What is New Zealand's minimum wage?

Answer 1

Minimum wage in New Zealand for someone over 16 is NZ$13.50 an hour. (unless you are aged 16 or 17 and a 'New Entrant' to the workforce) but some franchises pay $15.00 per hour for all employees - even those aged under 16.

Answer 2

There are three minimum wage rates:

• the adult minimum wage applies to all employees aged 16 and over who are not new entrants or trainees
  
• the new entrants minimum wage applies to employees aged 16 and 17, except for those who have completed 200 hours or three months of employment in the workforce, whichever is shorter; or who are supervising or training other workers; or who are trainees
  
• the training minimum wage applies only to employees aged 16 and over who are doing recognised industry training involving at least 60 credits a year.

There is no statutory minimum wage for employees who are under 16 years old.
A small number of people hold an exemption from the minimum wage (see the section about minimum wage exemptions).
The minimum wage rates are reviewed every year. As of 1 April 2012 the adult minimum wage rates (before tax) that apply for employees aged 16 or over are:

• $13.50 an hour, which is
• $108.00 for an 8-hour day or
• $540.00 for a 40-hour week.

The rates that apply to new entrants, and employees on the training minimum wage (before tax), are:

• $10.80 an hour, which is
• $86.40 for an 8-hour day or
• $432.00 for a 40-hour week.

Employees have to be paid at least the minimum hourly wage rate for any extra time worked over eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.

Answer 3

You should receive no less pay when on holiday/vacation/leave than when you were working.

You should get an average week's pay (average of your last twelve months work). You are entitled to at least four weeks (20 working days) each year after the anniversary of your starting date. You are entitled to sick leave in addition to annual leave.

Annual leave pay must be no less than an "average week's pay" that an employee would normally earn. eg if your average week's work is 53 hours (and you earn on average $1100 for that week) - then your holiday week must be pay for at least 53 hours (and the minimum you should receive is $1100 for that week, and each of your annual leave entitlement weeks) Annual holidays All employees in New Zealand are entitled to at least four weeks' paid holidays a year. These four weeks are in addition to the 12 statutory leave days (ie "public holidays").

Employees get their annual holiday entitlements on their first and subsequent anniversaries after starting work with their new employer. Employees may apply for leave six months into their new job and have a nominal entitlement to half their annual entitlement - however the employer may be reluctant to honour this "entitlement".

Some employment agreements provide for one or two weeks additional annual leave entitlement each year to reflect employment conditions (eg police, nurses and others) and other employers may provide for one or more "additional" weeks of holidays on top of the statutory entitlement for a variety of reasons (eg "reward" - rather than a pay rise - give an extra so many days of annual leave).

Annual holidays can be taken at any time agreed between the employer and the worker. Employees must be given the opportunity to take at least two of the four weeks' holidays continuously (if they wish to do so). An employer cannot unreasonably refuse any application for annual holidays once the year one anniversary has passed and you have a statutory entitlement to your annual holidays/annual leave/holiday pay.

Answer 4

Depends on what burger you are ordering.

As of October 2010, a Big Mac costs $5.20, a Quarter Pounder costs $4.90, and a cheeseburger costs $2.30.