​The new median wage of NZD $31.61 an hour will be adopted into the immigration system in February 2024.

5 September 2023

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Many work and skilled residence visa categories have wage thresholds or criteria that are based on the median wage.

The new median wage of NZD $31.61 an hour will be adopted into the immigration system in February 2024.

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Most wage thresholds indexed to the median wage will be updated. This includes the Accredited Employer Visa (AEWV), the Skilled Migrant Category, and some occupations covered by Sector Agreements and the Green List.

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Parent category wage thresholds are updated separately and the tourism and hospitality wage threshold will also be updated separately in April 2024.

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Last year, a standard process was set up to update the median wage in the immigration system in February the following year. This gives businesses around 6 months to prepare for the change from the time it gets updated by Statistics NZ.

We will provide more information on what this means for employers, and specific dates, nearer the time.