00:00Today, I can confirm that myself, Government Ministers and Public Service Chief Executives
00:07will take a 20% pay cut for the next six months
00:11as we acknowledge New Zealanders who are reliant on wage subsidies,
00:15taking pay cuts and losing their jobs as a result of COVID-19's global pandemic.
00:21We feel acutely the struggle that many New Zealanders are facing
00:26and so too do the people that I work with on a daily basis.
00:31And while it in itself won't shift the Government's overall fiscal position,
00:36it is about leadership.
00:38And I acknowledge my colleagues, both in the Executive,
00:42but also the colleagues we work with in the Public Service
00:46for the decision that was taken today.
00:49But it also stands alongside many actions taken by many people,
00:54private sector, citizens,
00:57to tackle the health and economic challenges of COVID-19,
01:01including the more than $23 billion economic package,
01:04including the wage subsidy,
01:06which has paid out over $9 billion to 1.5 million New Zealanders.
01:10or in the United States.
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