Rates Pain, Pay Gain: New Councillor Salary Increase Dashboard exposes eye-watering pay rises for councillors and mayors

The Taxpayers’ Union has today launched its Councillor Salary Increase Dashboard, exposing the staggering pay hikes many councillors and mayors across New Zealand are receiving while ratepayers struggle with a cost-of-living crisis.

According to the latest dashboard data, local councillors have accepted an average 9.81 percent annual adjustment to their pay, while mayors have seen an average jump of 8.53 percent. These increases dwarf the 2.7 percent inflation rate recorded during the 2025 financial year.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“While many Kiwis struggled to afford summer treats this year, our local councillors have had no such concerns, pocketing huge pay hikes while rates explode. It is a kick in the teeth for ratepayers who have seen their average rates bill rise by 8.39 percent in the last year.”

“These figures don’t even include the 'top-up' allowances mayors and councillors receive, such as phones, laptops, printers, mileage reimbursements for driving to work, and childcare allowances. The system is broken and designed to prevent pay from being tied to performance or outcomes.”

“Take Queenstown-Lakes District Council for example. Despite having the largest per-capita debt burden in the country and hitting ratepayers with a whopping 50.23 percent rates increase in just three years, in percentage terms its councillors are receiving the second-highest pay increase in the country this year, while the mayor's ranks ninth.”

“Councils must be given the legal option to turn down these increases so ratepayers can see who is actually serious about easing the pressure on households.”

The full Councillor Salary Increase Dashboard can be accessed at https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/pay_rise_dashboard.

The top 10 biggest increases in councillor pay are: 

1. Western Bay of Plenty District Council – 56.86%
2. Queenstown-Lakes District Council – 33.13%
3. Selwyn District Council – 31.03%
4. Waimakariri District Council – 26.87%
5. Porirua City Council – 26.73%
6. Waipā District Council – 25.67%
7. Whanganui District Council – 24.66%
8. Invercargill City Council – 24.29%
9. Napier City Council – 20.84%
10. Tauranga City Council – 19.28%

 The top 10 biggest increases in mayoral pay are:

1. Mackenzie District Council – 15.02%
2. Tasman District Council – 12.01%
3. Wairoa District Council – 11.58%
4. Central Otago District Council – 11.46%
5. South Wairarapa District Council – 11.39%
6. Westland District Council – 11.18%
7. Hauraki District Council – 11.04%
8. Marlborough District Council – 10.99%
9. Queenstown-Lakes District Council – 10.83%
10. Chatham Islands Council – 10.66%