School Support Staff Collective Agreement Negotiation

A sixth offer to renew the Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement was presented to NZEI Te Riu Roa on 5 March 2026.

This offer provides a 2.5% increase to the SSSCA 2022-2024 printed rates from the date of ratification and a cumulative increase of 4.55% to printed rates after 12 months.

Key features of the offer

• A 27-month term
• A 2.5% increase on all printed rates in the SSSCA 2022-2024 from 24 March 2026.
• A 2% increase on all printed rates in the SSSCA 2022-2024 from 23 March 2027.
• Provision of approved provider PLD for staff who work directly with students who experience behavioral or learning needs associated with neurodiversity. This fund will provide up to $8 million total (inclusive of administration costs) over the life of the fund.
• Increase the Motor Vehicle Allowance rate from 62c to 83c per kilometre.
• Send targeted communications to schools regarding reviewing employment of teacher aides who have been on fixed-term agreements for longer than two years.
• Increase from 3 to 5 days, the number of calendar days an employee must be sick for before a medical certificate can be requested by the employer.
• Provisions which recognise workplace delegates.
• Recognition of service for employees transferred to charter schools under clause 119 of Schedule 1 of the Education and Training Act 2020 if they return to a role under coverage of this collective agreement.
• Allow non-teaching guidance counsellors to be covered by this collective agreement and receive collective increases from 2027.

For the avoidance of doubt: the following offer enhances the terms and conditions of the lapsed SSSCA 2022-2024 and is unrelated to Individual Employment Agreements/Variation to Terms and Conditions of Employment promulgated on 24 February 2026.

Previous offers can be found in the resources section of this web page. 

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