The living wage is increasing from $20.55 to $21.15, coinciding with today's minimum wage lift up to $17.70.
The living wage, calculated by Living Wage Movement Aotearoa, covers a family's basic costs like food, transport, housing and childcare.
The new rate comes in on September 1, 2019.
Living Wage Accreditation's Felicia Scherrer said the event was significant for "ethical employers".
"From large corporates like Westpac, to big SMEs like Seashore Cabaret, to many small employers who want to do the right thing."
The living wage increase coincides with the $1.20 jump in the minimum wage from today, a move impacting more than 200,000 New Zealand workers.
Opposition leader Simon Bridges told TVNZ1's Breakfast this morning the $1.20 rise will add undue stress to many of the small businesses which are "doing it tough".
The Government has indicated minimum wage rates of $18.90, to come into effect on April 1, 2020, and $20 to come into effect the same time the following year.
Wellington City Council, energy company Vector and insurance provider AMP are on board with the living wage for those who are directly employed as well as those who are contractors.
The living wage rate is calculated each year by Charles Waldegrave of the Family Centre's Social Policy Research Unit and researcher Dr Peter King.
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