Top brass payrises branded ‘obscene’
SALARIES for senior New Zealand Defence Force skyrocketed last year, leading to accusations the Defence Force has an ‘‘obscene’’ gap between the ruling elite and junior staff.
Hundreds of senior Defence Force staff received substantial pay increases this year, with those on more than $200,000 a year increasing by 57 per cent compared to last year.
Staff on six-figure salaries increased by 10 per cent from 1452 in 2015 to 1607 in 2016, according to the NZDF’s annual report.
And total pay for the senior executive group increased by nearly a million dollars from $3.8m to $4.7m.
Meanwhile, nearly half of the Defence Force’s 11,719 staff earn less than $60,000, and new recruits are paid $33,489.
NZ First defence spokesman Ron Mark said there was an increasing gap between those at the top and those doing the ‘‘grunt’’ work. ‘‘The pay difference between senior officers and the junior ranks is obscene. [Kiwi Victoria Cross winner] Charlie Upham would be disgusted.’’
But the chief of defence lieutenant colonel Tim Keating, the highest earning military employee on $630,000 per year, said the Defence Force was committed to paying fair wages, and retaining their best staff.
He said morale was high and attrition rates were at an all-time low.
‘‘People choose to serve in our armed forces for many reasons, however pay isn’t often cited as a reason for serving our country.’’
The senior group of 12 earning an average of nearly $400,000 includes Keating, vice chief of defence force air-vice marshall Kevin Short, chief of navy rear admiral John Martin, chief of army major general Peter Kelly, chief of air force air vice marshall Tony Davies, and commander of joint forces major general Tim Gall. Top civilian roles such as chief financial officer are also on the executive.
In a statement, the Defence Force said the executive team’s pay was set by the Remuneration Authority.
Mark said Defence Force pay rates needed to be more equitable. ‘‘We need to bear in mind that these service personnel are the ones doing the grunt work. They’re up all hours of the night they’re their front line people doing the dirty work. They’re the ones working 100 hour weeks to ensure the people of Kaikoura can get supplies.’’