A field guide for people who want good work close to home. Your rights, your pay and your first 90 days — checked against Employment New Zealand, Inland Revenue and Stats NZ.
Cover story · Your rights
A few coffees, yes. A few hours, probably not. New Zealand draws the line on unpaid trials earlier than you might expect.
Pay
The minimum wage and KiwiSaver both went up on 1 April 2026. Here’s the floor for every job, and the leave you build up.
2 min read →03Starting out
A 90-day trial period changes what happens if you’re let go. It also comes with strict conditions, and the timing of your signature matters.
2 min read →04Jobs in demand
More people are looking for work than a year ago. Here’s what to have ready for early childhood and automotive roles.
2 min read →NZ$23.95
Adult minimum wage per hour from 1 April 2026.
Employment New Zealand, 2026
90
Maximum days in a trial period, and only if you signed before you started work.
Employment New Zealand, 2026
3.5%
Default KiwiSaver contribution for you and your employer from 1 April 2026; 4% from April 2028.
Inland Revenue, 2026
5.6%
Unemployment rate in the June 2026 quarter, the highest since September 2015.
Stats NZ, 2026
Jobs in this edition
Phonim is coming to all 16 regions: Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui, Greater Wellington, Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago, Southland. The Chatham Islands are not included.
Early childhood education
Automotive
From the publisher
Phonim is launching in New Zealand soon.
A practical guide for people looking for work near home in New Zealand: your rights on trial shifts, pay and leave, the jobs in demand and what to sort out before your first day. Every figure names its official source.
A visit lets you see a workplace for up to two hours before you decide on a job. You see where you would work, meet the team and ask questions. A visit is for looking and asking, not for working.
At launch: Early childhood teachers, Automotive technicians.
No. Our guides explain official guidance in plain English, but rules change and every situation is different. For your own situation, contact Employment New Zealand on 0800 20 90 20.