The man appointed to head the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority's Review Panel says he accepted the job without asking how much he would be paid.
Documents released under the Official Information Act to a blogger show the three CERA panel members, including former National party leader and Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, will be paid $1000 a day, and the chairman, Sir John Hansen, $1400 a day.
This is above standard fees set out in Cabinet guidelines, but Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says those were considered inadequate given the importance of the job, and the higher fees had the full support of the State Services Commission.
Sir John says he took the job as review panel chairman a matter of public service without inquiring what the fees would be.
He says lots of things bring him more money than this; he is not interested in the money and is just trying to help Christchurch.
