New Zealand: Median Wage Increase Paused the AEWV

Key Points  

• New Zealand will temporarily pause previously scheduled median wage rate increases for the Accredited Employer Work Visa  

Overview  

The government of New Zealand will temporarily pause increases to the median wage rate for the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) that was originally due to increase in February 2024. The pause means the rate for workers on an AEWV will remain at the current rate of NZD$29.66 an hour. The pause also extends to median wage requirements for partners of workers. 

The new median wage of NZD$31.61 per hour will still apply to other visa categories that use it from February 2024, such as the Skilled Migrant Category and Parent Category.   

According to the announcement, this decision will give the government additional time to remove alternatives to the median wage threshold under the AEWV.  

Looking Ahead  

Continue to check the government of New Zealand’s website and Envoy’s website for the latest updates and information.