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Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges who live outside Wellington will have to wait to see if they can get a $20,000 housing allowance similar to that of the Chief High Court Judge.
Judges were yesterday handed increased salaries of between 4.1 per cent and 4.6 per cent by the Remuneration Authority, a range slightly higher than the rises for politicians.
As reported in yesterday's Herald, MPs were handed pay rises of between 3.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent by the authority - a rate expected to outstrip inflation over the coming year.
But the authority says it has yet to decide whether Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judges deserve a housing allowance similar to that of Chief High Court Judge Tony Randerson.
Justice Randerson, whose primary residence is in Auckland, was this year given the right to have his rent bill for his Wellington residence paid for him, an allowance of up to $20,000.
The authority said at the time that Justice Randerson's job warranted bases in Auckland, where he lives, and Wellington, and it would not be appropriate for him to receive the standard allowance of $5600.
It said in its February determination that keeping primary places of residence outside Wellington for appellate court judges was a matter of personal choice and not work-related.
However, the authority said the matter was being reconsidered.
"A related issue affecting some judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal has again been brought to our attention," it said.
"This new matter is still being considered by the authority and, should we decide that some action on it is warranted, an amending determination will be issued."
Justice Randerson's base salary is now $336,500, up 4.2 per cent.
Chief Justice Sian Elias' salary will now be $388,000, up 4.3 per cent from $372,000 last year.
Supreme Court judges' salaries are up 4.3 per cent to $363,000 and Court of Appeal judges now earn $340,000, up 6 per cent.
High Court judges' salaries increased 4.1 per cent to $315,500, and District Court judges will now earn $245,000, up 4.3 per cent.
All salary increases are backdated to October 1.
- NZPA
