

Pay breakdown a week
Gross pay$958.00
PAYE income tax−$146.65
ACC earners’ levy−$16.76
Take-home pay$794.58

Take-home across pay cycles

weekly

$795

fortnightly

$1,589

monthly

$3,443

annual

$41,318

Estimate for the 2026/27 tax year. Your actual pay may vary with your tax code and rounding.

Current minimum wage rates (1 April 2026)

Rate typePer hourPer week (40h)Per year (40h)
Adult$23.95$958.00$49,816
Starting-out$19.16$766.40$39,853
Training$19.16$766.40$39,853

All rates are gross (before tax). The minimum wage is set by the Government and reviewed each year by MBIE, with changes taking effect on 1 April.

NZ minimum wage history (last 10 years)

Adult minimum wage rate effective 1 April each year.

New Zealand adult minimum wage by year, 2017 to 2026
EffectiveAdult rateIncrease
1 April 2017$15.75—
1 April 2018$16.50+4.8%
1 April 2019$17.70+7.3%
1 April 2020$18.90+6.8%
1 April 2021$20.00+5.8%
1 April 2022$21.20+6.0%
1 April 2023$22.70+7.1%
1 April 2024$23.15+2.0%
1 April 2025$23.50+1.5%
1 April 2026$23.95+1.9%

Minimum wage — common questions

What is the minimum wage in New Zealand?
From 1 April 2026, the adult minimum wage in New Zealand is $23.95 an hour. The starting-out and training minimum wage is $19.16 an hour. These are gross rates, before PAYE tax and other deductions.
What is the minimum wage after tax in NZ?
Working full-time (40 hours a week) on the adult minimum wage of $23.95 an hour earns about $49,816 a year before tax. After PAYE income tax and the ACC earners’ levy, that’s roughly $794.58 a week take-home, or about $41,318 a year.
When does the minimum wage change?
The minimum wage is set by the Government and reviewed each year by MBIE (the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment). Any change takes effect on 1 April.
What’s the difference between the adult, starting-out and training rates?
The adult rate ($23.95/hr) applies to most workers aged 16 and over. The starting-out rate ($19.16/hr) can apply to some 16–19 year-olds in their first months of work or on a benefit, and the training rate ($19.16/hr) to employees doing recognised industry training. Both are 80% of the adult rate.
How much is the minimum wage a year?
On the adult minimum wage of $23.95 an hour, full-time work (40 hours a week) is about $49,816 a year before tax. Your actual pay depends on the hours you work.

Sources

Minimum wage rates and history are from Employment New Zealand (MBIE): minimum wage rates and types, previous minimum wage rates, and the 1 April 2026 increase announcement. Take-home figures use Inland Revenue’s 2026/27 PAYE and ACC rules — see NZ tax rates.