Governor-General's salary

Current remuneration

Information on the current salary for the Governor-General is in the following determination:

Governor-General (Salary) Determination 2023 – New Zealand Legislation(external link)

In 2023, the Authority completed a comprehensive review of its approach to determining the salary of the Governor-General.

Read the Governor-General salary 2023 review report [PDF, 109 KB]

Information on the current allowance for the Governor-General which is set under section 6 of the Governor-General Act 2010 is contained in the following order:

Governor-General (Allowance) Order 2022 – New Zealand Legislation(external link)

Governor-General Act 2010

The Governor-General Act 2010 provides that:

• the Governor-General’s salary is set by the Remuneration Authority
• the salary cannot be reduced during the Governor-General’s term of office
• the salary is to be set on the basis that it is not exempt from income tax
• the salary, allowance, and official programme expenses of the Governor-General are paid under Permanent Legislative Authority (PLA). That arrangement allows the salary, allowance and other payments to be paid on a permanent basis, rather than being voted annually by Parliament. 

Governor-General Act 2010 - NZ Legislation(external link)

The Authority sets the salary of the Governor-General on the basis of the criteria in the Remuneration Authority Act.

Remuneration Authority Act – New Zealand Legislation(external link)

For more background see the Law Commission’s Review Report on the Civil List Act 1979 the Governor-General, which was published on 17 December 2009.

Report on the Civil List Act 1979 – Law Commission(external link)