Councillors' votes explained | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Six city councillors and Mayor Bob Parker voted for this week's controversial $68,129 pay rise for council CEO Tony Marryatt, which will see his salary jump from $470,400 to $538,529. Five councillors voted against the pay rise.  

Reporter Anna Turner asked the councillors and Mr Parker why they voted the way they did. Three failed to respond- Sue Wells and Aaron Keown, who voted in favour; and Tim Carter who was against.   

VOTED FOR:

BOB PARKER:

Why did you vote in favour of Mr Marryatt's pay rise?

"His job is now considerably more complex than it was pre- earthquake. Also on the basis of the most outstanding performance review of a chief executive that I have seen in my time in local government (20 years). He has nearly 3000 employees, administering budgets of over $2 billion in the coming year, and has been responsible for the most inspiring and innovative planning process in the history of local government: that is the Share an Idea process  that produced a Central City Plan in 9 months, a process that traditionally take a number of years.  

"The national median salary for his role has moved up by the same percentage of his salary increase since his last review (keeping pace with his peers). The need to retain his services at a crucial time in the history of the city. Comparison with others in key institutional roles in Christchurch reinforced that the figure was appropriate (CERA, CDHB, University Canterbury) This was a council vote, not a mayoral vote, and so the majority agreed with the  above assessment."  

What is your message to people who are unhappy with your decision?

  "[I] completely understand the sentiment especially at this time. It is a very significant increase and salary package. However, just like with Mr Sutton from CERA who earns in the same range, or Mr Carr (University of Canterbury) and Mr Meates (CDHB) who have similar roles and salaries in the publicly funded area, the CCC pays its staff competitive and appropriate salaries. At a time like this, in the midst of the recovery and rebuild, our ability to  perform our roles and responsibilities rests solely on having staff with the right experience and skills. Mr Marryatt is an investment in our city's future, and has proven his ability in the face of the most demanding year ever faced by a metropolitan council in New Zealand. Frankly, we need him now more than ever."  

NGAIRE BUTTON:   Did not respond to the questions, but said she agreed with Bob Parker and Jamie Gough.  

CLAUDIA REID:

Why did you vote for Mr Marryatt's pay rise?

"Mr Marryatt's remuneration level is on par with other chief executives in Christchurch. He has ably led our organisation's response to not one, but three major earthquakes. When we recall the loss of basic council services, water, wastewater, roads, these have been restored to basic working order in quick time. Meantime, he oversees a massive, and unexpected council infrastructure and facilities rebuild in the billions above the day to day work of council.   He works within the difficult framework of a moving feast for a budget. He enabled the critical Central City Plan work to rest with council."  

What is your message to people who are unhappy with your decision? 

"He has inspired our staff in many cases, to give their all in responding to the city's desperate needs, and will continue to do so as the rebuild gathers pace."    

JAMIE GOUGH: 

Why did you vote in favour of Mr Marryatt's pay rise?: 

"Pay parity in the industry."  

What is your message to people who are unhappy with your decision? 

"Politically it stinks yet commercially I accept it is fair. Local Government CEO's have made a choice to work in an industry that is paid substantially less than CEO's of similar-sized organisations in the private sector - and that is their prerogative. At the very least however we need to be consistent that their remuneration is comparable to that of the industry, which is what the outcome of this pay review has done. If we want our CEO to perform to the  highest of levels which we expect of him and to duly hold him to account, it would be unfair as an employer to not allow for pay parity in the industry according to the strategic pay review which puts it on par with that sector."  

BARRY CORBETT: 

Why did you vote in favour of Mr Marryatt's pay rise?

"Pay rises are always a niggly one for anyone no matter who you are. We took financial advice from Strategic Pay, which we use for all people in these situations. They did all the work and they came up with a median pay. We then had to decide if Tony was under-performing, just performing well or over performing in his job. We'd decided he was over performing two years ago and he still was so he was placed just over that median figure. His work has  increased a huge amount with the earthquake- he's dealing with 2500-3000 staff and a budget of 2 billion. He and Roger Sutton are the two most important men in New Zealand at the moment and that should be recognised. "

  What is your message to these people who are unhappy with your decision? 

  "I can understand them being un-happy but unfortunately life is like that. I, personally, won't ever earn anywhere near that kind of money but I don't have the incredibly hard decisions to make that he does, or the sleepless nights. It's always been the case. There's always been a difference between those at the top and those who are not at the top but aspire to be at the top. Only some people get there."

  VOTED AGAINST:

GLENN LIVINGSTONE:

Why did you vote against Mr Marryatt's pay rise?

"I voted against Mr Marryatt's pay rise because I did not consider that it was warranted in relation to the hardship that many are facing in the city; which was there prior to the earthquakes and which has since been exacerbated by them."  

Do you agree that he needed to be paid that much to be kept in the job, relative to the job market?

"I do not agree with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor that he needs to be paid that much to be kept in the job relative to the job market. His pay now exceeds that of Roger Sutton, CERA CEO (public sector, with a job broader in scope in Christchurch). Roger Sutton took a pay cut to do his job and Tony Marryatt is taking a pay rise."   

How do you think the people of Christchurch will react to the pay rise, considering the hard year the city has had and the fact many businesses aren't in the position to give pay rises?

  "I think the people of Christchurch will react with disbelief and anger to this news. Many will never receive in their life-times an annual income as much as his pay increase alone. Many businesses are not in the position to give pay rises and I wonder what percentage pay rises Mr Marryatt in turn will be able to give his own staff in the city council."   

"Generally speaking, there are many in Christchurch who are working voluntarily and have since February, to get the city back up on its feet. They are doing this because they realise that money isn't the only currency in this life. This has been a time not only of tragedy and despair but of community and neighbourliness and this pay increase flies in the face of the spirit of goodwill shown by many in the city."  

SALLY BUCK:

Why did you vote against Mr Marryatt's pay rise? 

  "Because it is a huge amount, almost obscene, much more than the average wage. It cannot be justified under any circumstances especially given the hardship that many people in this city are experiencing."   

Do you agree with that he needed to be paid that much to be kept in the job, relative to the job market?

"Absolutely not." 

  How do you think the people of Christchurch will react to the pay rise, considering the hard year the city has had and the fact many businesses aren't in the position to give pay rises?

"I think they will be as devasted and appalled as I was."   

HELEN BROUGHTON:

Why did you vote against Mr Marryatt's pay rise?

  "I voted against the salary rise as: Too excessive- particularly within current environment.   I am angry that council made such a decision without appropriate written advice on comparative public sector salaries- despite by requesting such two weeks ago. Council should not have voted at this point."  

Do you agree that he needed to be paid that much to be kept in the job, relative to the job market?

"No, I do not believe the increase was required to keep him in the job."    How do you think the people of Christchurch will react to the pay rise, considering the hard year the city has had and the fact many businesses aren't in the position to give pay rises?  

How do you think the people of Christchurch will react to the pay rise, considering the hard year the city has had, and the fact many business aren't in the position to give pay rises?

"People will react very negatively. I have received many negative comments from a wide range of people."  

JIMMY CHEN:

Why did you vote against Mr Marryatt's pay rise?

"After several massive earthquakes within a year, the Christchurch community has suffered financial hardship; resulting in a number of jobs lost for residents. Moreover, residents fighting to stay alive from huge damages done to their houses, and the economic downturn with the city decimated. Increasing the CEO's salary of more than 14 per cent will resulting in the community being appalled and increase the ratepayer's burden. I cannot accept this  percentage of increase, therefore I voted against the pay rise."  

Do you agree that he needed to be paid that much to be kept in the job, relative to the job market? 

  "I disagree with Bob Parker and Ngaire Button's point of view. Because I thought that:    Increasing the salary is not the only way to award (or recognize) the CEO's performance. For example, to present a citation in public (or in formal Council meeting) for recognizing the CEO's contribution to the earthquake recovery. And also, in comparison to other metropolitan city CEO's in New Zealand, I don't think Tony Marryatt's salary is relatively low for the amount $470,400.   Moreover, remuneration is quite complicated, which is affected by many factors, for example: The CEO's personal performances, other metropolitan city CEO's level of salary, consumers price index, global economic situation, as well as the Council financial status etc. The comprehensive remuneration system should be set up as soon as possible to resolve this problem."  

How do you think the people of Christchurch will react to the pay rise, considering the hard year the city has had, and the fact many business aren't in the position to give pay rises?

"I got several emails regarding this issue from residents yesterday. They all felt quite upset or appalled to pay rise of the CEO. Also, some of them asked if there is a way for ratepayers to fight this decision."  

YANI JOHANSON:

Why did you vote against Mr Marryatt's pay rise?

"I voted against any increase as I do no believe it can be justified in economic climate we are in.   In my view it is not appropriate given the financial pressures for so many in our city due to the earthquake situation. Also given what is happening globally I think now more than ever is the time for austerity. In a general sense the whole way in which CEO pay packets are calculated needs a good review. I find it hard to justify anyone making over half a million dollars per year when so many are struggling in our society."  

Do you agree that he needed to be paid that much to be kept in the job, relative to the job market?

"No I don't agree."  

How do you think the people of Christchurch will react to the pay rise, considering the hard year the city has had and the fact many businesses aren't in the position to give pay rises?

"I think it is an incredibly bad look. I think that many people will be outraged by it and also internally the council staff will be upset as this percentage level of increase is no where near what they would of been offered. I don't think it does staff moral any good at all, at time when so many have gone beyond and above the call of duty in dealing with the earthquake."