The Prime Minister says his calls for the Remuneration Authority to freeze the salaries of Members of Parliament will not require a law change.
In a letter to the chairman, John Key asks the authority to exercise restraint when next considering all salaries because the New Zealand economy is facing a tough time.
Mr Key says the National Party will also recommend a zero pay increase for Parliamentary salaries at the appropriate time.
Labour Party leader Phil Goff says the Government should change the legislation if it wants to freeze MPs' salaries.
Mr Goff says he thinks all Parliamentarians would agree that there has to be constraints this year, but the appropriate way to do that is to set it out in the legislation.
Mr Goff says that would mean the authority would have to take into account economic circumstances at the time and the position of other New Zealanders.
But Mr Key says while the authority is independent, a law change would not be necessary.
He says, among other things, the law states the authority can take submissions and has to show fairness to taxpayers.
Mr Key says the majority of MPs support his call. The next review is in November.
The salaries of MPs, ministers and the prime minister were raised by between 4% to 4.8% last November.
Mr Goff says Mr Key's request to freeze MPs' salaries was obviously prompted by US President Barack Obama freezing the wages of senior White House staff on Wednesday.
