KEY POINTS:
Average weekly incomes from all sources for all people rose 9.4 per cent from a year ago to $667 in the year to June , Statistics New Zealand said today.
The increase shown in the department's annual income survey was the highest increase since 2002.
It was driven by a rise in wages and salaries and investment income.
Pakeha incomes rose 9.9 per cent to an average of $723 while Maori incomes rose 3.8 per cent to $526 and Pacific peoples' incomes rose 9.9 per cent to $477.
For those receiving wage and salary income, the average weekly wage and salary income increased more for 8.7 per cent for males and 6 per cent for females.
The number who are self employed remained steady on 11.4 per cent and their incomes increased 5.7 per cent on average.
Average household incomes from all sources rose 9.4 per cent to $1445.
Increases in the number of wage and salary earners were similar for males and females, up 2.0 per cent and 1.3 per cent, respectively.
The larger increase for males was due to a combination of factors, including more males being represented at the higher wage and salary income levels, and more males in full-time employment.
Median hourly income for wage and salary earners rose $1, or 5.9 per cent, to $18.00. Male income increased by 97 cents to $19.10 per hour and females increased by 90 cents to $16.78 per hour.
All industries and occupations experienced increases in both average and median hourly earnings compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
Over the year, average weekly investment income for those receiving investment income increased by 29.1 per cent to $137.
Age groups with the highest average weekly investment income were the 60-64 and 55-59 age groups ($265 and $232, respectively).
- NZPA
