Key points
Median weekly income is a measure of the middle point of the distribution of weekly income. For example, if there were 99 people, the median weekly income would be the weekly income of the fiftieth person when people are ranked by weekly income. People’s income is an important driver of the local economy. The disposable income, derived from weekly income minus fixed expenses, indicates what spending power people have. What people buy and consume with their income determines the health of the local economy.
- Real median weekly income in the Waikato Region is similar to the national average, with a value of $552 as at June 2011.
- After adjusting for inflation, median weekly income in the Waikato Region has increased by about 36% since 1998, however this follows a slump associated with the global financial crisis and resulting recession.
- The median weekly income for males in the Region as at June 2011 was $700 and for females $433. The disparity between male and female median weekly incomes increased significantly over the period 1998 to 2005 and has since fluctuated between $250-300 per week.
- There are also persistent disparities between ethnic groups, with Māori and Pacific Peoples earning a lower median weekly income than the European/Pākehā ethnic group.
Real median weekly income, Waikato Region and New Zealand (base June 2006 quarter)
Source: New Zealand Income Survey
Notes: Weekly income is the income received before tax from all sources, such as wages, salary, self-employment, government transfers, private superannuation and pension schemes, annuities and investment income. It measures the income received over an average week in the June quarter. Median weekly income is the middle point of the distribution of weekly income. For example, if there were 99 people, the median weekly income would be the weekly income of the fiftieth person when people are ranked by weekly income. For the purpose of this indicator, median weekly indicator is adjusted by the Consumers Price Index (CPI) (base June 2006 quarter) to calculate real median weekly income.
What agencies are doing
Information currently being collated.
What you can do to help
Information currently being collated.
More information
More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.
What we want to achieve
The community outcomes we are seeking to achieve by increasing median weekly income are:
- Our regional and local economies are robust and diverse, providing opportunities throughout the Waikato region.
- The growth, wealth and uniqueness of the Maori economy is acknowledged and supported.