Northland Inc directors' fees total $126,000 - that's $18,000 each a year

The new board of directors for Northland Inc will receive base fees of $18,000 each per annum, or $126,000 all up.

Information about the directors' remuneration was supplied by the Northland Regional Council's corporate excellence department after a request by the Northern Advocate under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.

Northland Inc's new board was expanded from five members to seven by the council last month, with a wide-sweeping change of the guard. Only one sitting member was kept on, Kaikohe-based chartered accountant Sarah Petersen.

The new board will visit Northland Inc's offices and meet staff today, with the first meeting scheduled for next Thursday. It is expected at that meeting or soon after the board will choose a chairperson.

The total of $126,000 for seven board members' fees is a $15,500 increase in remuneration, on top of the expense of two extra directors.

Last year the fees, without expenses, for the five-member board totalled $74,500, according to Northland Inc's 2016/2017 financial statement.

There were 35 applicants after the directorships for the regional council-funded economic development organisation were publicly advertised in April.

Joining Petersen on the new board are Geoff Copstick from Helena Bay, Kris MacDonald from Matapouri and four Kerikeri residents; Nicole Anderson, Denis Callesen, David Crewe and Jim Makaweo.

They have replaced outgoing chair Karleen Everitt, deputy chairman Jeroen Jongejans, Irene Durham and Warren Moyes.

Northland Inc was established in 2011/12 and is floated to the tune of $1.7 million out of the NRC's Investment and Growth Reserve. The organisation, listed as a company, also earns money from other public and private agencies and contracts.

In 2016/2017 Northland Inc's wages bill alone was $1,398,020 and its administration costs $1,306,262.