Mr Field also failed to get a rise in the previous year, so he had not had a pay increase since 2006, Mayor Clive Geddes said.
He said the reason Mr Field was not receiving pay increases for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years was because of market conditions rather than his performance.
With the economic changes over the past 18 months, chief executive officers in both the public and private sectors were generally not getting pay increases.
"That's because the market conditions in the two-year period have been more pragmatic," Mr Geddes said.
The council was "satisfied" with Mr Field's performance over the past three years, Mr Geddes said.
After being investigated by a subcommittee of councillors, the decision was made to keep the total of Mr Field's total remuneration package, made up of a base salary, an "at risk element" of $12,000 attached to the performance, a vehicle allowance and superannuation, at $277,785, Mr Geddes said.
He said Mr Field had measured up well against key performance indicators set out in his contract and the at risk portion in the past two years had been awarded.
"Council is satisfied with the key performance indicators as agreed in the contract [with Mr Field]."
The decision also took into account a nationwide survey which showed executive salaries were not increasing as they had before the economic downturn.
Mr Geddes said, under the terms of the contract, he was not able to disclose Mr Field's base salary.
The decision was made during the public-excluded section of the council's June meeting.
