Area School Teachers’ Collective Agreement negotiation
Update on Collective Agreement negotiation for Area teachers
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Last updated 23 September 2025
22 September update
Following six days of bargaining, an offer for the renewal of the Area School Teachers' Collective Agreement was presented to NZEI Te Riu Roa & PPTA Te Wehengarua on 8 September 2025. Following a vote from members, NZEI Te Riu Roa & PPTA Te Wehengarua rejected the offer on 18 September 2025.
The offer aimed to meet many of the interests we heard are important to area school teachers on a fiscally sustainable basis and deliver effective and responsive education services.
The offer, for those on the maximum step for their qualification, would have provided a 4.7% increase within 12 months from the date of ratification. This would have taken the annual base pay for those on the top step (step 10) to $107,886.
In addition, the offer would have provided increases of between 10.2% and 19.0%, when including annual progression, over the term of the collective agreement.
Please note, offered increases in year one would be effective from the date of ratification. The summary below assumed an October ratification date.
Key elements of the offer
Phased increase of up to 4.7% over the term of the collective agreement: From October 2025:
$2,448 for step 9 and $2,600 for step 10 of the trained teachers’ scale
$1,300 per annum increase to untrained teacher rates and steps 1-8 for trained teachers.
From October 2026:
$2,108 for step 9 and $2,200 for step 10 of the trained teachers’ scale
$1,200 per annum increase to untrained teacher rates and steps 1-8 for trained teachers.
Introduction of a Principal Nominee allowance: of $2,500 for a teacher to maintain and manage qualification assessment practices and to act as the key contact with the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) for the school. Beginning in term 2, 2025 until the end of 2027.
Increase in Middle Management Allowances: the rate of the allowance will increase from 28 January 2026 to $2,400 per annum (a 20% increase to the rate).
Introduction of an Immersion Virtual Teaching Allowance: of $6,000 (pro-rated) from 28 January 2026, for teachers who teach level one immersion virtually to another school or kura, whose classes equate to at least 0.2 FTTE.
Greater recognition of prior experience: of untrained teachers who consequently train and transition into trained teacher roles.
Flexibility for Learning Support Coordinators: Greater ability for appointment of part-time coordinators for greater employment flexibility.
Amendments to term breaks and when schools are not open for instruction: to allow employers to require teachers to attend school for an extra 8 days within their 12 weeks of non-contact time. This would limit disruption for students and whānau. It provides greater flexibility for teachers’ professional development to happen outside of term time.
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