A rise in the minimum wage has struck the right balance for struggling Wanganui low income earners and local employers, the Whanganui Chamber of Commerce says.
New chamber president Craig Hanford said Wanganui was over-represented in lower income statistics, but many of its employment sectors were still "really hurting" from the economic downturn.
The comments follow Prime Minister John Key's announcement last week that the minimum wage would rise by 50 cents an hour to $14.25 from April 1.
The "starting out" and "training" minimum wages - for youth workers and workers on industry training - will also increase 40c an hour to $11.40.
The increase will affect about 109,000 people - the 54,000 on the minimum wage, and about 55,000 others now earning an amount between the current and new minimum wage.