Jacinda Ardern is so keen to take a pay cut she's getting 'frustrated' at how long it's taking to be approved

Back in April, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern announced she would be slashing her $470,000 (£241,000) a year salary by 20 per cent for six months as a show of solidarity with people struggling financially during the coronavirus lockdown.

But in order to take a pay cut, she had to pass a law in parliament – which she did in May – and then it took four weeks to be signed off by the Remuneration Authority.

The pay cut is due to take effect on 9 July but Ardern said she’s “frustrated” it’s taken so long.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, she said:

They’ll still be happening and they will still apply for six months. What I am frustrated by is how long it's taken.

We passed the law – which was required to enact this simple, simple change – we passed the law in May [and] we’re still waiting for the Remuneration Authority to make it happen. That is frustrating.

According to Stuff, Dame Fran Wilde from the Remuneration Authority said they’re going as fast as they can to implement the pay cut fairly:

There has been absolutely no delay on the part of the Remuneration Authority. This was done very fast.

She claimed there were further delays on the implementation date because they needed to match up with the payroll cycle.

Over six months, Ardern will be giving up around $94,000 (£48,000), while other MPs will receive a 10 per cent pay cut.

On whether or not the money could go to charities, Arden said:

Giving it to charities did open up wider issues. First, we had to demonstrate what we said we were going to do. Second, it then raises the question of who a member of the government would choose as a charity, and that could raise issues in itself.

Ardern’s offer to cut her own pay has put pressure on the prime minister of Australia Scott Morrison, who denied he would do the same, claiming it’s not “helpful” to “turn on each other about who's getting what”.

How about you, Boris Johnson?