Pay Rise For Councils: Whanganui Mayor’s Salary Up More Than $5500

Saturday, 22 June 2024, 6:38 pm
Article: Moana Ellis - Local Democracy Reporter

The Whanganui mayor’s pay packet will increase by $5537 this year while other mayors, chairs and councillors in the region will get pay rises averaging 3.7 per cent.

Local-body elected members across the country will get more pay from 1 July.

Whanganui mayor Andrew Tripe’s salary will be $155,178, up from the existing mayoral salary of $149,641.

He is the highest paid of the Rangitīkei, Ruapehu and Whanganui mayors and regional council chair.

Horizons Regional Council chair Rachel Keedwell’s salary rises $5472 from $147,893 to $153,365.

Rangitīkei mayor Andy Watson is in line for $125,219, up from $120,751, and Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton’s pay goes up to $124,955 from $120,497.

Local government pay is set by the Remuneration Authority.

The role of mayor and regional council chair is generally considered full time.

The pool of money allocated to pay councillors and community board members has also increased across the region.

Whanganui District Council:
Deputy mayor Helen Craig will receive $62,357. A councillor with no special responsibilities is in line for $41,571 from July 1, up from $40,000, while those chairing committees or advisory groups will get up to $58,823, up from nearly $57,000.

Rural Community Board chair David Wells will receive $12,459 and rural community board members $6229.

Horizons Regional Council:
Deputy chair Jono Naylor’s salary will rise to $63,907 from $61,627. A councillor with no special responsibilities will receive $51,126, up from $49,302, and chairs or deputy chairs of committees will get up to $61,351, up from $59,162.

Rangitīkei District Council:
Deputy Mayor Dave Wilson will receive $40,802, up from $39,346. A councillor with no special responsibilities will get $29,690, up from $28,631. Chairs and deputy chairs of committees will be paid up to $38,576, up from $37,200.

Taihape Community Board chair Peter Kipling-Arthur will receive $9630 and members $4815.

Rātana Community Board chair Charlie Mete will be paid $4720 and members $2360.

Ruapehu District Council:
Deputy Mayor Vivienne Hoeta is in line for $51,850, up from $50,000. A councillor with no special responsibilities will receive $40,139, up from $38,707.

Taumarunui-Ōhura Community Board chair Luke Pepper and Waimarino-Waiouru Community Board chair John (Luigi) Hotter will get $15,001 and members $7501.

Ōwhango-National Park Community Board chair Anthony Gurr will earn $6622 and members $3311.

The Remuneration Authority published the pay rates for 2024/25 today (Thursday).

Chair Geoff Summers told Local Democracy Reporting earlier this week the new rates were determined “with a lot of difficulty” but the increase aligns with public sector pay rates.

Councillors in two councils of a similar size might be paid differently depending on the number of elected members, he said.

“If one council has 12 councillors and another has only 10, the remuneration pool would be the same but shared out differently.”

Summers said the Authority decided the remuneration pool available to each council, but councils themselves advised how they wanted to allocate the money.

“Councils tell us what their various roles should be paid according to the needs of the area – for example, what number of councillors chair committees, or the workload of a deputy mayor.”

2024/25 local government member salary determinations:

Manawatū–Whanganui (Horizons) Regional Council
Regional Council Chairperson 153,365
Regional Council Deputy Chairperson 63,907
Audit, Risk, and Investment Committee Chair 61,351
Audit, Risk, and Investment Committee Deputy Chair 51,126
Integrated Catchment Committee Chair 61,351
Integrated Catchment Committee Deputy Chair 58,795
Passenger Transport Committee Chair 61,351
Passenger Transport Committee Deputy Chair 51,126
Manawatū River Users’ Advisory Group Chair 51,126
Councillor with no additional responsibilities 51,126
Councillor (minimum allowable remuneration) 50,825

Ruapehu District Council
Mayor 124,955
Deputy Mayor 51,850
Councillor with no additional responsibilities 40,139
Councillor (minimum allowable remuneration) 24,834

Ōwhango–National Park Community Board
Chairperson 6,622
Member 3,311

Taumarunui–Ōhura Community Board
Chairperson 15,001
Member 7,501

Waimarino–Waiouru Community Board
Chairperson 15,001
Member 7,501

Rangitīkei District Council
Mayor 125,219
Deputy Mayor 40,802
Chair of Committee (3 roles) 38,576
Chair of Chief Executive Review Committee 31,912
Deputy Chair of Committee (3 roles) 32,467
Councillor with no additional responsibilities 29,690
Councillor (minimum allowable remuneration) 26,530

Rātana Community Board
Chairperson 4,720
Member 2,360

Taihape Community Board
Chairperson 9,630
Member 4,815

Whanganui District Council
Mayor 155,178
Deputy Mayor and Town Centre Rejuvenation Advisory Group Chair 62,357
Strategy and Policy Committee Chair, Risk and Assurance Deputy Chair, and Safer Whanganui Advisory Group Chair 58,823
Council Controlled Organisations Committee Deputy Chair, Aspirations and Projects Chair, and Sustainability and Waste Advisory Group Chair 58,823
Operations and Performance Committee Chair and CEO Performance Review Committee Chair 58,823
Strategy and Policy Committee Deputy Co-Chair 43,649
Council Controlled Organisations Committee Chair 51,964
Operations and Performance Committee Deputy Chair 43,649
Sport, Recreation, and Wellbeing Advisory Group Chair and Community Funding Grants Advisory Group Chair 50,924
Strategy and Policy Committee Deputy Co-Chair and Youth Council 43,649
Councillor with no additional responsibilities 41,571
Councillor (minimum allowable remuneration) 38,093

Whanganui Rural Community Board
Chairperson 12,459
Member 6,229

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