Waikato District Council CE Gavin Ion said he would take the 20 per cent pay cut because he felt the pain of his community.

A Waikato council boss will take a 20 per cent pay cut following the example set by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

But other Waikato public sector leaders are ducking and diving at the prospect, with some unwilling to front up for an interview.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Wednesday that she, Government ministers and other top public sector bosses would take a 20 per cent cut to their pay packets, in light of the Covid-19 crisis.

Taking a pay cut while New Zealanders were struggling with job losses and salary decreases was about "leadership", Ardern said.

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Taking the lead, Waikato District Council chief executive Gavin Ion will voluntarily take a 20 per cent cut to his salary for six months.

Ion gets paid $348,124 per year . Ion said it was a way he could help throughout the Covid-19 crisis.

"I have made a personal choice to take this pay cut.

"For me it's about showing leadership, it's about people seeing that I'm feeling the pain of the community."

He agreed with Ardern's statement that cutting their big pay was leadership, but he thought a voluntary pay cut needed to be a "personal decision", for each council boss to consider.

He said the pay cut would have an impact on his livelihood and family but he was comfortable with the decision he had made.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs is donating about .5 per cent of his salary to a council hardship fund.

But Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs said he would not be cutting his salary by 20 per cent.

Instead he would donate about $2436 of his $469,040 salary to a staff hardship fund.

This equates to .5 per cent of his earnings donated.

"I decided to make a contribution to those staff that are suffering hardship by effectively ring-fencing my pay rise and providing that as part of a hardship fund," Briggs said.

"If this [crisis] goes on longer I might seek to extend that time from two months to a further two months or reconsider the amount as well.

"Rather than taking a pay cut, and getting lost in the organisation, I'm putting it [money] into a staff hardship fund."

In February, Briggs received a pay boost of $15,840 before tax, taking his total annual remuneration package, including Kiwisaver, to $469,040.

The raise ranks Briggs only slightly behind Ardern in the pay stakes but still ahead of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Briggs said Ardern had shown effective leadership during the Covid-19 crisis and Wednesday's pay cut announcement was further evidence of that.

Waikato University Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley was unclear if the prime minister's directive applied to vice-chancellors and he had sought clarification.

Quigley would "certainly consider" taking a voluntary 20 per cent pay cut to his $517,000 salary, but would first need to consult with the university's council and chancellor.

Meanwhile Wintec chief executive Dave Christiansen's spokeswoman couldn't confirm if his salary would be affected, or if he would voluntarily take a pay cut.



"It is just too early to comment at this stage while we seek clarification relating to this afternoon's announcement.

"Dave has advised it is appropriate and courteous for him to first have a discussion with his board about this matter, before commenting publicly."

Christiansen's salary for 2018/19 is listed as $296,000.

KELLY HODEL/STUFF Waikato DHB chief executive Kevin Snee would not respond to Stuff's requests for comment over whether he would consider a 20 per cent pay cut.

Waikato DHB chief executive Kevin Snee refused to comment after repeated requests for a response.

Meanwhile mayors around the country have signalled they are supportive of taking a pay cut.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff confirmed he would like to cut his nearly $296,000 salary by 20 per cent.

"This is a personal decision that sets no expectations on actions by other mayors, councillors or local board representatives.

KEVIN STENT/SUPPLIED Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern committed to cutting 20 per cent of her income, along with Government ministers and certain public sector bosses.

"As Mayor of Auckland I am aware that in coming months, there will be many people hurting financially because of the COVID-19 related economic crisis," said Goff in a statement

"If the Government legislates to allow it, I will pay the money back to the council. If not, I will make the equivalent donation to specific charities."

Hamilton mayor Paula Southgate said she would "absolutely" take a pay cut, but only after the remuneration authority deemed if and how much, was appropriate.

With current rules, giving up 20 per cent of her pay would only spread back around council's pay pool.

Currently she has donated $500 to two Waikato charities - Women's Refuge and Dementia Waikato - after lockdown began.