The 2026/27 Living Wage rate is $29.90. Read more here

The Living Wage: 2027 Organising Appeal

Building people power to eliminate in-work poverty across Aotearoa

We want to hit the ground running in 2027, with the financial resources to organise across Aotearoa and win the Living Wage for thousands of workers who are struggling to survive on the misery of the minimum wage.

We need regular income to employ organisers who can build power in their communities and put down long-term roots to create Living Wage Cities.

See how close we are → Become a Giver Today
Why:

The Living Wage Movement is building regular income to grow our people power, protect the wins we’ve already achieved, and organise for more workers across Aotearoa to win the Living Wage in 2027.

Goals:

Our goal: 175 Foundation Givers, securing $60,000 in regular income.

100 people giving $20 a month,
75 people giving $40 a month.

What will it be used for?

Members of the South Auckland Network seated in front of carved poupou and tukutuku panels
South Auckland

Keep our South Auckland organiser on the ground.

Our South Auckland Organiser, Geoffery, has been building power in the community, particularly among Auckland Airport’s cleaners. The cleaners and community are calling on Auckland Airport to become an Accredited Living Wage Employer.

Becoming a giver will help make Geoffery’s role financially sustainable for the Movement and resource the campaign with the support it needs to win.

Living Wage supporters standing in front of a red Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand banner
Kirikiriroa Hamilton

Build a Living Wage City in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.

Help resource our movement in Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa’s youngest and fastest-growing city, as we campaign for Hamilton City Council and major local employers to become Accredited Living Wage Employers.

We currently have a community organiser in Kirikiriroa on temporary funding. We want to secure their role for the long haul, so we can build a Living Wage City there.

A packed community meeting in a hall with Living Wage banners, as a speaker addresses the room
Greater Wellington

Resource our Greater Wellington Movement.

As Aotearoa’s capital, Wellington is critical for influencing political decision-makers and shifting the public sector to pay its 20,000 lowest-paid workers the Living Wage.

Our vibrant Greater Wellington Movement is also embarking on Aotearoa’s first Living Wage Cities campaign. We need more income to go bigger and bolder, running campaigns that win the Living Wage in the public sector and create Aotearoa’s first Living Wage City.

Worker Stories

An airport cleaner speaking at the podium at a Living Wage event, in front of a red Living Wage banner
South Auckland

Jingle from Auckland’s story

Jingle Calicdan cleans Auckland Airport and is an E tū Campaign Leader for the Safe Airport Campaign. She moved to Aotearoa from the Philippines with her family hoping for a better life, but they struggled to find stable work and, at times, to put food on the table.

Now Jingle and her fellow cleaners are calling for the Living Wage, safer staffing and dignity at work, and asking the Māngere community to stand with them. The Living Wage airport campaign is focused on winning the Living Wage for workers like Jingle.

“We shouldn’t have to work two or three jobs just to survive.”Jingle Calicdan, airport cleaner, Māngere · Read more in 275 Times
Robert Prescott, in a hi-vis work shirt, smiling with other Living Wage supporters in Kirikiriroa Hamilton
Kirikiriroa Hamilton

Robert from Hamilton’s story

Robert Prescott works in water services at Hamilton City Council, alongside his father. He went to Hamilton Boys’ High School, has performed with a Pacific performing arts group at many of the city’s big events, and plays club rugby. Hamilton is his community and where he belongs.

As a young man of 18, Robert wanted to study mechanical engineering. But with his family struggling to make ends meet, he gave up study for a minimum-wage job that didn’t even cover living costs. Now on the Living Wage at the Council, the extra $100 a fortnight gets him to rugby, gets his parents to work and church, and lets his family take part in their community. He’s urging the Council to become an Accredited Living Wage Employer.

“For us workers it is the difference between thriving and surviving.”Robert Prescott, water services, Hamilton City Council
A man in a hi-vis vest speaking at the podium at the Living Wage election forum
Greater Wellington

Bill from Porirua’s story

Bill Hiku has been the caretaker at Porirua College for 13 years. He fixes doors, mows lawns, paints, does the plumbing and locks up, often starting by 8am and not getting home until 7.30pm. He’s also a mentor to students going through rough times.

Bill is one of around 11,000 school cleaners, caretakers, canteen staff and groundskeepers with no requirement to be paid the Living Wage. In his community of Cannons Creek, at least a third of families have a parent working two jobs just to stand still. A big focus for the Living Wage Movement in 2027 is securing the Living Wage in schools for the 11,000 workers like Bill.

“What keeps me here is the kids … no worker should earn less than the Living Wage.”Bill Hiku, caretaker, Porirua College

How far off are we?

This is how much we still need to hit our fundraising goal, updated daily: $0 a year to reach $60,000.

$0
a year in regular giving, of our $60,000 a year goal
  • Tier 1 · $20 a month0 of 100 givers · $0 of $24,000 a year
  • Tier 2 · $40 a month0 of 75 givers · $0 of $36,000 a year
  • Other regular contributions0 givers · $0 a year

As at 13 October 2026

$24,000a year from 100 givers at $20 a month
$36,000a year from 75 givers at $40 a month
$60,000a year goal for organising
Become one of the 175 now

Choose your monthly contribution

Every regular giver counts. Our goal is 100 people at Tier 1 and 75 at Tier 2.

Goal: 100 givers
Tier 1
$20
a month
Give $20
Goal: 75 givers
Tier 2
$40
a month
Give $40
Tier 3
$60
a month
Give $60

Contributions are tax deductible.

Join today. Be one of the 175.

Become a Giver Today
Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand Living Wage Movement Aotearoa New Zealand · livingwage.org.nz/donate