Ministers still on full pay

The Herald reports:

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she’s frustrated MPs are still getting full pay, two months after salary cuts were promised.

“They will still be happening and they will still apply for six months. What I am frustrated by is how long it’s taken.”

In the midst of the lockdown in mid-April, Ardern announced she, government ministers and top civil servants would take a 20 per cent pay cut for six months.

Today the Herald revealed two months after Ardern promised MPs would take a Covid-related pay cut to show solidarity, they all continue to receive full pay.

They could have passed a law change mandating the 20% pay cut in 24 hours, as they did with many other Covid laws.

Instead it won’t take place until three months after they announced it, and starts just two months before the election which means in fact the so called six month pay cut may be a two month pay cut.