Vice Chancellor's pay hike criticised

Professor Stuart McCutcheon Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland now earns between $640,000 and $649,000. Photo / file

A pay rise has made the Vice Chancellor of Auckland University the third-highest paid public sector employee, according to the Tertiary Education Union (TEU).

Stuart McCutcheon received an increase of $40,000-$60,000, according to data released by the State Services Commission, taking his pay to between $640,000 and $649,999.

TEU national president Sandra Grey says Professor McCutcheon was the third-highest paid public sector employee in New Zealand.

"The 6-10 per cent increase in his remuneration package is more than the salary for an entire staff member."

"Many academic staff have gone without a pay rise all year because they will not agree to the university removing important academic conditions from their collective agreement."

"We don't begrudge anyone being paid well for doing a tough job," said Dr Grey, "but the university needs to question whether it has got its priorities right when it further rewards its highest paid staff member while undermining important academic conditions for other staff."