NZ minimum wage is one of the highest in the world
The most sensible way to assess the level of the minimum wage, is to compare it to the median wage. In fact I advocate we should stop the annual lolly scramble in setting the minimum wage, and simply have a law stating it is x% (say 65%) of the median wage. This would mean that lifting the median wage would lift the minimum wage, so politicians would focus policies that are good for improving the productivity of the economy (which is how you lift wages) rather than passing a feel good law.
The current minimum wage in New Zealand is exceptionally high already. The OECD calculates the levels in 2021 to be:
- New Zealand 68%
- France 61%
- UK 57%
- Australia 52%
- Germany 51%
- Canada 50%
- Ireland 46%
- Japan 45%
- US 29%
Minimum wage workers in NZ are better paid, relative to the median wage, than almost any other developed country.