2026 Nanny Pay Guide | Pay The Nanny

Last updated: 15 December 2025

Nanny Pay Rates in New Zealand

As of 1 April 2025, New Zealand’s minimum wage increased by 1.5%, moving from $23.15 to $23.50 per hour and will increase to $23.95 at 1 April 2026.

While this is a modest rise, nanny pay rates have shown a more significant overall increase. The average hourly rate for nannies in New Zealand is now $31.83, up from $30.53 in 2025, an increase of 4.26%.

This growth in nanny wages highlights how demand for childcare and competition for experienced nannies have outpaced the minimum wage increase. Families are responding by offering more competitive pay rates to attract and retain top talent.

How much does a nanny get paid?

The key numbers are:

• National average hourly rate (2026): $31.83

• National average hourly rate (2025): $30.53

• Year-on-year national increase: 4.26 percent

In particular, some interesting stats:

• Highest average city rate: Queenstown at $41.95 per hour

• Largest year-on-year increase: Tauranga at 9.33 percent

• Steadiest growth among major cities: Auckland at 2.71 percent

These figures highlight both continued wage growth and widening differences between cities with the highest demand for nannies.

With Auckland having the largest amount of nannies across New Zealand, the increase in wages there is more in line with the general wage increases across the wider employment market.

City-by-city nanny pay rates in 2026

Average hourly nanny pay in 2026 varies by location:

• Queenstown: $41.95 per hour

• Auckland: $32.75 per hour

• Tauranga: $31.30 per hour

• Wellington: $30.44 per hour

• Christchurch: $30.02 per hour

• Hamilton: $29.68 per hour

Key observations from the city data:

• With the exception of Queenstown, most urban centres have an average around the $30 per hour mark

• Demand for nannies in areas like Queenstown is pushing the average rate of pay higher.

• No major city sits below $29 per hour on average in 2026

Comparing 2025 vs 2026: where pay increased most

Year-on-year changes show that growth is not evenly distributed:

• Auckland increased from $31.89 to $32.75, up 2.71 percent

• Wellington increased from $28.97 to $30.44, up 5.07 percent

• Christchurch increased from $27.52 to $30.02, up 9.08 percent

• Tauranga increased from $28.63 to $31.30, up 9.33 percent

Hamilton and Queenstown appear in the 2026 data without comparable 2025 figures (due to lower amount of data).  

What this tells us:

• The inclusion of cities like Hamilton and Queenstown highlight areas where demand for nannies is growing

• Main urban centres like Auckland and Wellington are still growing, but at a rate more in line with the wider employment market across NZ

• Christchurch and Tauranga have experienced the most growth which is likely built by demand

Where nanny wages now sit overall

Looking at wage distribution rather than averages provides further insight:

• 6 percent of roles pay less than $25 per hour

• 14 percent pay between $25 and $28 per hour

• 26 percent pay between $28 and $31 per hour

• 39 percent pay between $31 and $35 per hour

• 14 percent pay more than $35 per hour

Key takeaways from the distribution:

• Nearly two-thirds of nanny roles now pay above $31 per hour

• Sub-$25 roles are becoming more uncommon

• Higher pay brackets are no longer niche or exceptional

• This indicates a continued maturity of the nanny industry

What the overall increase means for nanny wages

The 4.26 percent national increase reflects longer-term structural changes rather than short-term wage pressure.

Key drivers include:

• Continued demand for in-home childcare

• Families seeking more flexible and personalised care

• Reduced supply of experienced nannies

• Increased compliance awareness among families

Importantly, more families are choosing to engage nannies as employees, either casual or permanent, rather than paying them as contractors.

This shift has direct wage implications:

• Employment includes paid leave and statutory entitlements

• Compliance costs are increasingly factored into hourly rates

• Advertised pay rates now better reflect true employment cost

What families and nannies should expect going forward

Based on the 2026 data, several trends are becoming clear:

• Wage growth is likely to remain steady rather than flatten