Image
Students drawing on a page
Image
Students drawing on a page
Principals and schools

Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapist Collective Agreement Negotiation

Update on Collective Agreement negotiation for Kaiārahi i te reo and Therapist staff in state and state-integrated schools
Image
Students drawing on a page

March

Since November last year, the Ministry of Education has been negotiating with NZEI Te Riu Roa in good faith regarding the approximately 300 people working as kaiārahi i te reo and therapist staff in state and state-integrated schools. 

A revised offer was presented to the union on 20 March 2025.

This revised offer proposes a lump sum payment to all employees, in addition to remuneration increases of 3.3% over the term of the collective agreements for those who do not receive annual service increases. 

For those with access to incremental progression: their pay will increase between 5% and 16% over the term of the agreement, which includes their existing annual progression. 

The offer includes: 

  • A one-off lump sum payment: $200 for all full-time employees, and $150 for all part-time employees
  • For those at the top of their pay scale without access to incremental progression: pay increases in 3 phases over the three-year term of the agreement of 1.25% in the first year and 1% in each of the following years.
  • Increasing the motor vehicle allowance rate: from 62c to 83c per kilometre.  
  • Increasing medical certificate provisions: from 3 to 5 days, the number of days an employee has to be away on sick leave before a medical certificate can be requested by the employer.
  • Addressing employment concerns: by sending communications to schools regarding reviewing employment of employees who have been on fixed term agreements of longer than two years.  
For more information on the Kaiārahi i te reo and Therapists' Collective Agreement
Visit education.govt.nz launch
expand_less