Kaiārahi i te Reo and Therapist Collective Agreement Negotiation

March Update

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.