The University of Otago vice-chancellor's pay increased last year by up to $30,000 to almost $600,000 in what was a bumper year for many state sector chiefs.
The State Services Commission yesterday released the 2015-16 salary amounts of district health board, tertiary, public sector and Crown entity heads.
Among the big movers was an increase of up to $90,000 each for the chief executives of the Department of Internal Affairs and the Inland Revenue Department, and $100,000 more for Canterbury University's vice-chancellor, whose pay now tops $650,000.
DHB chiefs received an average increase of 2.6%; tertiary education heads 2.9%, heads of other statutory Crown entities 3.8% and public service (ministry) chiefs 1.3%.
The highest paid state sector boss was New Zealand Super Fund chief executive Adrian Orr, who received $950,000 to $959,999.
University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne's remuneration band was $560,000 to $569,999.
Other state sector earners in Dunedin did not have such a good year, with former Southern DHB chief executive Carole Heatly taking a pay cut, and Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker remaining on $350,000-$359,999.
An Otago University spokeswoman said Prof Hayne's pay was independently set.
''The remuneration is justifiable as it is comparable to similar roles nationally,'' the spokeswoman said.
Council of Trade Unions economist Bill Rosenberg said the salaries had become completely out of kilter with average workers. Many workers were receiving no pay rise, or were getting the rate of inflation (0.4%), Dr Rosenberg said.
''While public service employees aren't getting the multi-million dollar salaries that chief executives in the private sector are getting, the figures they are getting bear no resemblance to what people need to have a very high standard of living.
''[The salaries are] becoming trophies rather than any meaningful incentive to make their organisations work well,'' Dr Rosenberg said.
Tertiary Education Union national president Sandra Grey said the union was ''puzzled'' by some of the increases revealed yesterday, such as the $100,000 boost for Canterbury University vice-chancellor Rod Carr.
It was a tough time in the tertiary sector, with some institutions making cut-backs.
Workers in the sector were settling for about 1.4% on average, Dr Grey said.
''All of our institutions are struggling ... and yet there seems to be money to increase the money for the chief executives and vice-chancellors and the middle managers.
''We're slightly baffled by those very big increases,'' Dr Grey said.
In a statement yesterday when the figures were released, State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes said he would be taking a ''conservative approach'' to chief executive pay, ''particularly at the top end''.
Mr Hughes started the role in July. His predecessor, Iain Rennie, received $760,000 to $769,999 in 2015-16, which included a final day entitlements pay of more than $93,000.
ON THE UP
OTAGO-SOUTHLAND ROLES
Southern DHB
2015-16: $480,000-$489,999
2014-15: $500,000-$509,999
Otago Polytechnic
2015-16: $350,000-$359,999 (no change)
2014-15: $350,000-$359,999
Southern Institute of Technology
2015-16: 2015-16: $320,000-$329,999
2014-15: $310,000-$319,999
University of Otago
2015-16: $590,000 to $599,999
2014-15: $560,000-569,999
NATIONAL ROLES
Department of Internal Affairs
2015-16: $610,000-$619,999
2014-15: $520,000-$529,999
Inland Revenue Department
2015-16: $610,000-$619,999
2014-15: $520,000-$529,999
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
2015-16: $620,000-629,999
2014-15: $580,000 - $589,999
Ministry of Defence
2015-16: $450,000-$459,999
2014-15: $400,000-$409,999
Ministry of Social Development
2015-16: $620,000-$629,999
2014-15: $580,000-$589,999
University of Canterbury
2015-16: $650,000-659,999
2014-15: $550,000-$559,999
Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation
2015-16: $950,000-$959,999
2014-15: $830,000-$839,999
- Source: State Services Commission
