MPs all set to receive a small pay increase

A father initially told police he had no idea how his 8-month-old daughter received fatal abdominal injuries, but a week later he told detectives: “I thought giving her a hiding would end my anger.”

The now 26-year-old has now been sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of his daughter’s murder. Justice Laura O’Gorman ordered him to serve at least 17 years behind bars before being eligible to apply for parole.

“[The baby] was an 8-month-old baby in

After more than six years, MPs will get a small, 2.8% boost in pay, the Remuneration Authority has decided, increasing the base salary to $168,600 per year.

All MPs, including the prime minister, will see a bump in pay – backdated to the election. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will receive an increase from $471,049 to $484,200 per year.

The authority opted to maintain the ratio between the salary of an ordinary MP, with the salaries of the prime minister, ministers and roles with additional responsibilities. A list of some of the changes is at the bottom of this story.

Staggered increases over the coming years will see the prime minister’s salary increase to $520,500 from June 2026. By the same token, MPs will be earning $181,200 by the same period. None of the increases will be over 3%.

The current review was particularly contentious, as New Zealanders struggle with the cost of living, and the Government moves to slash jobs in the public service, seeking to try to save up to 7.5%.

The authority, in its determination, made repeated references to the economy, saying “prudence was required”. For the salaries in later years, the authority said it had “prudently discounted” forecasters’ movements in the Labour Cost Index.

On MPs’ pay, the authority said two New Zealand-based commercial salary surveys were used to conduct comparisons. The research focused on the position and salary your care. She was particularly vulnerable,” Justice O’Gorman said. “I also consider the murder was committed with a high degree of callous indifference ... shown in your failure to get medical care for her.”

The man later told police: “I’ve sinned. I’ve murdered my daughter.”

At the sentencing hearing on Friday, the man’s suppression was set to lapse. However, his lawyer Mark Williams filed a fresh application for permanent suppression, based on extreme hardship to the man’s family.

Justice O’Gorman said it was “obviously disappointing” that the issue had been raised so late, and refused to grant suppression.

However, Williams said he would need to seek instructions on whether to appeal. Therefore, the interim order continues.

Initially, who caused the baby’s injuries was a mystery. But a week later, police interviewed the man and he gradually made admissions.

He told police he had slapped the baby on the legs, and slapped and pushed the baby in her stomach.

His daughter had been sleeping when he went in to check on her, he said. She saw him, and began crying. The crying made the man angry, as he said the baby had “not yet bonded” with him.

He told police he sat the baby up and put his left hand behind her head to balance her while punching her again. It is likely that this final punch that was the fatal blow.

“I thought giving her a hiding would end my anger,” he said.

The baby’s condition deteriorated over the weekend. She had trouble breathing, and began vomiting. By the time the mother took the baby to a doctor on the Monday night, it was too late.

The mother sat in the back of court for the sentencing.

The court heard that the man arrived in New Zealand from one of the Pacific Islands in 2017 and had no criminal history.