Minimum Wage Act 1983

This Act sets a minimum wage for everyone over the age of 16 years and provides for an annual minimum wage order. This order sets the minimum wage for workers aged 16 and 17, and also for adult workers – those aged 18 years and over.

Employers and employees cannot contract out of the minimum level of payment that the Act prescribes. Regardless of what pay rate they may have agreed to, if it is less than the current minimum wage order and the employee is over 16, the employer must make up the difference.

There are two groups to which the minimum wage level does not apply:

• Those with a special exemption (this is defined under the Act).
• Those in recognised industry training, undertaking at least 60 credits per year.

The New Zealand Department of Labour website gives more details about minimum wage levels.