The coalition Government is not proceeding with the former Government’s plan to regulate residential property managers and has asked Parliament’s Social Services and Community Select Committee to stop considering the legislation.
The Residential Property Managers Bill was introduced to Parliament last August and the select committee was due to report it back on August 9 this year.
But Housing Minister Chris Bishop said New Zealand was in the middle of a housing crisis and adding more regulation to the rental property market was not the way to open up more housing supply.
“Instead we need our officials working on policies that will make a real difference to improving housing supply, such as our sensible changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, which will encourage more landlords into the market and apply downward pressure to rents,” Bishop said.
By the time of the next election, MPs will be earning $181,200 a year, up from their current annual income of $163,961.
The Remuneration Authority released its latest determination today on MPs’ salaries, saying they would rise immediately to $168,600, backdated to October 15 last year, the day after the election. They would then rise each year before reaching $181,200 in 2026.
It noted that MPs’ salaries and allowances had been effectively frozen since 2017.
“It should be noted that the criteria do not mention the performance of MPs; therefore, the Authority has no mandate to consider MPs’ performance.”
Salaries of ministers, party leaders, the Speaker, deputy speakers, select committee chairpersons, and others who hold more responsibility also went up.
By election day, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be earning $525,500 a year. His income this year rises to $484,200.