11 Nov 2017

Pay rise for TVNZ CEO called 'unconscionable'

1:26 pm on 11 November 2017

The union representing journalists has described a $141,678 pay-rise given to TVNZ's chief executive as 'cynical' amid widespread redundancies.

TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick.

TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick. Photo: RNZ

The broadcaster's annual report shows Kevin Kenrick's pay increased to just over $1.3 million this year.

That's despite an 89 percent reduction in net profit TVNZ delivered this year - though that stems almost entirely from the writing-down of an unprofitable content deal.

Paul Tolich from E tū said Mr Kenrick's pay rise was unconscionable.

"You've had a reduction in staff, redundancies for journalists and media production staff and other staff at TVNZ - and the CEO has had about $1.3 million in his take-home pay."

The highest-paid figure at RNZ is paid between $400,000 - $410,000.

Meanwhile, the executive director of the BBC, Tony Hall, was paid an annual salary of £450,000 as of March 2017 - equivalent to about $850,000 in New Zealand currency.

Update: an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the pay rise was $200,000.

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