The Remuneration Authority sets remuneration for elected positions in individual local authorities, and also sets the rules for reimbursement of costs met by members in undertaking their duties.
The Authority does not set remuneration for chief executives of local or regional councils. That is the responsibility of the local/regional authorities.
Information on the current remuneration, allowances and reimbursement costs for local authority elected members is in the following determination:
Local Government Members (2023/24) Determination 2023 — NZ Legislation(external link)
If a local authority makes a decision to change its governance arrangements during the term of a determination, the Authority is able to make an amending determination if it agrees with the proposed changes.
The following amendment determinations amend the above principal determination:
Local Government Members (2023/24) Amendment Determination 2023 — NZ Legislation(external link)
Local Government Members (2023/24) Amendment Determination (No 2) — NZ Legislation(external link)
The Local Government Act 2002 provides for the Remuneration Authority to set the remuneration, allowances and expenses of:
Under clause 6 of Schedule 7 of the Act, the Authority can:
Under clause 7 of Schedule 7 of the Act, when determining elected members’ remuneration the Authority must have regard to the need to:
The Remuneration Authority 1977 also provides further criteria. Sections 18 and 18A require that, when determining the pay for local authority elected members, the Authority must have regard to:
Local Government Act 2002 — NZ Legislation(external link)
Remuneration Authority Act 1977 — NZ Legislation(external link)
In 2018 the Authority completed a comprehensive review of its approach to determining the remuneration and allowances for local government elected members.