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Revealed: The Public Sector CEO Rich List
Taxpayers can now browse the specific pay rates, ranked, for public sector chief executives.
This year taxpayers will pay $62 million in salaries for the 140 public sector CEOs. The average is paid $443,000, and 53 earn more than the Prime Minister.
Many of these individuals make major decisions about services that impact millions of taxpayers' lives. Publicising their salaries serves to promote accountability and transparency at the highest level.
Other Rich-Listers lead obscure QUANGOs (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations) that generate little value for taxpayers. We hope the Public Sector CEO Rich List provokes debate over the necessity of these positions.
| Rank | Organisation | Name (2019) | Salary (2019) | Notes | Name (2018) | Salary (2018) | Notes |
| 1 | Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation | Mr Matt Whineray | $1,065,000.00 | Estimate provided by board | Mr Matt Whineray | $960,000.00 | Not available in SSC report. Source |
| 2 | Accident Compensation Corporation | Mr Scott Pickering | $841,000.00 | Mr Scott Pickering | $833,000.00 | ||
| 3 | Housing New Zealand Corporation | Mr Andrew McKenzie | $791,000.00 | Mr Andrew McKenzie | $703,000.00 | ||
| 4 | University of Auckland | Prof. Stuart McCutcheon | $760,000.00 | Prof. Stuart McCutcheon | $760,000.00 | ||
| 5 | Commissioner of Police | Mr Mike Bush | $709,000.00 | Mr Mike Bush | $708,000.00 | ||
| 6 | The Treasury | Mr Gabriel Makhlouf | $687,000.00 | Annualised based on 362 days | Mr Gabriel Makhlouf | $645,000.00 | |
| 7 | New Zealand Transport Agency | ACTING (Mr Mark Ratcliffe) | $682,000.00 | Annualised based on 168 days | Mr Fergus Gammie | $619,000.00 | |
| 8 | Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force | Air Marshal Kevin Short | $670,000.00 | Lt Gen. Tim Keating | $675,000.00 | ||
| 9 | Controller and Auditor-General | Mr John Ryan | $670,000.00 | Annualised based on 364 days | ACTING (Mr Gregory Schollum) | $657,000.00 | |
| 10 | Auckland DHB | Ms Ailsa Claire | $667,000.00 | Ms Ailsa Claire | $635,000.00 | ||
| 11 | Waitemata DHB | Dr Dale Bramley | $666,000.00 | Dr Dale Bramley | $653,000.00 | ||
| 12 | Solicitor-General | Ms Una Jagose | $666,000.00 | Ms Una Jagose | $665,000.00 | ||
| 13 | Inland Revenue Department | Ms Naomi Ferguson | $657,000.00 | Ms Naomi Ferguson | $674,000.00 | ||
| 14 | New Zealand Trade and Enterprise | Mr Peter Chrisp | $651,000.00 | Mr Peter Chrisp | $638,000.00 | ||
| 15 | University of Otago | Prof. Harlene Hayne | $644,000.00 | Prof. Harlene Hayne | $644,000.00 | ||
| 16 | State Services Commissioner and Head of State Services | Mr Peter Hughes | $630,000.00 | Mr Peter Hughes | $630,000.00 | ||
| 17 | Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children | Mrs Gráinne Moss | $628,000.00 | Mrs Gráinne Moss | $647,000.00 | ||
| 18 | Financial Markets Authority | Mr Rob Everett | $628,000.00 | Mr Rob Everett | $615,000.00 | ||
| 19 | Canterbury DHB | Mr David Meates | $613,000.00 | Also responsible for West Coast DHB | Mr David Meates | $607,000.00 | Also responsible for West Coast DHB |
| 20 | HLC Ltd (previously named Hobsonville Land Company) | Mr Chris Aiken | $612,000.00 | Mr Chris Aiken | $471,000.00 | ||
| 21 | Ministry of Justice | Mr Andrew Kibblewhite | $603,000.00 | Annualised based on 150 days | Mr Andrew Bridgman | $606,000.00 | |
| 22 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Mr Brook Barrington | $603,000.00 | Annualised based on 215 days | Mr Andrew Kibblewhite | $611,000.00 | |
| 23 | University of Canterbury | Prof. Cheryl de la Rey | $594,000.00 | Annualised based on 150 days (Estimate) | Dr Rod Carr | $662,000.00 | |
| 24 | Victoria University of Wellington | Prof. Grant Guilford | $587,000.00 | Prof. Grant Guilford | $587,000.00 | ||
| 25 | Ministry for Primary Industries | Mr Ray Smith | $572,000.00 | Annualised based on 242 days | Mr Martyn Dunne | $592,000.00 | |
| 26 | Ministry of Education | Ms Iona Holsted | $568,000.00 | Ms Iona Holsted | $597,000.00 | ||
| 27 | Ministry of Social Development | Ms Debbie Power | $566,000.00 | Annualised based on 147 days | Mr Brendan Boyle | $677,000.00 | |
| 28 | Counties-Manukau DHB | Fepuleai Margie Apa | $565,000.00 | Annualised based on 301 days | ACTING (Dr Gloria Johnson) | $499,000.00 | |
| 29 | Tertiary Education Commission | Mr Tim Fowler | $561,000.00 | Mr Tim Fowler | $557,000.00 | ||
| 30 | Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment | Ms Carolyn Tremain | $555,000.00 | ACTING (Ms Carolyn Tremain) | $560,000.00 | ||
| 31 | New Zealand Tourism Board (Tourism New Zealand) | Mr Stephen England-Hall | $550,000.00 | Mr Stephen England-Hall | $536,000.00 | ||
| 32 | Public Trust | Ms Glenys Talivai | $549,000.00 | Annualised based on 105 days | Mr Robert Smith | $537,000.00 | |
| 33 | Deputy State Services Commissioner (and Ms Power was also Chief Executive) | ACTING (Mr John Ombler) | $546,000.00 | Annualised based on 147 days | Ms Debbie Power | $533,000.00 | |
| 34 | Auckland University of Technology | Mr Derek McCormack | $545,000.00 | Mr Derek McCormack | $545,000.00 | ||
| 35 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Mr Chris Seed | $545,000.00 | Annualised based on 150 days (Estimate) | Mr Brook Barrington | $630,000.00 | |
| 36 | Capital and Coast DHB | ACTING (Ms Julie Patterson) | $535,000.00 | ACTING (Ms Julie Patterson) | $365,000.00 | Annualised based on 20 days | |
| 37 | Callaghan Innovation | Ms Victoria Crone | $533,000.00 | Estimate | Ms Victoria Crone | $529,000.00 | |
| 38 | Southern DHB | Mr Chris Fleming | $531,000.00 | Estimate | Mr Chris Fleming | $520,000.00 | |
| 39 | Department of Internal Affairs | Mr Paul James | $528,000.00 | Annualised based on 273 days | Mr Colin MacDonald | $666,000.00 | |
| 40 | Ministry of Health | Dr Ashley Bloomfield | $528,000.00 | Dr Ashley Bloomfield | $256,000.00 | Annualised based on 20 days | |
| 41 | Department of Corrections | ACTING (Ms Christine Stevenson) | $524,000.00 | Annualised based on 147 days | Mr Ray Smith | $563,000.00 | |
| 42 | MidCentral DHB | Mrs Kathryn Cook | $523,000.00 | Mrs Kathryn Cook | $516,000.00 | ||
| 43 | Northland DHB | Dr Nick Chamberlain | $523,000.00 | Dr Nick Chamberlain | $523,000.00 | ||
| 44 | Ministry of Housing and Urban Development | Mr Andrew Crisp | $523,000.00 | Annualised based on 196 days | Established 1st August 2018 | ||
| 45 | Fire and Emergency New Zealand | Mr Rhys Jones | $519,000.00 | Mr Rhys Jones | $503,000.00 | ||
| 46 | University of Waikato | Prof. Neil Quigley | $517,000.00 | Prof. Neil Quigley | $515,000.00 | ||
| 47 | Ministry for the Environment | Ms Vicky Robertson | $513,000.00 | Ms Vicky Robertson | $496,000.00 | ||
| 48 | Massey University | Prof. Jan Thomas | $506,000.00 | Prof. Jan Thomas | $506,000.00 | ||
| 49 | Hawke’s Bay DHB | Dr Kevin Snee | $504,000.00 | Dr Kevin Snee | $504,000.00 | ||
| 50 | Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board | Mr Geraint Martin | $500,000.00 | Mr Geraint Martin | $500,000.00 | ||
| 51 | Bay of Plenty DHB | Ms Helen Mason | $486,000.00 | Ms Helen Mason | $477,000.00 | ||
| 52 | Ministry of Defence | Ms Helene Quilter | $484,000.00 | Ms Helene Quilter | $483,000.00 | ||
| 53 | Waikato DHB | ACTING (Mr Neville Hablous) | $477,000.00 | Annualised based on 65 days | INTERIM (Mr Derek Wright) | $473,000.00 | Annualised based on 258 days |
| 54 | New Zealand Qualifications Authority | Dr Karen Poutasi | $466,000.00 | Estimate | Dr Karen Poutasi | $461,000.00 | |
| 55 | Department of Conservation | Mr Lou Sanson | $464,000.00 | Mr Lou Sanson | $461,000.00 | ||
| 56 | New Zealand Lotteries Commission | Mr Chris Lyman | $459,000.00 | Mr Chris Lyman | $450,000.00 | Annualised based on 181 days | |
| 57 | New Zealand Security Intelligence Service | Ms Rebecca Kitteridge | $452,000.00 | Ms Rebecca Kitteridge | $463,000.00 | Annualised based on 276 days | |
| 58 | Earthquake Commission | Mr Sid Miller | $452,000.00 | Mr Sid Miller | $443,000.00 | ||
| 59 | Government Communications Security Bureau | Mr Andrew Hampton | $443,000.00 | Mr Andrew Hampton | $444,000.00 | Annualised based on 276 days | |
| 60 | Te Puni Kōkiri - Ministry of Māori Development | Ms Michelle Hippolite | $442,000.00 | Ms Michelle Hippolite | $444,000.00 | ||
| 61 | Ministry of Transport | Mr Peter Mersi | $434,000.00 | Mr Peter Mersi | $437,000.00 | ||
| 62 | Nelson Marlborough DHB | Dr Peter Bramley | $433,000.00 | Dr Peter Bramley | $433,000.00 | ||
| 63 | Statistics New Zealand | Ms Liz MacPherson | $428,000.00 | Ms Liz MacPherson | $404,000.00 | ||
| 64 | Pharmaceutical Management Agency | Ms Sarah Fitt | $427,000.00 | Ms Sarah Fitt | $427,000.00 | Annualised based on 176 days | |
| 65 | Health Quality and Safety Commission | Dr Janice Wilson | $423,000.00 | Dr Janice Wilson | $415,000.00 | ||
| 66 | Clerk of the House of Representatives | Mr David Wilson | $423,000.00 | Mr David Wilson | $410,000.00 | ||
| 67 | Te Kāhui Whakamana Rua Tekau mā Iwa—Pike River Recovery Agency | Mr David Gawn | $418,000.00 | Mr David Gawn | $418,000.00 | Annualised based on 151 days | |
| 68 | Te Wānanga o Aotearoa | Hon Te Ururoa Flavell | $416,000.00 | Annualised based on 307 days (Estimate) | Dr Jim Mather | $412,000.00 | |
| 69 | Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand | Mr Graeme Harris | $416,000.00 | Mr Graeme Harris | $414,000.00 | ||
| 70 | Worksafe New Zealand | Ms Nicole Rosie | $416,000.00 | Ms Nicole Rosie | $407,000.00 | ||
| 71 | Education New Zealand | Mr Grant McPherson | $415,000.00 | Mr Grant McPherson | $403,000.00 | ||
| 72 | Environmental Protection Authority | Dr Allan Freeth | $413,000.00 | Dr Allan Freeth | $409,000.00 | ||
| 73 | Manukau Institute of Technology | Mr Gerald Gilmore | $406,000.00 | Mr Gerald Gilmore | $406,000.00 | ||
| 74 | Commerce Commission | Ms Adrienne Meikle | $404,000.00 | Ms Adrienne Meikle | $405,000.00 | Annualised based on 55 days (E) | |
| 75 | Education Review Office | Mr Nicholas Pole | $402,000.00 | Mr Nicholas Pole | $405,000.00 | ||
| 76 | Lincoln University | ACTING (Prof. Bruce McKenzie) | $401,000.00 | Annualised based on 181 days | ACTING (Prof. James McWha) | $433,000.00 | Annualised based on 96 days |
| 77 | Ara Institute of Canterbury | Mr Tony Gray | $400,000.00 | Mr Tony Gray | $400,000.00 | Annualised based on 300 days | |
| 78 | Sport New Zealand | Mr Peter Miskimmin | $400,000.00 | Estimate | Mr Peter Miskimmin | $396,000.00 | |
| 79 | Chief Ombudsman | Mr Peter Boshier | $400,000.00 | Mr Peter Boshier | $400,000.00 | ||
| 80 | Eastern Institute of Technology | Mr Christopher Collins | $399,000.00 | Estimate | Mr Christopher Collins | $399,000.00 | |
| 81 | Taranaki DHB | Ms Rosemary Clements | $399,000.00 | Ms Rosemary Clements | $399,000.00 | ||
| 82 | Chief Parliamentary Counsel | Ms Fiona Leonard | $397,000.00 | Ms Fiona Leonard | $393,000.00 | ||
| 83 | High Performance Sport New Zealand Ltd | Mr Michael Scott | $391,000.00 | Mr Michael Scott | $392,000.00 | Annualised based on 160 days | |
| 84 | Whanganui DHB | Mr Russell Simpson | $389,000.00 | Mr Russell Simpson | $388,000.00 | Annualised based on 156 days | |
| 85 | Wellington Institute of Technology / Whitireia Community Polytechnic | Mr Chris Gosling | $388,000.00 | Mr Chris Gosling | $388,000.00 | ||
| 86 | Lakes DHB | Dr Nick Saville-Wood | $385,000.00 | Annualised based on 56 days | Mr Ron Dunham | $416,000.00 | |
| 87 | New Zealand Blood Service | Ms Samantha Cliffe | $378,000.00 | Estimate | Ms Samantha Cliffe | $360,000.00 | |
| 88 | Otago Polytechnic | Mr Phil Ker | $371,000.00 | Mr Phil Ker | $369,000.00 | ||
| 89 | Unitec Institute of Technology | ACTING (Ms Merran Davis) | $371,000.00 | ACTING (Ms Merran Davis) | $365,000.00 | Annualised based on 17 days | |
| 90 | Serious Fraud Office | Ms Julie Read | $371,000.00 | Ms Julie Read | $356,000.00 | ||
| 91 | Ministry for Culture and Heritage | Ms Bernadette Cavanagh | $367,000.00 | Annualised based on 150 days | Mr Paul James | $391,000.00 | |
| 92 | Electricity Authority | Mr James Stevenson-Wallace | $366,000.00 | Annualised based on 287 days | Mr Carl Hansen | $390,000.00 | |
| 93 | Land Information New Zealand | ACTING (Ms Lisa Barrett) | $365,000.00 | Annualised based on 308 days | Mr Andrew Crisp | $491,000.00 | |
| 94 | Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology | Dr Leon de Wet Fourie | $362,000.00 | Dr Leon de Wet Fourie | $362,000.00 | ||
| 95 | Wairarapa DHB | ACTING (Mr Craig Climo) | $358,000.00 | Annualised based on 104 days | Ms Adri Isbister | $331,000.00 | |
| 96 | Broadcasting Commission (New Zealand On Air) | Ms Jane Wrightson | $358,000.00 | Ms Jane Wrightson | $358,000.00 | ||
| 97 | General Manager of the Parliamentary Service | Mr Rafael Gonzalez-Montero | $358,000.00 | Annualised based on 154 days | Mr David Stevenson | $371,000.00 | |
| 98 | New Zealand Customs Service | ACTING (Mr Bill Perry) | $355,000.00 | Annualised based on 147 days | ACTING (Ms Christine Stevenson) | $411,000.00 | |
| 99 | Te Arawhiti — Office for Māori Crown Relations | ACTING (Ms Lil Anderson) | $355,000.00 | Annualised based on 181 days | Established 1st January 2019 | ||
| 100 | Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārang | Prof. Wiremu Doherty | $350,000.00 | Prof. Wiremu Doherty | $350,000.00 | ||
| 101 | Health Research Council of New Zealand | Prof. Kathryn McPherson | $350,000.00 | Prof. Kathryn McPherson | $350,000.00 | ||
| 102 | Southern Institute of Technology | Ms Penelope Simmonds | $348,000.00 | Ms Penelope Simmonds | $344,000.00 | ||
| 103 | Social Investment Agency | ACTING (Ms Dorothy Adams) | $347,000.00 | ACTING (Ms Dorothy Adams) | $338,000.00 | ||
| 104 | Universal College of Learning | Dr Amanda Lynn | $345,000.00 | Annualised based on 287 days | Ms Leeza Boyce | $373,000.00 | |
| 105 | Maritime New Zealand | Mr Keith Manch | $340,000.00 | Estimate | Mr Keith Manch | $334,000.00 | |
| 106 | Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology | Mr Liam Sloan | $339,000.00 | Mr Liam Sloan | $265,000.00 | Annualised based on 266 days | |
| 107 | Open Polytechnic of New Zealand | ACTING (Dr Caroline Seelig) | $339,000.00 | Estimate | Dr Caroline Seelig | $339,000.00 | |
| 108 | New Zealand Antarctic Institute (Antarctica New Zealand) | Ms Sarah Williamson | $339,000.00 | Annualised based on 14 days | Mr Peter Beggs | $335,000.00 | |
| 109 | South Canterbury DHB | Mr Nigel Trainor | $338,000.00 | Estimate | Mr Nigel Trainor | $330,000.00 | |
| 110 | Tairawhiti DHB | Mr Jim Green | $338,000.00 | Mr Jim Green | $338,000.00 | ||
| 111 | Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment | Rt Hon Simon Upton | $337,000.00 | Rt Hon Simon Upton | $335,000.00 | Annualised based on 258 days | |
| 112 | Waikato Institute of Technology | ACTING (Mr David Christiansen) | $336,000.00 | Annualised based on 322 days | Mr Mark Flowers | $429,000.00 | |
| 113 | Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority | Mr Andrew Casely | $336,000.00 | Mr Andrew Casely | $328,000.00 | ||
| 114 | New Zealand Film Commission | Ms Annabelle Sheehan | $327,000.00 | Ms Annabelle Sheehan | $327,000.00 | Annualised based on 174 days | |
| 115 | Arts Council of New Zealand Toi Aotearoa | Mr Stephen Wainright | $323,000.00 | Mr Stephen Wainright | $323,000.00 | ||
| 116 | Te Wānanga o Raukawa | Ms Mereana Selby | $312,000.00 | Ms Mereana Selby | $299,000.00 | ||
| 117 | Ministry for Pacific Peoples | Laulu Mac Leauanae | $302,000.00 | Laulu Mac Leauanae | $301,000.00 | Annualised based on 363 days | |
| 118 | Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Board | Mr Andrew Coleman | $300,000.00 | Mr Andrew Coleman | $300,000.00 | ||
| 119 | Health Promotions Agency | Mr Clive Nelson | $299,000.00 | Mr Clive Nelson | $293,000.00 | ||
| 120 | Hutt Valley DHB | ACTING (Ms Dale Oliff) | $297,000.00 | ACTING (Ms Dale Oliff) | $296,000.00 | Annualised based on 181 days | |
| 121 | Accreditation Council (International Accreditation New Zealand) | Dr Llewellyn Richards | $296,000.00 | Dr Llewellyn Richards | $289,000.00 | ||
| 122 | Ministry for Women | Ms Renee Graham | $284,000.00 | Annualised based on 242 days | Ms Renee Graham | $285,000.00 | |
| 123 | New Zealand Symphony Orchestra | Mr Christopher Blake | $277,000.00 | Mr Christopher Blake | $277,000.00 | ||
| 124 | Northland Polytechnic | ACTING (Mr Wayne Jackson) | $276,000.00 | Annualised based on 181 days | Dr Mark Ewen | $245,000.00 | |
| 125 | Tai Poutini Polytechnic | Mr Alex Cabrera | $270,000.00 | Estimate | Mr Alex Cabrera | $257,000.00 | |
| 126 | Telarc Ltd | Mr Philip Cryer | $264,000.00 | Mr Philip Cryer | $264,000.00 | ||
| 127 | Takeovers Panel | Mr Andrew Hudson | $263,000.00 | Mr Andrew Hudson | $263,000.00 | Annualised based on 247 days | |
| 128 | Western Institute of Technology | Mr John Snook | $258,000.00 | Annualised based on 181 days | Ms Barbara George | $254,000.00 | |
| 129 | External Reporting Board | Mr Warren Allen | $256,000.00 | Mr Warren Allen | $251,000.00 | ||
| 130 | Transport Accident Investigation Commission | Ms Lois Hutchinson | $255,000.00 | Ms Lois Hutchinson | $255,000.00 | ||
| 131 | Real Estate Agents Authority | Mr Kevin Lampen-Smith | $248,000.00 | Mr Kevin Lampen-Smith | $246,000.00 | ||
| 132 | New Zealand Artificial Limb Service | Mr Sean Gray | $245,000.00 | Mr Sean Gray | $245,000.00 | ||
| 133 | Te Reo Whakapuaki Irirangi (Māori Broadcasting Funding Agency) | Mr Larry Parr | $230,000.00 | Estimate | Mr Larry Parr | $221,000.00 | |
| 134 | Human Rights Commission | ACTING (Muaausa Pele Walker) | $226,000.00 | Annualised based on 181 days | Ms Cynthia Brophy | $257,000.00 | |
| 135 | Drug Free Sport New Zealand | Mr Nick Paterson | $209,000.00 | Mr Nick Paterson | $209,000.00 | Annualised based on 335 days | |
| 136 | Social Workers Registration Board | Ms Sarah Clark | $209,000.00 | Ms Sarah Clark | $207,000.00 | ||
| 137 | Te Taura Whiri I Te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission) | Mr Ngāhiwi Apanui | $203,000.00 | Mr Ngāhiwi Apanui | $203,000.00 | ||
| 138 | Broadcasting Standards Authority | Ms Belinda Moffat | $198,000.00 | Ms Belinda Moffat | $190,000.00 | ||
| 139 | New Zealand Food Innovation Auckland Ltd | Ms Alexandra Allan | $183,000.00 | Ms Alexandra Allan | $175,000.00 | ||
| 140 | New Zealand Walking Access Commission | Mr Ric Cullinane | $181,000.00 | Annualised based on 300 days | Mr Eric Pyle | $157,000.00 | |
| Total | $62,009,000.00 | Total | $60,570,000.00 | ||||
| Average | $442,921.43 | Average | $438,913.04 |
Taxpayers can also download the table as a spreadsheet to sort by type – such as Tertiary Education, DHBs, and so on.
The publication of this Rich List comes after the State Services Commission agreed to release this year's Senior Pay Report using specific pay rates rather than salary 'bands', in light of correspondence from the Taxpayers' Union and the Ombudsman.
Figures relate to the 2018/19 and 2017/18 financial years and were provided by the State Services Commission's Senior Pay Report. The Report uses estimates in cases where the final remuneration level is not yet determined.
CEOs that did not hold their position for the full year have had their salary figures annualised by the Union.
The list excludes local government (ratepayer-funded) chief executives.