About Pacific Immersion Teachers’ Allowance#

The purpose of the Pacific Immersion Teachers’ Allowance (PITA) is to:

• give practical recognition to the revitalisation and protection of Pacific languages and cultures within New Zealand
• recognise the additional language and cultural competencies that teachers working in Pacific bilingual and immersion services have in order to teach the curriculum in their Pacific language
• support language-based education and care services to recognise, retain and attract certificated teachers with the additional language skills they require.

Who is eligible for the PITA#

The PITA is available to Pacific immersion and bilingual services who have been identified as one of the 2 Pacific immersion and bilingual education and care service types. These service types are below.

Leo o Fanau Moana immersion – 81% to 100% immersion#

A single Pacific language is the principal language of communication and instruction with children used 81% or more of the time, including in the implementation of the curriculum.

It is expected that children in the service can interact freely in the main Pacific language of the service, without direction.

Leo o Fanau Moana bilingual – 51% to 80% bilingual#

A single Pacific language is used at least 51% of the time as the language of communication and instruction with children, including in the implementation of the curriculum.

English is accepted as a temporary language of instruction and communication. Not all children in the service are expected to interact in the main Pacific language of the service. They will do so when directed.

The ECE funding handbook has more information about service and teacher eligibility.

5-3-2 Allowances for teachers in Pacific bilingual and immersion education and care services

Allowance rates and payment#

The allowance rate we pay for each teacher depends on:

• the language level their service teaches at (immersion or bilingual)
• how many years of experience they have teaching in an immersion or bilingual environment.

The ECE funding handbook has the current PITA rates.

5-3-2 Allowances for teachers in Pacific bilingual and immersion education and care services

GST is added to the payment.

We cannot advise you on how the allowance relates to payroll-related processes. Go to your accountant, payroll provider or Inland Revenue (IRD) for advice.

Contact us – Inland Revenue

Payment schedule#

The allowance is paid to your service monthly, in arrears.

Below is an indicative payment schedule for the PITA for 2026 and 2027.

How to apply for the PITA#

Licensed Leo o Fanau Moana immersion and Leo o Fanau Moana bilingual services are required to submit the Waha Rumaki or PITA return every month. Services have 7 calendar days to submit their completed return. Late submissions may result in late or no payment.

If your service meets the eligibility criteria of a Leo o Fanau Moana immersion and Leo o Fanau Moana bilingual service and would like to change to this service type, you need to complete the EC8 form below.

Submit this to your regional advisor.

Regional offices

After you apply#

Once the EC8 form is processed, your service will receive a letter of confirmation that your service type has been updated.

This letter of confirmation will need to be supplied to your student management system (SMS) so they can add the 'Waha Rumaki/PITA Return' function. Delays in this engagement may result in late or no payment.

Chapter 14-5 of the ECE Funding Handbook has more information about the Waha Rumaki/PITA Return.

Chapter 14-5 Waha Rumaki/Pita Return

Confirm service or teacher information each month#

Licensed Leo o Fanau Moana immersion and Leo o Fanau Moana bilingual services must provide their required attestation through the Waha Rumaki/PITA Return every month. Services will have 7 calendar days to submit their completed Waha Rumaki/PITA Return. Late submissions may result in late or no payment.

If there have been changes that may affect the allowance payment this must be reflected in the monthly submission. This could be a change to a teachers' employment agreement.

Changes could include:

• a teacher leaving the service
• a new teacher starting at the service
• changes in teachers' experience bands (1 to 3, 4 to 6, or more than 7 years)
• formal change in a teachers’ work hours.

If a teacher starts or leaves partway through a month, we will pay that teacher pro-rata for the month.

More information#

Resources for calculating experience and FTE#

Resources for calculating final payments for leaving teachers#

Services which received the PITA#