Research conducted for the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education (ASTE) and released this week revealed polytechnic lecturers in New Zealand are paid an average of 58.2% of Australian salaries for equivalent positions, with the disparity varying between 50% and 62.5%.
The research mirrored a report commissioned by the New Zealand Vice-chancellors Committee and released in May, indicating salaries for New Zealand university academics lagged behind Australian salaries by 44%.
But the heads of the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic said higher salaries in Australia did not appear to be stopping staff from applying for Dunedin jobs.
University vice-chancellor Prof David Skegg said he "wouldn't want to paint a gloomy picture", but it was important salary gaps between New Zealand and countries such as Australia, Canada, the US and Britain did not widen.
"In general, we attract excellent staff, although in common with other universities, we have difficulties finding staff in some fields.
"Our policy is to leave vacancies open until we know we have the best people."
A small number of positions had been vacant for months or years, he said, a situation Otago had in common with other New Zealand universities.
Remuneration was only one of the factors which influenced whether staff came to Dunedin, Prof Skegg said.
"Fortunately, many people find Dunedin an attractive place in which to live and work. It is important Dunedin remains a vibrant city.
"That is one of the reasons we are delighted the [Awatea St] stadium is going ahead."
Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said his academic staff were generally sourced from within New Zealand, so Australian salaries did not have a huge impact on recruitment.
However, he said it was "almost impossible" to attract Australians to senior roles because of the higher salaries and generous superannuation plans in that country.
The desire to stay in Australia and qualify for full superannuation entitlements became a "golden handcuff", he said.
Higher Australian salaries were impacting on the polytechnic's general staff.
Three administration staff had left in the past year for better-paying positions across the Tasman, Mr Ker said.
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), which funds the tertiary sector, recognised in 2006 that more money was required to address pay disparities between university salaries in this country and overseas.
It has provided "top-up" funding since, with $15 million earmarked this year.
There was no indication if there would be another top-up next year.
Mr Ker said polytechnics were discussing with the TEC a similar top-up fund for their institutions.
