Revealed: New Zealand's army of ratepayer-funded council staff
24 SEPTEMBER 2019
Figures obtained as part of the 2019 Ratepayers’ Report league tables reveal that local councils across New Zealand
employ 30,497 staff – 5,376 of whom earn salaries north of $100,000.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says: "The sheer scale of council bureaucracy is stunning. Ratepayers are
forking out salaries for a population the size of Timaru, or double the size of the New Zealand Defence Force. And one
in six of these staff members earns a salary higher than $100,000. In the Auckland Super City it is one in four."
Some councils are less efficient in their staffing than others. Ratepayers' Report looks at staffing costs per
household, to compare how bloated each council's bureaucracy is on an apples-to-apples basis. We also present
staff-to-household ratios.
“Westland District Council ranks the least efficient in New Zealand in terms of both its staff costs and numbers.
Meanwhile Rangitikei and Central Hawke's Bay District Councils appear to be getting the most from their staff.”
“Westland, at least, has the excuse of a large geographic area, and a small population means it lacks economies of
scale. Ratepayers in Wairoa, Waitomo, Waitaki, and Christchurch should ask what their councils’ excuses are.”
“Often councils will justify rates increases on the basis of infrastructure spending, when in reality the spending is
sucked up by rising payroll costs. Auckland ratepayers in particular have cause for concern, with an incredible 2,473
council employees paid more than $100,000. These costs are an obvious place to cut waste, especially as ratepayers
suffer under higher rates and other charges.”
Total personnel costs per household (including CCOs):
Highest personnel cost per household:
Westland District Council: $3,643
Wairoa District Council: $3,319
Waitomo District Council: $3,160
Waitaki District Council: $3,143
Christchurch City Council: $3,134
Lowest personnel cost per household:
Rangitikei District Council: $622
Upper Hutt City Council: $693
Whangarei District Council: $718
Tararua District Council: $723
South Wairarapa District Council: $724
Average personnel cost per household: $1,364
Lowest and highest household-to-staff ratios (including CCOs):
Least efficient (households per staff member):
Westland District Council: 19
Waitomo District Council: 20
Buller District Council: 26
Hurunui District Council: 26
Wairoa District Council: 34
Most efficient (households per staff member):
Central Hawke's Bay District Council: 112
Masterton District Council: 104
Whangarei District Council: 102
Rangitikei District Council: 102
Hutt City Council: 100
Average (households per staff member): 67
Numbers of staff earning over $100,000 (including CCOs):
Auckland Council: 2,473
Christchurch City Council: 534 (excludes CCO staff, council failed to supply)
Wellington City Council: 261
Hastings District Council: 79
Tauranga City Council: 138
Hamilton City Council: 124
Palmerston North City Council: 83
Dunedin City Council: 79
Waikato District Council: 69
Queenstown-Lakes District Council: 62
Nationwide: 5,376
Nationwide (all salary levels): 30,497
ENDS