Gender pay gap lowest since 2012: Statistics New Zealand

The gender pay gap is the smallest its been in five years, Statistics NZ says. Photo / 123RF

The gender pay gap is the smallest its been in five years, Statistics New Zealand says.

It's down from 12 per cent in the June 2016 quarter to 9.4 per cent in the same quarter in 2017.

Women's hourly pay has risen more quickly in the past year than men's.

"The decrease from a 12 per cent gap last year is the biggest drop in the gender pay gap since the series began in 1998," labour and income statistics manager Sean Broughton said.

Median hourly earnings for women rose by 4.6 per cent which is the biggest annual percentage increase since the June 2007 quarter.

The government deal to lift pay for aged-care workers is not reflected in the June 2017 quarter figures as it came into effect on July 1.

Half of workers over 15 have seen a pay increase of 3.8 per cent in the last year, and Maori weekly median earnings have increased by 5.2 per cent.