Brooke van Velden: Workplace Relations Minister defends minimum wage increase and claims it strikes the right balance - Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Minister-in-charge says the Government is striking the right balance on lifting the minimum wage.

It's rising two percent from April to $23.15 an hour from $22.70- affecting up to 145,000 workers.

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden says it's about protecting the incomes of the lowest paid New Zealanders.

"We're striking a balance between protecting the incomes of our lowest-paid workers in the economy- and also maintaining the labour market settings that encourage employment."

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