Wellington's Deputy Mayor Paul Eagle breaks out Santa suit in support of living wage

Wellington Deputy Mayor Paul Eagle dons the big, red suit in support of the living wage. Photo/Melissa Nightingale

Opetaia Siale won't be spending Christmas at home - he'll be cleaning Wellington's public toilets while his family forgo presents so they can afford a Christmas meal.

Siale is contracted by the Wellington City Council for the cleaning job, which is generally seven days a week, in all types of weather, and on minimum wage.

"The minimum wage is $15.60, it's not enough to support my family," he said.

"Sometimes I come to work without lunch, only a bottle of water. So I save the bread and butter for the children."

Siale shared his plight with about 70 people gathered in the Civic Square this evening promoting the living wage.

While the council is working towards making sure all its contractors are paid a living wage, they can only make the changes bit by bit. Siale is one of the contractors who does not yet benefit from it.

"Some of the public, they don't care or respect what we're doing. They piss on the floors, poo on the toilet seat . . . or throw the wet tissue on the ceiling.

"My message is really to treat all the cleaners fairly and we need them to pay us the living wage, $19.80."

Siale was one of the speakers at the event, held by Living Wage Aotearoa Movement.

People gathered in the square despite light rain and sang carols, some attendees decked out in Santa hats and red feather boas.

Deputy Mayor Paul Eagle donned Santa's suit to hand out chocolate, candy canes, Christmas crackers and mandarins to people in the crowd.

Children helped hand out the goodies, except one small boy who screamed in distress whenever he caught a sight of the man in the big, red suit.

Mayor Justin Lester spoke briefly at the event, saying there was support for the living wage "across the council", but what had been accomplished so far was thanks to the campaigners who had made it "really easy for us".

Living Wage Aotearoa Movement's Lindy McIntyre said the event was a celebration after 60 council contractors - including cleaners, security guards, and noise control officers - received a $3 pay rise earlier this year.

"We're just here to say thank you to the mayor and deputy mayor . . . but we're saying we're just here to remind you that there's some workers this Christmas who are still going to be in poverty, still on poverty wages."

The council has been paying its own staff a minimum of $18.55 since 2013.