Gaji kerja di New Zealand: what NZD $23.95 an hour comes to in ringgit, and what else to check

Tips · 2026-10-24 · 10 min read

Gaji kerja di New Zealand starts from a legal floor of NZD $23.95 an hour before tax, the adult minimum wage from 1 April 2026. At Bank Negara Malaysia's middle rate on 19 Oct 2026 (RM2.3093 for 1 New Zealand dollar), that is roughly RM55.31 an hour, or about RM2,212 for a 40-hour week. An offer for an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) must also pay at least the market rate for the job, so check any tawaran kerja against both the floor and the role.

New Zealand pay figures in ringgit at a glance

Every ringgit figure here is a rough comparison only, worked out at the Bank Negara Malaysia middle rate published for 19 Oct 2026. Exchange rates change daily, and your bank's rate will differ.

Official NZ figure	In NZD	Rough ringgit comparison
Adult minimum wage, per hour	NZD $23.95	RM55.31
Adult minimum wage, 40-hour week	NZD $958	RM2,212
Adult minimum wage, a full year of 40-hour weeks	NZD $49,816	RM115,040
Starting-out and training minimum wage, per hour	NZD $19.16	RM44.25
Immigration median wage, per hour	NZD $35.00	RM80.83
Twice the median wage, per hour	NZD $70.00	RM161.65

All of these are gross amounts, before income tax. A full year at the minimum wage assumes you are paid for every week, including paid holidays.

The minimum wage is the floor under every job

New Zealand's adult minimum wage rose to NZD $23.95 an hour from 1 April 2026, which is NZD $958 for a 40-hour week. The figures are set out on the Employment New Zealand minimum wage page.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) is clear that everyone in New Zealand, including migrants, has the same minimum employment rights. A Malaysian on a work visa is owed the same minimum pay, paid holidays and sick leave as a New Zealander in the same job.

There is also a lower starting-out and training minimum wage of NZD $19.16 an hour. If an offer quotes that figure, ask the employer which rate applies to you and why before you accept.

What the AEWV asks of the pay in your offer

Most sponsored jobs in New Zealand for Malaysians come through the AEWV. Our guide to working in New Zealand from Malaysia on the AEWV covers the whole visa; here we look only at the money side.

The AEWV page on the Immigration New Zealand website sets three conditions for the job offer that touch your pay:

at least 30 hours of work a week;
an accredited employer with an approved job check for that job;
pay of at least the market rate for the job.

The 30-hour rule gives a useful sense check. At the adult minimum wage, 30 hours comes to NZD $718.50 a week, roughly RM1,659. An offer below that weekly figure, for a job that is meant to support a visa, is a reason to stop and ask questions.

The employment agreement itself cannot include unlawful deductions, a trial period or unacceptable bonding clauses. A contract that charges you for "processing" deserves a careful second look.

Why the NZD $35.00 median wage still matters

From 9 March 2026 the immigration median wage is NZD $35.00 an hour, about RM80.83. INZ removed the general median wage requirement for the AEWV in March 2025, so an AEWV job no longer has to pay the median. Some settings, though, are still linked to it, as INZ's announcement of the 2026 median wage explains:

Twice the median (NZD $70.00 an hour, about RM161.65): roles paid at this level are exempt from the advertising and minimum skills requirements.
One and a half times the median (NZD $52.50 an hour, about RM121.24): some lower-skilled roles paid at this level can reach the maximum 5-year stay.

The second point matters for planning. Total time on AEWVs can be 5 years for most jobs, but 3 years for jobs at ANZSCO skill level 4 or 5, after which you normally must spend 12 months in a row outside New Zealand. If your role is lower skilled, the hourly rate can affect how long you can stay.

Pay also links to residence later. On the Skilled Migrant Category points-based pathway, a job paying NZD $105.00 an hour or more (roughly RM242.48) gives 6 points. Tradespeople should also read what New Zealand's Trades and Technician Pathway asks of Malaysian tradespeople.

How to read an NZ job offer as a Malaysian, step by step

Find the hourly rate. Offers may show an hourly rate, a weekly figure or an annual salary. Turn it into an hourly rate in NZD so you can compare it with the NZD $23.95 floor and the NZD $35.00 median.
Check the hours. Confirm the agreement promises at least 30 hours of work a week in writing. A high hourly rate with uncertain hours can pay less than it looks.
Check the employer is accredited. Search INZ's accredited employer list by the employer's 13-digit New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) or its company or trading name. Some accredited employers choose not to appear in the search, so ask them directly if you cannot find them.
Read the deductions. Look for anything taken out of your pay besides tax. Unlawful deductions are not allowed in an AEWV agreement, and an employer cannot make you pay its recruitment costs.
Convert to ringgit last. Multiply the NZD amount by the Bank Negara Malaysia middle rate for that day, then remember your bank will apply its own rate and fees.

If you are comparing live roles, sponsored openings on our site include a Duty Manager role in Christchurch and a Heavy Excavator Operator job in Auckland. Another useful read is this set of five checks before saying yes to an AEWV job offer, written for people in the UK but built on the same INZ rules.

What the gross figure on your offer leaves out

The number on a tawaran kerja is not what you take home.

Income tax and your IRD number

An IRD number identifies you for tax in New Zealand. It is kept for life and is free to apply for, so never pay anyone to "arrange" one. Tax is taken from your pay, so plan your budget on the after-tax figure from your payslip, not the gross rate.

No KiwiSaver on a work visa

KiwiSaver is New Zealand's retirement savings scheme, but people on a temporary, visitor, work or student visa cannot join. Unlike KWSP at home, there is no retirement deduction for an AEWV holder. If you are still deciding what to do with your Malaysian savings, see what really applies to a KWSP withdrawal when you leave for a job abroad.

Paid leave

All employees become entitled to at least 4 weeks of paid annual holidays after 12 months of continuous employment, and eligible employees get 10 days of paid sick leave each year.

Setting-up costs

Your first weeks cost money before the first pay arrives. In New Zealand the maximum bond is 4 weeks' rent, and the landlord must lodge it with Tenancy Services. The AEWV itself costs from NZD $1,540, and INZ shows 80% processed within 5.5 weeks. If you have heard that charges may climb, read why New Zealand visa costs could rise again for Malaysian applicants.

Planning to bring a partner or children? Family visas on the AEWV depend on your hourly pay, which this guide to bringing family on a work visa compares with Australia's 482.

Getting your application ready

A good offer starts with a strong application. AEWV applicants need 2 years or more of relevant experience, or a qualification at level 4 or higher on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework, in the same field as the job. Set that experience out clearly in an English CV; Build AI CV can help you shape one around a New Zealand job.

If your job is at ANZSCO or NOL skill level 3 to 5, you must also show you can speak and understand English, and test results must be no more than 2 years old. Many Malaysians use English daily but still need a result; PractiseNow has practice for IELTS and PTE.

Common mistakes Malaysians make with NZ pay

Converting the gross and stopping there. The ringgit figure looks large, but tax, rent and setting-up costs come out of it, so budget from the net amount.
Accepting fewer than 30 hours. An AEWV offer must be for at least 30 hours a week. A part-time offer will not support the visa.
Paying an ejen for the job. Employers cannot charge you for a job, and INZ declines an AEWV when money was offered for the job offer. If this has already happened, read what Malaysians can do in the first 24 hours after paying a scammer.
Mixing up the visas. The Malaysia Working Holiday Visa allows temporary jobs for up to 6 months, not a permanent job. Our post on New Zealand's working holiday visa for Malaysians explains the difference.
Assuming the median is required. It is not a general AEWV rule any more, but pay still decides the skills exemption and, for some lower-skilled roles, the length of stay.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the New Zealand minimum wage in ringgit?

The adult minimum wage from 1 April 2026 is NZD $23.95 an hour before tax. At Bank Negara Malaysia's middle rate on 19 Oct 2026 that is roughly RM55.31 an hour, or about RM2,212 for a 40-hour week. Rates move every day, so convert again before you decide.

Does an AEWV job have to pay the median wage?

Not as a general rule. Immigration New Zealand removed the general median wage requirement for the AEWV in March 2025. The job must still pay at least the market rate, and the NZD $35.00 median still matters for some settings, such as the exemption from the minimum skills requirement for roles paid at least twice the median.

Will KiwiSaver be taken out of my pay on a work visa?

KiwiSaver is for New Zealand citizens and people entitled to live in New Zealand indefinitely. People on a temporary, visitor, work or student visa cannot join, so an AEWV holder should not see KiwiSaver on their payslip. If an offer lists it, ask the employer to explain.

Can a New Zealand employer ask me to pay for the job?

No. New Zealand employers cannot charge you fees for a job or make you pay their recruitment costs, even through a third party. INZ also declines an AEWV application when the applicant or their agent offered money to the employer for the job offer.

Which exchange rate should I use for an NZ salary offer?

For planning, Bank Negara Malaysia's middle rate is a fair neutral figure, and it is published on its latest rates page. Your bank or money transfer service will use its own rate and fees, so the ringgit that reaches your account will be a little lower.

Key takeaways

The adult minimum wage is NZD $23.95 an hour, roughly RM55.31 at Bank Negara Malaysia's 19 Oct 2026 middle rate.
An AEWV offer needs at least 30 hours a week, an accredited employer with an approved job check, and at least the market rate.
The NZD $35.00 median is no longer a general AEWV rule, but twice and one and a half times the median still unlock some settings.
Work visa holders cannot join KiwiSaver; plan on the after-tax figure, plus rent and setting-up costs.
Never pay for a job offer: it breaks New Zealand rules and can sink the visa.

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