Steve Braunias: The secret diary of the Civil Service Pay Freeze 14 May, 2021 05:00 PM 3 minutes to read Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded to questions about the public backlash to last week's wage freeze announcement. Video / Mark Mitchell Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responded to questions about the public backlash to last week's wage freeze announcement. Video / Mark Mitchell OPINION: MONDAY Jacinda Ardern: I don't know why they're calling it a pay freeze! Ha, ha! It's so not a pay freeze! Ho, ho! Anyone who calls it a pay freeze is just being a big silly! Chris Hipkins: It's a little bit of a pay freeze. But it's not the kind of pay freeze that anyone needs to worry about. You could take this pay freeze home to meet your parents.