Photo: File imageChristchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson (above) earned the highest salary of the council companies at $937,060. Lyttelton Port Company chief Graeme Sumner earned $881,237, followed by Orion Group chief Nigel Barbour on $880,000, while Enable chief Johnathan Eele earned $862,000. Although chief executive salaries are paid from the company budgets, it has an indirect impact on the city council budget. Executive and director pay, and all other company costs, lower the dividend the companies pay to the city council each year. Mauger and Henstock said they supported MacDonald’s view, underpinning the alignments within the city council.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 08, 2026 19:16 UTC