Minimum wage rates and wage laws

There are three minimum wage rates:

• the adult minimum wage applies to all employees aged 16 and over who are not new entrants or trainees
• the new entrants minimum wage applies to employees aged 16 and 17, except for those who have completed 200 hours or three months of employment in the workforce, whichever is shorter; or who are supervising or training other workers; or who are trainees
• the training minimum wage applies only to employees aged 16 and over who are doing recognised industry training involving at least 60 credits a year.

There is no statutory minimum wage for employees who are under 16 years old.

A small number of people hold an exemption from the minimum wage (see the section below about minimum wage exemptions).

The minimum wage rates are reviewed every year. As of 1 April 2011 the adult minimum wage rates (before tax) that apply for employees aged 16 or over are:

• $13.00 per hour, which is
• $104.00 for an 8-hour day or
• $520.00 for a 40-hour week.

The rates that apply to new entrants, and employees on the training minimum wage (before tax), are:

• $10.40 per hour, which is
• $83.20 for an 8-hour day or
• $416.00 for a 40-hour week

Employees have to be paid at least the minimum hourly wage rate for any extra time worked over eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.

Anyone who thinks they are being paid less than the minimum wage should call the Department of Labour on 0800 20 90 20.

All information is from the New Zealand Government website www.dol.govt.nz