We are the 48,000+ principals, teachers and support staff who work in primary, area and secondary schools, early childhood centres, special education and school advisory services.

We come together as NZEI Te Riu Roa - New Zealand’s largest education union, a Treaty-based organisation and a powerful advocate for quality public education.

Scholarship applications for 2021

There are up to ten scholarships available for early childhood and support staff members. The scholarships provide an opportunity for early childhood education and support staff members to enhance their skills and knowledge within the workplace and in education generally. Applications for the scholarships to be taken up in 2021 are now open.

Find out more about the scholarships here.

Health and wellbeing survey

Primary and area teachers and principals should check their email for an in-depth survey into the hauora of every New Zealand teacher and principal. This survey will contribute valuable data about the state of hauora in our work on the Accord.

Make sure you complete the survey by the 24th November.

Click here to find out more

Support Staff Making A Difference

Teacher aides, admin, other support staff and Kaiarahi i te Reo are on the front line of student support and they need to be paid fairly for the hard work they do! Use the MP Tool, open letter and resources to help us gain fair pay for our support staff. 


Find resources here. 
Sign the open letter here.

Our campaigns

ECE Voice

Early childhood teachers so an incredibly important job. But their pay is up to 49% behind kindergarten and primary with the same skills, qualifications and responsibilities. That's not OK. We believe every teacher is worth it and that the government needs to act now to fix the gap. 

If you agree, join our voices with ours and have your say. 

Vote to add your voice here 

Every child is worth it

We think that every child is worth the best early childhood education New Zealand can possibly provide, and a great start in life. We're asking the Prime Minister, Minister of Education and Minister of Finance to honour their pre-election pledge to restore early childhood funding, deliver 100% qualified teachers, and reduce the teacher to child ratios.

Learn more about the campaign

 

 

Mana Taurite - Pay equity

No matter who you are or what kind of work you do, you deserve to be paid fairly for your work. But for women, achieving fair pay has been a long, hard battle that isn't over yet. Despite the passing of the Equal Pay Act 40 years ago, women are still paid $4 an hour less, on average, than men. In many cases that's because work that's traditionally done by women - such as caring and working with young children - has been historically undervalued.

Learn more about the campaign

Join the pay equity pledge

Events

Get help

Contact our member advisory officers

Call us between 8.30am and 5.00pm on freephone 0800 693 443, or email nzei@nzei.org.nz for confidential advice.

Recent news and media

13 Nov 2019: Shift in National's education policy a positive move

NZEI Te Riu Roa says the National Party's education discussion document shows it has been listening to the sector, although there are still areas of concern for educators and students. Read More

12 Nov 2019: NZEI Te Riu Roa welcomes direction of school system reforms

NZEI Te Riu Roa has welcomed the direction of the Tomorrow's Schools reforms announced today. Read More

10 Nov 2019: School support staff to demand fair pay in week of action from 11 November

School support staff start a week of action tomorrow (Monday 11 November) to express their frustration over the stalling of collective agreement and pay equity negotiations. Read More

07 Nov 2019: Media advisory: Early childhood teachers to deliver petition to Education Minister on Friday morning

Early childhood teachers will deliver a petition to Education Minister Chris Hipkins tomorrow morning, asking that the Government keep its pre-election promise to restore early childhood education funding, deliver on 100% qualified teachers, and impr Read More