Northland Health board pays 80 staff handsomely

Eighty Northland Health staff received salaries worth more than $100,000 in the last financial year, and 67 of the high earners were medical and dental specialists.

The Northland District Health Board's annual report shows the 80 staff earned a minimum of $11.328 million between them - almost 14 per cent of the board's entire wage bill.

The board said it had to pay such salaries to attract and retain good staff.

Statistics New Zealand figures show the average income in Northland is $15,200.