December 2020 MBIE news release.Stack of cash stock image. RELATED: $15 minimum wage hike seems all but dead in Democrats' massive COVID-19 relief billFor employees who work 40 hours a week, the minimum wage will go up to $20 per hour, but hourly wages may vary depending on the employer.AdvertisementIn 2019, New Zealand was already one of the top-five countries that offered a higher-than-normal minimum wage with an average $22 per hour, just behind Belgium, which offered $22.87 per hour, according to data collected by the Organisation for the Economic Co-operation and Development.Luxembourg topped the 2019 list with an average of $26 per hour.In addition to the increased minimum wage, New Zealand also raised taxes by 39% on the nation’s top.