We are the 48,000+ principals, teachers, support staff and other education professionals 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.

Pasifika Fono | 21-22 April 2020

Registrations are open for the Pasifika Fono held at Haeata Community Campus on 21-22 April 2020. The theme for this year's Fono is Na Leo i Ko'olau.  

Find out more about the Fono.

Register for the Fono here. 

New Educators Network Activist Hui

New educators from across the country will be getting together in Wellington to upskill, plan and network with other active members at the NEN Te Kupenga Rangatahi's annual Activist Hui. Register your expressions of interest now. 

Find out more here

Ako - The language issue

The new summer issue of AKO – our journal for education professionals – is out now! It’s all about language and its connections to literacy, communication and identity.

Read the latest issue 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 

Children's Day, Sunday 1 March

Support Staff Making a Difference

Teacher aides, admin, other support staff and kaiārahi i te Reo have voted to accept their collective agreement offers from the Ministry of Education, with the Living Wage of $21.15 as the new minimum pay rate. 

Find out about the settlement here. 

 

Mana Taurite - Pay equity

Teacher aides began their negotiations for a pay equity settlement in December 2019. Work is still progressing on our early childhood teachers, kaiārahi i te reo and administration claims. 
Keep an eye out here for updates on our pay equity claims. 

Learn more about the campaign

Join the pay equity pledge

Events

Upcoming conferences

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

14 Feb 2020: Drop in school attendance concerning

Results out today showing a drop in school attendance in 2019 is a cause for concern, says NZEI Te Riu Roa President Liam Rutherford. Read More

29 Jan 2020: NZEI Te Riu Roa welcomes funding to rid schools of dirty coal power

The Government has announced an initial $4.8 million to replace coal boilers with cleaner biomass boilers for heating in eight schools, with more to come. Read More

11 Dec 2019: School support staff vote to accept Living Wage payrise of up to 19.5%

School support staff have voted to accept collective agreement offers from the Ministry of Education, with the Living Wage of $21.15 as the new minimum pay rate. Read More

04 Dec 2019: NZEI calls for urgent implementation of Government's strategy for early childhood education

NZEI Te Riu Roa is calling for urgency in implementing the Government's 10-year early learning action plan, He taonga te temaiti, released today. Read More