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Get Started ≫Employment rates and thresholds: New Zealand
The New Zealand numbers an employer needs in one place: pay floors, contributions, leave and termination minimums. Each row carries its source.
The adult minimum wage is NZ$23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026, the compulsory employer KiwiSaver contribution is 3.5%, and New Zealand charges no payroll tax and no social security tax.
The New Zealand numbers, each with its source
Pay floors
| Item | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Adult minimum wage | NZ$23.95/hour from 1 Apr 2026 | Employment New Zealand |
| Starting-out and training wage | NZ$19.16/hour (80% of adult) | Employment New Zealand |
Employer contributions
| Item | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| KiwiSaver employer minimum | 3.5% of gross pay (4% from 1 Apr 2028) | Inland Revenue |
| ESCT | Deducted from the employer contribution, not added on top | Inland Revenue |
| ACC work levy | Industry-rated; 2026/27 average NZ$0.69 per NZ$100, excl GST | ACC / MBIE |
| Payroll tax / social security | None | NZ Government |
Leave and holidays
| Item | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual holidays | 4 weeks after 12 months | Employment New Zealand |
| Sick leave | 10 days from 6 months' service; accumulates to 20 | Employment New Zealand |
| Public holidays | Up to 12 (11 national including Matariki + 1 regional) | Employment New Zealand |
Termination
| Item | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Notice | No statutory minimum; the agreement governs (2-4 weeks common) | Employment New Zealand |
| Redundancy compensation | None by statute; contract only | Employment New Zealand |
Thresholds and caps
| Item | 2026 figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unjustified dismissal grievance threshold | NZ$200,000+ remuneration on new agreements (from 21 Feb 2026) | Employment New Zealand |
Cross-market context for every one of these figures: employer costs, notice periods, redundancy pay, sick pay and annual leave, all six markets side by side.
Rates and thresholds are the part of employment you can look up. Whether the people those rates buy will perform is the part you cannot, and it is where most hiring cost actually hides. Compono gives you the people data to make hires you can defend in any market.
See how it worksCommon questions
Where do these New Zealand figures come from?
Every row links its government source: Employment New Zealand. We checked each figure against that source in July 2026 and note the effective date where a rate changed recently.
How often do these rates change?
Most reset annually. We review the full table each year and after major legislative changes, and the last-reviewed date in the footer tells you exactly where you stand.
How current are these figures?
Every figure on this page was checked against the named government source in July 2026. We review the whole set annually and after major legislative changes, and the sources section lists the exact page we verified each market against.
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