The Finance Minister says lifting pay for public sector board members - is about attracting better people

The Government's raised the range of fees, in some cases by 80 percent.

Nicola Willis says it corrects a major discrepancy between the levels for public, and private boards.

He says we need good people managing public money - because New Zealanders pay billions of dollars in tax and need assurance it's managed by people with the needed skills and assurance.