The Labour Inspectorate will be visiting a Christchurch dairy after a job was advertised in a local newspaper, offering well below the minimum wage.

A store manger role was advertised for Faithful Daez Dairy, with a starting pay of just $10.50 an hour.

When Newstalk ZB contacted them, they confirmed that was the starting wage and were unfazed when informed it was illegal.

An investigator will be looking to see if the advertisement was correct.

Labour Inspectorate’s Southern Regional Manager Stuart Lumsden said he's already allocated an inspector to undertake inquiries.

"What we'll be doing in this instance is actually visiting the dairy, talking to the owner, ascertaining whether this advertisement is correct or not, and then explaining the situation."

They'll also be looking to see if anyone is already employed there working at that pay rate.

Lumsden said it's not just dairies which see issues with minimum wage.

"It tends to follow vulnerable individuals as opposed to industries, and those would be migrants and youth workers."

Retail NZ General Manager Greg Harford said there are serious consequences for those who don't follow the employment laws.

The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment Labour inspectors do come down pretty hard on people who actively flout the law, and I think our message for retailers is that you need to be offering the minimum wage to all your staff."

Stuart Lumsden said anyone who's aware of a similar situation should contact the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.