Big pay rise for uni boss
University of Canterbury Vice-Chancellor Rod Carr received a pay rise of at least $90,000 in the last financial year, new figures show.
The State Services Commission’s Senior Pay Report outlines remuneration for tertiary education institutions’ chief executives within $10,000 bands.
It shows Carr’s remuneration climbed from between $550,000 and $559,999 in 2014-15 to $650,000$659,999 in the year to June 2016. The university said the increase was made in consultation with the commission when it resized his role to reflect his additional earthquake responsibilities.
It also explained that $31,000 of the increase was back-pay from the 2014-15 financial year.
A spokeswoman said Carr, who was appointed to the role in 2009, had been leading the organisation ‘‘through a critical period of the Canterbury earthquakes and their ongoing aftermath’’.
‘‘Dr Carr has seen a $550 million insurance claim settled and instigated a $1.1 billion building programme across [the] 87-hectare campus.
‘‘Cantabrians have been facing a unique and unprecedented set of challenges in a dramatically changed and changing city, with the university also facing ongoing impact [on] enrolments and environment.’’
Remuneration figures outlined in the report includes benefits paid in cash (base pay, performancerelated pay, superannuation) or benefits paid in kind, which include company cars or additional annual leave.
If a board wants to increase a chief executive’s remuneration, it must consult with State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes, who offers guidance on what are considered reasonable increases.
‘‘We need to make sure we pay well enough to get highly skilled and qualified people leading our government agencies, but we also need to ensure the salaries paid are defensible,’’ Hughes said.
Massey University Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey pocketed an increase of at least $40,001 from between $550,000 and $559,999 in 2014-15 to between $600,000 and $609,999 in 2015-16.
A spokesman said the increase included a ‘‘performance (or atrisk)
‘‘The remuneration is justifiable, as it is comparable to similar roles nationally.’’ University spokeswoman
component to the salary based on the achievement of goals agreed by [the university] council’’. The biggest earner in the tertiary sector was Auckland University Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon. He banked at least $20,001 more in 2015-16 than the previous year, taking him to a total of between $710,000 and $719,999.
Auckland University was recently ranked 82nd in the QS World University rankings.
Otago University Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne’s pay cheque jumped at least $20,001 to between $590,000 and $599,999.
‘‘The remuneration is justifiable, as it is comparable to similar roles nationally,’’ a spokeswoman said.
Victoria University Vice-Chancellor Grant Guilford received a more modest increase of at least $10,001, putting his salary at between $540,000 and $549,000.
Chancellor Sir Neville Jordan, said Guilford’s salary increase reflected the university’s achievements and ‘‘was within the range of increases provided by the commission’’.
The commission’s report said the average percentage increase in the tertiary sector was 3.8 per cent.
As junior doctors prepare for a second strike over pay and conditions next Tuesday, a union is taking aim at salary increases given to district health board (DHB) bosses.
The State Services Commission’s Senior Pay Report outlines chief executive salaries in the public sector for the 2015-16 financial year. It showed that DHB bosses received an average pay rise of 2.6 per cent, double the average increase across the board.
‘‘Certainly, it’s not helpful in a collective agreement negotiation to have the chief executives say ‘you cost too much, we can’t afford any reasonable increases’ but at the same time getting a good increase themselves,’’ said Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell.
David Meates, chief executive of Canterbury and West Coast DHBs, moved from a pay band between $570,000 and $579,999 to between $580,000 and $599,999.
South Canterbury DHB chief executive Nigel Trainor also received a payrise, from between $270,000 and $279,999 to between $290,000 and $299,999.
Other bosses to receive increases included those from Waitemata, Bay of Plenty, Counties-Manukau, Hawke’s Bay, Lakes, Tairawhiti and Whanganui DHBs.
Nelson Marlborough DHB currently has an acting chief executive after Chris Fleming moved to Southern DHB last year, but the position’s pay has increased from between $410,000 and $419,999 to between $440,000 to $449,999.
Chief executives’ remuneration is set by their boards after consultation with the state services commissioner. Chiefs had no input, but Powell believed they could refuse pay rises.