6 March 2024
Ministerial Services
45 Pipitea St, Thorndon
PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
Phone +64 4 495 7200
Website: www.dia.govt.nz
A Collins
fyi-request-25657-
[email address]
Dear A Collins
Official Information Act request (OIA 2324-0568)
Thank you for your request for information dated 7 February 2024 made under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department). You
requested the following information:
To the Department of Internal Affairs,
1. Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the job descriptions and salary
bands for Ministerial Services staff who work in ministerial offices. This includes but
is not limited to Ministerial Advisors, Press Secretaries, Senior Private Secretaries,
Ministerial Secretaries, Private Secretaries (administrative ones -
not the ones
seconded from Government Departments). I understand many of these roles may
have different levels or grades -
please include all of these relevant roles.
2. If there are any staff that are paid beyond the salary range, can I have an indication
of which roles and how many people?
3. Lastly, I would like an indication of when these bands were last changed or evaluated.
Response to your request
There are three types of staff who work in Ministers' offices:
• Department-employed staff assigned to work in a Minister's office;
• Roving staff, also employed by the Department, although not assigned to a Minister's
office. They are deployed across Ministerial offices in a range of roles to provide cover
for offices in situations of planned and unplanned leave and surge support; and
• Portfolio Private Secretaries who are seconded to Ministers' offices by government
agencies (also known as home agencies) to facilitate the management of Ministers'
portfolio responsibilities.
The Department's Ministerial Services Group is responsible for employing all Ministerial office
staff. I have interpreted Ministerial staff to refer to Department-employed staff who are
assigned to work in a Minister's office and roving staff.
1. Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the fob descriptions and salary
bands for Ministerial Services staff who work in mihisterial offices. This includes but
is not limited to Ministerial Advisors, Press Secretaries, Senior Private Secretaries,
Ministerial Secretaries, Private Secretaries (administrative ones -
not the ones
seconded from Government Departments). I understand many of these roles may
have different levels or grades -
please include all of these relevant roles.
I have interpreted this part of your request to be for job roles/titles and salary bands for
Department employed staff who work in Ministerial offices.
Please see
Appendix A below for a table that lists job titles for the current Ministerial staff
employed in Ministerial offices, along with their corresponding salary band. The information
provided is accurate as of 7 February 2024.
2. If there are any staff that are paid beyond the salary range, can I have an indication
of which roles and how many people?
Due to the small number of employees working in specific roles within Ministerial offices,
making such information available could lead to the identification of individuals. As the
employer of staff working in Ministers' offices, the Department has an obligation to protect
the privacy of these individuals and to keep their employment information safe and secure.
Therefore, under section 9(2)(a) of the Act withholding this information is necessary to protect
the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased persons.
I have considered whether the above grounds for withholding the information under section
9 of the Act are outweighed by other considerations which would make it desirable, in the
public interest, to make that information available. In this instance, I do not consider that to
be the case.
3. Lastly, I would like an indication of when these bands were last changed or evaluated.
All salary bands were increased by $2,000 or by 3%, up to a maximum of $5,400 with the
implementation of the Public Sector Pay Adjustment (PSPA) on 1 December 2023.
The following jobs were evaluated or changed in October 2023:
• Manager Research, Communications and Digital (formerly Director of
Communications)
• Senior Private Secretary (Outside Cabinet)
• Senior Private Secretary (Inside Cabinet)
Page 2 of 5
Changes or evaluations of job roles, associated job descriptions and associated salary bands
may take place at any time. Likewise, the types of roles needed by an Executive may
change/differ. In order to best illustrate this, we are providing you with material provided in
an earlier OIA request which shows changes in roles and salaries over time that we believe
answers your questions and illustrates this wider context. This is attached in Appendix B;
please note that the rates for 2023 are exclusive of the PSPA adjustment made on 1 December
2023.
We may publish this OIA response on www.dia.govt.nz (with your personal details having been
removed). Publishing responses to OIA requests increases the availability of information to
the public and is consistent with the purpose of the Act to enable effective participation in the
making and administration of laws and policies, and to promote the accountability of Ministers
and officials.
If you have any concerns with the information in this response, you have a right to request an
investigation and review by the Ombudsman under section 28(3) of the Act. Information on
how to do this is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Briget Ridden
General Manager - Ministerial Services
Te Haumi - Enterprise Partnerships
Te Tari Taiwhenua - The Department of Internal Affairs
Page3af5
Appendix A: Ministerial office details broken down by job title and salary band (details
correct as at 7 February 2024).
Role/Job Title
I Minimum
Maximum
Chief of Staff*
Non-banded
Non-banded
Chief Policy Advisor
$150,091
$201,138
Chief Press Secretary
$175,100
$235,400
Deputy Chief of Staff
$137,315
$184,325
Deputy Chief of Staff (Coalition Party)
$110,559
$148,124
Deputy Chief Press Secretary
$115,932
$155,395
Executive Assistant (Correspondence Unit)
$55,317
$73,463
Executive Assistant to Chief of Staff
$83,173
$112.528
Lead Advisor (Correspondence Unit)
$73,297
$98,329
Manager Research, Communications and Digital
$120,819
$163,461
Ministerial Advisor (Level 1)
$83,595
$112,263
Ministerial Advisor (Level 2)
$99,020
$133,130
Press Secretary (Level 1)
$84,484
$113,465
Press Secretary/Roving Press Secretary (Level 2)
$100,081
$134,567
Private Secretary (Administration)
$63,561
$84,951
Private Secretary (Advisory/ Media)
$83,595
$112,263
Private Secretary/Roving Private Secretary
$74,222
$99,582
(Executive Support)
Senior Ministerial Advisor
$119,681
$161,922
Senior Press Secretary
$144,458
$195,150
Senior Private Secretary/Roving
$105,060
$142,140
Senior Private Secretary (Inside Cabinet)
$110,559
$142,140
Senior Private Secretary (Outside Cabinet)
$95,326
$128,135
Specialist Ministerial Advisor
$148,835
$200,900
Roving Transition Support
Non-banded
Non-banded
*The Department currently has individuals who are working in Chief of Staff roles, however
they are seconded to the Department from the Parliamentary Service as a transitional staff
member to provide support in Ministerial Offices.
**Please note that salary bands that have been re-evaluated may have increased or
decreased. This could be due to several reasons such as aligning the salary with comparative
roles in the current job market, or review of the job description/role (i.e., tasks and
responsibilities associated with a role/roles may have been re-evaluated and changed
impacting on salary for the role).
Page4o/ 5
Appendix B: Salary bands of staff employed in Ministerial Offices as at 30 June 2023,
broken down by job title from 2014-2023.
Pages ofs
Table 1: Number of staff employed Ministerial Offices as at 30 June - broken down by job title from 2014 to 2023. *
Job Title
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Chief of Staff
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
Chief Policy Advisor
1
1
1
1
1
Chief Press Secretary
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
Communications Director
1
1
Correspondence and Records Manager
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Deputy Chief of Staff
1
1
1
1
1
1
Deputy Chief Press Secretary
1
1
1
1
1
Deputy Director of Communications
1
1
Director of Communications
1
1
1
1
Director of Research
1
Executive Assistant
3
3
3
5
Executive Assistant (Correspondence Unit)
1
2
2
3
2
2
Executive Assistant to PM / Chief of Staff
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
Events Manager
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Foreign Policy Advisor
1
Lead Advisor (Correspondence Unit)
1
1
1
Media Advisor
1
1
Media Assistant
2
1
1
1
1
Ministerial Advisor
1
19
18
17
Ministerial Advisor/Press Secretary
1
Ministerial Advisor (Level 1)
1
1
7
9
7
12
Ministerial Advisor (Level 2)
23
22
17
23
16
14
5
Ministerial Assistant (Correspondence Unit,
1
2
3
2
2
2
2
2
Records Office)
Ministerial Secretary
17
19
15
Ministerial Secretary (Level 1)
5
Ministerial Secretary (Level 2)
11
Job Title
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Office And Project Coordinator
1
1
Personal Private Secretary
1
Press Secretary
1
2
26
24
18
Press Secretary (Level 1)
2
3
3
4
3
3
3
Press Secretary (Level 2)
26
21
17
11
15
14
24
Principal Communications Advisor
1
Private Secretary (Administration)
1
3
2
3
10
16
21
Private Secretary (Administration/Diary/
8
10
11
16
6
2
Executive Support)
Private Secretary (Advisory)
1
4
2
3
1
1
5
Private Secretary (Advisory/Media)
7
7
6
5
7
7
2
1
4
Private Secretary (Media)
3
25
26
2
9
7
9
6
Private Secretary (Executive Support)
30
3
2
24
20
21
Private Secretary Portfolio Support
1
Research and Policy Director
1
1
Roving Private Secretary
1
1
Secretary To Parliamentary Under-Secretary
1
Senior Advisor
1
1
1
1
Senior Advisor/Advisor to Parliamentary
1
1
1
Under-Secretary
Senior Designer
1
1
Senior Economic Advisor
1
1
1
Senior Ministerial Advisor
11
13
16
8
9
11
10
11
12
9
Senior Press Secretary
7
9
9
10
12
12
2
3
1
2
Senior Private Secretary (Inside/Outside
32
30
29
30
32
30
29
26
26
28
Cabinet)
Senior Private Secretary to Parliamentary
1
1
2
3
Under-Secretary
Senior Specialist Communications
1
Specialist Ministerial Advisor
1
1
2
5
5
5
2
Strategic Communications Manager
1
1
1
1
Job Title
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Strategic Communications and Relationship
1
Manager
Strategic Relationship Manager
1
Transition Manager
1
Visual Content Designer
1
1
Total
158
158
149
162
158
157
159
147
149
150
*It is important to note that job titles may have changed over time. The introduction of new jobs, merging of roles, or retirement of certain titles are contributing
factors to the changes in the roles listed.
Table 2: Salary bands of staff employed in Ministerial Offices as at 30 June, broken down by job title from 2014 to 2023. *
Job Title
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Chief of Staff
Non-
Non-
Non-
Not found
Not found
$117,977 -
$115,663 -
$114,518 -
$114,518 -
$114,518 -
banded
banded
banded
in data
in data
$159,616
$156,846
$154,935
$154,935
$154,935
Chief Policy Advisor
$145,719 -
$141,719 -
$136,201 -
$136,201 -
$136,201 -
$195,738
$191,738
$184,272
$184,272
$184,272
Chief Press Secretary
$170,000 -
$150,110 -
$150,110 -
$150,110 -
$150,110 -
$147,900 -
$146,539 -
$142,242 -
$85,266-
$230,000
$203,090
$203,090
$203,090
$203,090
$200,100
$198,258
$192,445
$115,359
Communications Director
Non-
Non-
banded
banded
Correspondence and Records
$72,060 -
$78,023 -
$77,173 -
$77,173 -
$66,544 -
$65,239 -
$64,593 -
$62,711 -
$62,090 -
$60,872 -
Manager
$96,681
$105,560
$104,410
$104,410
$90,031
$88,264
$87,390
$84,844
$84,003
$82,355
Deputy Chief of Staff
$133,315 -
$129,315 -
$129,315 -
$123,062 -
$121,843 -
$120,636 -
$118,270 -
$178,956
$174,956
$174,956
$166,495
$164,846
$163,213
$160,013
Deputy Chief Press Secretary
$108,555 -
$108,555 -
$108,555 -
$106,426 -
$126,047
$126,047
$126,047
$143,987
Deputy Director of
$93,166 -
$92,316 -
Communications
$126,047
$124,897
Director of Communications
$112,555 -
$108,555 -
$108,555 -
$108,555 -
$150,868
$126,047
$126,047
$126,047
Director of Research
Non-
banded
Executive Assistant
$45,368 -
$45,368 -
$44,918 -
$44,036 -
$61,379
$61,379
$60,771
$59,579
Executive Assistant
$53,317 -
$49,317 -
$48,467 -
$44,962 -
$43,538 -
$40,765 -
(Correspondence Unit)
$71,323
$66,723
$65,573
$56,820
$56,526
$55,152
Executive Assistant to PM / Chief
$80,750 -
$72,811 -
$71,961 -
$71,961 -
$70,550 -
$70,550 -
$82,648 -
$81,829 -
$81,018 -
of Staff
$110,160
$98,509
$97,359
$97,359
$95,450
$95,450
$111,817
$110,710
$109,613
Events Manager
$82,023 -
$78,023 -
$77,713 -
$77,713 -
$76,409 -
$75,651 -
$74,167 -
$73,433 -
$73,433 -
$72,705 -
$110,160
$105,560
$104,410
$104,410
$103,376
$102,352
$100,344
$99,350
$99,350
$98,366
Foreign Policy Advisor
$85,159 -
$115,214
Job Title
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Lead Advisor (Correspondence
$72,060 -
$67,162 -
$66,312 -
Unit)
$96,681
$90,850
$89,715
Media Advisor
$66,312 -
$65,654 -
$89,715
$88,826
Media Assistant
$42,022 -
$46,123 -
$45,219 -
$44,771 -
$44,327 -
$56,853
$62,402
$61,178
$60,572
$59,972
Ministerial Advisor
$86,870 -
$86,010 -
$85,159 -
$85,159 -
$117,530
$116,367
$115,214
$115,214
Ministerial Advisor/Press
$86,972 -
Secretary
$117,667
Ministerial Advisor (Level 1)
$77,160 -
$76,130 -
$76,130 -
$75,554 -
$74,806 -
$74,064 -
$104,393
$103,243
$103,243
$102,221
$101,207
$100,205
Ministerial Advisor (Level 2)
$96,135 -
$92,150 -
$91,825 -
$91,825 -
$90,380 -
$88,608 -
$100,499 -
$129,252
$124,652
$123,502
$123,502
$122,279
$119,881
$135,968
Ministerial Assistant (Includes
$46,087 -
$43,992 -
$43,568 -
$36,324 -
$37,104 -
$35,677 -
$34,977 -
$34,291 –
Correspondence Unit, Records
$53,535
$51,102
$52,741
$49,143
$50,199
$48,268
$47,322
$46,394
Office)
Ministerial Secretary
$39,961 -
$39,565 -
$44,309 -
$54,064
$53,528
$55,948
Ministerial Secretary (level 1)
$44,753 -
$60,548
Ministerial Secretary (Level 2)
$53,717 -
$72,676
Office And Project Coordinator
Non-
Non-
banded
banded
Personal Private Secretary
$69,899 -
$94,570
Press Secretary
$92,316 -
$88,721 -
$87,842 -
$86,972 -
$85,266 -
$124,897
$120,034
$118,845
$117,667
$115,359
Press Secretary (Level 1)
$82,023 -
$78,023 -
$77,713 -
$77,713 -
$76,409 -
$75,651 -
$74,167 -
$110,160
$105,560
$104,410
$104,410
$103,376
$102,352
$100,344
Press Secretary (Level 2)
$97,166 -
$93,166 -
$92,316 -
$92,316 -
$91,401 -
$90,496 -
$104,328 -
$130,647
$126,047
$124,897
$124,897
$123,660
$122,435
$141,149
Job Title
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Principal Communications Advisor
$142,242 -
$192,445
Private Secretary (Administration) $61,561 -
$57,561 -
$56,711 -
$44,753 -
$44,309 -
$44,309 -
$44,309 -
$82,476
$77,876
$76,726
$60,548
$59,948
$59,948
$59,948
Private Secretary
$55,894 -
$55,340 -
$54,791 -
$53,717 -
$53,717 -
$53,717 -
(Administration/Diary/Executive
$75,621
$74,871
$74,129
$72,676
$72,676
$72,676
Support)
Private Secretary (Advisory)
$56,558 -
$55,998 -
$54,899 -
$53,822 -
$53,290 -
$52,762 -
$51,726 -
$76,519
$67,561
$74,276
$72,818
$72,097
$71,383
$72,676
Private Secretary
$81,160 -
$77,160 -
$76,130 -
$76,130 -
$75,554 -
$74,806 -
$74,064 -
$74,064 -
$74,064 -
(Advisory/Media)
$108,993
$104,393
$103,243
$103,243
$102,221
$101,207
$100,205
$100,205
$100,205
Private Secretary (Media)
$61,217 -
$57,561 -
$56,367 -
$56,367 -
$54,171 -
$53,635 -
$53,103 -
$52,062 -
$82,010
$77,876
$76,260
$76,260
$73,290
$72,564
$71,846
$70,437
Private Secretary (Executive
$72,060 -
$78,023 -
$77,173 -
$64,664 -
$63,807 -
$62,556 -
Support)
$96,681
$105,560
$104,410
$87,191
$86,328
$84,635
Private Secretary Portfolio
Non-
Support
banded
Research and Policy Director
Non-
Non-
banded
banded
Roving Private Secretary
$59,530 -
$58,362 -
$80,541
$78,961
Secretary To Parliamentary
$44,753 -
Under-Secretary
$60,548
Senior Advisor
$123,062 -
$121,843 -
$120,636 -
$118,270 -
$166,495
$164,846
$163,213
$160,013
Senior Advisor/Advisor to
$100,499 -
$100,499 -
$100,499 -
Parliamentary Under-Secretary
$135,968
$135,968
$135,968
Senior Designer
Non-
Non-
banded
banded
Senior Economic Advisor
$121,843 -
$120,636 -
$118,270 -
$164,846
$163,213
$160,013
Senior Ministerial Advisor
$109,605 -
$105,650 -
$105,605 -
$105,605 -
$104,559 -
$102,509 -
$100,499 -
$100,499 -
$100,499 -
$98,527 -
$146,878
$142,878
$142,878
$141,462
$138,688
$135,968
$135,968
$135,968
$133,302
$142,878
Job Title
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Senior Press Secretary
$140,250 -
$125,800 -
$125,800 -
$125,800 -
$125,800 -
$125,800 -
$104,328 -
$103,294 -
$103,294 -
$103,294 -
$189,750
$170,200
$170,200
$170,200
$170,200
$170,200
$141,149
$139,751
$139,751
$139,751
Senior Private Secretary Inside
$102,000 -
$94,486 -
$93,636 -
$93,636 -
$92,650 -
$92,650 -
$82,648 -
$81,829 -
$81,018 -
$80,216 -
Cabinet
$138,000
$127,834
$126,684
$126,684
$125,350
$125,350
$111,817
$110,710
$109,613
$108,527
Senior Private Secretary Outside
$91,545 -
$86,700 -
$85,850 -
$85,850 -
$84,150 -
$83,300 -
$72,011 -
$72,011 -
$71,298 -
$69,899 -
Cabinet
$123,855
$117,300
$116,150
$116,150
$113,850
$112,700
$97,426
$97,426
$96,461
$94,570
Senior Private Secretary to
$86,700 -
$85,850 -
$85,850 -
$83,300 -
Parliamentary Under-Secretary
$117,300
$116,150
$116,150
$112,700
Senior Specialist Communications
$105,372 -
$142,561
Specialist Ministerial Advisor
$109,605 -
$136,000 -
$136,000 -
$136,000 -
$136,000 -
$136,000 -
$115,663 -
$146,878
$184,000
$184,000
$184,000
$184,000
$184,000
$156,846
Strategic Communications
$108,555-
$108,555 -
$108,555 -
$86,972 -
Manager
$146,868
$146,868
$146,868
$117,667
Strategic Communications and
$87,842 -
Relationship Manager
$118,845
Strategic Relationship Manager
$85,266 -
$115,359
Transition Manager
Non-
banded
Visual Content Designer
$61,217 -
$57,561 -
$82,010
$77,876
*When a role is advertised the corresponding salary band is advertised with it. These salary bands may change over the course of financial years due to several
reasons such as aligning the salary with comparative roles in the current job market, or review of the job description/role i.e., tasks and responsibilities
associated with a role are re-evaluated and changed. Therefore, the corresponding salary may increase or decrease.
Document Outline
