Results of a recent survey of Commonwealth universities reveal that the gap in purchasing power between the average academic in New Zealand and Australia has narrowed considerably, from 40 percent in 2006-2007 to 21.5 percent in 2009-2010.

The survey, the seventh undertaken by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), looks at academic salary scales and associated benefits in 46 institutions across seven Commonwealth countries: Australia, Canada, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

New Zealand academics rank fifth out of the six commonwealth countries surveyed, when purchasing power is considered, having been overtaken by South African academics since the previous survey.

Natasha Lokhun from ACU says the differences in average salaries between the countries have reduced.  She attributes this to increased international competition for academic staff, as well as efforts within individual countries to improve academic salary levels.

TEU national Secretary Sharn Riggs says the comparative improvement of academic salaries in New Zealand relates significantly to the $50 million of tripartite funding available to universities under the previous government.

“Union members in New Zealand universities campaigned successfully to close the pay gap with Australia. We had important successes up until 2008 – 2009 but now, with the demise of the tripartite funding and cuts to other government funding and the on-going austere budgeting at most tertiary institutions, New Zealand academics risk falling behind again,” said Ms Riggs.