Concerns raised as gender pay gap 'remained largely unchanged,' according to Stats NZ
New Zealand's gender pay gap hit 5.3% in the June 2026 quarter, according to fresh findings from Stats NZ, based on the latest median hourly earnings of employees in the country.
Stats NZ's latest report showed the gender pay gap increasing by 0.1 percentage points after a three-point decline to 5.2% in June 2025.
"Following a 3.0 percentage point decrease last year, the gender pay gap has remained largely unchanged at 5.3% in the June 2026 quarter," said Abby Johnston, Stats NZ's labour market spokesperson, in a statement.
Men's median hourly earnings from wages and salaries reached $36.92 in the year to the June 2026 quarter, rising by 3.6%.
Women, by contrast, saw lower median hourly earnings of $34.95 in the year to the June 2026 quarter, registering a slightly slower growth rate of 3.4%
Earnings in New Zealand
Overall, the median hourly earnings of New Zealanders from wages and salaries went up 2.7% to $35.96 in the year ended June 2026.
Median weekly earnings also reached $1,419 in the June 2026 quarter, rising by 2.8% from the $1,381 in the same period last year.
Median weekly income from self-employment was $959, compared with $921 in the June 2025 quarter, according to Stats NZ.
Median weekly income from government transfers, such as superannuation, Veteran's Pension, Student Allowance, and transfers from Inland Revenue, and Work and Income, reached $486 in the year to the June 2026 quarter, growing by 3.1%.
The latest gender pay gap findings come amid growing pressure on the New Zealand government to introduce mandatory gender pay gap reporting for employers with 150 or more employees.
Global Women, a non-profit group, urged the country's political parties earlier this year to commit to the policy ahead of the November polls.
"Why? For fairer workplaces and a stronger economy. Measure it. Manage it. Close it," the letter read, as penned by chair Dame Theresa Gattung and CEO Katie Bhreatnach.
