Auckland mayor Len Brown calls for limit to his pay rise

Mayor Len Brown. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Len Brown urges Govt to curb salary increases for local body members

Auckland mayor Len Brown and other local politicians have called for their pay to be reined in by the Government.

Extending pay reforms to include elected representatives in local government has drawn support from Mr Brown, deputy mayor Penny Hulse and right-leaning councillors Dick Quax and Cameron Brewer.

Prime Minister John Key has announced urgent legislation to peg MPs' pay to the average public sector pay increase for the previous year - meaning a yet-to-be-determined rise of between 1 and 2 per cent this year.

The overhaul will only affect MPs' pay, despite the Remuneration Authority setting other public sector pay rates.

But Mr Brown and Ms Hulse have confirmed to the Herald support for the review being extended to cover local body representatives.

"At a time we are trying to keep average rates increases as close to the rate of inflation as possible, this makes absolute sense," Mr Brown said.

The mayor received a pay rise of 3.4 per cent last year to take his salary to $259,500. Councillors had a 3.3 per cent bump to $101,900.

The consumers price index rose 1.5 per cent over that time.

The Remuneration Authority will in June announce how much those salaries will increase from July this year. Its decision to raise MPs' pay by 5.5 per cent - 3.5 per cent once a reduction in travel entitlement is factored in - set off anger when announced last week.

Mr Key, who said he was disappointed with the decision, will change the law to remove the authority's discretion when setting MPs' pay.

The sole criterion will be the average public sector pay increase for the previous year.

Yesterday a spokesman for Mr Key said the Government had no intention at this stage of widening the law change.

However, Howick councillor Dick Quax said he encouraged that decision to be reconsidered.

"I can't speak for other councillors, but Auckland councillors are pretty well paid for the job that they do."

Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown said she was keeping an open mind on the remuneration issue. "I am interested in a fair system, and one that works nationwide," the mayor said.