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Thursday, July 25, 2013

Governor's salary

The debate around the constitutional progression - or lack of progression - has focussed recently on the relative costs of maintaining the current system of Governor-General (plus the royal family when they are in the country) compared to what the expenses will be with a president or other head of state under the presumed republican system that will replace it.  It's a trifling and trivial matter compared to what substantive powers the head will have - and the staff and resources adequate for whatever role it will be - but on the issue of salary I happened upon this today:

The Governor's salary went from 2500 pounds to 3500 under the Governor's Salary Act 1856.
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There shall be payable to Her Majesty every year out of the revenue arising from taxes duties rates and imposts levied under any Act or Acts of the said General Assembly, and, from the disposal of the waste lands of the Crown in New Zealand, the sum of three thousand five hundred pounds as and for the salary of the Governor instead and in lieu of the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds as provided by the said Schedule


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Using the RBNZ inflation calculator which only goes back to 1862 (which I used as the base year) that is $251,761.39 to $352,465.95.

The current Governor-General's salary is nowadays a little more obscured than a special Act of parliament and exists as a regulation.
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This determination, which is deemed to have come into force on 1 April 2010, sets new rates for the Governor-General's salary, currently $191,645. From 1 April 2010, the salary is payable at the rate of $200,622 a year. From 1 April 2011, the salary is payable at the rate of $210,309 a year.
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You think adding the word General at the end would get you more not less.  $210k now compared to the equivalent of $352k back then means we are getting good value. The dry cleaning and uniform tailoring bills would also have gone south. No hat allowance anymore?

 [The Governor-General is to the left of the one with all the power]

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