Reference

NZ Living Wage 2026

Quick answer The New Zealand Living Wage is $29.90 an hour. That is well above the $23.95 minimum wage. The Living Wage is voluntary and set by the Living Wage Movement; the minimum wage is set by government and legally enforced. The full history is below.

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$29.90
Current Rate (from 1 September 2026)
$29.90
New Rate (from 1 Sep 2026)
$23.95
Minimum Wage (for comparison)

The Living Wage is an hourly rate calculated to reflect what a worker needs to pay for the necessities of life and participate in society. It is voluntary, set independently of the government by the Living Wage Movement Aotearoa New Zealand, and sits above the legal minimum wage. It is calculated by the Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit, announced around April each year, and takes effect the following 1 September. The Living Wage Movement says more than 64,000 workers across Aotearoa are paid at least the current rate by over 340 accredited Living Wage Employers.

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Current and Upcoming Rates

Effective dateLiving Wage rate
From 1 September 2026$29.90 per hour (current)
From 1 September 2025$28.95 per hour
From 1 September 2024$27.80 per hour
From 1 September 2023$26.00 per hour
Source: Living Wage Movement Aotearoa New Zealand. The 2026/27 rate of $29.90 was announced for accredited employers to implement by 1 September 2026.

Living Wage vs Minimum Wage

Living WageMinimum Wage
Current rate$29.90$23.95
Set byLiving Wage Movement (independent)Government (MBIE)
Compulsory?No, voluntary for accredited employersYes, legally enforced
Based onCost of meeting basic needs for a familyGovernment policy and economic balance
UpdatedAnnually, effective 1 SeptemberAnnually, effective 1 April

The gap between the Living Wage and the minimum wage is currently around $5 an hour. The Living Wage is reviewed each year and announced in April, with employers given until 1 September to implement the new rate. The 2026 increase of $1.15 was broadly in line with growth in average ordinary time hourly earnings.

Source: Living Wage Movement Aotearoa. See also our NZ Minimum Wage reference.

Cite this page NZ Living Wage 2026. Calculate.co.nz. https://www.calculate.co.nz/reference/nz-living-wage.php (retrieved 16 October 2026). Figures are compiled from the official sources listed above and reviewed twice monthly.