The authority that sets salaries for MPs will be required to take adverse economic conditions into account under new legislation introduced to Parliament.
The Minister of Labour, Kate Wilkinson, says the Remuneration Authority is currently not able to take account of the recession in its salary-setting decisions.
In February the Green Party asked MPs to support a cross-party submission to the authority, asking it to refrain from raising salaries this year in light of the current economic climate.
The motion received unanimous support.
Prime Minister John Key says this legislation will help put that into effect.
The changes cover all professions the authority is responsible for, including judges, mayors and local councillors.
