Harlene Hayne.
New University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene
Hayne has joined an exclusive group of New Zealand's highest
paid public service chief executives.
Prof Hayne is expected to receive a remuneration package of
up to $500,000, after stepping into her new role on August
15.
The State Services Commission annual report detailing the
remuneration of New Zealand's public service and state sector
chief executives shows former Otago vice-chancellor Prof Sir
David Skegg received a total remuneration of between $540,000
and $549,999 for the year to June, which ranked him ninth on
the New Zealand list.
After the report was released, the university declined to
release details of Prof Haynes' remuneration package.
But after a request under the Official Information Act, the
university supplied a projected total of between $490,000 and
$500,000.
Remuneration levels for tertiary education chief executives
are set by the respective university and polytechnic
councils, with the State Services commissioner making the
final decisions.
Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker's remuneration
band is between $290,000 and $299,999, down from his 2009-10
figure of $330,000 to $339,999.
Otago Polytechnic council chairwoman Kathy Grant told the
Otago Daily Times in September, the reported drop in Mr Ker's
remuneration had not been made by council members.
A change in dates for the reporting period meant some
performance bonuses had fallen outside the yearly payment
consideration, which appeared to be how the discrepancy
between the two years had come about.
The council had "no issue" with his performance and there had
been no cause to review his remuneration, she said.
Aoraki Polytechnic chief executive Kay Nelson's remuneration
band of $210,000 to $219,999 for the period is up about
$20,000 from the previous year.
University of Auckland vice-chancellor Prof Stuart McCutcheon
is the highest paid tertiary figure in New Zealand, earning
between $640,00 and $649,000 in the 12 months to June.
He is New Zealand's third-highest paid public service chief
executive.
The vice-chancellors of Massey University, Victoria
University of Wellington and the University of Canterbury all
have remuneration of more than $500,000.
The revised projected figure of up to $500,000 for the new
Otago vice-chancellor would have been ranked about 16th on
the list, about $10,000 to $20,000 less than the head of the
Department of the Prime Minister.
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