MPs greeted with pay rise

Wellington: Parliament’s newest members are getting a pay rise as soon as they walk in the door.

The Remuneration Authority which sets the salaries for MPs has awarded backbench MPs an extra $3937 a year, backdated to July 1.

It takes their annual salary to $163,961.

Whoever is prime minister next month will also get a pay rise, up to $471,049.

The deputy prime minister will be paid $334,734 and the leader of the opposition $296,007.

Cabinet ministers will be paid $296,007 annually and ministers outside of cabinet will get $249,839.