Economy
New Zealand Added 300,000 Income Earners in Their Sixties in Four Years
While the country debates the retirement age, a quiet surge is underway: nearly 2.6 million people aged 60-64 now have taxable income, up from 2.3 million in 2020. The traditional retirement track is collapsing.
Your Forties Just Became New Zealand's Most Crowded Decade
The number of Kiwis earning taxable income in their forties jumped by 318,000 in four years. This isn't just population growth. It's the story of who's stuck working when they thought they'd be coasting.
Where Did 150,000 Students Go When the Allowance Rolls Dropped?
Student allowance numbers have collapsed by a third since 2021. The government saved money, but someone still paid for those degrees. The data shows who.
New Zealand Crossed 7 Million Super Payments This Year. We Have 5 Million People.
The super system just hit a milestone that sounds impossible: more payments than there are people. The gap between payments and population tells the story of how superannuation really works.
New Zealand's Wage Bill Just Hit $22.5 Billion. It Took Four Years to Add $1.5 Billion.
After dropping through COVID, the country's total wage bill has finally climbed back. But the pace of growth tells a story about an economy still finding its feet.
ACC Claims Hit 1.1 Million the Same Year Workplace Safety Got a Massive Push
New Zealand just recorded its highest-ever number of ACC claims while WorkSafe has been cracking down harder than ever. The contrast tells a story nobody's talking about.
New Zealand Now Has 32.7 Million Income Streams for 5 Million People
Every adult in New Zealand receives income from an average of 6.5 different sources. That's not a sign of prosperity. it's what happens when one job isn't enough anymore.
New Zealand Crossed Four Million Income Earners for the First Time in 2024
A quarter-century of tax data shows a slow, uneven climb from 2.9 million income earners in 2000 to over four million today. But the numbers reveal something unexpected about how we got here.
The 2.5 Million Incomes That Prove Nobody Retires at 65 Anymore
New Zealand's 60-64 age group now receives 2.6 million separate income streams. That's more than half the country's entire population, for just five birth years.
New Zealand Added 318,000 Income Earners in Their Forties in Four Years
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of 40-44 year olds earning taxable income surged by 318,000. That's not demographics. That's something else entirely.
Student Allowances Dropped by 237,000 in Four Years. Who Paid Instead?
Nearly a quarter-million fewer students received allowances between 2020 and 2024. That money didn't vanish. it shifted to parents, partners, and student loan accounts.
Who's Actually Supporting New Zealand's 830,000 Superannuitants?
Seven million super payments went out last year, but only 830,000 people got them. The maths reveals something stark about who's funding retirement in New Zealand right now.
New Zealand's Wage Bill Fell for Two Years, Then Took Four to Recover
Between 2020 and 2022, the total wages paid to Kiwi workers dropped by half a million. It took until 2024 to claw back what was lost. Here's what those four years cost us.
One in Five Kiwis Now Gets an ACC Cheque Every Year
ACC payments have jumped by 250,000 people in just four years. That's not just construction workers falling off ladders anymore. It's nurses with back injuries, couriers with knee damage, and desk workers with repetitive strain.
New Zealand Added Two Million Income Streams While the Population Barely Moved
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of taxable income sources exploded by 2.3 million. The population grew by just 200,000. Here's what that gap reveals about how Kiwis are cobbling together a living.
New Zealand Just Hit 4.1 Million Taxpayers. That's Everyone Who Works.
In 2000, 2.6 million Kiwis earned taxable income. By 2024, that number climbed to 4.1 million. The growth tells the story of a country that fundamentally reshaped how its people earn.
The Sixty-Somethings Who Can't Afford to Stop Working Yet
The 60-64 age group has added 300,000 income earners in just four years. That's not retirement. That's people who thought they'd be done by now, still clocking in.
New Zealand's Peak Earning Years Just Got 300,000 People More Crowded
The 40-44 age bracket swelled by nearly 320,000 people in just four years. That's a lot of mortgage pressure, school fees, and career competition landing all at once.
How Did Student Numbers Explode While Allowances Collapsed?
Student allowance payments have crashed by a quarter since 2021, even as universities grew. The gap reveals which students are shouldering the real cost of New Zealand's education boom.
New Zealand Crossed Seven Million Superannuation Payments This Year
In 2000, the country paid 4.6 million super payments. By 2024, that figure hit 7 million. The acceleration tells you everything about what's coming next.
New Zealand's Wage Bill Hit $22.5 Billion. That's $500 Per Worker.
The country's total wage and salary payments reached $22.5 billion in 2024. But divide that by New Zealand's workforce, and you get a number that shows how far those billions really stretch.
ACC Income Payments Jumped 126,000 in One Year. Wages Rose Just 36,000.
New Zealand added more than three times as many people on ACC income support in 2024 than it added workers earning wages. One income source is surging while the other barely budges.
New Zealand Now Has 32.7 Million Income Streams for 5 Million People
The number of taxable income sources in New Zealand has exploded to 32.7 million in 2024. That's more than six income streams for every man, woman, and child in the country.
New Zealand Just Crossed Four Million Income Sources for the First Time
In 2000, there were 2.4 million taxable income sources in New Zealand. This year, that number hit 4.1 million. The story of those extra 1.7 million income sources is the story of how we've changed as a country.
The 60-Somethings Adding Income Sources Faster Than Any Other Age Group
While younger Kiwis struggle to piece together multiple jobs, it's people in their early sixties who've quietly become New Zealand's fastest-growing cohort of multi-income earners. The data reveals an acceleration nobody's talking about.
One in Three Working Kiwis Is Now in Their Forties
New Zealand's workforce just hit a demographic tipping point. The 40-44 age bracket now accounts for 2.9 million income sources. a jump of 320,000 in just four years. Here's why that matters for everyone.
Where Did 150,000 Student Allowances Go in Just Four Years?
Between 2020 and 2024, student allowance numbers dropped by 137,000 people. That's the equivalent of every student at Auckland, Otago, and Canterbury universities combined. So what happened?
New Zealand Added a Million Superannuation Payments in Just Five Years
In 2019, the country paid out 6 million super payments. By 2024, that figure hit 7 million. The speed of that climb tells you everything about what's coming.
New Zealand's Wage Bill Dropped $418 Million During COVID, Then Surged
Between 2020 and 2021, the country's total wage and salary payments fell by more than $400 million. Then they climbed $1.9 billion in three years. What happened to every worker's pay packet in that window tells the story of recovery, inflation, and what got left behind.
One in Four Kiwis Is Now Injured Enough to Need ACC Income
ACC paid out to 1.1 million people last year. That's 250,000 more than just four years ago. Either we're getting hurt more often, or we're finally claiming what we're owed.
New Zealand Created Two Million New Income Sources in Four Years
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of taxable income sources in New Zealand jumped from 30.4 million to 32.7 million. That's not population growth. That's economic fragmentation.
New Zealand Just Passed 4.1 Million Taxable Income Sources. It Took 24 Years.
In 2000, there were 2.7 million sources of taxable income in New Zealand. By 2024, that number hit 4.1 million. The story of how we got here is the story of two very different decades.
New Zealand's 60-Somethings Added 300,000 Income Sources in Four Years
While politicians debate the retirement age, people in their early 60s are quietly rewriting the rules themselves. Between 2020 and 2024, this age group added 300,000 new income sources. even as they're supposed to be winding down.
Every Adult in Their 40s Now Juggles Multiple Income Streams. That's New.
The 40-44 age bracket now holds 2.9 million taxable income sources for roughly 350,000 people. That's more than eight income sources per person in this age group, a shift that reveals how fundamentally New Zealand's working life has changed.
Why Are Fewer Young People Getting Student Allowances Than Before COVID?
Student allowance numbers have plummeted by nearly 150,000 since 2021. That's a quarter of all recipients gone in three years, even as universities report stable enrolment.
New Zealand Crossed Seven Million Superannuation Payments This Year
The country just hit a milestone that changes the maths of retirement forever. In 2000, there were 3.6 million super payments. Today: seven million. The numbers tell the story of a generation.
New Zealand's Wage Bill Just Crossed $22.5 Billion. Here's What Changed.
The country's total wage and salary pool hit a record high in 2024, but the story isn't just about growth. It's about who's working, how much they're earning, and what happened in the years nobody was watching.
Every Sixth Worker in New Zealand Now Gets an ACC Cheque
More than a million Kiwis received accident compensation payments last year. That's double the number from 2000, and it's growing faster than the workforce itself.
New Zealand Now Has 6.5 Income Sources Per Person. That's Not Normal.
In 2000, the average Kiwi had four income sources. Today it's 6.5. This isn't about prosperity. it's about what happens when one income stream no longer cuts it.
New Zealand Added 291,000 Income Sources in Just Four Years
In 2020, there were 3.8 million taxable income sources in New Zealand. By 2024, that number hit 4.1 million. That's not just people getting jobs. it's Kiwis stacking income streams to survive.
The 60-Somethings Now Generate More Income Sources Than Ever. Retirement Isn't What It Used To Be.
New Zealanders in their early sixties held 2.6 million income sources in 2024. That's up 300,000 in just four years. The generation approaching retirement isn't slowing down.
The 40-Somethings Now Hold 2.9 Million Income Sources. That's Up 320,000 in Four Years.
New Zealand's 40-44 age group has added 320,000 taxable income sources since 2020. That's not just more people working. It's people working multiple jobs, running side hustles, and patching together what one income used to cover.
Where Did 150,000 Student Allowances Go in Four Years?
Student allowance numbers have dropped by a quarter since 2021, the steepest decline in two decades. The question isn't just why they're falling. It's who's been cut off.
New Zealand Paid Nearly Seven Billion in Superannuation Last Year
In 2000, superannuation cost the country $4.7 billion. By 2024, that figure hit $7 billion. Over 24 years, we've watched the cost climb by nearly 50%. and the steepest increases are happening right now.
New Zealand's Wage Pool Grew by $700 Million While Worker Numbers Flatlined
Total wages paid to Kiwis hit $22.5 billion in 2024, up from $21.8 billion the year before. But the number of people earning those wages barely budged. The money's flowing, just not to more workers.
ACC Payments Hit 1.1 Million While Wages Cover Fewer Workers Than Ever
New Zealand now has more people receiving accident compensation than at any point in history. At the same time, wage and salary income sources are growing slower than the population. The gap tells a story about who's working and who's not.
New Zealand Now Has 32.7 Million Income Sources for 5 Million People
Every person in New Zealand averages 6.5 income sources. That's not a typo. The number has grown by 2.3 million in just four years, revealing how dramatically our relationship with work has changed.
New Zealand Added 287,000 New Income Earners in Four Years. Where Did They Come From?
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of people earning taxable income in New Zealand surged from 3.8 million to 4.1 million. That's nearly 300,000 new earners in a country of five million. Here's the story those four years tell.
The Coming Age Wave: 300,000 More People About to Hit Retirement in Four Years
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of 60-64 year olds earning taxable income jumped by nearly 300,000. That's New Zealand's retirement cliff getting steeper, faster than anyone planned for.
How Does One Age Group Generate Nearly Three Million Income Sources?
People aged 40-44 are collecting 2.9 million taxable incomes. That's eight income sources for every person in that age bracket. The answer reveals how modern Kiwi workers actually make their money.
Half a Million Students Lost Their Allowance in Four Years. Here's What Happened.
In 2021, nearly 600,000 students received allowances. By 2024, that number had crashed to 442,833. The story of those four years explains why university felt possible once, then suddenly didn't.
Someone in New Zealand Is Collecting Two Superannuation Payments. Probably a Lot of Someones.
We just crossed 7 million super payments in a country of 5 million people. That's 800,000 more people receiving NZ Super than actually live here. The maths doesn't add up, and here's what that tells us.
Wages Jumped $700,000 in One Year. Then Barely Moved for Three.
New Zealand's wage bill grew by just $709,000 between 2021 and 2024. after dropping half a million in a single year during COVID. The biggest growth happened in 2024, but it still didn't make up for lost ground.
ACC Paid Out to One in Five Kiwis Last Year. That's 227,000 More Than Four Years Ago.
New Zealand just crossed a threshold: 1.1 million people received ACC compensation in 2024. That's not just a big number. That's one in every five of us getting paid because we got hurt.
How Do You Earn Seven Incomes Per Person in a Country of Five Million?
New Zealand's tax data shows 32.7 million separate income sources flowing to 5 million people. That's 6.5 income streams per person. Here's what that actually means for how Kiwis are making money now.
New Zealand Just Crossed 4 Million Income Earners for the First Time
The number of people earning taxable income in New Zealand hit 4.09 million in 2024, breaking through a threshold we've never seen before. In two years, we've added nearly a quarter-million income earners to the workforce.
New Zealand Is Paying Income to 2.6 Million People Aged 60-64. We Have 350,000 of Them.
The taxable income data shows 2.6 million entries for the 60-64 age bracket in 2024. That's seven times the actual population of that age group. Here's what those numbers really mean.
New Zealand Is Paying 2.9 Million Incomes to People Aged 40-44. We Have 350,000 of Them.
The taxable income data shows 2.9 million income sources for people in their early forties. That's more than eight incomes per person in that age bracket. Here's what that tells us about how Kiwis actually earn money in 2024.
Student Allowances Dropped by 150,000 in Two Years. Where Did Those Students Go?
In 2022, nearly 561,000 Kiwis received student allowances. By 2024, that number had crashed to 443,000. That's 118,000 fewer people getting support to study in just two years.
New Zealand Is Now Paying 7 Million Superannuation Payments. We Have 5 Million People.
The number of super payments has grown by 737,000 in just four years. But the real story is what that number actually measures. and why it's racing ahead of our population.
Why Are 22.5 Million Wages Being Paid in a Country of 5 Million People?
New Zealand has 5 million people. Yet Stats NZ recorded 22.5 million wage and salary payments in 2024. The answer reveals how many jobs the average Kiwi is juggling just to get by.
1.1 Million Kiwis Now Get ACC Payments. That's One in Every Five of Us.
Two decades ago, 600,000 New Zealanders received accident compensation. Today it's nearly doubled. The story of how we became a nation where one in five people relies on ACC.
New Zealand Now Has 32.7 Million Taxable Income Sources. We Only Have 5 Million People.
The average Kiwi worker isn't just juggling one job anymore. Tax data reveals we're now generating 32.7 million income sources in a country of 5 million people. that's 6.5 per person, and the number's climbing fast.
New Zealand Started 914,266 Businesses Last Year. That's Fewer Than 2020.
While business groups celebrate the government's apparent retreat on surcharge bans, the number of new businesses launched last year fell to its lowest point since the pandemic. The entrepreneurial boom has gone quiet.
Wellington's Taxable Income Flatlined While Housing Costs Soared
Wellington's total taxable income barely budged in 2024, growing just $900 after a year of rising power bills and grocery prices. The region that approved a controversial high-rise this week hasn't seen meaningful income growth in two years.
New Zealand Employed 1 Million Fewer People Last Year Than It Should Have
Employee numbers fell by 1.08 million in 2025, snapping four straight years of growth. It's the first drop since Stats NZ started counting, and it happened while businesses were fighting to keep surcharges and tourist towns were being cut off from customers.
New Zealand Lost 251,516 Businesses Last Year. Nobody Noticed.
While the Auckland Business Chamber celebrates stalling a surcharge ban, New Zealand's business count dropped by a quarter million in 2025. That's the first decline in four years, and it's happening while everyone's watching tariffs.
A New Business Closes Every 63 Seconds in New Zealand Right Now
While the Auckland Business Chamber celebrates stalling surcharge bans, 836,210 businesses died in 2025. That's the highest death toll in 24 years of records, and it's accelerating.
Wholesale Trade Just Hit $98 Billion While Households Can't Afford to Spend
New Zealand's wholesale sector earned nearly $100 billion last year, up 22% in four years. On the same day, RNZ reported households are freezing spending because bills are too high. The numbers don't add up.
Retail Workers Earned $86 Billion Last Year While Their Bosses Say They Can't Afford to Spend
As retailers blame soaring bills for weak consumer spending, new data shows the sector paid out $86.2 billion in wages last year. up $2.3 billion from 2023. The money's there. It's just not moving.
Self-Employment Income Hit $416 Million While Households Freeze Spending
As RNZ reports soaring bills forcing Kiwis to cut back, self-employment earnings just reached their highest level on record. The contrast reveals who's winning and losing in this economy.
New Zealand Created 914,266 Businesses Last Year. That's the Fewest Since COVID.
While the Auckland Business Chamber celebrates stalled surcharge bans, business formation has collapsed to its lowest point in five years. The 2025 data tells the story of an economy that's stopped betting on itself.
Wellington Workers Earned $3.9 Billion Last Year While Rent Eats Paycheques Faster Than Wages Grow
Wellington's taxable income hit $3.9 billion in 2024, barely budging from 2023. Meanwhile, households are cutting spending as bills soar. The capital's income growth has stalled just as the cost of living accelerated.
New Zealand Shed 1.1 Million Jobs While Businesses Lobby to Keep Surcharges
The employee count dropped from 50 million to 49 million in a single year. the first decline since COVID. It happened while the Auckland Business Chamber celebrated stalling government efforts to ban payment surcharges.
New Zealand Lost 251,516 Businesses Last Year. That's 690 Every Single Day.
While the Auckland Business Chamber celebrates stalling surcharge bans, the business landscape is shrinking faster than it has in years. New Zealand ended 2025 with 251,516 fewer business units than it started with.
A Hicks Bay Tourism Business Shut Down This Summer. 56,000 Others Already Did Last Year.
While remote businesses fight road closures, a bigger crisis is playing out nationwide. New Zealand lost 836,210 businesses in 2025 alone. the highest number of closures in 24 years of records.
Wholesale Traders Earned $98 Billion Last Year While Shops Say They Can't Afford to Lower Prices
New Zealand's wholesale sector pulled in $98.4 billion in 2024, up $3.7 billion from the year before. Yet retailers claim soaring costs mean they can't pass savings to consumers facing a cost-of-living crisis.
Retail Workers Earned $86 Billion Last Year While Shops Say They Can't Afford Customers
RNZ reports households are freezing spending as bills soar. But retail workers' total earnings hit a record $86.2 billion in 2024. The money's there. It's just not in shoppers' wallets anymore.
Self-Employment Income Hit $416 Million While Households Froze Spending
As RNZ reports soaring bills forcing households to cut back, self-employed Kiwis collectively earned a record $416.5 million in 2024. The gap between what sole traders are making and what families can afford to spend has never been wider.
Every Day, 1,500 New Businesses Launch. That's the Slowest Rate Since COVID Lockdown.
New Zealand launched 914,266 businesses in 2025. Four years ago, that number was 1,032,893. While Auckland businesses lobby against surcharge bans, the data shows something bigger: entrepreneurship is quietly slowing.
Wellington's Wage Growth Just Flatlined for the First Time in 24 Years
While developers celebrate new high-rises, the numbers tell a different story: Wellington's taxable income barely moved in 2024, growing just $900 after four years of steady gains. It's the smallest increase in a generation.
New Zealand Just Lost One Million Jobs While Businesses Worry About Surcharges
Employee numbers fell by 1.08 million between 2024 and 2025, the sharpest drop in years. While the Auckland Business Chamber celebrates stalled surcharge bans, the actual employment data tells a different story about business health.
New Zealand Lost a Quarter-Million Businesses in 12 Months
While politicians talk about supporting small business, the business population quietly shrank by 251,516 units last year. That's the sharpest contraction since Stats NZ started counting.
836,000 New Zealand Businesses Died Last Year. That's One Every 38 Seconds.
While Hicks Bay businesses fight to survive road closures and Auckland retailers battle surcharge bans, the national picture is brutal: business deaths hit a record high in 2025, up 40% in just three years.
Wholesale Traders Just Earned $98 Billion While Retail Takes the Blame for High Prices
As households cut spending because bills are soaring, wholesale trade earnings hit a record $98.4 billion in 2024. That's $18 billion more than retailers made, yet nobody's talking about the middlemen.
Retail Workers Earned $86 Billion Last Year While Their Employers Begged You to Keep Spending
RNZ reports household spending is frozen as bills soar. But retail sector wages just hit a record $86.2 billion. up $15 billion since the pandemic started. Here's the uncomfortable question nobody's asking.
Self-Employment Income Hit $416 Million While Households Froze Spending on Everything Else
As RNZ reports households putting spending on ice due to soaring bills, self-employment income just posted its strongest growth in years. The contrast tells you exactly who's carrying the economy right now.
Nearly Three Million Kiwis Turn 45 This Year. Their Taxable Income Just Disappeared.
The 40-44 age group swelled by 147,000 people in a single year, the fastest growth in two decades. But as they age into their supposedly prime earning years, the tax data tells a different story about what awaits them.
Student Allowances Disappeared for 150,000 Young Kiwis in Three Years
Between 2021 and 2024, the number of students receiving allowances collapsed by a quarter. That's 150,000 fewer young people getting government support to study. the sharpest drop in two decades.
How Many Times Can You Collect Superannuation in Your Lifetime?
The government paid out seven million superannuation payments last year. That's 1.4 payments for every person in New Zealand. The numbers reveal something strange about how we count the retired.
New Zealand's Wage Economy Lost Two Years, Then Found Them Again
Kiwi workers earned less in 2021 than they did in 2020. Two years of growth vanished overnight. It took until 2023 just to get back to where we were.
One in Five Working-Age Kiwis Now Gets an ACC Cheque Every Year
More than a million New Zealanders received accident compensation in 2024. That's double what it was two decades ago, and the rate keeps climbing. We're becoming a nation that routinely gets hurt at work, at home, and on the road.
New Zealand Added Two Million Taxpayers During a Global Pandemic
Between 2020 and 2024, the number of people earning taxable income in New Zealand jumped from 30.4 million to 32.7 million. That's a two million increase while the world shut down.
New Zealand Took 20 Years to Add Its First Million Taxpayers. Then Four Years to Add the Next.
In 2000, 2.7 million Kiwis earned taxable income. By 2020, it was 3.8 million. Then something changed. By 2024, we'd hit 4.1 million. The gap between those two surges tells you everything about where New Zealand's economy has been. and where it's going.
2.6 Million Kiwis Are 60-64. Most Will Work Until the Day They Turn 65.
There are now 2.6 million New Zealanders aged 60-64, up from 2.3 million just four years ago. This is the cohort racing toward superannuation, and the numbers tell a story about who can afford to stop working early and who can't.
Nearly Three Million Kiwis Hit Their Peak Earning Years. Most Won't See It Coming.
The 40-44 age bracket just crossed 2.9 million people for the first time. That's 300,000 more than four years ago, all reaching the years when careers either take off or plateau for good.
130,000 Fewer Students Got Allowances Last Year Than in 2021
Student allowances have dropped by a quarter in just three years. That's 130,000 young Kiwis who used to qualify but don't anymore. The reasons why tell a bigger story about who gets to study.
Who's Collecting Seven Million Superannuation Payments When New Zealand Has Five Million People?
Stats NZ records 7 million superannuation payments in 2024, but New Zealand's entire population is just over 5 million. The answer reveals how your retirement money actually moves through the system.
New Zealand's Wage Bill Took 24 Years to Double. Then It Did It Again in Four.
It took until 2015 for the country's total wage bill to reach $11 billion. By 2024, it hit $22.5 billion. The acceleration tells a story about immigration, inflation, and a labour market that changed faster than anyone expected.
1.1 Million Kiwis Got ACC Payouts Last Year. That's One in Every Four Workers.
More than a million New Zealanders received accident compensation in 2024, a surge of 227,000 in just four years. The numbers reveal how many lives get derailed by injury in a single year.
New Zealand Added 2 Million Taxpayers in Four Years. Where Did They All Come From?
The tax system just processed 32.7 million people in 2024, up from 30.4 million in 2020. That's not population growth. That's something else entirely.
4.1 Million Kiwis Earned Taxable Income Last Year. That's 290,000 More Than in 2020.
New Zealand's workforce has grown by nearly 300,000 people in four years. But the speed of that growth tells a story about COVID, borders, and the pressure on public services that nobody's quite pieced together yet.
Wholesale Trade Hit $98 Billion Last Year. In Real Terms, It Grew Just 10%.
While households struggle with soaring bills, wholesale trade revenue climbed to $98 billion in 2024. But strip out five years of inflation, and the story changes completely.
Retail Workers Earned $86 Billion Last Year. Inflation Took $17 Billion of It.
While households battle soaring bills, retail workers' pay packets tell the same story. Wages grew 27% since 2020, but inflation ate most of it. leaving real earnings barely above where they started.
Wages Hit $22.5 Billion, But Inflation Ate Most of the Growth
New Zealand's wage bill reached a record high in 2024, but after accounting for inflation, workers are barely ahead of where they stood five years ago. The disconnect matters more as household bills soar.
How Much Tax Do Influencers Pay? Ask the 290,000 Kiwis Who Vanished from PAYE
While RNZ investigates influencer tax payments, the real story is hidden in the PAYE data: nearly 300,000 people have disappeared from traditional employment income in just four years. Where did they go?
Who's Earning Between $45K and $49K? And Why Are There Fewer of Them?
While the Reserve Bank holds rates steady and influencers debate their tax bills, a quiet shift is happening in the middle of New Zealand's income ladder. The number of Kiwis earning between $45,000 and $49,000 has dropped 3.7% in four years.
New Zealand Spent $68.6 Million on Media and Tech Workers in 2024. But Real Growth Stopped Two Years Ago
While RNZ asks how much tax influencers pay, the data shows the entire information and telecommunications sector hit a growth ceiling in 2023. Nominal wages climbed, but inflation ate the gains.
West Coast's $259 Million Income Sounds Big Until You Realise It's Shrinking
The West Coast's total taxable income hit a record $259 million last year. But after accounting for 20-25% inflation since 2019, workers on the Coast are earning less than they were five years ago.
Wellington Approved a Controversial High-Rise While Worker Income Flatlined for Two Years
The capital just green-lit a major development as taxable income data shows Wellington workers earned virtually the same in 2024 as 2023. After inflation, they're going backwards while the city builds upward.
Influencers' Tax Mystery Has a Bigger Answer: 63,000 'Other' Income Earners Vanished Since COVID
While RNZ asks how much tax influencers pay, the real story is hiding in Stats NZ data: 62,751 Kiwis earned income classified as 'not elsewhere included' in 2024. That's 74,643 fewer people than in 2020, and 61% below pre-COVID levels.
Business Failures Like Moa Point Café Show a Bigger Problem: 86,000 Fewer Businesses Started This Year
While Wellington businesses struggle near sewage spills, the national picture is grimmer. New Zealand saw 914,266 business births in 2025. the lowest in five years and 118,627 fewer than 2022's peak.
Self-Employment Income Dropped $98 Million While Everyone's Asking How Much Influencers Pay
As RNZ asks how much tax influencers pay, the data shows total self-employment income just fell for the first time in five years. After a decade of growth, the gig economy is contracting.
836,210 NZ Businesses Died Last Year. The Most Since Records Began
While Wellington politicians debate wastewater infrastructure, business deaths just hit a record high. 836,210 closures in 2025. that's 56,241 more than last year, and 40% higher than 2023.
West Coast Taxable Income Hit $259 Million — But Workers Are Poorer Than 2019
The West Coast's taxable income reached a record $259 million in 2024. Adjust for inflation, and workers on the Coast have actually lost ground over five years — even as Auckland residents worry about <a href='https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587253/auckland-s-west-coast-residents-fear-their-beaches-will-become-next-rockpool-harvesting-hotspot' target='_blank'>their own west coast pressures</a>.
Wellington's $3.9 Billion Taxable Income Hasn't Grown in Real Terms Since 2023
As Wellington approves controversial high-rise developments, the city's taxable income hit $3.9 billion in 2024 — but after inflation, workers are actually earning less than they were two years ago.
NZ Businesses Are Spending 45% More on Admin and Support — But Not on You
While Contact Energy posts record profits and the property market stirs, spending on administrative and support services has surged to $75 million. But inflation means companies are getting less for more — and workers aren't seeing the gains.
Your Teenager's First Job Now Pays 54% More Than in 2019 — But Feels Like Less
Young workers aged 15-19 earned a record $37.8 million in 2024, up 54% since pre-COVID. But after inflation eats into those paychecks, the reality is far less rosy for Kiwi teens entering the workforce.
Wages Hit $22.5 Billion — But After Inflation, Workers Are Going Backwards
Total wages and salaries reached a record $22.5 billion in 2024. But with inflation running at 20-25% since 2019, that 'growth' means the average Kiwi worker is actually earning less than they were five years ago.
One Million Kiwis Now Get ACC Payments — Double What It Was a Generation Ago
In 2000, half a million New Zealanders received ACC income support. Today it's 1.1 million — and that's before adjusting for inflation. Here's what two decades of injury data reveals about how we work and live.
Someone Opened a Business in New Zealand Every 10 Minutes Last Year
While Contact Energy reported record profits and tourists flooded back in, 914,266 new businesses launched across NZ in 2025 — the lowest number in five years. Here's what that drop really means.
New Zealand's Peak Earning Years Are Paying $100k Less Than They Used To
While Contact Energy posts record profits, data reveals that Kiwis aged 45-49 — traditionally the highest earners — saw their total taxable income drop by $100 million in a year. The generation that should be at its financial peak is sliding backwards.
Why Are Wages Growing Fastest in the Industry We All Thought Was Dying?
While Contact Energy posts record profits and tourism rebounds, the real wage story is hiding in plain sight: information and telecommunications workers are earning more than ever — but inflation tells a darker truth.
Business Deaths Just Hit an All-Time High — 836,000 in a Single Year
While tourists pour back in and energy companies report record profits, New Zealand businesses are closing at the fastest rate ever recorded. In 2025, more than 836,000 businesses died — up 56,000 from last year.
62,000 Kiwis Are Earning Income That Doesn't Fit Any Official Category
A mystery income stream affecting 62,000 New Zealanders has collapsed by 61% since 2019. The taxable earnings that don't fit Stats NZ's classifications tell a story about gig work, side hustles, and what we've lost in five years.
Self-Employment Hit a Four-Year High — Then Collapsed by 100,000 in One Year
While Parliament debates employment law changes, the data shows something dramatic already happened: New Zealand lost nearly 100,000 self-employed workers between 2023 and 2024 — the sharpest drop since records began.