New Zealand First has pledged to increase the minimum wage by at least inflation levels every year for the next three years, should it re-enter government.
It is also promising a permanent boost to the Working for Families in-work tax credit.
Over the last term of government, the minimum wage increased each year, with the most recent increase below the rate of inflation.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said workers needed to have the ability to afford the basics without falling behind the rate of inflation.
"As a government we cannot just view the economic recovery from a national level; it needs to start with our workers who are the backbone of our communities."
Peters has made the announcement at a public meeting in Invercargill.
Alongside the minimum wage announcement, Peters said New Zealand First would make permanent the temporary boost to the in-work tax credit introduced earlier this year to help families affected by the fuel crisis.
The $50 a week boost is set to expire in April, or if the price of 91 octane petrol drops below $3 a litre for four consecutive weeks.
Peters said New Zealand First would also increase it by an extra $70 a week, making the total $120 a week. The party estimated it would cost between $500 million to $600m a year.
ACT had campaigned on a minimum wage freeze, but New Zealand First had secured increases as part of the coalition agreement.
ACT is again campaigning to freeze the minimum wage for three years, as well as reduce the youth training rate.
-RNZ
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