Looking for a relief teacher

We are encouraging principals to consider innovative or collaborative methods when sourcing a relief teacher. These may include working together in clusters, short term contracts and encouraging former teachers in their community to consider relief teaching.

There’s a pathway for everyone. In most cases the teacher can begin teaching straight away. 

What qualifications do relief teachers need?

A teacher needs to hold an approved teaching qualification, have NZ teacher registration, and hold a current practising certificate to be employed as a teacher in Aotearoa New Zealand. This is a legal requirement. However, there are several ways someone can get started as a relief teacher.

If a registered teacher has no practising certificate, they can relief teach for up to 20 half days per calendar year. If you have a relief teacher who is planning to renew their practising certificate, they can do this while teaching.  

The Teaching Council can issue an Extension to Teach beyond 20 half days when their practising certificate has expired and there is an offer of employment.

Kia Maia | Future-Ready Teaching Plan

The government will pay the fees and levies for issuing or renewing teaching practising certificates until 30 June 2028.

If you know of a registered teacher in your community who is keen to return to teaching as a relief teacher and needs to renew their practising certificate, it is now a simpler process:

• Registered teachers are able to renew their practising certificate if there is a job offer in place.
• it does not matter if they have not taught in five years or more and will not need to complete a Teacher Education Refresh (TER) programme.
• The Teaching Council may ask that a Kia Maia | Future-Ready Teaching Plan is completed alongside the hiring principal or tumuaki.

Read more about Kia Maia | Future-Ready Teaching Plans on the Teaching Council website.

Possible relief teacher who is not a registered teacher

A Limited Authority to Teach (LAT) is also an option. The Teaching Council can issue a LAT for day-to-day relieving teaching positions which should be filled by a registered teacher but for which there are currently no such teachers available because of supply issues. For example, if you know a person who is currently working as a teacher aide, this may be an option for you. 

The current application fee for a LAT is $117.96 for one year. 

Ways to secure relief teachers

Recruitment agencies can help you secure relief teachers. These include:

• Candidex (ECE only)
• EP Education
• Oasis Education
• Prospero Teaching
• Randstad
• Talk Recruitment.

The Ministry does not endorse, or quality assure providers.

Other options include forming a cluster in your regions and sharing recruitment for relief teachers or creating shared lists of relief teachers available in their region.

Contact your local Te Mahau for advice and support

Know people in your community who might want to be a relief teacher?

If you know someone who you think would make a great relief teacher, then all the information they need the steps they need to take on the relief teacher page.

There are three adverts available for you to download and use to promote relief teaching in your community. They are free to use and can be added to social media, weekly newsletters or printed off. 

Contact us

If you have any questions, we're here to help.

See our Contact us page for more information on how to get in touch.