In the Christchurch City Council meeting on Thursday, councillors were tasked with allocating a $1.8 million fund from the Remuneration Authority, which they had to put towards their own salaries.
City councillors will now receive a salary increase from $97,280 to $114,130.
Deputy Mayor Andrew Turner’s salary also increased from $118,220 to $131,250.
City councilllor Jake McLellan labelled the whole process “inappropriate” and abstained from voting.
City councillor Yani Johanson, who voted against the pay rise, did not think ratepayers should be paying more towards their salaries.
City councillor Melanie Coker also voted against the pay rise because she felt it “sent the wrong message to our communities.”
Mayor Lianne Dalziel’s salary of $195,000 had already been decided by the authority. It increased from her previous salary of $193,099.
The city council also decided to tell the Remuneration Authority it does not support having to be tasked with approving its own salary increases.
Said Mayor Lianne Dalziel: “No one is happy about having this matter being brought to the council, nobody sitting around the council now or in the past asked for this situation,” she said.
