Primary Principals' (NZEI) Collective Agreement

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Primary Principals' (NZEI Te Riu Roa) Collective Agreement [PDF, 778 KB]

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Changes to the agreement

Read about the recent changes in the Primary Principals' (NZEI) Collective Agreement.

Changes to the Primary Principals’ (NZEI) Collective Agreement 2023-25

Appendix 2: Removal Expenses

Primary Principals' (NZEI) Collective Agreement
Effective: 3 July 2023 to 2 July 2025

  • 1 Eligibility
    • 1.1 When a principal transfers in the course of promotion, or moves to or from a school referred to in clause 3 of this Appendix, or moves in terms of the redeployment provisions contained in Part 9 of this Agreement; that principal, on transferring to another housing district, shall be eligible for the reimbursement of 100% of the actual and reasonable expenses arising from the removal of their household in the following circumstances. Where the principal requires the transfer of their effects and transit insurance the principal must use the service provided by the Ministry | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga without cost to the principal. The expenses, where applicable, as specified in clause 6 of this Appendix shall include:

        1. travelling expenses;
        2. accommodation expenses including rent subsidy;
        3. furniture removals;
        4. legal expenses and land agents commission (or advertising costs);
        5. penalty mortgage repayment charges;
        6. miscellaneous expenses including:
            1. a transfer grant;
            2. leave and expenses for a principal separated from her/his family/household to visit them including to assist with their transfer to the new location;
            3. expenses for one visit by a principal to inspect rental or purchasable housing in the new location;
            4. telephone reconnection charges for one phone only.

      1.2 The Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga provides a lump sum payment to cover the travel, phone, transfer grant, accommodation expenses and travelling meal allowances entitlements outlined below. However, this does not prevent a principal from choosing (as an alternative to the lump sum payment) to claim entitlements as specified and based on itemised receipts.

      1.3 Principals entitled to the reimbursement of actual and reasonable removal expenses on the basis set out in clause 1.1 shall include full-time permanent and long term relieving principals of 12 months or more.

  • Promotion
    • For the purposes of eligibility for reimbursement of removal expenses, a promotion is defined as an appointment to a permanent position or long term relieving position of 12 months or more where:

        1. the previous position was a basic scale position (including a unit-holding position), a designated assistant position or a deputy principal position; or
        2. the previous position had a lower U grading than the new position.
  • Principals Moving to a U1 or U2 School
    • 3 Principals Moving to a U1 or U2 School and/or a School in which the Current Principal Receives the Isolation Allowance

      A principal with 5 years' current continuous service as a principal shall be eligible for removal services and expenses provided in clause 1.1 of this Appendix when moving to a U1 or U2 school and/or a school in which the current principal receives the Isolation Allowance.

  • Removal Expenses from Schools Qualifying for the Staffing Incentive Allowance
    • 4.1 A principal in a school qualifying for the staffing incentive allowance shall be required to complete a minimum of three years' continuous service in one or more of the schools concerned in order to be eligible for removal services and expenses provided in clause 1.1 of this Appendix when moving from such a school to another state or state-integrated school as a principal or teacher in a permanent position or in a long term reliever appointment of at least one year.

      4.2 A principal in a school qualifying for the staffing incentive allowance shall retain her/his removal services and expenses provided in 1.1 of this Appendix when moving from the school, even if the school loses its classification during the principal's employment there providing that she/he fulfils the three years’ continuous service requirement and is transferring directly to another state or state-integrated school as a principal or teacher in a permanent position or in a long term reliever appointment of at least one year.

      4.3 A principal in a U1 or U2 school and/or who receives the isolation allowance shall be required to complete a minimum of three years' continuous service in one or more of the schools concerned in order to be eligible for removal services and expenses provided in clause 1.1 of this Appendix when moving from such a school to another state or integrated school as a principal or teacher in a permanent position or in a long term reliever appointment of at least one year.

      4.4 A principal in a U1 or U2 school and/or who receives the isolation allowance shall retain her/his removal services and expenses provided in clause 1.1 of this Appendix when moving from the school, even if the school loses its classification during the principal's employment there, providing that she/he fulfils the three years’ continuous service requirement and is transferring directly to another state or state-integrated school as a principal or teacher in a permanent position or in a long term reliever appointment of at least one year.

  • First Permanent Appointment
    • 5.1 On first permanent appointment a principal shall be eligible for the provisions set out in clause 4.2 of this Appendix where they meet the following criteria:

        • The principal is resident in New Zealand at the time of appointment and;
        • The appointment is within 12 months following graduation from a course of teacher training recognised by the Secretary and;
        • The appointment involves a shift to another housing district.

      5.2

        1. Reimbursement of the cost of surface fares for the principals and dependants or the appropriate motor vehicle rate;
        2. Reimbursement of actual legal expenses of up to $1,000 when a principal sells a house and buys another within one year of first appointment;
        3. Use of the service provided by the Ministry of Education | Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga for removal of furniture and effects without cost to the teacher.
  • Removal Reimbursing Expenses
    • 7.1 Principals claiming removal expenses shall be reimbursed 100% of the total actual and reasonable expenses claimed. The maximums which can be claimed are:

      7.2 Penalty mortgage repayment - $2,400.

      7.3 Refund of legal expenses and a land agent's commission (or in advertising costs for private sale) and/or purchase of house:

        1. aggregate of $11,000 when buying and selling;
        2. legal expenses of $950 when selling but not buying, and $4,000 when buying but not selling;
        3. land agent's commission (including advertising) of $6,300 when selling at former location;
        4. advertising costs of $630 when selling at former location without the services of a land agent.

      7.4 Refund of legal expenses and land agent’s commission for sale and/or purchase of land:

        1. aggregate of $3,800 for purchase and subsequent sale;
        2. legal expenses of $500 when selling only;
        3. land agent’s commission of $2,000 when selling only.

      7.5 Transfer Grant:

        1. A grant of $1,000 is payable where a principal is entitled to removal expenses and rents, leases or purchases housing.
        2. rent subsidy will be granted only in respect of a short term tenancy. The amount of the subsidy is the excess of the rental over one-sixth of the principal’s gross salary. The duration of the subsidy is limited to three months.
        3. $300 for each child who is attending a state or state-integrated school prior to the date of transfer who attends another state or state-integrated school after the transfer and for whom a different uniform is required to be purchased (in terms of the new school’s policy) because of the change of school.

      7.6 Travelling allowance meal rate:

        Standard Reduced (Staying Privately)
      (a) For each full 24 hour period $57 $28
      (b) For additional periods less than 24 hours but more than 10 hours $57 $28
      (c) For additional periods up to 10 hours $24  

      7.7 Motor vehicle allowance rates for removal expenses:

        1. Motor vehicles - 83 cents per km

      Note: Receipts should be produced when claiming expenses.

      Note: These provisions shall be applied in accordance with any administrative conditions that were in effect at the commencement of this Agreement as modified to reflect the changes made in this Agreement.