West Coast Regional Councillors elected in October are in for pay increases – whether they want them or not. But they have declined the chance to claim for home security alarms. 

The Remuneration Authority has released new mandatory pay rates to come into force after the triennial elections, for mayors, regional council chairs, councillors and local board members. 

The Authority has also bumped up childcare allowances, and introduced a new optional allowance for home security systems for elected members, to counter increasing abuse of public figures. 

The chairperson of the West Coast Regional Council – the smallest in the country - will be paid $110,914, a 6.6 percent increase on the current pay rate of $104, 047. 

The highest pay packet for a Regional Council chair, $199,168 goes to Wellington. West Coast Councillors will be paid a minimum $42,073, a 5.3 percent hike on their present pay. 

The total remuneration “pool” set to cover WCRC governance will be $378,658. 

The childcare allowance will go up from $6000 to $7,500 for a child under 14, if the elected member is usually responsible for day-to-day care. 

And as of October, councils will be able to reimburse members by up to $6500 to install a home security system, and for costs of $1000 a year for monitoring, callouts and repairs.

– LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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