New Zealand to implement new median wages from February 28

• New Zealand to implement new median wages from February 28
• The new median wage rate of $31.61 an hour will be adopted into parts the immigration system on February 28

The New Zealand government has announced that the new median wage rate of $31.61 an hour will be adopted into parts the immigration system on February 28, 2024, according to a statement by Immigration New Zealand (INZ).

Wage thresholds for the Skilled Migrant Category, the Green List Straight to Residence and Work to Residence visas, and the Parent Category residence class visa will increase in line with the median wage (NZD$31.61 an hour) on February 28, 2024.

The wage threshold for the Transport Sector Work to Residence Visa will also increase in line with the new median wage (excluding bus drivers).

This increase does not apply to the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV), which the Government signalled in December will remain at the current rate of NZD$29.66 an hour.

For consistency, the pause also applies to AEWV-linked work visas that are either set at or indexed to the median wage rate from February 2023 (NZD$29.66 an hour) including:

• the Partner of a Worker Work Visa
• variation of conditions for AEWVs, legacy Essential Skills work visas, interim visas granted under the Skilled Migrant Category, and Partner of a Worker work visa
• Subsequent Migrant Exploitation Protection Visas.

Migrants who already hold an AEWV which is paid at the paused wage rate (NZD$29.66 an hour) may continue to accrue work experience for Skilled Residence, despite the increase in wage requirements. However, they will need to have a job or job offer that meets the skilled residence pathway rate in line with the median wage at the time that they apply.