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Cost of public service chief execs falls to $11.6 mln, the lowest since 2008. We list who gets what for all 141 top bosses

Cost of public service chief execs falls to $11.6 mln, the lowest since 2008. We list who gets what for all 141 top bosses

On December 12, the State Services Commission released its list of 128 public service chief executive pay.

There are another 13 positions who are chief executives and other senior staff under the jurisdiction of the Remuneration Authority and that list is at the bottom of this page.

This covers 141 public insitutions and departments for the year to June 2014.

In the year to June 2014 the total amount spent on remuneration and related employment costs for Public Service chief executives' was $11.583 million, $0.5 million less than in 2012/13. This is the lowest expenditure on Public Service chief executive pay since 2007/08.

The total pay for all 141 state sector CEOs in the year was $53.1 mln which is an average pay of $375,000 each.

You can find the original data release here.

The following lists are both in ascending order of remuneration. We have apportioned the part-period data to place it in the corrected ascending row.

We have also repected the three separate classes that the SSC uses.

In addition 12,776 people in the organisations controlled by these chief executives had pay levels of $100,000 or more. That is an increase of 7% on the previous year. Of these more than 5,600 of these were in the tertiary education sector.

In total, 229,600 people worked for these chief executives as at June, a census rise of +1.5% in a year.

Public Service chief executives    
1 Education Review Office $110,000 to $119,999 3 Dec 13 to 30 June 14
2 Ministry of Women's Affairs $240,000 to $249,999  
3 Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs $270,000 to $279,999  
4 Serious Fraud Office $200,000 to $209,999 21 Oct 13 to 30 June 14
5 Statistics New Zealand $270,000 to $279,999 26 Aug 13 to 30 June 14
6 Department of Conservation $280,000 to $289,999 14 Sep 13 to 30 June 14
7 Land Information New Zealand $360,000 to $369,999  
8 Ministry for Culture and Heritage $380,000 to $389,999  
9 Ministry of Health $250,000 to $259,999 9 Nov 13 to 30 June 14
10 Ministry of Defence $390,000 to $399,999  
11 Ministry of Maori Development $400,000 to $409,999  
12 Ministry of Transport $400,000 to $409,999  
13 New Zealand Customs Service $410,000 to $419,999  
14 Ministry for the Environment $440,000 to $449,999  
15 Ministry for Primary Industries $280,000 to $289,999 18 Nov 13 to 30 June 14
16 Department of Corrections $460,000 to $469,999  
17 Department of Internal Affairs $510,000 to $519,999  
18 Inland Revenue Department $520,000 to $529,999  
19 Ministry of Justice $540,000 to $549,999  
20 Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet $550,000 to $559,999  
21 Ministry of Education $550,000 to $559,999  
22 Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority $590,000 to $599,999  
23 Ministry of Social Development $590,000 to $599,999  
24 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment $620,000 to $629,999  
25 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade $640,000 to $649,999  
26 The Treasury $650,000 to $659,999  
    ---------------------  
  Subtotal these 26 $11.6 mln  
 
Chief executives of Crown entities and tertiary education institutions
1 Careers New Zealand Under $100,000 26 May 14 to 30 June 14
2 Productivity Commission Under $100,000 16 Dec 13 to 30 June 14
3 Standards Council Under $100,000 1 Jul 13 to 6 Sep 13
4 Worksafe New Zealand Under $100,000 17 Mar 14 to 30 June 14
5 Drug Free Sport New Zealand $140,000 to $149,999  
6 Social Workers Registration Board $150,000 to $159,999  
7 Broadcasting Standards Authority $160,000 to $169,999  
8 NZ Walking Access Commission $160,000 to $169,999  
9 Universal College of Learning $160,000 to $169,999  
10 Telarc SAI Ltd $150,000 to $159,999 19 Aug13 to 30 June 14
11 Maori Language Commission $100,000 to $109,999 1 July 13 to 19 Jan14
12 Western Institute of Technology $130,000 to $139,999 29 Oct 13 to 30 June 14
13 New Zealand Artificial Limb Board $200,000 to $209,999  
14 Maori Broadcasting Funding Agency $200,000 to $209,999  
15 Broadcasting Commission (NZ On Air) $310,000 to $319,999  
16 New Zealand Teachers Council $210,000 to $219,999  
17 Transport Accident Investigation Com $220,000 to $229,999  
18 External Reporting Board $230,000 to $239,999  
19 Human Rights Commission $230,000 to $239,999  
20 Real Estate Agents Authority $230,000 to $239,999  
21 New Zealand Film Commission $120,000 to $129,999 1 Jan 14 to 30 June 14
22 Bay of Plenty Polytechnic $250,000 to $259,999  
23 Heritage New Zealand $250,000 to $259,999  
24 New Zealand Food Innovation $250,000 to $259,999  
25 New Zealand Symphony Orchestra $250,000 to $259,999  
26 Tai Poutini Polytechnic $250,000 to $259,999  
27 International Accreditation NZ $250,000 to $259,999  
28 Families Commission $260,000 to $269,999  
29 Health Promotion Agency $260,000 to $269,999  
30 New Zealand Fire Service $360,000 to $369,999  
31 Northland Polytechnic $260,000 to $269,999  
32 Creative New Zealand $270,000 to $279,999  
33 New Zealand Antarctic Institute $130,000 to $139,999 6 Jan 14 to 30 June 14
34 Takeovers Panel $270,000 to $279,999  
35 Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority $280,000 to $289,999  
36 Nelson-Marl Institute of Technology $280,000 to $289,999  
37 Waiariki Institute of Technology $280,000 to $289,999  
38 Eastern Institute of Technology $290,000 to $299,999  
39 South Canterbury DHB $290,000 to $299,999  
40 Education New Zealand $300,000 to $309,999  
41 Maritime Safety Authority  $300,000 to $309,999  
42 Electricity Authority $310,000 to $319,999  
43 Manukau Institute of Technology $310,000 to $319,999  
44 Tairawhiti DHB $310,000 to $319,999  
45 Environmental Protection Authority $320,000 to $329,999  
46 Museum of New Zealand Te Papa $270,000 to $279,999 1 Jul 13 to 9 May 14
47 Open Polytechnic of New Zealand $320,000 to $329,999  
48 Whitireia Community Polytechnic $330,000 to $339,999  
49 Aoraki Polytechnic Under $100,000 14 Mar 14 to 30 June 14
50 Ch-ch Polytechnic Institute of Technology $340,000 to $349,999  
51 Civil Aviation Authority  $340,000 to $349,999  
52 New Zealand Blood Service $340,000 to $349,999  
53 Otago Polytechnic $340,000 to $349,999  
54 Pharmaceutical Management Agency $340,000 to $349,999  
55 Health Research Council $350,000 to $359,999 1 Jul 13 to 28 June 14
56 Wellington Institute of Technology $350,000 to $359,999  
57 Sport New Zealand $360,000 to $369,999  
58 Whanganui DHB $360,000 to $369,999  
59 Commerce Commission $370,000 to $379,999  
60 Health Quality and Safety Comn $370,000 to $379,999  
61 Lakes DHB $370,000 to $379,999  
62 Southern Institute of Technology $270,000 to $279,999  
63 Northland DHB $380,000 to $389,999  
64 Taranaki DHB $380,000 to $389,999  
65 Waikato Institute of Technology $380,000 to $389,999  
66 Hobsonville Land Company $390,000 to $399,999  
67 Te Wananga o Aotearoa $270,000 to $279,999 21 Oct 13 to 30 Jun 14
68 Unitec Institute of Technology $390,000 to $399,999  
69 Lincoln University $400,000 to $409,999  
70 Nelson Marlborough DHB $400,000 to $409,999  
71 High Performance Sport NZ $410,000 to $419,999  
72 Tertiary Education Commission $410,000 to $419,999  
73 Hutt DHB (Hutt Valley DHB) $420,000 to $429,999  
74 NZ Qualifications Authority $420,000 to $429,999  
75 Earthquake Commission $430,000 to $439,999  
76 New Zealand Lotteries Commission $430,000 to $439,999  
77 Victoria University of Wellington $140,000 to $149,999 3 Mar 14 to 30 June 14
78 Public Trust $230,000 to $239,999 23 Dec 13 to 30 June 14
79 Capital and Coast DHB $360,000 to $369,999 9 Sep 13 to 30 June 14
80 Financial Markets Authority $180,000 to $189,999 3 Feb 14 to 30 June 14
81 University of Waikato $450,000 to $459,999  
82 Housing New Zealand Corporation $460,000 to $469,999  
83 Auckland University of Technology $470,000 to $479,999  
84 Bay of Plenty DHB $490,000 to $499,999  
85 Waikato DHB $490,000 to $499,999  
86 Hawke's Bay DHB $500,000 to $509,999  
87 Southern DHB $500,000 to $509,999  
88 Tourism New Zealand $510,000 to $519,999  
89 Callaghan Innovation $520,000 to $529,999  
90 Waitemata DHB $520,000 to $529,999  
91 University of Canterbury $530,000 to $539,999  
92 Massey University $540,000 to $549,999  
93 MidCentral DHB $540,000 to $549,999  
94 University of Otago $540,000 to $549,999  
95 Counties Manukau DHB $550,000 to $559,999  
96 Canterbury DHB $560,000 to $569,999  
97 New Zealand Trade and Enterprise $560,000 to $569,999  
98 Auckland DHB $570,000 to $579,999  
99 Accident Compensation Corporation $600,000 to $609,999  
100 New Zealand Transport Agency $620,000 to $629,999  
101 University of Auckland $660,000 to $669,999  
102 Guardians of NZ Superannuation $800,000 to $809,999  
    -------------------------  
  Subtotal these 102 $35.7 mln  
 
Other chief executives and staff
1 Parl. Commissioner for Environment $280,000 to $289,999  
2 Genl Mgr of the Parliamentary Service $140,000 to $149,999 27 Jan 14 to 30 June 14
3 Clerk of the House $350,000 to $359,999  
4 Chief Ombudsman $360,000 to $369,999  
5 Director of the GCSB $360,000 to $369,999  
6 Chief Parliamentary Counsel $370,000 to $379,999  
7 Director of Security Intelligence Service $320,000 to 329,999 1 Jul 13 to 30 Apr 14
8 Deputy State Services Commissioner $410,000 to $419,999  
9 Commissioner of Police $110,000 to $119,999 3 Apr 14 to 30 June 14
10 Controller and Auditor-General $550,000 to $559,999  
11 Solicitor General $580,000 to $589,999  
12 Chief of the Defence Force $250,000 to $259,999 1 Feb 14 to 30 June 14
13  State Services Commissioner $610,000 to $619,999  
    ------------------------  
  Subtotal these 13 $5.6 mln  
    ==============  
  Total for all 141 $53.1 mln  

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9 Comments

Meanwhile many businesses and organisations struggle to recruit a mid level professional at the budgeted 50k.   There is a significant gap now between a senior exec team pay and the actual professional executing the business or professional services.  

This is the egalitarian NZ? 

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Im not sure what the defination of a "mid level professional" is? but at that salary, um no, or certainly not engineering or IT.  For IT not even 70k I'd suggest.

regards

 

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Do you work in the State sector ?

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Nope.

Hence the ?  I was hoping a clarification.

Public sector (govn) pays worse for IT btw, in my experience anyway, and engineers way worse.

 

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There sure would be a big gap if they could get a mid level profesional for 50K. Meanwhile in the real world, if they budget for market rates, the gap wouldn't be so large, and they would actually be able to find someone.

 

To give some examples.  1st line support in a call centre. i.e. the person that picks up the phone when you call to complain. 45K

50K will get you an office administrator with 3 years experience.

 

As for 'mid level professional', sales channel manager 90K, digital user interface manager 120K. Software development team leader 100K Or by mid-level do you mean middle manager?  - software development manager 130K, national sales manager 125K.

 

For your 50K basically you can fill unskilled, bottom of the org chart positions with people who have a couple years experience.

http://www.hays.net.nz/salary-guide/

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If, say, there was a cap on the CEO salaries of $200K.   Would there be a decrease in the capability of those employed.

I don't see there would be any drop.  Some of the indivicuals might change but there are plenty of capable individuals who would be delighted to take the roles at $200K, and would perform brilliantly.

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put CEO roles out for tender...just like contracts.  That would really test the market...

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What about those self employed contractors in these govt departments?  Some are earning as much or more than their CEO..

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