Which sectors pay more than a median $100,000 salary?
It used to be that once someone's salary hit six digits, they would be considered highly paid.
But there are now about a dozen sectors paying at least a median $100,000.
Over the past 10 years, the median wage across New Zealand has risen from about $67,000 - depending how you measure it - to nearly $80,000.
Infometrics principal economist Nick Brunsdon compiled LEED data from Stats NZ which showed the break down of mean and median income by industry.
It showed workers in mining, manufacturing, electricity and gas supply, rail, water, air and space transport, telecommunications, finance and insurance, computer system design, and hospitals all had median and mean incomes above $100,000.
The data reports on PAYE earners so will not capture self employed people who do not pay PAYE, or anyone who is not in paid work.
Coal, oil, gas and metal ore mining was top, with a median income of $136,770 and a mean of $144,450.
Computer systems design and related services was second, with a median income of $125,630.
It was followed by exploration and other mining support services on a median $124,960 and auxiliary finance and insurance services on $124,390.
At the other end of the table was food and beverage services, with a median $40,170, and food retailing on a median $45,030.
"The big caveat is that it doesn't include hours worked, and there will be differences in the prevalence of part time workers across industries," Brunsdon said.
He said it seemed overall that it was private sectors that were paying the highest salaries, with the exception of hospital staff. But he said hospital wages were likely to be being pulled up by highly paid surgeons and other specialists.
"Generally the private sector has greater ability to pay."
He said qualifications were also a factor, although mining roles were not necessarily those requiring degrees.
He said manufacturing salaries could be being pushed up by shift work loadings that could bring people over the $100,000 salary level "quite easily".
There had been a couple of years of quite aggressive minimum wage increases, he said. "That's going to have an effect at the bottom end and it's going to have that knock-on effect to anyone - or should have a knock-on effect to anyone - who's near the minimum wage to maintain relativity.
"But I guess it depends on what's going on. When you've got particular pressures in particular areas, that's going to push up wages. A couple of years ago there was a lot of pressure in the public sector and professional services wages during that period. Not so much now."
He said there was not much impetus for wage growth in the current environment.
"People are generally pretty grateful to keep the job they've got rather than push the boat out and try to get paid more... the job hopping that can push things up is not going on as well."
He said the economy might be at a turning point for recovery but Infometrics was not expecting it to tick over into strong growth.
"It's sort of expected to be a prolonged recovery, which means that it could be some years until we start to get that sort of heat back in the economy that contributes to strong wage growth."
Top five
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Coal, oil gas and metal ore mining
Mean $144,450 median $136,770
Mining is the highest paid sector in New Zealand.
A report in the middle of this year said that 7470 people were employed in the sector.
Computer systems design and related services
Mean $128,690, median $125,630
These sorts of roles are often among the most highly paid in things like Trade Me's reports of advertised salaries.
They include things like planning, integrating and managing computer hardware and software, as well as communication technologies.
Exploration and other mining support services
Mean $129,940, median $124,960
That same mining report said the biggest job creation and economic impact was in Buller, Hauraki and Waitaki.
Earlier in the year, RNZ reported that forest and mining roles had the second-biggest pay increases last year at 6.2 percent.
Auxiliary finance and insurance services
Mean $134,480, median $124,390
This category captures people whose work is related to financial transactions and insurance but who work in businesses that don't own the financial assets themselves.
Finance
Mean $126,220, median $122,020
General finance jobs were also paying well.
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Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
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Charities turning away high numbers of volunteer applications
Charities are turning away people wanting to volunteer amidst a flood of interest they say is linked to the high rate of unemployment.
It comes as some businesses receive thousands of applications for paid roles and people look for experience anywhere they can.
The advocacy organisation Volunteering NZ has been tracking the trend. Spokesperson Margaret McLachlan said there has been a considerable rise in applications for volunteer roles across a range of charities.
Many application forms asks people to divulge if they are job hunters.
"Over the last year or so, they are seeing more people coming in who are saying they are in that category. They are looking for work but doing volunteering while that process is taking place."
"As unemployment increases and the cost of living, times are tougher for everybody."
At the same time, she said community organisations supporting social services were busier and needed more helpers.
McLachlan said depending on the organisation, they might want to do a police check, a reference check and an interview.
"In some cases it can be a process to go through and not always, and that can take some time.
"It's actually the same barriers that a person might find in finding a job, can also apply to volunteering. It's not always a easy option."
SPCA had 120 op shops and animal rescue centres across the country in which volunteers worked.
General manager of retail Cathy Crichton said they received about 1300 extra applications for volunteer roles, a 32 percent increase, from June to November 2025, compared to 2024.
"There's definitely a nudge forward which is very exciting and we're very grateful."
But it meant they were not accepting any more volunteers in some areas.
"Because the applications are up it's a unique scenario. But at this point in time, in smaller locations, we've actually got a hold in 19 locations in New Zealand where we are at capacity - and that's very rare and it's a very new trend."
Crichton said anyone seeking volunteer work should think creatively about what skills they can offer - it could be in administration or marketing.
"We'd love to welcome as many people as we could because the more hands on deck the more we can do and the more we can contribute to the community."
She said people were self-motivated to apply for volunteer work.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent in the September quarter, meaning 160,000 people were jobless. The next quarterly figures are out in February.
"There's a willingness to give back and contribute to the community. Unemployment being high really does encourage people to engage with the workforce and get experience," Crichton said.
"It really is about staying connected with the community and meeting others."
She said they had also seen an increase in young people seeking volunteer work experience.
"It's a great opportunity to get work experience and a reference and there's an appeal there as an employer...I really do think it adds value to a CV."
Stats NZ data showed over half of New Zealanders, 53 percent, volunteered during March 2025 and of those, 27.6 percent volunteered through an organisation and 40.8 percent volunteered directly for another person.
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The best board games to play (and gift) this summer
Over the holiday period, the right game can make all the difference. So which board games should you try out – and which ones should you gift?
1. Sushi Go Party
This colourful, fast-paced game has great art, and a "menu" that can be changed depending on the number of players (up to eight) and their familiarity with the game.
Players win the game by creating the best combination of cards, depending on what's available, by rotating the cards from player to player like a sushi train. It's easy to learn and relatively cheap.
2. Wavelength
In this party game, teams have to try and guess the location of a hidden target on a spectrum, using a clue from one "psychic" team member. The ends of the spectrum reflect two binaries, such as hot–cold or optional–mandatory, and the target falls somewhere in between.
The closer the team gets to where the psychic thinks the target should go, the more points they score. Wavelength is one of those games where no matter if your team gets it right or wrong, you can expect people to give their two cents.
3. Mysterium and Mysterium Park
In these team games, players play mediums seeking the counsel of another player – a ghost – who gives them clues to important information about murders in the house, including the ghost’s own murder.
The ghost offers the other players tarot cards with abstract artwork with which they must attempt to discern the murder weapon, location and culprit.
4. The Quacks of Quedlinburg
This game sees players take the role of potion makers at the local fair, who must push their luck by drawing ingredients out of a bag to make the best potions without them blowing up in their face. It’s simple to teach and hilarious when someone else blows up their cauldron (although arguably less when it’s you).
5. Modern Art
This is one of the most celebrated games from board game designer luminary Reiner Knizia. Players are art dealers auctioning off beautiful paintings done by five professional artists. Players might even forget to play as they get caught up in simply admiring the pieces they are auctioning off.
Modern Art remains a fiendishly clever game that is easy to learn but hard to master.
6. Heat: Pedal to the Metal
This strategic racing game is based on 1960s Formula 1 racing. The base game boasts four tracks on two gorgeous boards, and lovely little cars that pass each other and risk spinning out around corners.
7. Nemesis
By far the most expensive (and complicated) game on this list, Nemesis can best be described as Alien: the board game.
Players have to move through a spaceship, discovering rooms and items as they go, taking care not to alert the horrific extraterrestrials that have managed to get onto the ship – represented by amazingly designed pieces. It’s a truly tense and fun experience for a full afternoon.
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