The Taxpayers’ Union has today launched its Councillor
Salary Increase Dashboard, exposing the staggering pay
hikes many councillors and mayors across New Zealand are
receiving while ratepayers struggle with a cost-of-living
crisis.
According to the latest dashboard data, local
councillors have accepted an average 9.81 percent annual
adjustment to their pay, while mayors have seen an average
jump of 8.53 percent. These increases dwarf the 2.7 percent
inflation rate recorded during the 2025 financial
year.
Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf
said:
“While many Kiwis struggled to afford summer
treats this year, our local councillors have had no such
concerns, pocketing huge pay hikes while rates explode. It
is a kick in the teeth for ratepayers who have seen their
average rates bill rise by 8.39 percent in the last
year.”
“These figures don’t even include the
‘top-up’ allowances mayors and councillors receive, such as
phones, laptops, printers, mileage reimbursements for
driving to work, and childcare allowances. The system is
broken and designed to prevent pay from being tied to
performance or outcomes.”
“Take Queenstown-Lakes
District Council for example. Despite having the largest
per-capita debt burden in the country and hitting ratepayers
with a whopping 50.23 percent rates increase in just three
years, in percentage terms its councillors are receiving the
second-highest pay increase in the country this year, while
the mayor’s ranks ninth.”
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
“Councils must be given
the legal option to turn down these increases so ratepayers
can see who is actually serious about easing the pressure on
households.”
The full Councillor Salary Increase
Dashboard can be accessed at https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/pay_rise_dashboard.
The
top 10 biggest increases in councillor pay
are:
- Western Bay of Plenty District Council –
56.86% - Queenstown-Lakes District Council –
33.13% - Selwyn District Council –
31.03% - Waimakariri District Council –
26.87% - Porirua City Council –
26.73% - Waipā District Council –
25.67% - Whanganui District Council –
24.66% - Invercargill City Council –
24.29% - Napier City Council –
20.84% - Tauranga City Council –
19.28%
The top 10 biggest increases in mayoral
pay are:
- Mackenzie District Council –
15.02% - Tasman District Council –
12.01% - Wairoa District Council –
11.58% - Central Otago District Council –
11.46% - South Wairarapa District Council –
11.39% - Westland District Council –
11.18% - Hauraki District Council –
11.04% - Marlborough District Council –
10.99% - Queenstown-Lakes District Council –
10.83% - Chatham Islands Council –
10.66%
