Labour: Marryatt should 'drop any thoughts' about pay rise

Tony Marryatt. Photo / Supplied

Labour says Christchurch City Council chief executive Tony Marryatt should "drop any thoughts'' of accepting a $69,000 pay rise.

The 14 per cent pay jump, which took his salary to $548,000, sparked outrage in the traumatised post-disaster city when it was awarded last year.

It culminated with 4000 people protesting outside council headquarters and Mr Marryatt asking for his extra salary to be put on hold.

He kept the $26,000 backpay he had already received, saying he would repay it when the fractious city council started working together "collegially''.

The council's draft annual report shows his remuneration package "paid or payable to the council chief executive for the year to 30 June 2012 was $548,921 (in 2011 it was $479,430)''.

Mayor Bob Parker said yesterday that Mr Marryatt had not been paid the balance of the raise, which remained with the council.

Labour's local government spokeswoman Annette King said Mr Marryatt should drop any thought of now accepting the pay increase.

"There was widespread criticism of the pay hike when it was initially awarded, which makes it even more unbelievable that Mr Marryatt is now suggesting he might take it after all,'' Annette King, Labour's Local Government spokeswoman said today.

"To suggest that he is somehow `owed' a huge pay increase - more than twice the annual rate of married superannuation - when hundreds of ratepayers continue to struggle with post-earthquake financial pressures, is beyond stupid.''

It remains unclear when, and if, Mr Marryatt will repay the extra cash he has already received.

Mr Parker said the matter of the $26,000 was Mr Marryatt's business.