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.

Election 2020

We approached all the political parties currently in Parliament about their position on the key issues highlighted by our members across the education sector. 

Click here to find out how they responded. 

Tahia te Marae webinar series


The Tahia te Marae online series sits alongside annual meeting. It is open to all members and explores the pathways to our goals and the major collective agreement negotiations we have in 2021/22.

Find out more about the Tahia re Marae online webinar series here. 

Teachers' and Principals' health and wellbeing survey

The health and wellbeing survey for primary and area school teachers close on 11 October. Make sure that you and your colleagues have completed the survey!
 
Find more info 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 your voice with ours and have your say. 

Vote to add your voice here 

Teacher aide pay equity settlement

Support staff have voted to vary their collective agreement to include the teacher aide pay equity settlement.  

Find out more about the settlement here. 

Click here to apply for PLD for teacher aides. 

Mana Taurite - Pay equity

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

Find out about the teacher aide settlement

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

30 Sep 2020: NZEI Te Riu Roa welcomes Government's wellbeing announcement for educators

NZEI Te Riu Roa is welcoming the Government’s commitment of additional counselling and advice services for educators in early learning services and schools, especially in the current Covid environment. Read More

29 Sep 2020: NZEI Te Riu Roa welcomes Labour promise to provide mental health support to primary and intermediate

NZEI Te Riu Roa says Labour's promise to provide mental health support in primary and intermediate schools would deliver a much-needed resource for both children and teachers, especially given the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

19 Sep 2020: Labour promise to extend sick leave will have huge impact in early childhood education

NZEI Te Riu Roa is welcoming Labour's announcement today that it would double minimum sick leave entitlements to 10 days per year if returned to Government. Read More

19 Sep 2020: NZEI Te Riu Roa says fixing the pay gap for kaiako must extend to Kōhanga Reo

NZEI Te Riu Roa says Kōhanga Reo kaiako can’t afford to be left out in the cold when pay and funding gaps in ECE are addressed. Read More