We are the 50,000 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.

Paid union meetings - 2019

We're holding a round of joint paid union meetings for all teachers covered by the Primary Teachers Collective Agreement and all principals covered by the Primary Principals Collective Agreement during the week of 6 May 2019. We're also holding paid union meetings for all teachers covered by the Kindergarten Teachers Collective Agreement from 6-15 May.

Primary school paid union meetings

Kindergarten paid union meetings

Need help? Call 0800 693 443

NZEI Te Riu Roa ECE and support staff scholarships

There are up to ten scholarships of $6000 available each year - four for early childhood members and six for support staff members. Applications for the scholarships to be taken up in 2020 are now open.

Find out more

David Stewart Memorial Scholarship

Join NZEI now

AKO Journal: For educational professionals

Ako, the professional journal for 50,000 educators who are members of NZEI Te Riu Roa. In te ao Māori, the concept of ako means both to teach and to learn.

Read the summer issue online

Our campaigns

Kua tae te wā - It's time

This year we'll continue making the message loud and clear: It’s Time. Time to lead, teach and learn. This means freeing primary teachers to teach so every child receives the personal attention they need to learn and thrive. It means freeing primary principals to focus on leading and it means ensuring we have enough teachers by attracting more people to teaching, by respecting them as professionals and paying them properly.

Learn more about the campaign

Frequently asked questions

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 want the Government to restore per-child funding and commit to 100% qualified teachers in every ECE service. New Zealand can afford to provide quality ECE. That's why we campaign for quality, teacher-led ECE as a right for every child.

Learn more about the campaign

Our 10-year strategic plan for ECE

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