A man teacher sitting at a table talking to other teachers. He has medium-length brown hair and a beard. A man next to him is listening intently.
A man teacher sitting at a table talking to other teachers. He has medium-length brown hair and a beard. A man next to him is listening intently.
Principals and schools

NZEI Primary Principals’ Collective Agreement negotiation

Update on the collective agreement negotiations for NZEI Primary Principals’ bargaining
A man teacher sitting at a table talking to other teachers. He has medium-length brown hair and a beard. A man next to him is listening intently.
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Last updated 24 February 2026

On 19 February 2026 an offer was put forward to the NZEI Te Riu Roa to settle the PPCA. NZEI Te Riu Roa took the signed Terms of Settlement to a member ballot on 20 February 2026. The ballot closed on 24 February 2026 with NZEI Te Tiu Roa primary principal members voting to ratify the settlement.

This settlement offers NZEI Primary Principals a 4.65% pay increase to their base salary 12 months after ratification; a $15,000 Curriculum Change Allowance paid over the term of the Agreement; staged increases to the Leadership in Literacy and Numeracy allowance; increases to their career stage payments; and a new $5,000 allowance for principals who take up a mentoring role.

Key elements of the offer:

  • Term: A 30-month term 24 February 2026 – 23 August 2028.
  • Remuneration: A total increase of 4.65% to the U-grade renumeration component following the first 12 months (2.5% in year one and 2.1% in year two).
  • Curriculum Change Allowance: An introduction of a $15,000 Curriculum Change Allowance paid over the term of the agreement to recognise the significant and important work undertaken by principals in leading the curriculum change.
  • Leadership in Literacy & Numeracy: A $2,000 increase to the Leadership in Literacy and Numeracy base component to $10,000 per annum, phased in over the term of the Agreement.
  • Career Stage Payments: Increased to: Stage 1 $3,700, Stage 2 $6,900, Stage 3 $10,200.
  • Unified Pay Scale: A unified pay system with primary, secondary and area school principals.
  • Principal Mentor Allowance: An allowance of $5,000 per annum for principals who are appointed as mentors.
  • Chatham and Pitt Islands: Increases to the provisions for principals living and working on the Chatham and Pitt islands.
  • Mentoring Provisionally Certificated Teachers: An allowance for mentoring provisionally certificated teachers for U1 and U2 principals when no eligible teacher is available to fill the role.
  • Service recognition: for principals who are transferred to a converted charter school and return to a state or state-integrated school.
  • Disregarded Sick Leave: scope of the provision revised.
     

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