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Nanny Care in NZ: Costs, Legalities, and How to Find the Right Nanny (2026)
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How much does a nanny cost in NZ, and what are the legal requirements?
In 2026, NZ nannies charge $23.50-$50/hr depending on experience and location, with full-time weekly costs running $940-$2,000+. You are the employer, which means PAYE tax, KiwiSaver contributions, ACC levy, a written employment agreement, and 4 weeks annual leave are all mandatory under NZ law. Nannies do not qualify for 20 Hours ECE or WINZ childcare subsidies unless they are part of a licensed home-based ECE network.
Types of nanny care in New Zealand
Nanny care is not one-size-fits-all. There are four main arrangements NZ families use, each with different cost structures and legal implications.
- Live-out nanny: Works set hours from your home and leaves at the end of the day. The most common arrangement. Typically requires a full NZ driver's licence for school runs and errands.
- Live-in nanny: Lives in a spare room. Often provides more flexible hours including evenings or weekends. Rates are higher to reflect 24/7 availability, running $940-$2,000+ weekly depending on duties.
- Nanny share: Two families split one nanny's time and salary. For example, mornings at one home, afternoons at another. Each family pays roughly half the weekly rate, making it significantly more affordable than a sole arrangement.
- Au pair: A young international person (usually on a Working Holiday Visa) who provides 20-30 hours of childcare per week in exchange for a private room, meals, and a weekly allowance of $200-$450. This is not professional childcare, and the au pair is not an employee in the traditional sense.
What does a nanny cost in NZ?
The NZ minimum wage is $23.50/hr (from 1 April 2025), but most experienced nannies earn considerably more. The national average in 2026 is $30.53/hr, up 3.8% from 2024, according to Pay The Nanny's annual guide.
| Experience level | Hourly rate (NZD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | $23.50-$28/hr | Minimum wage to basic qualified; often casual or part-time |
| Experienced (3+ years) | $28-$40/hr | Full-time, may include nursery duties or school runs |
| Specialist / live-in | $40-$50+/hr | Executive nannies, household management, irregular hours |
| Au pair | $200-$450/week allowance | Plus room and board; not an hourly employment rate |
Auckland families pay 10-20% above the national average, so expect $32-$35/hr for a well-qualified nanny in central Auckland. In regional centres like Tauranga or Hamilton, $28-$32/hr is more typical. Full-time nanny care (40 hrs/week at $30/hr) runs roughly $1,200/week before employer costs, which add another 10-15% on top.
Au pair vs nanny: don't confuse the two
Your legal obligations as an employer
The moment you hire a nanny, you are an employer under NZ law. The Employment Relations Act and Holidays Act apply in full, with no domestic exception. Here is what you are required to do before your nanny starts:
- Written employment agreement: Mandatory under the Employment Relations Act. Must include the job description, hours, pay rate (minimum $23.50/hr), annual leave entitlements (4 weeks), public holiday rules, notice periods, and termination process. Employment NZ's Agreement Builder is free to use.
- PAYE deductions: You deduct income tax from your nanny's wages and pay it to IRD. The tax rate depends on their income bracket. Pay The Nanny and Payroll NZ offer payroll services for families who would rather not manage this manually.
- ACC levy: Approximately 1.6% of gross wages, paid to IRD as part of your employer PAYE obligations. Covers your nanny for work-related injuries.
- KiwiSaver: If your nanny is over 18 and earns more than $520.80/week, you must offer enrolment and contribute a minimum 3% employer contribution.
- Annual leave: 4 weeks paid leave per year, or 8% of gross earnings paid-as-you-go for genuine casual employees.
- Parental leave: If your nanny has worked for you for 6+ months averaging 10+ hours per week, they qualify for 26 weeks of paid parental leave through Employment NZ if they become pregnant.
Paying cash-in-hand is illegal
Subsidies: what nanny families can (and cannot) access
This is the part most families do not find out until after they have already hired a nanny: standard nanny arrangements do not qualify for 20 Hours ECE, FamilyBoost, or WINZ childcare subsidies. These subsidies are only available through licensed ECE services, which a private nanny is not.
There is one route around this. If your nanny joins an approved home-based ECE coordinating organisation and meets the licensing requirements (including caring for a maximum of 4 children under 5), the service can become eligible for MOE funding. This opens up FamilyBoost and potentially WINZ subsidies. It is more administrative setup than most families want, but for a nanny share arrangement with multiple children, the maths can make it worthwhile. Check with MOE Early Learning for current requirements.
Nanny share + licensing = potential subsidies
How to find a nanny in New Zealand
Start early. By October, most well-regarded nannies in Auckland are already placed for the following year. Here are the main channels:
- Nanny agencies: Karitane Nannies and similar agencies pre-screen candidates, verify police clearances and first aid certificates, and handle reference checks. Placement fees typically run $1,000-$3,000 (one-off) or around 10-20% of first-year salary. Worth it if you want to skip the vetting.
- Seek.co.nz: Most nannies in NZ use Seek. Write a clear job ad specifying hours, duties, whether a driver's licence is required, and your ballpark pay range. Expect 20-40 applications for a well-written ad.
- NannyNetwork NZ: A specialist platform where families post roles and nannies create profiles with credentials and reviews.
- Facebook groups: 'Nannies NZ', suburb-specific parent groups, and school community pages are active. Direct hires save the agency fee but mean you do all the vetting yourself.
- Word of mouth: Ask at your child's current ECE centre, school, or local playground. Nannies trusted in one family's network often have slots available or can recommend colleagues.
Background checks and vetting
Do not skip this step. The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 sets the standard for anyone working with children. Here is what to verify before your nanny starts:
- NZ Police vetting: Submit a request through the NZ Police vetting service. Free for employers. Results typically come back within 10 working days.
- Current first aid certificate: Minimum Level 3 First Aid (includes infant and child CPR). Many training providers run weekend courses. Check the certificate has not expired.
- References: At least two recent, work-related references from previous nanny or childcare roles. Call them directly; do not rely on written letters alone.
- Driver's licence: If your nanny will drive your children, verify their NZ licence is full (not restricted or learner). Check it covers the vehicle type you own.
- Childcare qualifications: A New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 3 or higher) is not legally required for private nannies but is a strong indicator of experience. Ask what training they have completed.
Nanny shares: how to split costs with another family
A nanny share works like this: two families coordinate so one nanny cares for both sets of children, either simultaneously or in shifts. The nanny earns a higher rate than they would from one family alone (reflecting the additional children), while each family pays roughly half the total weekly cost.
Say the nanny earns $35/hr caring for three children across a morning session, and you split that cost 50/50. Each family's weekly bill drops significantly from what a sole arrangement would cost. The legal setup matters: one family should be the primary employer, with the second reimbursing them under a written cost-sharing agreement. This avoids both families inadvertently becoming co-employers with separate obligations. Get it in writing from the start, including what happens if one family exits the arrangement.
Au pairs: the budget option (with trade-offs)
Au pairs in NZ are young international adults, typically 18-30, who live with the host family on a Working Holiday Visa. They provide up to 30 hours of childcare and light household duties per week in exchange for a private room, meals, and a weekly allowance. Most families pay $250-$400 per week in cash allowance, plus cover the au pair's phone plan.
Facilitating organisations like Au Pair NZ and Cultural Care Au Pair manage matching and support. Family placement fees typically run $500-$1,000. The arrangement suits families who need part-time, informal help: afternoon pick-ups, homework supervision, dinner prep. It is not a substitute for full-time professional childcare. If your children are under two or have additional needs, a qualified nanny is the more appropriate choice.
Nanny vs daycare vs home-based care
Each option suits a different family situation. Here is a direct comparison across the main decision factors:
| Factor | Nanny | Daycare centre | Home-based ECE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly cost (full-time) | $940-$2,000+ | $200-$600 | $200-$600 |
| Subsidies available | Not standard (unlicensed) | Yes: 20 Hrs ECE, FamilyBoost, WINZ | Yes: same subsidies if licensed |
| Hours flexibility | High (you set the schedule) | Low (fixed centre hours) | Medium (more flexible than centres) |
| Adult-to-child ratio | 1:1 or 1:2 | 1:5 (under 2), 1:10 (over 2) | 1:4 (max 4 children under 5) |
| Socialisation | Limited unless nanny share | Strong group environment | Small mixed-age group |
| Sick days / backup | Family manages | Centre handles staffing | Coordinator may arrange backup |
| Employer admin | Yes: PAYE, employment agreement, KiwiSaver | None | None |
| Best for | Irregular hours, multiple children, older kids | Working parents with standard 9-5 hours | Families wanting home feel with subsidy access |
Does a nanny qualify for 20 Hours ECE in NZ?
No. 20 Hours ECE funding is only available through licensed ECE services. A private nanny is not a licensed service and cannot access this subsidy. The exception is if the nanny joins an approved home-based ECE coordinating organisation and meets licensing requirements, at which point MOE funding may become available.
What is the minimum wage for a nanny in NZ in 2026?
The NZ minimum wage is $23.50/hour from 1 April 2025. All nannies must be paid at least this rate. Most experienced nannies earn $28-$40/hr; the national average in 2026 is $30.53/hr.
Do I need a written employment agreement for my nanny?
Yes, it is a legal requirement under the Employment Relations Act 2000. The agreement must be in writing and cover pay, hours, duties, annual leave, public holidays, and notice periods. Employment NZ provides a free Agreement Builder tool at employment.govt.nz.
Can an au pair replace a qualified nanny for full-time care?
Not really. Au pairs work a maximum of 30 hours per week, are not professional childcarers, and are in NZ on Working Holiday Visas. They are best suited to supplementary care: afternoon supervision, school pick-ups, or light household help. For full-time care of children under two, a qualified nanny or licensed daycare is more appropriate.
How do I run a background check on a nanny candidate?
Submit a police vetting request through the NZ Police vetting service (free for employers). Also verify their first aid certificate is current (Level 3, includes infant CPR), check their NZ driver's licence if required, and call two professional references directly. Do not rely on written references alone.
Is a nanny share legal in NZ?
Yes. The most straightforward approach is for one family to be the primary employer and the second family to reimburse them under a written cost-sharing agreement. This avoids creating two separate employment relationships. The arrangement should be documented in writing from the start, including what happens if one family exits.
Nanny care is the most personalised childcare option in NZ, and the most administratively demanding. If you are weighing it against other options, the Types of Childcare in NZ guide covers all 11 care types side by side. You can also use the cost estimator to model your actual weekly spend across different scenarios, including subsidies you qualify for.
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