Rotorua, Bay police staff receive 'concerning' pay increases

High earning police in the wider Rotorua and Bay of Plenty District more than doubled last year. More staff now earn above $100,000 than do less than $80,000. Photo/FILE

The number of police staff earning $120,000 or more in the Bay of Plenty District has more than doubled in one year.

The increase in top salaries coincides with a period when a stretched police budget and frontline staff shortages around the country have been labelled a "crisis" by the police's representative body.

Police remuneration figures obtained by the Rotorua Daily Post has revealed the number of staff in the district - which includes Rotorua - that were paid in excess of $120,000 rose from 61 people to 150 between the 2015 and 2016 financial years - a rise of 89 staff, or an increase of 145 per cent in one year.

There are now more police staff earning above $100,000 (320) in the Bay of Plenty District than there are earning less than $80,000 (280).

According to police, the average pay for an officer in their fifth year was around $67,000.

The Bay of Plenty Policing District covers Rotorua, the Western and Eastern Bay, and Taupo, as far inland as Turangi.

Broken down further, the pay figures showed the number of staff earning between $120,000 and $140,000 rose from 44 to 119, or a 170 per cent increase. The number of staff earning between $140,000 and $160,000 doubled from 13 to 26. Five staff earned more than $160,000, one more than the year before.

Police Association Bay of Plenty regional director Scott Thompson, who lives and works in Rotorua, said the figures were "a little bit concerning, to be honest".

"It's like any organisation; you can't just have all Indians and no chiefs. But I'm sure if you talked to most of the Indians they believe the ratio between senior management and frontline officers is higher than it's ever been," Mr Thompson said.

"Senior management staff are required like any other organisation, but I think most of the public would rather see more officers visible on the street."

Police deputy chief executive for people Kaye Ryan did not specifically address the Bay of Plenty District remuneration figures, but said in a written response to the Rotorua Daily Post the change in remuneration figures was due to several factors.

"The dollar figures should not be read as the actual salary range of employees," she said.

Ms Ryan said remuneration levels were affected by an annual 2 per cent pay increase for most police staff as per the collective agreement and a holiday pay remediation project which resulted in payments to some staff.

Ms Ryan also said there was one extra scheduled fortnightly payday in 2015/16 due to the dates involved, which resulted in annual salaries being around 4 per cent higher.

In last year's Bay of Plenty District Police workplace survey, staff said managers and pay levels were the two things most needing change in order to make police a great place to work.

Over the past year, the Police Association has called for more police, and former Police Minister Judith Collins has admitted frontline staff numbers need to increase.

An article in the Police Association's December 2016 magazine entitled "Staff crisis affects duties"aid: "The constant pressure of running a frontline section on minimum numbers in provincial areas is creating risks for staff."

Nationwide, 39 per cent more police staff were paid above $100,000 in financial year 2016 compared to 2015. Another 1286 police staff received six figures, rising from a headcount of 3307 to 4593.

Deputy Prime Minister and Police Minister Paula Bennett's office did not respond to a request for comment.

See the full remuneration figures for all New Zealand Police districts below: