New Zealand First will campaign to introduce an uplift of the minimum wage every year for the next three years, as well as a substantial increase to Working for Families.

Low wage workers are finding the cost of living tough, especially those people who are working to support their families.

Times are difficult and our economy has taken a long time to start on the road of recovery.  

An essential part of that recovery is ensuring that workers are looked after, that they are paid decent wages, have incentives to stay in work, and that those with families have enough to afford the basics in the household.

Every worker understands the concept of a fair day’s work, for a fair day’s pay.

We need to look after our workers and ensure that they receive a fair wage for their work. 

It means more money in the pocket for workers, more ability to afford the basics for their families like rent, food, power, and fuel. It will mean more spending in the local economy and a more productive country on the way to economic recovery.

As a government we cannot just view the economic recovery from a national level, it needs to start with our workers who are the backbone of our communities.

Increase to Working for Families

In April this year there was a temporary boost to the in-work tax credit of $50 a week which will only be in place for one year.

New Zealand First will make that boost permanent, and increase it by an extra $70 per week, for a total in-work tax credit to $120 per week. 

Parents are working hard and we need to ensure that they have enough to support their children and their families.

This policy will turn the temporary relief into a long-term pathway for hard working parents to be able to plan for their families’ future.

This policy is estimated to cost between $500-$600 million per year.

Increase to Minimum Wage

New Zealand First has always ensured our lowest paid workers have seen a yearly increase to the minimum wage.

We are the party that has been responsible for the yearly increase in minimum wage in three separate governments – 2005, 2017, and 2023.

New Zealand First commits to increase the minimum wage by at least inflation levels in every year of the next term of government.

Workers need to have the ability to afford the basics without falling behind the rate of inflation – it’s just common sense.