New Zealand’s Pause AEWV Median Wage Rate Increase

By Erik Murthy January 11, 2024 August 13th, 2025 No Comments

On December 21, 2023, Immigration New Zealand made a pivotal announcement regarding the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) program. This announcement involved pausing the planned increase in the median wage rate, initially scheduled for February 2024. This pause has significant implications for various stakeholders, and understanding its details necessitates a comprehensive examination of the wage rates in New Zealand, especially the median and minimum wage rates. Detailed Analysis of the Median Wage Rate Definition and Role in AEWV:

- Median Wage Rate: This is the middle value in a list of wages, signifying that half of the workers earn below this amount and half earn more.
- AEWV Requirement: Employers hiring migrant workers under the AEWV must pay at least this median wage rate. Current and Proposed Rates:

- Current Rate: The median wage rate is NZD $29.66 per hour.
- Planned Increase and Pause: The gove...